For the first time since it transitioned to the MQ-9 in 2015, the 124th Attack Squadron is now able to fly the unmanned aircraft at Des Moines Air National Guard Base.
The U.S. Air Force is testing out loading GBU-38 smart bombs with other types of munitions while being carried externally on the B-52 bomber.
A scale model of a GBU-38 mounted on a sting is positioned above a scale model of a B-52 Stratofortress in the 16-foot transonic wind tunnel at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., Jan. 14, 2022. The GBU-38 was undergoing store separation testing with various captive load configurations. On the wing, seen in the right of the image, two GBU-31 bombs are installed on a heavy stores adapter beam, the other wing has five CBU-87 munitions. Aircraft models are installed upside down in the wind tunnel for store separation testing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jill Pickett)
