Reaper drops 1st bomb on anti-Iraqi forces

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson | An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft prepares to taxi out of a hangar, Aug. 8, 2008. A Reaper employed a 500-pound GBU-12 laser-guided bomb against anti-Iraqi forces, Aug. 16, 2008, marking the Reaper's first weapons engagement since it began flying combat sorties over Iraq, July 18, 2008.  

BALAD, IRAQ

08.16.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. Donald Branum 

332d Air Expeditionary Wing

By Staff Sgt. Don Branum
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- An MQ-9 Reaper dropped a 500-pound bomb against an anti-Iraqi target, Aug. 16, 2008, marking the Reaper's first weapons engagement in Iraq since it began flying combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, July 18, 2008.

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 Bishop, 332nd AEW commander.

"We are here to integrate air power 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," Gen. 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 with Balad's 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron 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 number-one 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," Col. Morgan said. "We searched for, found, fixed, targeted and destroyed a target with just one aircraft."

Unmanned aerial 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, Col. Morgan said.

"We go to great lengths to avoid unnecessary damage, and the Reaper's unique capabilities allow it to play a key role our highly disciplined targeting process," he said.

The 46th ERAS flies both Reaper and MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial systems. 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.

• Date Taken: 08.16.2008
• Date Posted: 08.21.2008 03:18
• Story ID: 22720
• Location: BALAD, IQ