The Air National Guard formally stands up its first UAV unit, redesignating the 163rd Air Refueling Wing to the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing, at March ARB, Calif. The 163rd initially will operate MQ-1 Predators.
A top Pentagon tech official called on industry this week to help the military develop “lighter, more efficient” directed energy weapons designed to go on aircraft and conduct special operations missions or down drones—areas where the Air Force’s directed energy efforts have been quiet as of late.