The US Air Force has announced another milestone for its MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The drone completed its first landing on a dirt landing strip, proving its enhanced operational capabilities and potential for future combat scenarios.
The trial, conducted at a remote airstrip in West Texas, was held by the 26th Special Tactics Squadron and 311th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron.
According to a press release, the MQ-9 Reaper usually takes off and lands using line-of-sight antennas, requiring manual control by an aircrew.
However, the exercise showed that the UAV can take off and land from any location worldwide.
“This is a significant achievement,” director of operations Lt. Col. Brian Flanigan said, adding that the test has proven that the Reaper “is no longer beholden to the ‘leash’ of perfectly paved runways or line-of-sight antennas.”
‘Transforming for the Future’
The milestone meets the US Air Force’s goals of being “ready now” and “transforming for the future.”
Flanigan explained that the capability will be critical in future warfare, in which having a smaller footprint, distributed operations, and increased survivability are a huge advantage.
It also allows the UAV to offer “off the menu” options not previously possible with other remotely-piloted aircraft.
“We are continuing to expand MQ-9 Reaper capabilities,” chief pilot Maj. Dan Carlson stated. “The unique ability to maneuver the MQ-9 to operate anytime, anyplace is a relatively new capability and one that is transforming how we prepare for tomorrow’s fight as well as today’s.”
