A pair of MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft recently flew an air-to-ground weapon system evaluation over the Utah Test and Training Range. The Reapers flew a two-ship formation for the first time en-route through civilian air space from Creech AFB, Nev., to the range, according to the May 27 release. “There were no safety violations; everything was spot on,” said SMSgt. Gregory Young, 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron evaluation production superintendent. Combat Hammer’s top-to-bottom evaluation of the Reaper’s strike capability gives combatant commanders “the necessary information to ensure they plan and pair the correct number of weapons against any given type of target,” explained Maj. John Collier, 86th FWS test evaluator. Geographically separate aircrew from several units, including the 432nd Attack Squadron at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., employed AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided bombs over the range, May 12-15.
Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost—a trailblazer and one of the first 10 women to reach a four-star rank across the U.S. military—retired and passed control of U.S. Transportation Command to Air Force Gen. Randall Reed on Oct. 4, finishing an eventful tenure at TRANSCOM.