World’s smallest missile being tested in the Mojave Desert
Project manager Steve Felix inspects a 5-pound Spike missile under development at the China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center. The missile will soon be test-fired from a remote-controlled helicopter at a moving pickup truck. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Andrew Tree, left, Scott Brown and Felipe Jauregui set up control and communication equipment for an upcoming test of an unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV. The robotic planes have been particularly effective against terrorists, the Pentagon says. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Mission operator Scott Brown uses a low-tech method to get a UAV airborne for a test at the Naval Air Warfare Center at China Lake. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
UAV controller Andrew Tree, right, checks his equipment with David Schonert at the Naval Air Warfare Center in China Lake. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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David Schonert, left, and Andrew Tree stand next to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the Naval Air Warfare Center at China Lake. Once the nations bastion for developing bigger and deadlier ordnance, China Lake now concentrates on making weapons smaller, more precise, and in some cases, not so destructive. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
