The technicians at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker AFB, Okla., took matters in hand when the Air Force realized it had no B-2 bomber spare right aft deck panels, a portion of the stealth aircraft that was not designed to be replaced, reports Ron Mullan. And, the production line was long gone. So, a 12-man team at the center began to design the tooling needed and processes, an endeavor that took them seven months before they could actually begin work. They succeeded and now have a mean to refurbish the necessary parts.
A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.
