An Air Force Accident Investigation Board was not able to determine why an MQ-1B Predator unmanned aerial vehicle that crashed May 13 (earlier reported as May 14) in Afghanistan lost contact with its ground control station, Air Combat Command announced Sept. 22. Operators were unable to reestablish a return link, and officials presumed the UAV went down in a forward operating area. The AIB found “sufficient evidence” to rule out “weather, icing, aircrew performance or qualifications, fuel starvation, or maintenance discrepancies,” the release said. The UAV was valued at some $3.9 million.
Expanded production of the B-21 bomber can be accomplished at Northrop Grumman's existing Palmdale, Calif., facilities, the Air Force said. It also said test aircraft will be so simular to the production version that early examples could be used in combat if called for.