An MQ-9 Reaper assigned to the 29th Attack Squadron crashed on final approach at Holloman AFB, N.M., last week, according to base officials. The remotely piloted aircraft, operated by one of Air Combat Command’s RPA flying training units, had just completed a local training mission when the incident occurred on Oct. 7. There were no injuries or damage to private property, according to a base release. A board will convene to investigate the cause of the accident. This is one of several RPA mishaps at Holloman since its schoolhouse began operations in September 2009.
The Air Force is leaning toward a less-sophisticated autonomous aircraft in the second increment of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the services chief futurist said. He also suggested that the next increment of CCA may be air-launched, a la the "Rapid Dragon" experiments conducted by the service in recent years.