MQ-9 visits CAFB, community gets rare look at Air Force RPA

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Keith Holcomb
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
An MQ-9 Reaper and a team from Creech Air Force Base, Nev., were one of the attractions during the 2018 Wings Over Columbus Open House and Air and Space Show April 21, here, and spoke to the local population and Airmen about their mission flying the remotely piloted aircraft.

This was the first Air Force event the MQ-9 and some of its aircrew attended in the 2018 season and was the first time the aircraft was at Columbus AFB.

The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed, multi-role, medium-altitude, long-endurance RPA that is employed primarily as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets.

Given its significant loiter time, wide-range sensors, multi-mode communications suite, and precision weapons -- it provides a unique capability to perform strike, coordination, and reconnaissance against high-value, fleeting, and time-sensitive targets.

Flying thousands of feet above the combat zone the MQ-9 provides dominant persistent attack and reconnaissance for our nation and coalition partners.

“It’s a unique and fulfilling mission,” said 1st Lt. Jake, 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing MQ-9 pilot. “There’s no other aircraft in the Air Force inventory that has the capability that we do. We’re a primary source for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance because we can stay over the target for a long time and hunt bad guys while protecting good guys. It’s very fulfilling to know we are a critical part of the fight.”

Reapers can also perform close air support, combat search and rescue, precision strike, buddy-lasing, overwatch, route clearance, target development, and terminal air guidance. The MQ-9's capabilities make it uniquely qualified to conduct irregular warfare operations in support of combatant commander objectives.

Not only is the pilot essential for the MQ-9 to be effective down range, but many other Airmen keep its mission efficient and effective.

“Next to the pilot is a sensor operator, an enlisted aviator, who backs the pilot up and operates sensors while providing additional mission coordination. The sensor operator also guides the weapon, while the pilot is the final engagement authority,” said 1st Lt. Annabel Monroe, 432nd WG/432nd AEW Public Affairs officer. “The MQ-9 can be transported easily, assembled and loaded with weapons in less than a day. Our maintainers are pretty proud of that.”

From the armament flight, to the maintainers who keep the aircraft ready to deploy, to the sensor operators, who work hand-in-hand with the pilots, the MQ-9 enterprise stands ready to feed the fight overseas.

With a weapons system being piloted remotely there are some differences inside the culture of the 432nd WG/432nd AEW.

“Among the reasons I decided to stay is the good family life that’s offered here,” Jake said. “I enjoy being able to fly, but at the same time I get to go home at the end of every shift to spend evenings and weekends with my wife and kids.”

Though the aircrew is not overseas in direct line of fire, their presence is vital to keeping air superiority over the heads of those who are on the ground.

Monroe spoke about the importance of their mission and how keeping eyes on targets with RPA’s allows the aircrews to be safe while providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and if needed firepower to keep the men and women in harm’s way safer as well.

The new technology which allows the MQ-9 to take on its many roles can be intimidating, but the 432nd WG/432nd AEW will continue to advocate about their role in the Air Force to educate Airmen and the public alike as they progress through the 2018 air show season.