The Air Force intends—once again—to divest itself of the MQ-1 Predator and transition to an all-MQ-9 Reaper fleet of medium-altitude remotely piloted aircraft, Lt. Gen. Mike Holmes, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for plans and requirements, said Friday. Speaking with reporters about the Fiscal 2017 budget request, Holmes said the Air Force intends to phase out the Predator completely “by the end of ’18,” focusing on buying new Reapers to replace them, as well as buying the extended-range upgrade kit for nearly the entire fleet of MQ-9s. Only 38 Reapers carrying other modifications won’t be given the ER upgrade, which consists of fuel tanks, extended “wet” wings, and extended tail control surfaces. The upgrade increases the Reaper’s endurance from 27 hours to as long as 42 hours when not carrying external stores. USAF tried to phase out the Predator once before, but was directed to keep the type in service to fill out increasing demands for RPA combat air patrols. The Air Force also intends to develop and field improved ground control stations for the Reaper fleet, Holmes said.
A three-month continuing resolution that ended in December inflicted less pain on the Department of the Air Force than it had expected, as procurement and construction continue in the new year. The federal government operated under a stopgap spending measure that stretched from the beginning of the fiscal year on…