Unmanned Aircraft Transform Combat Operations

American Forces Press Service ^ | Spc. Jason Jordan, USA

[SandRat]

KIRKUK, Iraq, Jan. 31, 2008 – They are known as the “commander's eyes on the battlefield.” Coalition forces have used them to find roadside bombs, track the enemy’s movement, clear convoy routes and locate key targets -- all without having to leave the relative safety of their bases.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Thornthwaite and Army Spc. William Arms, with the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion; and Dave Hill, a civilian field representative for Aircraft Armaments Inc., prepares a Shadow 200 unmanned aircraft system for launch. The unit has used the Shadow to monitor the battlefield since its arrival in Iraq’s Kirkuk province in October. Photo by Spc. Jason Jordan, USA  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Remote- and satellite-controlled unmanned aircraft systems are transforming the way the military conducts aerial reconnaissance, surveillance and target-acquisition missions.

Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team have been using the Shadow unmanned systems to monitor the battlefield since they arrived in northeastern Iraq’s Kirkuk province in October.

"The Shadow has been a tremendous asset to our brigade's combat operations," Army Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Thornthwaite, unmanned aircraft systems platoon sergeant in the brigade’s Special Troops Battalion, said. "We have been able to get a picture of the battlefield before we send our troops outside the wire."

The soldiers complete rigorous maintenance and performance checks before each launch of the Shadow, sometimes taking the system completely apart and putting it back together to ensure the machine is operational. They lock on to the Shadow's frequency using a satellite, monitoring and controlling the system from a ground control station. The system transmits images in near-real time, and soldiers view the footage on television sets and computer monitors.

The battalion’s unmanned aircraft system operators have twice located terrorists planting improvised explosive devices and tracked their movement, allowing safe disposition of the bombs and the capture of the bombers.

"With these systems, we are able to stay on top, stay observant and keep an eye out," said Army Sgt. Josh Nelson, UAS training, knowledge and standardization operator. "We are similar to a TV crew, but with a much bigger mission."

These systems give coalition forces the upper hand on the battlefield and save lives, said UAS operator Army Spc. William Arms.

"When we discover an IED using the UAS, that is one less IED that can kill an American soldier," he said. "These systems give us a much-needed advantage. We are in the enemy's backyard, and we are unfamiliar with this terrain. Using the Shadow allows us to look around the corner without having to walk around out there."

Despite the important contributions they make, the unmanned aircraft systems operators insist their job is only to help those who do the “real work.”

"The guys on the ground still do the work; they have the tough job. We are here for them; we do our job for them," Arms said. "They are out there protecting us, and we are just trying to protect them, too."

(Army Spc. Jason Jordan serves in public affairs with the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, Multinational Division North.)

Related Sites:
Multinational Corps Iraq

	Army Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Thornthwaite, a crew chief with the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, conducts maintenance checks on a Shadow unmanned aircraft system. The unit has used the Shadow to monitor the battlefield since its arrival in Iraq's Kirkuk province in October. Photo by Spc. Jason Jordan, USA   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	Army Pfc. Jan Gaboury, an air vehicle operator with the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, monitors the flight of a Shadow unmanned aircraft system. The unit has used the Shadow to monitor the battlefield since its arrival in Iraq’s Kirkuk province in October. Photo by Spc. Jason Jordan, USA    Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

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[ASA Vet]

MI Ping

Special attention: Old Sarge.

[null and void]

Thanks!

[Old Sarge]

LOL! We started hearing “UAS” instead of “UAV” while in theater. Can you imagine the comments?

[patton]

Where do they get these PhD Privates?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

An early version of one of these is at the Seattle Air Museum. Ugly little duck.

[null and void]

I suppose you think the A-10 is ugly too?

[DCBryan1]

Yeah, ive been with UAV’s since 2005. I first heard UAS in 2006 at the USSOCOM conference in VA. Janes, DIA, etc started using the UAS moniker since UAS’s are considered alot more “purple” or joint driven. With that being said, UAS’s are finding their way to alot more BCTs and Special Ops units. I can envision the Shadow (seen on my handle page——click my name) being deployed in 3-bird platoons at the BN level, and the Predator (ERMP) to each BCT.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Oh yeah. These uglies fly over our house every weekend from Whiteman.

[DCBryan1]

LOL...the 96U and 350U school at Fort Huachuca are pretty demanding. I did the UAS Commander and Staff Officer Course out at black tower. It was only 5 days, but honestly, should be around 3-5 weeks. There is ALOT of information out there for UAS PLs and Det Commanders.

[patton]

...and it is amazing what the kids can do with technology.

I am awed.

[patton]

Have you had a chance to try a Srubbing Bubble?

What did you think?

[DCBryan1]

The youngest MOS-Q’d soldier my platoon has is a 19 year old PFC that just got out of 52DU2 course. She was in pagentry and top in her H.S. class. She wants to be a UAS warrant. Our youngest is still out at Huachuca and will join the brigade in country. I don’t think he has turned 18 yet, but is in 33W school and still has to do the U2 course. LONG courses....we don’t see them for almost a year after they get out of basic.

[patton]

Sounds like DLI.

[MediaMole]

The military has changed. My grandfather had an 8th grade education and became an officer. Today, I talked with a sergeant who has a master’s degree.

[patton]

I know lots of NCO’s with Master’s degrees.

Heck, I am a former NCO myself - 11B2PLGMH.

Now I am a rocket scientist, of all silly things.

[DCBryan1]

DLI..."Da love institute".

I scored 1 point under to go out there. We have 2 guys in our BCT out there. I think its about a 20 month course. I wish I could be stuck in Monteray area for 2 years. I would be driving down to Paso Robles to wine country every weekend....hiccup! As far as the srubbers, our AAI and General Atomics contract guys do all that.

[ASA Vet]

This threads posters make me grin. I’m glad I started our ping list.

[archy]

We are very quickly reaching the point at which a FR UAV ping list would be useful....