Alert 5

MQ-9 has landed on a highway for the first time

Posted on May 4, 2023May 4, 2023 by alert5

In a historic exercise, the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) conducted two successful highway landings in Wyoming during Exercise Agile Chariot. The MC-130J Commando II, an MQ-9 Reaper, two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, and two MH-6 Little Birds all landed on Highways 287 and 789 on Apr. 30 and May 2, 2023, respectively.

An MQ-9 Reaper lands on Highway 287 during Exercise Agile Chariot, April 30, 2023, honing capabilities linked to Agile Combat Employment. Instead of relying on large, fixed bases and infrastructure, ACE uses smaller, more dispersed locations and teams to rapidly move and support aircraft, pilots, and other personnel to wherever they are needed. There are millions of miles of public roads in the United States, including federal, state, and local roads – with Agile Combat Employment, including Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) and Integrated Combat Turnarounds (ICT), it can become millions of miles of public runways, when necessary. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Carly Kavish)

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Biden administration clears the sale of six AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters to Czech Republic

Posted on May 4, 2023 by alert5

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Czech Republic for the refurbishment and modernization of six AH-1Z and two UH-1Y Excess Defense Article (EDA) helicopters. The sale, which is valued at up to $650 million, also includes related equipment and services.

Photo: Czech Ministry of Defense

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General Atomics awarded contract for Taiwan MQ-9B procurement

Posted on May 3, 2023May 3, 2023 by alert5

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, a company based in Poway, California, has secured a contract to supply Taiwan with four MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned air vehicles. The contract, which is valued at $217.6 million, also includes two Certifiable Ground Control Stations, spares, and support equipment. The work is expected to be completed by May 5, 2025, and will be performed in Poway.

210421-N-FC670-086 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 21, 2021) An MQ-9 Sea Guardian unmanned maritime surveillance aircraft system flies over the Pacific Ocean during U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Unmanned Systems Integrated Battle Problem (UxS IBP) 21, April 21. UxS IBP 21 integrates manned and unmanned capabilities into challenging operational scenarios to generate warfighting advantages. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon Renfroe)

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RSAF conducting Exercise Wombat 23 in Australia

Posted on May 3, 2023 by alert5

Exercise Wombat 23 is taking place in Australia until Jun. 5, and it involves the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) conducting mobility training with the support of the Australian Defence Force. The exercise will involve two C-130H transport aircraft and approximately 100 personnel.

Senior Master Sgt. Denise Johnson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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Saga prefecture osprey deployment plan progresses with land sale agreement

Posted on May 2, 2023 by alert5

In Saga Prefecture, Japan, a landowners association has agreed to sell land next to Saga Airport to the Defense Ministry to facilitate the deployment of Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft. The decision came after more than two-thirds of around 250 members of the Saga prefectural fisheries cooperative federation, which includes local seaweed farmers, agreed to the sale. The Ministry’s plan to deploy 17 Osprey aircraft and around 50 helicopters to the new base will now move forward, using Saga Airport’s runway.

By Cpl Christopher Q. Stone [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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