First MQ-9 Reaper Flies Over Iraq | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.22.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.16.24

Airborne-FlightTraining-04.17.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers-04.18.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.19.24

Join Us At 0900ET, Friday, 4/10, for the LIVE Morning Brief.
Watch It LIVE at
www.airborne-live.net

Tue, Jul 22, 2008

First MQ-9 Reaper Flies Over Iraq

Combines Predator Flight Duration With Serious Firepower

The Air Force flew its first operational MQ-9 Reaper mission from Joint Base Balad, Iraq, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

USAF officials say the integration of the Reaper into theater flight operations significantly enhances the strike and close air support capabilities of airpower forces in Iraq. The Reaper has a unique combination of long loiter times and large payloads, integrating and synchronizing with other air assets in the complex battlespace facing commanders.

"The Reaper gives the joint warfighting tremendous airpower to bear on hostile forces who do not want the mission we share with the government in Iraq to succeed," said Lt. Gen. Gary North, Combined Force Air Component Commander.

"Our experience with the Predator has already proven the intelligence value of the persistent stare - the ability to keep a target in your sights for multiple hours at a time," said General North.

"The Reaper, as a close air support asset, expands beyond the concept of persistent stare to one of persistent strike. If the ground commander wants us to strike an enemy target, we can do that with precision weapons from the Reaper at the exact point where the ground commander wants a desired effect. It's an incredibly powerful and flexible capability for the warfighting commander."

US Air Force Central's Combined Air and Space Operations Center will continue to plan and execute Reaper sorties in Iraq based on the desired effects forwarded from ground commanders.

The Reaper's powerful targeting pod is fully integrated into the existing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance architecture employed by the smaller MQ-1 Predator. Like the Predator, Reapers are primarily flown via satellite from the United States.

Since its arrival in the US Central Command theater in September 2007, flying sorties in Afghanistan, the Reaper has flown approximately 480 sorties, totally more than 3,800 hours. It has provided armed overwatch over Afghanistan and lethal strike capabilities, while minimizing collateral damage risks to friendly forces and civilian populations.

FMI: www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6405

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 04.16.24: RV Update, Affordable Flying Expo, Diamond Lil

Also: B-29 Superfortress Reunion, FAA Wants Controllers, Spirit Airlines Pulls Back, Gogo Galileo Van's Aircraft posted a short video recapping the goings-on around their reorganiz>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.20.24): Light Gun

Light Gun A handheld directional light signaling device which emits a brilliant narrow beam of white, green, or red light as selected by the tower controller. The color and type of>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.20.24)

"The journey to this achievement started nearly a decade ago when a freshly commissioned Gentry, driven by a fascination with new technologies and a desire to contribute significan>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.21.24)

"Our driven and innovative team of military and civilian Airmen delivers combat power daily, ensuring our nation is ready today and tomorrow." Source: General Duke Richardson, AFMC>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.21.24): Aircraft Conflict

Aircraft Conflict Predicted conflict, within EDST of two aircraft, or between aircraft and airspace. A Red alert is used for conflicts when the predicted minimum separation is 5 na>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC