News Three dead in U.S. Navy Prowler crash Three people were killed in a training flight after an E/A-6B Prowler crashed into a wooded area 50 miles west-southwest of Spokane, Wash. A source familiar with the crash confirmed that there were three people onboard the aircraft, which belonged to Electronic Attack Squadron 129, the Vikings….

Boat crashes near California base, drugs found, no people Officials say an overturned boat and floating bales of a suspected illegal drug have been discovered off the central California coast at Vandenberg Air Force Base, but they haven’t found anyone who may have been steering the craft. Second Lt. Kaylee Ausbun says the small boat…

News From Hollywood to Kansas, drones are flying under the radar They hover over Hollywood film sets and professional sports events. They track wildfires in Colorado, survey Kansas farm crops and vineyards in California. They inspect miles of industrial pipeline and monitor wildlife, river temperatures and volcanic activity.   Business General Dynamics unit, others issue…

At least 2,047 U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 As of March 5, 2013, at least 2,047 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count. At least 1,707 military service members have died in Afghanistan…

Feb. 26, U.S. Congressman Diane Black, R-Tenn., released the following statement announcing the formation of the bipartisan Congressional Range & Testing Center Caucus. “As the wife, mother and daughter of U.S. servicemen, I believe that our brave men and women in uniform deserve our utmost respect and the resources and support necessary to carry out…

Business Pratt & Whitney finds engine-test fraud at sibling plant United Technologies Corp. Pratt & Whitney jet engine unit has found that another United Tech unit fraudulently tested parts of engines for business jets to reduce the odds of further monitoring, Pratt said March 4. Ready Here. United Kingdom says Thales, Airbus to build A400M…

NORAD may shed 24-hour alert sites in Virginia, Minnesota NORAD is considering taking two of its 18 Air Force sites off 24-hour alert, saying it will save millions of dollars without compromising its ability to defend against 9/11-style attacks. A Government Accountability Office report released Feb. 28 said the North American Aerospace Defense Command might…

The Defense Department lifted its grounding of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter after analysis concluded that a cracked turbine blade in an engine on a single plane resulted from overuse in test operations, according to an official with the F-35 Joint Program Office. In an email statement, the official, Kyra Hawn, said engineers…

Cuts include cancellation of The USAF Thunderbirds As the U.S. Air Force braces for potential sequester, leadership has cancelled all aviation support to public events for at least the remainder of the fiscal year and is standing down the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team to save flying hours to support readiness needs. Effective March 1, active-duty,…