The MQ-9 in service with the U.S. Air Force has carried out an Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC) test and the drone is now cleared for Agile Combat Employment operations.
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessica Sanchez
A specialized launch and recovery crew is no longer required when the MQ-9 land and the unmanned air vehicle can now be diverted to a foreign field where it has never been before.
The test was carried out by the 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron on Jul. 8. On the first day, the drone was flown from Creech to Cannon air force base using satellite control. The landing reference points were generated using imagery captured by onboard cameras. On the second day, the aircraft was sent to Holloman air force base but the reference data for landing were gathered using an external targeting pod.
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