A catastrophic electrical system overload caused the crash of an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle June 2 about two kilometers north of Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Air Combat Command announced Tuesday. The overload, associated with a problem with the aircraft’s No. 2 alternator, caused the aircraft’s primary control module—its brain—to fail, resulting in the mishap, ACC said in a release highlighting the findings of the accident investigation board report. The Predator, valued at $4 million, was assigned to the 432nd Wing at Creech AFB, Nev. It was damaged beyond repair and, accordingly, destroyed for security reasons, ACC said. There were no injuries or damage to other property.
America Must Resource Its Spacepower Advantage
March 2, 2025
The Department of Defense’s directive to reapportion 8 percent of its spending to Trump administration priorities presents distinct opportunities and challenges. However, in seeking to realign funding, leaders must be careful not to cut to the bone of core capabilities and capacity. Nowhere is this more germane than in the…
