AF announces basing candidates for active-duty MQ-1/9 remote split ops squadron

by Ann Stefanek, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Air Force officials announced today Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.; Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; and Shaw AFB, S.C. as the candidate bases for one active-duty Air Force MQ-1/9 Remote Split Operations Squadron.

The list of candidate bases was approved by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.

These bases are now candidates to accept a single active-duty MQ-1/9 RSO squadron consisting of 280 personnel and associated equipment. No remotely-piloted aircraft will be assigned to the base under this action, only a ground control station.

The Department of Defense identified the MQ-1/9 as one of the key Air Force capabilities in the current fight and for national defense.

"The Air Force is doing everything necessary to institutionalize the vital capabilities provided by MQ-1/9 within the Air Force," said Kathleen Ferguson, the Air Force deputy assistant secretary for installations. "The strategic basing process will help identify which location is best suited to link this important mission with combatant commander requirements."

The primary mission of an MQ-1/9 RSO squadron is to execute MQ-1/9 Predator/Reaper aircraft operations that conduct close-air support, air interdiction, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, among others.

Under this concept, a launch and recovery element launches a remotely piloted aircraft via line-of-sight operations from one location, typically from outside the United States, and the RSO squadron controls the aircraft remotely from a United States-based ground control station operating beyond line-of-sight.

"The Air Force uses a standardized, deliberate, repeatable and transparent process to address our basing needs," Ferguson explained. "These candidate bases will be analyzed to determine which location will best host this mission."

Air Combat Command officials will begin conducting detailed, on-the-ground evaluations of the candidate bases covering a range of operational and facility requirements. The results of the surveys will be briefed to the secretary of the Air Force and Air Force chief of staff, who will then select a preferred alternative.

Based on the results of these efforts, officials expect to announce the preferred alternative in December 2011.

20th FW hands off alert mission to McEntire ANG

by Senior Airman Alexandria Mosness
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNS) -- The 20th Fighter Wing here turned over responsibility for the air sovereignty alert mission to the 169th Fighter Wing at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., recently.

The 20th FW controlled the alert mission from Sept. 11, 2001 to Nov. 15, 2003 and again from Aug. 1, 2006 to May 9, 2011.

The alert mission is a critical component to the strategic force that is poised 24/7 to respond to airborne threats over the United States, officials said.

The ASA mission requires three dedicated armed alert aircraft (two primaries and one spare) at each of the alert locations, with two pilots and associated maintenance and support personnel on duty 24/7.

"Shaw's role in the alert mission was to defend the Southeast Air Defense Sector and the 79 million American citizens within that sector from airborne threats," said Col. James Sears, 20th Operations Group commander.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of the Air Force's newest alert site and the South Carolina Air National Guard's assumption of the homeland defense mission.

"I want to thank the 20th FW for meeting the challenge despite all the other things I know you have to do," said Maj. Gen. Garry Dean, the commander for the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region - 1st Air Force, who spoke at the ceremony. "It's been an outstanding run."

As the 20th FW passes the alert mission to Airmen at McEntire JNGB, Colonel Sears expressed his best wishes and great expectations.

"We wish the 169th FW and the McEntire ANG the best as they take on this critical mission of defending the South East United States," Colonel Sears said.

Iron Thunder Roars Through Shaw

by Senior Airman John Gordinier
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/12/2007 - SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNEWS) -- Thunder was heard throughout the Carolinas in early February as more than 100 Air Force, Navy, Marine and Royal Air Force aircraft participated in Exercise Iron Thunder.

The four-day, multiservice and multinational exercise, hosted by the 77th Fighter Squadron here, prepared participants for future contingency operations by offering a chance for players to be exposed to missions identical to those faced in combat.

Participating aircraft included B-1 Lancers from Dyess AFB, Texas, F-15E Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., E-8 Joint STARS from Robins AFB, Ga., F/A-18 Hornets from both Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 77th, 79th and 55th Fighter Squadrons here and the Alabama Air National Guard in Montgomery, Ala., and KC-135 Stratotankers from RAF Mildenhall, England, as well as refueling tankers from all over the Southeast and Northeast.

An E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system from Tinker AFB, Okla., and a British E-3 from RAF Waddington, England, participated in the exercise as well, said Capt. Kevin Pugh, the 79th FS weapons and tactics large force exercise officer.

The E-3 from Britain participates in many American exercise scenarios to include Iron Thunder and Red Flag, said RAF Squadron Commander Gary Coleman, an 8th Squadron pilot.

"It is a benefit for us to get the chance to train with coalition aircraft," the squadron commander said. "Training and getting familiar with the way coalition forces operate helps us when we assist in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom."

Iron Thunder had suppression of enemy air defense and air-to-air combat scenarios, Captain Pugh said. There were two phases in the exercise. One phase had blue air protecting a target from red air, the aggressors. The other had blue air attacking an enemy target. Who flew blue or red air during the exercise, which was off the North Carolina coastline, was determined each day.

On a typical day during Iron Thunder, the E-3 and about six or seven tankers took off, then the fighters rolled out to the coastlines between Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Charleston, S.C. They flew north toward the North Carolina coastline and received fuel from tankers. The fighters were approximately 120 miles off the coast of North Carolina when the first phase of exercise play began, Captain Pugh said. There are approximately 85 blue air aircraft, which includes escorts, versus about 15 red air aircraft. Blue air, which targets were along the coastline, headed west and red air headed east. Blue air performed simulated attacks toward red air until the threat was destroyed.

For the next phase, blue air attacked an enemy location on the North Carolina coastline, he said. They simulated dropping bombs.

"Iron Thunder trains our pilots and coalition pilots to perform better for future contingencies," Captain Pugh said. "That way, when we are all called upon to fight, we can successfully fight together."