The Air Force announced last week that Hurlburt Field, Fla., is the preferred site to host an Air Force Reserve Command MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft squadron, pending an environmental assessment. “The Air Force looks forward to working with the communities surrounding this base to ensure any concerns are addressed,” said Kathleen Ferguson, USAF’s deputy assistant secretary for installations. The remote split-operations squadron will include 140 personnel and associated equipment; however, there will be no MQ-1s based there. Instead, the Reservists will use ground control stations at Hurlburt, equipped with satellite communications links, to operate Predators in combat zones overseas. The Air Force leadership announced in May that the Eglin Complex in Florida, including Hurlburt, Eglin Air Force Base, Duke Field, Camp Rudder, and Choctaw Field, was the candidate location. (Hurlburt release)
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.