8th Iraqi Army Division Familiarizes With Shadow UAV

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^ | Sgt. Rodney Foliente, USA

[SandRat]

An officer with the 8th Iraqi Army Division studies the body of a Shadow tactical unmanned aerial vehicle prior to its launch during familiarization training conducted by Soldiers of Company A, Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at Camp Echo, Iraq, March 29. Photo by Sgt. Rodney Foliente.

CAMP ECHO — Officers from the 8th Iraqi Army Division participated in familiarization training and a launch demonstration of tactical unmanned aerial vehicles at Camp Echo, Iraq, March 29.

Soldiers from Company A, Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted the training by reviewing technical data, explaining training requirements for operators and maintenance personnel of the TUAV and launching a Shadow TUAV to demonstrate its surveillance capabilities first-hand.

“We were happy to show them our capabilities for surveillance and they were pleased to learn,” said Staff Sgt. Henry Henson, TUAV sergeant, Co. A.

He said the Iraqis expressed a lot of interest in obtaining a similar system through the Iraqi government.

“We’re hoping for future joint operations, assisting them in learning the capabilities until they can be self-sustaining,” he said.

“The demonstration was excellent,” said Lt. Col. Kassim Kathem, commander for the 8th IA Div. military intelligence battalion. “We hope this surveillance capability will be available to every Iraqi soldier and officer as they conduct their missions. We hope to have a [UAV] unit.”

Kathem said they appreciated the coalition forces’ assistance with UAVs in the past, but felt that “Iraqi personnel could use this technology more effectively because they know the area better. Our units could have greater command and control of our areas of responsibility with such an asset.”

[SandRat]

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