Page 4 - Aerotech News and Review, May 13, 2022

Edwards AFB hosts 163rd Attack Wing MQ-9
by Master Sgt. Neil Ballecer
Edwards AFB, Calif.
In an unprecedented move towards Gen. CQ Brown’s charge to “Accelerate Change or Lose,” the 163rd Attack Wing executed their first ever MQ-9 Agile Combat Employment to a Forward Operating Site, flying from March Air Reserve Base to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., May 4, 2022.
The groundbreaking sortie included the use of the MQ-9’s Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability and showcased the first employment of Multi-Capable Airmen to rapidly recover, re- fuel, and rearm the MQ-9 at the forward site with a manning and equipment footprint signifi- cantly smaller than a typical Launch and Recov- ery Element. For the 163rd, ACE and MCA take specific Airmen and enables them to learn and execute everything about the mission making a more cohesive team. This shows the whole Airmen concept on so many levels.
“It’s the next step in evolving our platform to meet the evolving global threat environment,” said Maj Shanna, 160th Attack Squadron Assis- tant Director of Operations. “We are no longer confined to operating out of large established bases — now we can move and relocate as the mission requires.”
Almost 100 years ago, the father of our Mod- ern U.S. Air Force, Gen. Henry H. “Hap” Ar- nold predicted, “The next war may be fought by airplanes with no men in them at all ... Take everything you’ve learned about aviation in war throw it out of the window, and let’s go to work on tomorrow’s aviation. It will be different from anything the world has ever seen.”
Maj. Greg, the 160th ATKS Director of Op-
Air Force photograph by Madeline Guadarrama
An MQ-9 Reaper from the 163rd Attack Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., lands at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., May 4, 2022. The aircraft conducted an Agile Combat Employment (ACE) to a Forward Operating Site (FOS). Helping the 163rd ATKW achieve this ACE goal was the 160th Attack Squadron and the 492nd Attack Squadron.
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Aerotech News and Review
May 13, 2022
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ever flight to a FOS was preceded by months of developing techniques and procedures to enable the safe execution of the flight. Today’s sortie helps the MQ-9 enterprise bridge from regional support to national support, no longer tethered to a single main base.”
Arnold’s bold statement is the 163rd’s mantra.
To date, the 163rd ATKW is poised to utilize Auto Takeoff and Auto Landing to prove that ACE can successfully be incorporated in the mis- sion. Bringing to bear innovative tactics, tech-
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