NY Air Guard's 174th Attack Wing displays new capability at Griffiss International Airport on Thursday, May 5

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An MQ-9 operated by the 174th Attack Wing in flight over Central New York.

ROME , NEW YORK (05/04/2022) (readMedia)-- The New York Air National Guard 's 174th Attack Wing will highlight a new capability for the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft that the wing operates on Thursday, May 5 at Griffid International Airport in Rome.

One of the remotely piloted aircraft will land at Griffiss International Airport, in Rome, without the traditional logistical support on the ground. Previously, a ground control unit was required to launch and land the MQ-9.

Members of the press are invited to observe the landing and speak with Col. William McCrink, the commander of the 174th Attack Wing.

WHO: Colonel William McCrink, the commander of the 174th Attack Wing, based at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse? The wing has operated the MQ-9 Reaper since 2009, providing combat air support to deployed U.S. forces.

WHAT: A demonstration of the new capabilities, allowing the MQ-9 to be more agile and dynamic, by flying the MQ-9 from airfields without the traditional ground logistical support. Previously the aircraft was launched and landed using direct line-of-sight technology and flown remotely by a satellite link.

This limited the places the MQ-9 could operate from. The system was tested in 2021 by the Air Force at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada but this is believed to be the first time an MQ-9 launched from a civilian airport, in this case Syracuse International Airport, lands remotely at another civilian airport, in this case Griffiss International Airport

WHEN: 10:30 a.m. May 5, 2022

WHERE: 660 Hanger Road, Griffiss International Airport Rome, New York

Reporters interested in covering this event must contact Master Sgt. Barbara Olney at 315-743-1032 or email her at barbara, olney@us.af.mil by 8 a.m., May 5 in order to get access to the facility.

BACKFGROUND:

The 174th Attack Wing began transitioning from the F-16 Falcon fighter to the MQ-9 in 2009. Since 2010 the wing has operated the MQ-9.

Wing airmen fly MQ-9s from an operations center at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse. The wing also conducts training for the pilot and sensor operator teams which fly the aircraft and the mechanics who keep the MQ-9 flying. The wing trains Airmen from the active Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, the Air National Guard and allied nations.

The wing was the first Air Force unit to fly an MQ-9 from a commercial airport in 2015.

The new capability is part of the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment initiative designed to allow the Air Force to operate from more locations worldwide.

The new system would also allow the 174th Attack Wing to use MQ-9s in support of civilian missions here at home, like keeping an eye on wildfires or assisting in a search and rescue effort.

The California Air National Guard has deployed its MQ-9 to support civilian fire officials in monitoring forest fires and the 174th Attack Wing has deployed personnel to California to help with that mission.

The MQ-9

The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily against dynamic execution targets and secondarily as an intelligence collection asset. Given its significant loiter time, wide-range sensors, multi-mode communications suite, and precision weapons -- it provides a unique capability to perform strike, coordination, and reconnaissance against high-value, fleeting, and time-sensitive targets.

Reapers can also perform the following missions and tasks: intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, close air support, combat search and rescue, precision strike, buddy-lase, convoy/raid overwatch, target development, and terminal air guidance. The MQ-9's capabilities make it uniquely qualified to conduct irregular warfare operations in support of combatant commander objectives.

The basic crew consists of a rated pilot to control the aircraft and command the mission, and enlisted aircrew member to operate sensors and weapons as well as a mission coordinator, when required.

The MQ-9 baseline system carries the Multi-Spectral Targeting System, which has a robust suite of visual sensors for targeting. The MTS-B integrates an infrared sensor, color/monochrome daylight TV camera, image-intensified TV camera, laser range finder /designator, and laser illuminator. The full-motion video from each of the imaging sensors can be viewed as separate video streams or fused.

The unit also incorporates a laser range finder/designator, which precisely designates targets for employment of laser-guided munitions. The Reaper is also equipped with a synthetic aperture radar to enable future GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions targeting.