MQ-9 Reaper strikes maritime target during exercise
An MQ-9 Reaper UAS has successfully hit a maritime target with an AGM-114 Hellfire missile during a recent US joint service training exercise, the US Air Force (USAF) has announced.
During the exercise, the MQ-9 demonstrated its ability to strike maritime targets, while also integrating and deconflicting with other aircraft.
Capt Timothy Ford, Commander, 26th Weapons Squadron, USAF, said: 'It was the first time we had put live weapons into boats and participated in maritime [exercises].
'For our [UAS] community it's a big step forward, it's a mission set we had looked at for a long time and training opportunities over water are not very prevalent.'
Capt Ryan Cross, Training Officer, 26th Weapons Squadron, USAF, said: 'It's the first opportunity for us to fly with the F-35, talk to each other and coordinate attacks between the two platforms and ensure deconfliction while we're doing that.'
Ford added: 'As soon as it does become a situation where the shooting happens, we're the ones with the situational awareness because we've been there so long and we're able to pass that on to other fighters as they check in and build their situational awareness.
'That's our role in a lot of mission sets. It's nice to be able to prove it in a maritime environment.'
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
US Navy foresees an uncrewed future for its surface and underwater fleet
The service has been conducting various procurement and development efforts to integrate unmanned surface and underwater vehicles into its inventory.
-
Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems
As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.
-
Israel’s MALE UAVs ‘must adapt’ to Iranian-made air defences
Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
-
Hundreds more UAS sent to Ukraine forces with thousands more on the way
Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have been using UAS for effective low-cost attacks, as well as impactful web and social media footage. Thousands more have now been committed to Ukrainian forces.
-
AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems
The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.