UAV Doubles Amount Of Flight Hours Since July 2007
Airmen of the 432d Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force
Base, Nevada made history February 18, when an aircrew flew the
MQ-1B Predator Unmanned Aircraft Systems in a combat mission in the
US Central Command area of responsibility surpassing the 500,000
flight hour mark.
"A half-a-million flying hours is an amazing accomplishment and
the Airmen of the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron are proud to be a
part of this milestone," said Lt. Col. Ken Callahan, 15 RS director
of operations. "The 15 RS currently flies 28 percent of all MQ-1B
Predator combat air patrols over Iraq and Afghanistan and we're
able to meet the needs of the Joint Force Commanders for this
no-fail 24/7 combat ops mission because of the hard work and
dedication of our total force team of active duty, Air Force
Reserves and Air National Guard Airmen here."
Declared operational in 1995, the Predator's primary mission is
to provide armed reconnaissance, airborne surveillance and target
acquisition to commanders in the field. The Predator can be armed
with two laser-guided AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and carries the
Multispectral Targeting System, which integrates electro-optical,
infrared, laser designator and laser illuminator into a single
sensor package.
The capabilities of the Predator
have made the aircraft a lethal and vital asset to the Global War
on Terrorism, said Col. Chris Chambliss, 432d Wing and 432d Air
Expeditionary Wing commander.
"The Predator is a perfect example of how UAS support is making
a difference in the fight," said Colonel Chambliss. "With the
increase in demands for this system, the Predator continues to
provide our ground forces direct support with its unblinking eye
and persistent stare, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This 500,000
hour milestone proves how awesome this weapons system is."
The Predator fleet passed 250,000 hours in June 2007, after 12
years of flying. It only took a year and eight months to fly the
additional 250,000 hours due to continuous demand for the aircraft
by combatant commanders.
Colonel Christopher Coombs, commander of the 703rd Aeronautical
Systems Group commander, which oversees the Predator and Reaper
programs, said members of the Air Force Materiel Command and
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems have worked aggressively to
deliver the Predator weapon system and the recent milestone is a
result of a good partnership.
"The (Predator) program's success has been a testament to
outstanding teamwork and American ingenuity and innovation, fueled
by a desire to not settle for anything less than delivering the
most reliable weapons systems to the members of our Armed Forces
when called upon to achieve national security objectives," Colonel
Coombs said. "The warfighter needed additional support in their
arsenal, we surged our efforts to meet the requirements for UAS
capability, allowing for increased combat air patrols leading to
this milestone event."
The success of the Predator is nothing short of a success story,
said Lt. Gen. Gary North, Combined Forces Air Component Commander
and U.S. Air Force's Central commander.
"The predator weapon system and its Airmen ... from the launch
crews in the AOR (Area of Responsibility) to those that fly the
extended mission from distributed sites throughout the US and the
DCGS (Distributed Common Ground System) crews that process the
video are in one word ... remarkable," said General North. "The
persistent stare of the predator and the deadly persistence, when
attack criteria is met, have consistently been a key part of the
commander's weapons systems matrix to enable combat successes on
the battlefield."
With the success rate of the Predator, Gen. John D.W. Corley,
the commander of Air Combat Command, said it's clear Airmen have
stepped up to the challenges of meeting the insatiable demand for
the Predator.
"Airmen are 'all in' the global, joint and combined operations
protecting our nation and assuring our allies. Today, UAS Airmen
are operating the Predator more than 19,000 hours per month and
more than 95 percent of those hours are flown in support of combat
operations in Southwest Asia," General Corley said. The Predator's
half million hour milestone is but one example of our Airmen's
contributions in the full spectrum of counter-terrorism and
counter-insurgency operations."
Currently there are more than 30 MQ-1B Predator combat air
patrols flying 24/7, 365 days a year over Iraq and Afghanistan.
(Aero-News salutes Staff Sgt. Alice Moore, 432d Air
Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs)