UAVs, not just an Air Force gig anymore

Discussion in 'Military Aviation in General' started by kanakAttack, Mar 24, 2006.

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    Uncle Fester Big veiny triumphant bastard

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    ...wonder if it means anything that they're hoisting it aboard instead of doing a fly-on?
    Uncle Fester, Dec 21, 2008
    #426

  2. gaijin6423 Ask me about ninjas!

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    Does the winged individual serve as an official Mission Commander, and is there any other rating/designator/whatever you call it that can? I only ask because us Marine folk have a requirement to be either a 75XX or a 72XX MOS to do so. I got roped into working as a Scan Eagle MC in Afghanistan because I was the only 72/75XX person who was consistently co-located with the ground control station.
    gaijin6423, Dec 21, 2008
    #427
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    HeyJoe Fly Navy! ...or USMC

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    Fire Scout Brief

    Although this is dated from almost a year ago, this PMA-266 Fire Scout brief shows that Fire Scout was decoupled from deployment with LCS so it could achieve IOC on another Air Capable ship (as seen in photos). Brief also shows several mission scenarios and "coupling" with either MH-60R or S variants.

    [IMG]

    Air Force is hard over in its position that rated "aviators" (pilots or navs with an instrument rating) should operate their UAVs, but they are focused on higher altitudes with their Global Hawk, Reaper sand Preds. Army is diametrically opposed with their focus on lower altitudes and much smaller UAV variants. They are introducing their own Predator and Fire Scout variants so Air Force has tried to take Executive "Ownership" of UAVs twice now, but were rebuffed at OSD level both in both attempts. Navy has 2 Global Hawks as Maritime Demonstrators (gift to NGC when Fire Scout false-started several years ago) and is working the N-UCAS carrier based UAS as well a BAMS surveillance UAS that will serve alongside the P-8. Those higher end UAS will likely require winged aviators at the GCS. The lower end of the Naval UAS spectrum is much more like the Army model.
    HeyJoe, Dec 21, 2008
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  4. S.O.B. Registered User

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    Where are you getting that info? I'm not saying you're wrong I'm just curious. I had never heard that plan.
    S.O.B., Dec 24, 2008
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    PropAddict Now with even more awesome!

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    I always thought that was because the FARs were hard over in their position that UAVs in US airspace had to be controlled by rated pilots. No?

    <off to download new copy of FAR/AIM>
    PropAddict, Dec 24, 2008
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    HeyJoe Fly Navy! ...or USMC

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    Plenty of all sorts of UAVs are flown virtually every day by other than non rated "operators". They just aren't in the National Airspace/Airways. What happens in the MOA, stays in the MOA.
    HeyJoe, Dec 24, 2008
    #431

  7. HAL Pilot Thanks

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    The FARs are just advisory to military.
    HAL Pilot, Dec 24, 2008
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    A4sForever STILL A MEAN OL' HA'OLE MAN

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    AND ... some airline pilots, too. Not suggesting violating "the MAN's" rules & regs ... but a suggestion: just don't get caught ... :)
    A4sForever, Dec 24, 2008
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    Swanee Samsonite?! I was way off!

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    I've also heard (from the old man) that the AF wants rated guys flying them due to the weapons and what not they are carrying. They want guys who have been trained to fire weapons from airplanes firing weapons from airplanes. The Reaper is a pretty serious bombtruck. Not that we don't have E-dogs as tank commanders and artillery guys who make pretty much the same decisions (Though they do have O's looking over their shoulders). Maybe it's a jobs program to ensure that the Air Force will always have their rated guys on top? It wouldn't surprise me. :confused:
    Swanee, Dec 24, 2008
    #434

  10. squorch2 he will die without safety brief

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    I got it from the NG guys at NHA this past year... I'll try to firm it up when I get back from leave.
    squorch2, Dec 25, 2008
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    Flash SEVAL/ECMO

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    USAF UAV's are also usually only the most expensive ones, a single Reaper costs about $13 million and a Global Hawk a lot more. Most Army UAV's are much cheaper with only the MQ-1C Warrior approaching that cost.
    Flash, Dec 25, 2008
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  12. UpstateSouthpaw On to Whiting North

