A catastrophic electrical system overload caused the crash of an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle June 2 about two kilometers north of Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Air Combat Command announced Tuesday. The overload, associated with a problem with the aircraft’s No. 2 alternator, caused the aircraft’s primary control module—its brain—to fail, resulting in the mishap, ACC said in a release highlighting the findings of the accident investigation board report. The Predator, valued at $4 million, was assigned to the 432nd Wing at Creech AFB, Nev. It was damaged beyond repair and, accordingly, destroyed for security reasons, ACC said. There were no injuries or damage to other property.
B-21 Raider First Flight Now Postponed to 2023
May 20, 2022
The Air Force says the B-21 Raider won't make its first flight until 2023; about a six-month delay from the last official estimates. No reason was given for the delay. While other programs have recently chalked up schedule slips to supply chain and labor shortages, the Air Force has said…