A dry basin-and-range desert in the American Southwest
The crash near Miramar Air Base has prompted an ongoing investigation. The pilot has ejected and is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. An aerial plume of smoke and ground debris are visible as responders contain a vegetation fire at the site. Officials say the F-35B costs about $109 million and the broader program carries a multi-trillion price tag.
The Army has completed the Capstone phase of Project Convergence at Fort Irwin, testing digital maps and a range of new technologies in a degraded communications environment. Soldiers use digital tools for real-time situational awareness while keeping physical maps for redundancy. Feedback will inform acquisition and deployment strategies for the Army’s Next Generation Command and Control system.
The Army has been testing small uncrewed aerial systems at Fort Irwin. Operators have shown how drones extend sight, enable rapid reconnaissance, and could be chosen for future missions. Soldiers are training to integrate drones with traditional infantry roles as part of a broader transformation effort.
68-year-old Pierre Michel Formosa has died after his car became stuck in mud in Death Valley National Park. He and a French travelling companion walked across salt flats in extreme heat to seek help; the survivor was rescued later the same day. The coroner will determine the cause of death as search teams warn of dangerous conditions in the park.