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    I know this is an old post but I have a question... Is the pilot of the Fire Scout actually on the ship in a little room with a tv screen, a joystick and a flight suit on? (this seems like it might cause problems because of the ship pitching and rolling and giving the pilot more to deal with) Or is he in Las Vegas in the back of a converted cargo trailer like the Predator pilots (I don't know exactly where the predator pilots are but I'm pretty sure they're not in the same theater as the actual planes)
    UpstateSouthpaw, Mar 12, 2009
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    bubblehead Registered Member

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    I remember reading on the Internet's that Predator pilots are at Nellis.
    bubblehead, Mar 12, 2009
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  14. DanMa1156 Knighthawks

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    DanMa1156, Mar 12, 2009
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    bubblehead Registered Member

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    oops.. my bad..
    bubblehead, Mar 12, 2009
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    phrogdriver liberty risk

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    Most UASs are not flown like an actual aircraft anymore. The operator just specifies/creates waypoints and the aircraft flies to them. It's not like a flt sim, yanking and banking with stick, rudder, and throttle. Don't know about the Fire Scout in particular.
    phrogdriver, Mar 12, 2009
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  17. HackerF15E Active Member

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    All of the Predator variants (M/RQ-1/9) are "hand-flown". The Global Hawk is operated as you say, with preplanned waypoints.
    HackerF15E, Mar 13, 2009
    #442

  18. cmhumphr CuMhUmPeR

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    So starting in about 2011, the Navy fleet will be one third UAV? Sorry for the late reply.
    cmhumphr, Mar 18, 2009
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    eddie Working Plan B

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    That soon?
    eddie, Mar 20, 2009
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  20. bbf7b2 Member

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    When I was on LCS-1 I talked to a Chief who said he was the one who "flew" the Fire Scout, flew in quotations because flying the Fire Scout involves sitting at a computer station and plugging in waypoints and altitudes, and just watching the monitor. The only thing that was unclear was on the armed missions who had the weapons release athority.
    bbf7b2, Mar 20, 2009
    #445

  21. Lobster Active Member

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    Yeah that seems waaaaaaay early...
    Lobster, Mar 20, 2009
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    HeyJoe Fly Navy! ...or USMC

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    Fire Scout, arriving

    [IMG]

    [IMG]

    090508-N-2821G-158 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 8, 2009) The Northrop Grumman Corporation-developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle MQ-8B Fire Scout flies over the Atlantic Ocean. Fire Scout is embarked aboard the guided-missile frigate USS McInerney (FFG 8), while the ship prepares for an upcoming counter-illicit trafficking deployment to Latin America, where the ship is scheduled to use Fire Scout to assist with counter-drug operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg/Released)
    HeyJoe, Jun 15, 2009
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    HeyJoe Fly Navy! ...or USMC

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    [IMG]

    090508-N-2821G-146 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 8, 2009) The Northrop Grumman Corporation-developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle MQ-8B Fire Scout hovers over the flight deck of the guided-missile frigate USS McInerney (FFG 8). McInerney is preparing for an upcoming counter-illicit trafficking deployment to Latin America, where the ship is scheduled to use Fire Scout to assist with counter-drug operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg/Released)
    HeyJoe, Jun 15, 2009
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    HeyJoe Fly Navy! ...or USMC

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    [IMG]

    090508-N-2821G-059 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 8, 2009) The Northrop Grumman Corporation-developed Unmanned Aerial Vehicle MQ-8B Fire Scout hovers over the flight deck of the guided-missile frigate USS McInerney (FFG 8). McInerney is preparing for an upcoming counter-illicit trafficking deployment to Latin America, where the ship is scheduled to use Fire Scout to assist with counter-drug operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg/Released)
    HeyJoe, Jun 15, 2009
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    Flash SEVAL/ECMO

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    What is with the special landing pad in the third photo?
    Flash, Jun 15, 2009
    #450
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