Predator B providing California wildfire recon
A California Air National Guard (CA ANG) Predator B/MQ-9 RPAS is providing real-time reconnaissance for California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) firefighting operations in Southern California.
The aircraft is equipped with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' (GA-ASI’s) Lynx multi-mode radar with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to detect fire lines even through smoke-filled skies. The Multi-Spectral Targeting System provides the EO/IR cameras with live high-definition colour and infrared video feeds to ground command posts. This 24/7 real-time imagery delivers critical situational awareness to both ground and air fire suppression operations.
CA ANG’s 163rd Attack Wing routinely performs aerial reconnaissance for firefighting missions upon request by CAL FIRE. Operations of the 163rd are based at March Air Reserve Base (ARB) in Riverside, California, and are deployable throughout Southern and Central California. CA ANG, the US Air Force and GA-ASI have created a joint back-up plan to launch and recover CA ANG MQ-9 aircraft when take-off or landing at March ARB is not feasible due to operational constraints, such as weather.
Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI, said: ‘Providing support for natural disasters is just one more way to utilise our aircraft. GA-ASI is always pleased to know our products can and will assist when these kinds of situations occur.’
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
US Army moves forward on future tactical UAS without AeroVironment
AeroVironment has been dropped from the hunt to provide the US Army with a Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS), leaving Griffon Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada and Textron Systems in the running.
-
Navantia, SAES and Perseo to jointly develop line of uncrewed underwater vehicles
At FEINDEF in Madrid, Navantia, SAES and Perseo announced an intention to develop a line of uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs).
-
British Army eyes new small armed UAS capability
The UK MoD has released a request for information on small armed UAS which could be used by the British Army.
-
General Atomics delivers first new build extended range MQ-9A to US Marine Corps
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) has delivered the first new build MQ-9 Extended Range (ER) to the US Marine Corps (USMC).
-
Highway landing opens door to future MQ-9 Reaper capabilities
The US has landed an MQ-9 Reaper UAV on a highway for the first time as part of Exercise Agile Chariot.