The last flight of the BQM-34P Firebee target drone took place last week at Tyndall AFB, Fla. The base received the BQM-34P in 1958 and flew it for more than 1,500 hours to simulate tactical threats for air-to-air combat training and weapons evaluations. It’s being replaced by the BQM-167A Skeeter. (Tyndall report by A1C Anthony Hyatt)
The Space Development Agency is set to launch 21 Tranche 1 data transport satellites on Oct. 5—its fourth Tranche 1 mission since last fall and the first to carry Northrop Grumman-built satellites.