Media Invited to Learn More About 174th Fighter Wing MQ-9 Operations at Fort Drum

Media Advisory

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Maj. Timothy Martin, 174th Fighter Wing Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, oversees ground crew preparing a MQ-9 for its first taxi movements at Wheeler-Sack Army Air Field

FORT DRUM, NY (10/04/2011)(readMedia)-- Members of the press are invited to get a first-hand look at the MQ-9 training operation that the New York Air National Guard's 174th Fighter Wing is establishing at Fort Drum's Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield.

WHO: 174th Fighter Wing Vice Commander Col. Charles Dorsey and Fort Drum Garrison Commander Col. Noel Nicolle.

WHAT: A Briefing on the MQ-9 training operation, the opportunity to inspect an MQ-9 and equipment employed by the 174th Fighter Wing's 274th Air Operations Squadron, and a chance to inspect the ground-based cockpit used to fly the MQ-9.

WHEN: 1 p.m., Wednesday Oct 5, 2011 ( The event should take approximately 90 minutes)

WHERE: Fort Drum Media Operations Center, #2509 Building Route 26, just south of the entrance gate to Wheeler Sack Army Airfield. From I-81 take the exit for Route 342 and head west to Route 11. Turn Left on Route 11 and turn right onto Route 26. Press will be moved to Wheeler Sack Army Airfield and returned to the media center.

Coverage Opportunities:

Interviews with Col Charles Dorsey and Col. Noel Nicolle on the MQ-9 training program and Fort Drum's support for the program. Imagery opportunities will include the interior of the Ground Control Station. An MQ-9 static display and a display of other New York Air National Guard equipment and imagery of the MQ-9 start-up and moving. (NOTE: The aircraft will not go airborne.)

BACKGROUND:

MQ-9 :

Manufactured by General Atomics, the MQ-9 is a remotely piloted vehicle that is launched by a ground crew in a combat theater and then controlled via satellite from ground control stations in the United States. Unlike the MQ-1 the MQ-9 is capable of acquiring targets and tracking them for long periods of time from high altitudes with its camera system, and engaging those targets with a variety of weapons to include laser-guided bombs, the Hellfire Air-to-ground missile, and JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) GPS –guided bombs.

The MQ-9 has a 950-horsepower turbofan engine. This allows the MQ-9 to fly faster and carry more munitions than the earlier MQ-1. The aircraft is always monitored or controlled by aircrew in the Ground Control Station (GCS) and weapons employment is always commanded by the flight crew.

The MQ-9 is launched by a ground crew and flown to altitude using a line-of-site radio system. The aircraft is then turned over to the flight crew who operate it via a satellite link.

The 174th Fighter Wing :

Since December 2009 the New York Air National Guard's 174th Fighter Wing has conducted MQ-9 flights over Afghanistan from an operations center at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse. The wing was organized in 1947 and has flown a variety of aircraft over the years. Prior to converting to MQ-9 operations the wing flew F-16C Falcons. Along with controlling MQ-9 flights from Hancock Field, the wing conducts all MQ-9 maintenance training for the Total Air Force and is also beginning to train the pilot/sensor operator teams who control the aircraft via satellite.

MQ-9 Flight Training at Fort Drum

The wing will train pilots and ground crews on MQ-9 operations using Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield as a base. Using the airfield will allow New York Air National Guard teams to launch aircraft, fly them to operating altitude, and then turn the aircraft over to a flight crew that will operate the aircraft in existing military airspace over Northern New York. MQ-9 crews will practice flying and acquiring random targets on the ground. No surveillance of area residents will be conducted

Currently members of the wing must travel to distant locations to train on MQ-9 operations. Consolidating those operations at Fort Drum will enhance training and make it more cost effective.

Eventually at $5.4 million MQ-9 Launch and Recovery facility will be constructed at air field with the support for Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division.