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USAF Testing MQ-9 Reaper drone for new missions

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For nearly two decades, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) has flown its MQ-9 Reaper drone in and out of traditional runways at bases worldwide. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), based on the earlier Predator drone, is designed primarily for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and precision strike capabilities. 

However, as the USAF continues to modernize in the face of Great Power Competition, leadership is exploring operating the MQ-9 out of more austere and remote environments. Crews recently tested that idea during an exercise known as Reaper Castillo at the Melrose Air Force Range in New Mexico. 

From Nov. 4 to Dec. 18, MQ-9s, flown by pilots and sensor operators at Hurlburt Field, Florida, would land their UAVs 1,100 miles away on a dirt landing strip in eastern New Mexico.

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Ground crews would then refuel and rearm each aircraft for its next flight. The goal was to validate the MQ-9’s ability to operate in austere environments, including dirt-strip landings for a rapid relaunch.

“The MQ-9 is extremely relevant in today’s fight and will be in the future as well. It allows us to go places and do things that we cannot risk sending manned aircraft – such as high-threat environments.”

65th SOS MQ-9 evaluator pilot and exercise mission commander

Lt. Col. Kurtis Paul, the 65th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) commander, said the exercise will provide essential data and lessons for the next squadron to push the concepts even further.

“On its surface, Reaper Castillo 24 is an exercise created and executed by the 65th SOS. But in reality, it’s another step in Air Force Special Operations Command’s efforts to push MQ-9 operations beyond conventional means,” Paul said. 

A mission commander whose rank and name were not provided said of the effort, “If we can free ourselves from the traditional mindset, it will make the MQ-9 combat reach nearly limitless.”

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[Ryan]

As the saying goes, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but what about an old drone? Well, the Air Force is trying to find that out.

Say hello to the MQ-9 Reaper; it’s always ready to take on high-threat missions where sending in manned aircraft just isn’t an option. For nearly two decades, it’s primarily been used to gather intelligence and deliver precision-guided munitions on specific targets.

Built by General Atomics and typically operated from traditional runways, the Air Force is starting to rethink the MQ-9 as the service continues to prepare for great power competition.

Enter Exercise Reaper Castillo. From early November to mid-December, the 65th Special Operations Squadron out of Hurlburt Field, Florida, focused on demonstrating the MQ-9’s capabilities by landing 1,200 miles away on the dirt strips of Melrose Air Force Range in New Mexico. The goal was to operate out of an austere environment and get the Reaper back in the air quickly to resume its mission.

By all accounts, they successfully pushed MQ-9 operations beyond the usual limits while collaborating with different AFSOC wings.

Commander of the 65th, Lieutenant Colonel Kurtis Paul, states that the exercise proved the Reaper is a valuable asset for special operations, even in challenging locations without a sophisticated runway.