London To Sydney 500 Times

The RAF’s remotely piloted aircraft, the MQ-9 Reaper, has completed 30,000 hours of operational flying time in Afghanistan. Flying at its approximate speed of 185mph, it equates to having flown London to Sydney over 500 times.

Commenting on this notable milestone, Air Commodore Gordon, Air Officer Commanding the RAF’s Intelligence Surveillance and Targeting and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability, he said, “The continuing success of our Reaper operations is the result of fine collaborative work between the RAF and USAF. This joint effort has enabled the RAF to sustain a permanent ISTAR capability that is saving lives and delivering direct support to land operations in Afghanistan.”

Based in Kandahar, the Reaper’s daytime, low-level light and infra-red cameras has enabled it to deliver intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance service in support of British and coalition ground oeprations since 2007. It also has a strike capability, using its Paveway and Hellfire weapons.

Reaper aircraft and personnel from the RAF’s 39 Sqn – based in Creech, Nevada – are detached to the USAF’s 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron (62nd ERS) based at Kandahar Airbase.

OC 62nd ERS said, “The British contribution is significant to our operations here. They are embedded in our squadron; they are an integral part of it. They provide a lot of experienced crews as well as aircraft.”He added, “the British personnel are generally more experienced and I tend to upgrade them more quickly and put them in more supervisory roles.”

The Reaper aircraft is launched, landed and serviced by crews in Kandahar. Responsibility for flying the aircraft during the mission is then passed to UK personnel in Nevada, who maintain control by satellite links.

RAF press release

Editor: Flt Lt Paul Tester

Photographs: Sgt Ian lang

39 Sqn Reaper Kandahar Afganistan.