As the Air Force attempts to rebalance its remotely piloted aircraft force structure, it continues to buy more aircraft for the booming mission. On May 20, USAF announced a $72 million contract modification award to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for eight more MQ-9 Reaper Block 5 production aircraft. Work on the extension will be performed at the company’s facility in Poway, Calif., and will be complete by December 2017. The Block 5 variant, an upgrade from the original Block 1 “Predator B,” offers greater electrical power, more gross takeoff weight, enhanced communications and payload integration, and “trailing arm” main landing gear.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
