A pair of MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft recently flew an air-to-ground weapon system evaluation over the Utah Test and Training Range. The Reapers flew a two-ship formation for the first time en-route through civilian air space from Creech AFB, Nev., to the range, according to the May 27 release. “There were no safety violations; everything was spot on,” said SMSgt. Gregory Young, 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron evaluation production superintendent. Combat Hammer’s top-to-bottom evaluation of the Reaper’s strike capability gives combatant commanders “the necessary information to ensure they plan and pair the correct number of weapons against any given type of target,” explained Maj. John Collier, 86th FWS test evaluator. Geographically separate aircrew from several units, including the 432nd Attack Squadron at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., employed AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and GBU-12 Paveway II laser guided bombs over the range, May 12-15.
The U.S. sent Air Force F-16s over central Syria in a show of force following the Dec. 13 killing of two U.S. Army Soldiers and one American civilian interpreter by a gunman linked to the Islamic State group.
