Reaper drops first precision-guided bomb, protects ground forces

Air Force Link ^ | Staff Sgt. Trevor Tiernan

[VOA]

I knew there was just something missing in the otherwise excellent
photos posted of The Reaper.

I found that some other silly person like myself has made the proper
additions for The Reaper:

http://op-for.com/fearthereapermf0.jpg

(I’d insert the image, but it’s perty-danged big)

(and I pity the poor souls that have yet to see the Christopher
Waken “Don’t Fear The Reaper” skit on Saturday Night Live!)

[Stoat]

Pictures! I need pictures. LOL

Not enough?  More here  :-)

Air-Attack.com - RQ-1 Predator Photo Artwork of the MQ-9 Reaper

Scaled down for display only, real size: 2000 x 1115 pixels. Right-Click the image, select "Save Picture As..." to save the image.

A fully armed MQ-9 Reaper taxis down an Afghanistan runway Nov. 4. The Reaper has flown 49 combat sorties since it first began operating in Afghanistan Sept. 25. It completed its first combat strike Oct. 27, when it fired a Hellfire missile over Deh Rawod, Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson

Source: USAF

An Air Force MQ-9 Reaper waits for its first mission

Scaled down for display only, real size: 2000 x 1551 pixels. Right-Click the image, select "Save Picture As..." to save the image.

An Air Force MQ-9 Reaper waits for its first mission in a deployed environment on a flightline in Southwest Asia during a deployability test in September. The test was performed by the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 5 and the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo

Source: USAF

Testers time Reaper's ability to deploy

Scaled down for display only, real size: 2000 x 984 pixels. Right-Click the image, select "Save Picture As..." to save the image.

A team of testers lifts the MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for a landing gear operational check. The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 5 and the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron recently tested the Reaper system's ability to deploy to a forward operating location in support of mission tasking. The team performed the testing at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, from Sept. 4 through 25.

Source: USAF

Air Force's hunter-killer UAV now flying in Afghanistan (7)

Scaled down for display only, real size: 2000 x 1194 pixels. Right-Click the image, select "Save Picture As..." to save the image.

An MQ-9 Reaper takes off on a mission in Afghanistan Oct. 1. The Reaper has completed 12 missions since its inaugural flight there Sept. 25. (Courtesy photo)

Source: USAF

Air Force's hunter-killer UAV now flying in Afghanistan (4)

Scaled down for display only, real size: 2000 x 1273 pixels. Right-Click the image, select "Save Picture As..." to save the image.

An MQ-9 Reaper sits on a ramp in Afghanistan Oct. 1. The Reaper is launched, recovered and maintained at deployed locations, while being remotely operated by pilots and sensor operators at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. (Courtesy photo)

Source: USAF

[BallyBill]

Big Boys use Big Toys.

BooM!

[sinanju]

It would be just the ticket for patrolling the Afghan/Pak border.

[jimtorr]

173rd Airborne? I used to work with a guy who had been with the 173rd in Vietnam. 1.5 combat tours. He says his only regret was that he never got to do a combat jump. They always took the easy way, by helicopter.

[dearolddad]

"Fear the Reaper..."

Wouldn't "Grim Reaper' be more appropriate?

[Old Sarge]

Gotcha covered...

[RedEyeJack]

neutralizing enemy combatants.

What a lovely phrase -

Yes and... tightening sphincter muscles all over Iran

[maine-iac7]

It would be just the ticket for patrolling the Afghan/Pak border.

Hoping and praying...

[Old Sarge]

Play-on-words from Blue Oyster Cult...

[maine-iac7]

Yes and... tightening sphincter muscles all over Iran

[shield]

WOW

[bert]

The Duke would be proud. One of his great movies involves Marines learning how to coordinate and execute close air support.

The movie was an attempt to show the folks how the combat arms can work together and benefit from cooperation. It was also probably meant to influnce some stodgy nay saying brass.

Just imagine using airplanes piloted in Nevada dropping bombs on a pacific island. Does not compute.

[Bender2]

Good God! Why don’t you display some large pictures?

Be considerate of Freepers who have dial-up!

I never post anything that large and when I refer to a large photo I give the URL-- But you post a whole group of them wasting a lot of broadband!

You may be a nice guy, but this only shows you to be a non-thinking schmuck!

[Dick Vomer]

ya see Acmed.....we love Rock and Roll... so we don't fear the reaper...

you all hump the camel..... so FEAR THE REAPER!!!!

[hsalaw]

Great pictures! Nice and BIG!

[hsalaw]

"The beauty of the MQ-9 Reaper is that we're able to synchronize and integrate unmanned aerial attack platforms over the skies of Afghanistan, allowing us to persistently and consistently track the enemy and ensure that we place the appropriate ordnance on target when required, and maintain that persistent presence after weapons release,"

Lovely language. Translation: kills 'em dead.

[Dick Vomer]

You may be a nice guy, but this only shows you to be a non-thinking schmuck!

gee I liked the photos....

so if you see something taking a long time to load up....... get on your buggy, go to the local feed store and by the time you get back it should be good to go....

In other words, why call him a schmuck.

these ought to take you a week to download.....douche

[Seeking the truth]

Great pics!

Don’t mind those dial up knuckledraggers!

[Stoat]

Great pictures! Nice and BIG!

Thank you for your kind and gracious words, and I'm delighted that you like them.

Here's a quality adult beverage for you   :-)