The 849th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron recently unveiled its newest hangar at Holloman AFB, N.M., according to base officials. Hangar 3 began housing the base’s MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft on Aug. 26, according to Holloman’s Sept. 3 release. The 849th AMXS received the keys to the hangar on Aug. 22, following a little more than three months of construction, 2nd Lt. Richard Ryland, assistant officer in charge of the 849th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, told the Daily Report on Wednesday. Holloman is the largest formal training center for the Predator and Reaper, including the instruction of RPA operators from Britain, Germany, and Italy, said Ryland.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.