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Reaper drops first precision-guided bomb, protects ground forces
Air Force Link ^
| Staff Sgt. Trevor Tiernan
Posted on 11/08/2007 3:59:59 PM PST by SandRat
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1
posted on
11/08/2007 4:00:01 PM PST
by
SandRat
To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...
FR WAR NEWS!
WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!
All the News the MSM refuses to use!
Or if they do report it, without the anti-War Agenda Spin!
Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.
2
posted on
11/08/2007 4:00:41 PM PST
by
SandRat
(Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
To: SandRat
Pictures! I need pictures. LOL
3
posted on
11/08/2007 4:03:55 PM PST
by
papasmurf
(sudo apt - get install FRed Thompson)
To: SandRat
“Ahmad, I don’t like video games.....”
4
posted on
11/08/2007 4:04:52 PM PST
by
txzman
(Jer 23:29)
To: papasmurf
5
posted on
11/08/2007 4:05:29 PM PST
by
papasmurf
(sudo apt - get install FRed Thompson)
To: All
MQ-9A Reaper - Keep’em coming - Great asset for our boots on the ground -
To: papasmurf
It does carry a few weapons, doesn't it?
7
posted on
11/08/2007 4:06:26 PM PST
by
gridlock
(Recycling is the new Religion.)
To: SandRat
neutralizing enemy combatants. What a lovely phrase -
8
posted on
11/08/2007 4:07:49 PM PST
by
maine-iac7
("...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time" LINCOLN)
To: SandRat; papasmurf
"Fear the Reaper..."
9
posted on
11/08/2007 4:08:14 PM PST
by
Old Sarge
(This tagline in memory of FReeper 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub)
To: SandRat
10
posted on
11/08/2007 4:08:45 PM PST
by
gnarledmaw
(It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration.)
To: SandRat
who fly the aircraft remotely from Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The pilot released two GBU-12 500-pound laser-guided bombs, destroying the target and eliminating the enemy fighters.
I’d hate to see that in my rear view mirror.
11
posted on
11/08/2007 4:11:06 PM PST
by
Haddit
(Hunter is still the Best)
To: SandRat
The MQ-9 Reaper is the Air Force’s first hunter-killer UAV. It is larger and more powerful than the MQ-1 Predator and is designed to go after time-sensitive targets with persistence and precision, and destroy or disable those targets with 500-pound bombs and Hellfire missiles.
“The Reaper represents a significant evolution in UAV technology and employment,” General Moseley said. “We’ve moved from using UAVs primarily in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance roles before Operation Iraqi Freedom, to a true hunter-killer role with the Reaper.”
General Moseley stressed the key advantage is not keeping manned aircraft and pilots out of harm’s way, but the persistence UAVs can inherently provide. The Reaper can stay airborne for up to 14 hours fully loaded.
A 900-horsepower turbo-prop engine, compared to the 119-horsepower Predator engine, powers the aircraft. It has a 64-foot wingspan and carries more than 15 times the ordnance of the Predator, flying almost three times the Predator’s cruise speed.
The Air Force has seven MQ-9 Reapers in its inventory, with a full-rate production decision expected in 2009.
________________________________________________________________
So the MQ-9 is the first true purpose-designed hunter-killer UAV. I especially take note of the 14-hour station-keeping ability. Talk about having a million bucks in life insurance circling overhead when you go out on patrol!
12
posted on
11/08/2007 4:11:19 PM PST
by
sinanju
To: papasmurf
I know the first generation Predator used a little 120 HP Rotax (912, I think), similar to the engine used in many homebuilt experimentals. This thing looks like it has a turbine powerplant, to me.
And are those JDAMs hanging from the wings?
13
posted on
11/08/2007 4:11:38 PM PST
by
gridlock
(Recycling is the new Religion.)
To: sinanju
I especially take note of the 14-hour station-keeping ability. One hour to reach station, 12 hour to patrol, one hour to recover. Fly two for round-the-clock coverage. Neat.
14
posted on
11/08/2007 4:13:39 PM PST
by
gridlock
(Recycling is the new Religion.)
To: gridlock; Old Sarge
Sweeeeet!
Love the pics.
15
posted on
11/08/2007 4:13:42 PM PST
by
papasmurf
(sudo apt - get install FRed Thompson)
To: sinanju
900 HP on tap. I want one!
16
posted on
11/08/2007 4:14:25 PM PST
by
gridlock
(Recycling is the new Religion.)
To: gridlock
And are those JDAMs hanging from the wings?Those look like GBU-12's. JDAM looks like this:
17
posted on
11/08/2007 4:15:15 PM PST
by
JRios1968
(Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will. - Ben Stein)
To: SandRat
Sure wish that baby was flying over the Korengal Valley in the Kunar Province where the 173rd Airborne - Battle Co, is...
They just now trained to use this little guy - The Raven Unmanned Aerial Vehicle - so that probably means they wont be seeing it's big brother any day soon = during Aug - Sept, they were under fire every single day but 3 ---
18
posted on
11/08/2007 4:15:28 PM PST
by
maine-iac7
("...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time" LINCOLN)
To: gridlock
Not to mention a 50,000 ft ceiling and it can carry 14 Hellfires in addition to the bombs.
19
posted on
11/08/2007 4:16:01 PM PST
by
Moonman62
(The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
To: sinanju
can stay airborne for up to 14 hours fully loaded. ...more than 15 times the ordnance of the Predator, flying almost three times the Predators cruise speed. The Air Force has seven MQ-9 Reapers in its inventory, with a full-rate production decision expected in 2009. Serious cover - but not nearly enough! or coming in time - wish they'd spread it's use around...if they did that the insurgents would get real spooked never knowing which place one of those might heave over the ridge... That would help a LOT = anyone listening???
20
posted on
11/08/2007 4:20:19 PM PST
by
maine-iac7
("...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time" LINCOLN)
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