The Air Force last week received its 268th and final MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft from manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. “This event marks a milestone in Air Force history given the path this aircraft took from conception to operational excellence,” said Col. Christopher Coombs, chief of USAF’s medium-altitude unmanned aircraft systems division at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The Predator first flew in 1994 and has become an indispensable component of the Air Force’s overhead intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance portfolio. At first unarmed, service officials later incorporated Hellfire missiles on the Predator to give it a ground-attack capability. Coombs said the fleet has maintained a mission capable rate more than 90 percent. With no more Predators on order, the Air Force intends to transition gradually to a fleet of more-capable MQ-9 Reapers. (Wright Patterson release)
Air Combat Command will soon be setting up an electromagnetic spectrum warfare wing that will most likely fall under 16th Air Force, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen W. "Seve" Wilson said in an AFA "Airmen in the Fight" streaming program Oct. 30. The announcement closely follows the Pentagon's release…