On Sept. 10, the Air Force conducted the first flight of an MQ-9A Reaper that had been configured to carry eight AGM-114 Hellfire missiles - twice the of its original configuration. The 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada conducted the flight test, according to an AF media release. An MQ-9 software upgrade is expected by year’s end making doubling its capacity, the AF said. In the past, Reapers could only care up to four Hellfires, two each on the outboard station of each wing. With the upgrade, stations used for fuel tanks or 500-pound bombs will be replaced by Hellfires. (Source: AF Times 10/01/20) https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2020/10/01/double-the-firepower-mq-9-tests-flying-with-eight-hellfire-missiles/ Mississippi Note: The MQ-9 Reaper made its debut for in April 2018 at the Wings Over Columbus Air and Space Expo at Columbus AFB. Aircrew, intelligence and maintenance personnel from the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing from Creech AFB, Nev., briefed attendees in the MQ-9 display area and communicated the capabilities of the aircraft, explained the 432nd’s mission with the Remotely Piloted Aircraft enterprise. It was the first time the MQ-9 model made an appearance in Mississippi and was its first stop in the 2018 campaign to share knowledge of the MQ-9's operations. (Source: 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing 04/25/2018)
No comments:
Post a Comment