An MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed yesterday in eastern Afghanistan, according to Air Forces Central. The crash was not due to hostile fire, AFCENT said in a release. A board is being convened to investigate the incident. This is the first Air Force Predator crash that we are aware of since last August when ashort circuit felled an MQ-1 near Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.