An MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle sustained damage in a ground accident May 12 at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, after returning from a combat mission. The incident occurred about 10 a.m. local time. A board of inquiry will investigate the mishap. USAF has operated Reapers in Afghanistan since September 2007. They carry Hellfire ground-attack missiles and 500-pound bombs. (Bagram report by Capt. Toni Tones)
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.

