The Air Force lost an MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted vehicle when it crashed upon takeoff in eastern Afghanistan at about 1:50 a.m. local time Feb. 9, reported Air Forces Central Command the same day. AFCENT said the crash was not due to hostile fire and there were no reports of personal injury or property damage. An accident investigation board will investigate the incident.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or perhaps even President Donald Trump will have the final say on a way forward for the Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter, the nominee to serve as the Pentagon’s No. 2 civilian said at his confirmation hearing.