Officials at Minot Air Force Base are concerned that increasing petroleum and natural gas drilling in North Dakota is encroaching on the base’s missile sites, reported the Minot Daily News. As a result, 91st Missile Wing officials are reaching out to state government agencies and industry to heighten awareness of land-use laws regarding missile sites. “There’s a lot of additional traffic due to the oil industry and that creates some complications,” stated 91st MW Commander Col. Stephen Davis, according to the newspaper’s April 25 report. Nestled amongst the wing’s 150 missile sites that are scattered over 8,500 square miles, land owners are required keep activities outside a 1,200-foot radius around the sites, states the newspaper. “Sometimes this land has been handed down or sold, and people don’t understand the restrictions,” stressed Davis, noting several instances of structures built inside restricted zones.
The Air Force should build its capacity and striking power with collaborative combat aircraft but must put the teaming aspect of the new class of weapons first, getting the concepts and software right at the outset to ensure that autonomous airplanes do what’s needed and expected—and can be trusted—argues a…