Iran war highlights the value of unmanned aircraft

Combat video from MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) striking targets in Iran may have surprised those who thought the iconic unmanned aircraft were destined for retirement now that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are behind us.  

The Reapers are neither stealthy nor fast and therefore seen as unsurvivable against adversaries with sophisticated air defense systems. Yet just as surprisingly, the loss of Reaper aircraft to Iranian air defenses in Operation Epic Fury tells a different story. Indeed, the MQ-9s offer insights as the Air Force develops the next generation of unmanned planes: collaborative combat aircraft (CCA).  

Originally developed as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance planes, the Reaper has evolved into a unique sensor-shooter. Without life support systems and a human pilot aboard, mission endurance extends to 24 hours and beyond. The pilots and sensor operators operating these aircraft remotely work in shifts, so they don’t face excessive fatigue. They can remain on station for hours on end waiting for a target to show itself. What’s more, RPAs can take risks that inhabited systems would not.   

Read more at Air and Space Forces Magazine