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While the MQ-1 has provided many years of service, the time has
come for the Air Force to fly the more capable MQ-9 exclusively, and
retire the MQ-1 in early 2018 to keep up with the continuously
evolving battlespace environment.
The MQ-9 is better
equipped than the MQ-1 due to its increased speed, high-definition
sensors and the ability to carry more munitions. These combat
attributes allow the MQ-9 to complete a wider array of mission sets
which can help the Air Force stay prepared in the fight.
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December 8, 2016 - A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper awaits
maintenance at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The MQ-1 Predator has
provided many years of service and the time has come for the Air
Force to transition to the more capable MQ-9 exclusively, and retire
the MQ-1 in early 2018 to keep up with the continuously evolving
battlespace environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman
Christian Clausen)
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"When you ask about readiness, you have to ask ready for
what?" said Col. Joseph, 432nd Operations Group commander.
"If we talk about the things we could be ready for and what
we should be asking our attack squadrons to do, then
transitioning to an all MQ-9 force is imperative for
readiness."
Current areas of responsibility calls
upon combat RPAs for more precise close air support
engagements from the attack squadrons, a considerable change
from the days when MQ-1s and MQ-9s were used solely for
intelligence gathering and real-time reconnaissance.
"The reason that the MQ-9
has turned into a CAS platform, and this is the key point,
is the fusion of two things," he said. "The first thing is
the technology. We took an airplane and outfitted it with
more raw power and capability, but then we did the other
half and matted that technology with a professional
aircrew."
Joseph also explained a third item which
is the trust developed with combatant commanders and troops
on the ground. This confidence combined with an
ever-changing battlefield spawned increased demand and
desire for more and more combat RPA support.
While
the MQ-1 and the crews who flew them proved their weapons
proficiency, it was never originally designed to carry
weapons, resulting in a limited 200-pound payload. The
demand for more attack capabilities exceeded the MQ-1s
design.
"In the case of the MQ-1, I think we wanted
more out of it but we were at a physical stop on the
airplane and needed a new one," Joseph said.
The
fresh MQ-9 design picked up where the MQ-1 left off,
boasting a nearly 4,000-pound payload with the ability to
carry both missiles and bombs.
These upgraded
capabilities directly impact combat readiness and
transitioning to just the MQ-9 will also help the aircrews
stay primed and ready to go.
"Having a single
aircraft buys more flexibility, simplifies training and
logistics and gives our people more [career progression]
opportunities," Joseph said. "I can't move my people in
between squadrons without paying the penalty of having to
train them on another aircraft”
The Air Force will no
longer have to maintain a training pipeline or equipment on
two separate aircraft which also eliminates the cost of
operating two different airframes. Instead, everything will
be specific to an all MQ-9 force.
Currently, the
20th Attack Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri,
is making the conversion from MQ-1 to MQ-9.
"Right
now the plan is to stop flying the MQ-1 in 2018, and that
means we need to get transitioned this year," said Lt. Col.
James, 20th Attack Squadron commander. "As part of that we
are going to stop flying the MQ-1 completely by July 1,
2017. We will gradually stand up our number of combat lines
on the MQ-9 so by the end of the year we are only an MQ-9
squadron."
What is unique for James' squadron is some
20th ATKS aircrews are training on the MQ-9 for two to three
months while home station crews are still flying the MQ-1 in
daily combat missions overseas.
"For the better part
of the last few months I've had upwards of 30 percent of my
squadron gone at any time," James said. "It's been quite a
challenge, but the motivation is very high to transition to
this more capable airframe, and my squadron is excited to
take it to combat."
"We're converting an MQ-1
squadron in combat 24/7/365 to an MQ-9 squadron in combat
operations without taking a single day out of combat,"
Joseph said. "The herculean efforts done by the 20th ATKS is
nothing short of remarkable."
The 20th ATKS and every
unit which flew the MQ-1 achieved significant combat zone
effects daily while laying the foundation for future combat
RPAs.
"I think when we look at the legacy of the
MQ-1 we're going to be scratching our heads wondering how we
did so much with so little," Joseph said. "The men and women
flying them starting with two squadrons took a science
project and throughout many evolutionary changes made it
what it is today."
The MQ-1 began as the RQ-1
Predator, an unarmed RPA flown by line-of-sight. Some
changes include the adding of the Multi-Spectral Targeting
system, the addition of weapons and remote-split operations
capability.
"The MQ-1 is a great example where the
Air Force took a technology demonstrator and turned it into
a major weapons system having daily effects on the
battlefield," James said. "We have found how to fly an
imperfect weapons system very well, and I think we have
maximized the effectiveness that we can get out of the MQ-1.
I have no doubt that we will continue to find ways to be
more effective in combat with the MQ-9."
James also
said the desire for the real-time reconnaissance and
persistent strike capabilities that combat RPA aircrew
provide to the combatant commanders would never stop.
"We're hitting a home run by going to the MQ-9," James
said. "We have made a difference."
By U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Christian Clausen
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
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