Eglin, Tyndall eyed for MQ-9 wing

Florida's Eglin Air Force Base and Tyndall AFB are among four sites being considered to host unmanned MQ-9 Reaper aircraft. The other two are Vandenberg AFB, Calif., and Shaw AFB, S.C. The selected base would host a wing of 24 Reapers. The Air Force also is looking at five bases to host mission control operations. The Air Combat Command is to conduct on-site surveys at the bases, and could selected preferred locations as early as the winter of 2016. Currently the Air Force flies about 60 drone missions per day, but that figure is expected to increase. (Source: AFNS, 09/09/16) Previous related