Aircraft maintainers with Air Force Reserve Command’s 13th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale AFB, Calif., earlier this month got the chance, for the first time, to train on an RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle during a unit training assembly weekend. The squadron is part of the 940th Air Refueling Wing that is transitioning under BRAC 2005 from operating KC-135 tankers to an associate unit that cooperates with Beale’s active duty 9th Reconnaissance Wing to operate and maintain Global Hawk aircraft. “Having access to the aircraft during UTAs will allow us to get our troops qualified and trained,” said Lt. Col. John Welch, 13th RS commander. He continued, “This is a significant step forward for us.” Welch said eventually he would like to see the squadron have access to two Global Hawks on training weekends. (Beale report by TSgt. Luke Johnson)
Competitors Not Picked for CCA Look Forward to Increment 2
April 25, 2024
While none of the major aircraft contractors were selected to develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, all three say they are seeking further autonomous aircraft work for the Navy, foreign partners, or in the classified arena, and maybe future versions of the CCA itself.