Reaper Drops Bomb On Anti-Iraqi Forces
US Department of Defense | Aug 26, 2008
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq: An MQ-9 Reaper dropped a 500-pound bomb against an anti-Iraqi target Aug. 16 in one of the first weapons engagements for the unmanned aircraft system.
The Reaper began flying combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom July 18 and joined the MQ-1 Predator as another UAS patrolling the sky to protect coalition forces.
The successful airstrike, which destroyed a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, demonstrates the persistent strike capability that the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing provides commanders on the ground, said Brig. Gen. Brian T. Bishop, the 332nd AEW commander.
“We are here to integrate airpower into joint operations in Iraq, and ensuring we make the most of our unmanned-aerial-system capabilities is just one of many ways we do that,” General Bishop said. “With our ability to provide persistent stare and persistent strike, we provide a clear battlefield assessment and quick responses to commanders when they need it.”
During an overwatch mission over southeast Iraq, Reaper operators from the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron at Joint Base Balad discovered a suspicious vehicle. The Airmen immediately relayed the information to personnel in a local ground unit, said Lt. Col. Micah Morgan, the 46th ERAS commander. After the suspicious vehicle was confirmed to be a VBIED — a variant of the No. 1 killer of Americans on the battlefield — a joint terminal attack controller cleared the Reaper to employ a GBU-12 laser-guided weapon against the vehicle.
“This was a great example of the Reaper’s unique capabilities,” Colonel Morgan said. “We searched for, found, fixed, targeted and destroyed a target with just one aircraft.”
Unmanned aircraft system aircrews’ fusion of the warfighting domains of air, space and cyberspace enables them uniquely to share critical information with JTACs and other command and control elements, ensuring that they hit the right target, Colonel Morgan said.
“We go to great lengths to avoid unnecessary damage, and the Reaper’s unique capabilities allow it to play a key role in our highly disciplined targeting process,” he said.
The 46th ERAS flies both Reaper and Predators. Its aircrews directly control all Reaper operations in Iraq and provide launch and recovery for Predator operations. During UAS missions, they can communicate with critical partners worldwide using a mix of radio, telephone and secure Internet Systems.
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Where’s the video? It’s no fun without the video!
August 26th, 2008 at 5:56 amWhere’s the BEEF?
August 26th, 2008 at 6:26 am
August 26th, 2008 at 7:55 am(relaod)
(relaod)
best keep one eye
on the sky,
for death doth fall
from on high,
to little piglets,
who wail with pain,
to hell dispatched
in a firey rain
where then to cry,
scream, writhe, and fry
time without end
they’ll ask to die
while satan laughs
at mohammeds scam
and feasts forever
on piggie ham
courtesy
of
uncle
sam
oink oink
August 26th, 2008 at 8:23 amNow all they have to do is paint the thing black and keep dropping more bombs.
August 26th, 2008 at 11:02 amUhmm.. Guys? Do you know where the coordinates given in the image are?
It’s, well, southern Nevada… As in USA southern Nevada….
36 39′ 03″N, 115 39′ 53″W is north-west of Las Vegas… along US 95.
August 26th, 2008 at 11:41 amUh, yeah? It’s a stock image that visually fits the story, even if the details do not. Obviously, without staff photographers and/or NSA hackers, patdollard.com isn’t going to have, like, real-time satellite surveillance pics from each post. Although that would be kick-ass…to say the least.
August 26th, 2008 at 7:35 pm