Predator MQ-1 Armed UAV Performing Close Air Support Mission in Iraq

Released on Monday, June 20, 2005

An MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle destroyed an anti-Iraqi forces mortar launch site near Al Qaim on June 18 while assisting Marines under enemy fire.

The air strike occurred during Operation Spear in which US and Iraqi security forces in Iraq's Anbar province called in air strikes on terrorist strong holds.

An Air Force joint terminal attack controller, whose unit on the ground was under mortar attack, saw imagery from a nearby Predator assigned to another mission and requested control of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

After positive identification of the launch site, the Predator received clearance to strike with its Hellfire missile against the target.

The controller was able to see the imagery via a remote video system, which is a new technology being used by troops involved with close-air support missions. The system allows battlefield Airmen to watch live video feeds from various sensors such as the Predator. This capability provides the controller with better situational awareness of the battle space and the potential to save American and coalition troops' lives.

This new technology decreases the threat to troops on the battlefield, and commanders on the ground said they are happy to have the technology at their fingertips.

One of the significant technological advances to the system is that the newest version of the system can receive from multiple transmitters within reach, allowing it to use hundreds of assets at any give time, as opposed to the older version, which can receive only a handful of transmitters.