Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 Details
 Share
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Tennessee Air Guard Remotely Pilots MQ-9 From California By Tech. Sgt. Anthony Agosti,
                118th Wing, Public Affairs, Tennessee Air National Guard
 SMYRNA Tenn. - The Tennessee Air National Guard’s 118th Wing remotely flew an MQ-9 from California to Tennessee June 7 without ground crews and support facilities usually deployed for line-of-sight taxiing, takeoff and landing. As part of exercise Whiskey Fury, designed around the Air Force’s new Agile Combat Employment model, members from the 118th Operations Group piloted the MQ-9 to a successful takeoff and landing. Additional training flights are planned to Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee, and Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, with the Civil Air Patrol trailing the airplane per Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Key to the success of this exercise is a state-of-the-art technology called Satellite Launch and Recovery (SLR), which fundamentally changes how MQ-9s are flown and supported. “What SLR does is take forward-deployed crews out of the equation,” said Lt. Col. John Woods, assistant director of operations, 118th Operations Support Squadron. The new technology significantly reduces the need for equipment and support. “The airplane is still being flown through the satellite, but based on an auto takeoff and landing profile we’ve built into it that basically allows the aircraft to go and land on its own,” Woods said. “It knows exactly where it is and where the runway is.” Woods emphasized the pilot is always in command and can take over at any time. With the first objective of the exercise met — flying an MQ-9 from California to Tennessee without using forward-deployed crews — a second goal is training. “For the past 10 years, we haven’t had the ability to do local training here, so that is a huge benefit,” said Woods. Training includes taking off from Smyrna daily to fly to Fort Campbell and Arnold AFB to practice takeoffs and landings. “Initially, we’ll be working with our Army partners to work on close air support, convoy overwatch, and other federal missions,” he said. “We’re also going to do tests and evaluations on how to refuel the MQ-9 and set up a forward arming and refueling point.” The visual of an MQ-9 flying in U.S. civilian airspace could be alarming to some not familiar with its domestic operations capabilities, but Woods explained the MQ-9 integrates exceptionally well into this role, providing instant assessment and awareness to commanders, governors, and federal leadership during natural disasters, for example. “It’s such a good platform for cameras, sensors and could become an airborne cell tower if there’s a natural disaster,” said Woods. “It can stay airborne for over 24 hours, and the payload that we can carry to support Tennesseans – and anyone affected nationally – is huge.” Woods, who piloted the MQ-9 from California to Tennessee, recognized the many support layers to make this exercise successful. “To be the first to land it [MQ-9] here in Tennessee was a phenomenal experience, and I’m completely humbled and honored, but I did not do that alone,” he said. “The fact that the MQ-9 touched down the first time as smoothly as it did is a credit to everybody in the operations group as well as the wing. Our targeting group came up with the coordinates. Our mission support group got the equipment from California. Security forces is guarding the airplane.” He added that the 163rd Attack Wing, March Air Reserve Base, California, provided the aircraft and maintenance personnel as part of the exercise. Col. Ted Geasley, 118th Wing commander, was present during the June 7 MQ-9 landing in Smyrna. He credited the California Air National Guard with laying the foundation for this successful exercise. “They’ve been using this [MQ-9] in a domestic response capability for the California wildfires for quite a while, he said. “The rest of us are taking the lessons they learned, and now we want to apply them.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Tennessee Air National Guard
 MQ-9 Reaper
 163rd Attack Wing
 California Air National Guard
 
 National Guard Conducts Patriot Exercise in Mississippi
 By Maj. Sabrina Dalton,
  Air National Guard Director Inducted into Order of the Sword
 By Master Sgt. Chelcee Arnold and Tech. Sgt. Sarah McClanahan,
  Airmen Go Off Grid for Terror Threat Training
 By Senior Airman Amy Rangel,
  More
 New England Civil Engineers Strengthen Skills During Training Exercise Guard News • 3 days ago
 Idaho Guardsmen Train with Canadian and Polish Allies Guard News • 3 days ago
 New York National Guard Headquarters Staff Marks Memorial Day Guard News • 4 days ago
 Tennessee Guard, Local Partners Practice Disaster Response Guard News • 4 days ago
 Air Guard Units Test Readiness at Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • 5 days ago
 2024 (160)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil