A remotely controlled QF-4 full-scale aerial target crashed on takeoff on the drone runway at Tyndall AFB, Fla., on Wednesday, announced base officials. No personnel were injured during the incident, which occurred at 8:25 a.m. local time, according to the base’s release. Base and local safety officials closed the local highway, Highway 98, as a precautionary measure due to the fires resulting from the crash and the unknown status of the drone’s small self-destruct charge, states the release. The potential danger from the charge was short term since “it is powered by a short-life battery which will be fully depleted in 24 hours,” states the release. Tyndall officials said they’d release more details as they become available. The QF-4 was assigned to Tyndall’s 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. This is the second incident with a QF-4 operating from Tyndall this month. On July 10, operators destroyed a QF-4 over the Gulf of Mexico for safety considerations as it was returning to the base.
“Military history shows that the best defense is almost always a maneuvering offense supported by solid logistics. This was true for mechanized land warfare, air combat, and naval operations since World War II. It will also be true as the world veers closer to military conflict in space,” writes Aidan…