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MQ-1, MQ-9 aircrews help liberate Manbij
By Senior Airman Christian Clausen
432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs In 2016, 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing MQ-1B Predator and MQ-9 Reaper
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. —
In 2016 MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reap-
er aircrews assisted coalition partners in
the reclamation of Manbij, Syria, from
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria forces.
Pilots and sensor operators assigned
to squadrons across the 432nd Wing
and the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing
provided the close air support and recon-
naissance needed for coalition partners
to drive ISIS fighters out of the city.
In January 2014 ISIS took control of
Manbij and for more than two years used
the city as a central coordination hub for
logistics flow of foreign fighters to funnel
in and out of Iraq and Syria, as well as,
coordinating operations in Europe and
elsewhere.
When thousands of U.S. backed
fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces
launched an offensive in late May to take
back the city, the MQ-1 and MQ-9 air-
crews were there for support.
“From May to August 2016 over the
two month campaign to free Manbij
from the rule of ISIS, MQ-1Bs and MQ-
9s flew nearly 500 sorties from our cock-
pits in the continental United States,”
said Col. Case Cunningham, 432nd
WG/432nd AEW commander. “Those
sorties resulted in nearly 11,000 hours
of persistent attack and reconnaissance
in direct support of our partnered forces
on the ground.”
The aircrews began supporting with
battlefield preparation by focusing on
reconnaissance to help support the battle
plan. As the partnered forces encircled
the city, the MQ-1 and MQ-9 aircrews
reinforced with armed over watch and
attack capabilities.
While supporting the partnered forces
on the ground, aircrews experienced
some challenges during the urban en-
gagements in built-up areas.
“It was significantly difficult in the
end because there were snipers and
improvised explosive devices in the city
center, making it hard for the SDF to
advance,” said 1st Lt. Gregg, 432nd WG
MQ-9 pilot. “We had to maintain very
specific look angles down alleys while
maintaining a close eye for civilians. That
required very precise strikes and MQ-1
and MQ-9s were able to fulfill that role.”
Not only did the aircrews have to em-
ploy within close proximity to civilians,
but ground forces as well.
“One of the things I saw in Manbij
that was truly unique was the proximity
we were finding a lot of the targets to
friendly forces,” said Lt. Col. Ronnie, a
432 WG squadron commander. “They
were sometimes within 100 meters and
sometimes inside of 50 meters.”
Ronnie expressed that employing
weapons so close to friendlies, while
News
aircrews assisted coalition partners in the reclamation of Manbij, Syria, from Islamic State
of Iraq and Syria forces. Pilots and sensor operators assigned to squadrons across the
432nd Wing and the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing provided the close air support and
reconnaissance needed for coalition partners to drive ISIS fighters out of the city.
nerve-racking, required the best his
aircrews could deliver.
“During a danger close event, we have
to be very cognizant of where the friend- minute we would have to engage the
lies are in real time, if they’re moving
or not, where the enemy is and how the
trajectory of the weapon will impact,”
Gregg said. “It takes more brain bytes
to keep everything in order because you
want to eliminate the enemy, but also
don’t want to jeopardize the friendlies.
It’s more stress than in other shots.”
Gregg went on to say working together
as a crew is key to a successful employ-
ment. Understanding the joint terminal
attack controller and the ground com-
mander’s intent in real-time and being
proactive as a cohesive unit keeps the
ground forces safe while protecting
civilians.
“The [coalition] had to trust that we
were able to precisely put munitions
where they needed without harming
them or civilians,” Gregg said.
This represents the biggest challenge
for sensor operators who are responsible
for successfully guiding the weapons by
laser to the target.
“We would be doing a normal scan
and then go right into a troops in con-
tact situation. Within three minutes we
3April 14, 2017
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U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christian Clausen Aircrew knew they had a significant
impact when they saw footage of the
locals reclaiming their city.
“Initially you don’t realize the impact
you’ve made, but upon reflection, you
realize it’s a significant achievement to
take the city back from ISIS,” Gregg said.
would engage the enemy,” said Staff Sgt. “Being able to see civilians return home
John, 432nd WG MQ-9 sensor operator. to live their normal life is an amazing
“The hardest part was staying mentally feeling.”
and physically focused because at any
While under ISIS rule, men were
enemy.” forced to grow their beards and women
were forced to wear face-covering veils.
During the Manbij offensive, MQ-1 Upon the reclamation of their town, men
and MQ-9 aircrews employed over 300 cut their beards and women burned their
AGM-114 Hellfires against ISIS which veils in celebration.
accounted for approximately 40 percent
of the total kinetic strikes conducted “It’s an amazing experience to have
by any coalition aircraft during the two such a role in this offensive and bring
month battle. MQ-1 and MQ-9 aircrews peace back to Manbij,” John said. “I know
also guided weapons from other coali- every day when I go to work I’m making a
tion strike aircraft by using their laser difference. Regardless of if I’m gathering
to designate the target. intelligence or on the front line dropping
munitions I know that when I go home
Despite the large number of strikes, we did something to better the world.”
the MQ-1 and MQ-9 aircrews employed
through precise engagement with the The aircrews also knew it wouldn’t
use of Hellfire missiles, designed for low have been possible without the intel-
collateral damage. ligence and precision guided weapons
provided.
“The people we were fighting were not
the residents of Manbij,” Ronnie said. “What we do is absolutely critical,”
“We didn’t want to completely uproot said Lt. Col. Erik, a 432 WG squadron
the populace and, ultimately, as a fighting commander. “The effects we have mean
force we wanted for them to have a home real effects for people on the ground, for
to go back to.” not only our friendly troops but for in-
nocent civilians trapped under ISIS rule.
By the middle of August of 2016, the The work we do and can provide directly
MQ-1 and MQ-9 aircrews, with coalition enables our friendly forces to come home,
partners successfully eradicated the ISIS for them to push ISIS out and for people
presence in Manbij. to get on with their lives.”
These engagements are made pos-
sible by a set of determined, precise
and professional Airmen whose skill
improves every day while keeping
friendlies safe.
“Our aircraft is very capable because
it has persistence, sensors that can see
a lot of detail and provide coverage,
as well as, weapons that can provide a
low collateral damage strike, but ulti-
mately it’s the people,” Erik said. “It’s
our crews training, our professional-
ism and dedication to the mission that
enables us to achieve these effects over
the battlefield.”
The Airmen flying MQ-1s and MQ-
9s in these combat operations are just
one more part of a joint and coalition
team waging a dedicated, diligent and
disciplined fight to free local populations
from the rule of ISIS day in and day out
while protecting civilians in a way that is
unprecedented in the history of warfare.
“For the past 70 years, the Air Force
has been breaking barriers as a member
of the finest joint warfighting team on
the planet and what the joint warfighting
team accomplished in Manbij with our
coalition partners in the air and part-
nered forces on the ground is evidence of
the fact that the military defeat of ISIS is
inevitable,” Cunningham said.