Page 5 - Aerotech News and Review 11-20-15

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Southwest Asia
tions Group commander. $LUPHQ DVVLJQHG WR WKH WK ([SHGLWLRQDU\$LUFUDIW 0DLQWHQDQFH 6TXDGURQ UHFRYHU DQ (4 *OREDO +DZN DW DQ
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Three RQ-4 Global Hawks were FRPSOHWHGLWVWKVRUWLHRQ9HWHUDQV'D\
on its nearly 131-foot wingspan, the FRQYHUWHGWRDQ(4UHOD\FRQ¿JXUD-
(4*OREDO+DZNXQPDQQHGDLUFUDIW WLRQFDUU\LQJWKH%DWWOH¿HOG$LUERUQH ity between coalition partners, which WRGRWKDW´%UDGOH\VDLG³,WZLOODOVR return the aircraft to mission ready.
&RPPXQLFDWLRQ1RGH%$&1LQ LVYLWDOZKHQDWWHPSWLQJWRGHFRQÀLFW allow allied troops on the ground to However, these aircraft are usually
descended from its 60,000-foot perch JHWLQWRXFKZLWKRXUMHWV´ able to have a day off in between their
to enhance communications between airspace and prioritize targets on the 30-plus hour missions.
for the 500th time, coming to rest at Once the Global Hawk’s mission is
the operators on the ground and air. ground. complete it returns home where main- Editor’s note: Full names are not
an undisclosed location in Southwest ³7KH(4*OREDO+DZN¶VSULPDU\ ³,IDQDOOLHG))LJKWLQJ)DOFRQ tainers are able to complete ground used in the story to protect the indi-
$VLD1RY maintenance within five hours to viduals involved.
PLVVLRQLV%$&1ZKLFKLVHVVHQ- aircraft needed to talk to one of our
The Veterans Day landing was an WLDOO\DFHOOSKRQHWRZHULQWKHVN\´
F-15s, this Global Hawk enables them
historic one for the Global Hawk. It said Master Sgt. Matthew, the 380th
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system reached the 500-sortie mile-
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hours logged, this weapon system in support of Operation Inherent Re-
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is living up to the nickname “work-
KRUVH´ The Global Hawk helps fight the

“We call this one the workhorse war against Islamic State of Iraq and
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VDLG6WDII6JW%UDGOH\DWK([- the Levant by enabling U.S. forces on
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the ground to radio in an airstrike to
Squadron tactical aircraft maintainer
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pretty big accomplishment, especially munication gap from the ground to
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elevations as high as 60,000 feet.
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“When you have guys on the
several different configurations of JURXQG¿JKWLQJWKHZDUDQG\RXKDYH

the Global Hawk to provide the intel- the Global Hawk in the air acting as

ligence, surveillance and reconnais- a satellite, it ensures the guys on the
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sance capabilities they require. VDLG6HQLRU$LUPHQ0LFKDHODWK
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“These platforms are on both ends
journeyman. “Flying at altitudes of
of the kill table, from developing tar-
60,000 feet gives the Global Hawk
gets to enabling strikes through com- 8$9DQDGGHGOHYHORIVHFXULW\´
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November 20, 2015 Aerotech News and Review 5

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