From a base in Nevada, the U.S. is flying over 1,000 UAVs each day in Iraq...something that will no doubt continue after we've left there.
Posted on 03/29/2006 3:28:05 PM PST by Cecily
An MQ-1B Predator unmanned aerial vehicle engaged three insurgents in the process of planting a homemade bomb along a road near Balad Air Base, Iraq, yesterday evening and launched an AGM-114 Hellfire missile against the group. The Predator monitored the three terrorists for about a half hour while they used a pick ax to dig a hole in the road, placed an explosive round in the hole, and strung wires from the hole to a ditch on the side of the road. When it was clear the individuals were placing a bomb, the Predator launched the 100-pound Hellfire missile, killing all three insurgents.
"This is a prime example of how airpower is supporting the fight on the ground," Air Force Brig. Gen. Frank Gorenc, commander of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad, said. "We're able to provide a persistent view of the battlefield to commanders on the ground and, if called upon, put a weapon on a target within minutes."
Using joint Army and Air Force trend analysis and past incident reporting from the area, the Predator was assigned to monitor the general location where the insurgents were ultimately found. "Based on the information we had available, we had a pretty good idea there might be some activity in the area, and we were right," Gorenc said. "This strike should send a message to our enemies that we're watching you, and we will take action against you any time, day or night, if you continue to stand in the way of progress in Iraq."
(Excerpt) Read more at defenselink.mil ...
From a base in Nevada, the U.S. is flying over 1,000 UAVs each day in Iraq...something that will no doubt continue after we've left there.
I love a happy ending.
WOOT!!!! They are finally realizing just how bad for the country terrorists are!!!!
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I'd call this the future of air warfare, but since it is already happening, I'd be a little late.
Holy mackarel!
They got 1000 pilots sitting in a big hangar somewhere in Nevada?
Excellent news.
Heh heh heh. Kind of like "dig your own grave and then die". He he he.
I LOVE good news! :-)
I love the end result,but, in a half an hour couldn't they have gotten some troops there to do the same thing and save a million on missile costs?
Excellent... I wish we could see the video...
Hellfires are cheap. Much, much less than a million dollars. And we killed the badguys without risking the life of a single American...whose lives are priceless. Sounds to me like we got a bargain.
I like the missile option better, especially if the word gets out to the bad guys. No chance to run and hide from soldiers or engage them in a fight; you just get nailed by a big bomb.
Sounds good to me, I have no idea what a Hellfire costs. Some guys were high fiving while watching the computer screen for sure.
Hellfires are $100K a copy. About what an up-armored HMMWV costs.
Letting them waste their last moments on earth digging a hole is a nice touch.
I hate to do this, but this is only two posts down the list:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1605722/posts
Thanks for the info.
A Hellfire costs anywhere from $25,000 to $75,000 depending on the variant. It must be frustrating to be a terrorist. Not even a hint anyone knows you're there until...BOOM. A small, laser guided missile tears you to pieces. The Israelis use them with similar effects when they are hunting terrorist leadership.
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