NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- An MQ-9 Reaper successfully hit a sea-going target with an AGM-114 Hellfire missile during a joint service training exercise over the Gulf of Mexico on March 17.
This was the first time a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) hit a maritime target.
"It was the first time we had put live weapons into boats and participated in maritime (exercises)," said Capt. Timothy Ford, a 26th Weapons Squadron flight commander. "For our (RPA) community it's a big step forward, it's a mission set we had looked at for a long time and training opportunities over water are not very prevalent (at Nellis)."
In addition to this being the first time an RPA squadron hit a maritime target; it was also a chance to integrate with other aircraft including A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-35A Lightning IIs.
GA-ASI MQ-9 Reaper / Predator B
The Predator B multi-mission aircraft is highly modular and is easily configured with a variety of payloads to meet mission requirements. Predator B is capable of carrying multiple mission payloads to include:
- Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR),
- Lynx® Multi-mode Radar,
- multi-mode maritime surveillance radar,
- Electronic Support Measures (ESM),
- laser designators, and
- various weapons packages.
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