Air Force investigators have determined that a faulty cable connection on an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle flying June 12 near Kandahar, Afghanistan, caused the aircraft to make erratic and uncommanded flight movements and be unresponsive to the pilot’s attempts to control it, leading to its crash. According to the recently issued executive summary of the accident investigation board, the Predator began to experience these problems shortly after takeoff from Kandahar Air Base. Its sensor suite also unexpectedly powered down. The remote pilot was unable to regain control of the aircraft and it eventually went down in an unpopulated area south of the base. The crash damaged the Predator beyond economical repair, resulting in a loss of $3.8 million.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.