The U.S. Air Force and Boeing have sent their first unmanned F-16 jet plane into the air — a drone craft test that promises to change the shape of battlefield missions in years to come.
“Now we have a mission-capable, highly sustainable, full-scaled aerial target to take us into the future,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Inman, in Sky News.
The unmanned plane was test-flown by two pilots at a ground control station at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, The New York Post reported.
It was deemed a success.
The drone F-16 performed all of its take-off sequencing, as well as all its simulated maneuvers and flight and landing procedures, the military reported, in a statement to Sky News.
“It was a little different to see an F-16 take off without anyone in it, but it was a great flight all the way around,” Lt. Col. Inman said.
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• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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