Manned spy plane flies 1st combat sortie

[CommunityEditor]

The Air Force’s newest intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform flew its first combat sortie Wednesday, about seven months after the contract for the plane was first awarded.

An MC-12W Liberty took off from Joint Base Balad, Iraq, at 2:30 p.m. for a four-hour mission, according to an Air Force news release.

The manned ISR aircraft has been on a fast track to the war zones since the $461 million program was launched in July by a Pentagon task force. The Air Force plans to deploy 37 MC-12s to supplement the MQ-1 Predators and MQ-9 Reapers already flying orbits around the clock.

MC-12Ws are twin-propeller Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350 airplanes outfitted with high-tech ISR sensors; unlike Predators and Reapers, they do not carry weapons.

The commander of U.S. Air Forces Central praised the Air Force and its industry partners for delivering the plane quickly under pressure.

“What our Air Force teams ... have done with the program has been nothing short of miraculous,” Lt. Gen. Gary North said in the news release.

But a spokesman for Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed frustration last week that subsequent MC-12Ws are falling behind schedule.

Original plans called for 13 planes to be deployed by August. Lt. Gen. Craig Koziol, director of the Defense Department’s ISR Task Force, said he hopes to have six MC-12Ws deployed by then.

“Whatever the reason is for the delay, the secretary wants to see these aircraft in theater as soon as possible and put to work because it is a matter of life and death for these guys,” Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.

“It’s not about pointing a finger at the Air Force. ... [Gates] doesn’t care where it’s stuck. He just wants to get it unstuck,” Morrell said.


Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...iberty_061009/


Senior Airman Tiffany Trojca / Air Force
The first MC-12 Liberty aircraft in-theater lands about 6:20 p.m.
June 10 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, after its first combat sortie.
The Air Force's newest ISR platform, the MC-12 is a medium-
altitude manned special-mission turbo prop aircraft designed
for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The aircraft
will operate from Balad in direct support of coalition and joint
ground forces.

[TJMAC77SP]

Ok, the SECDEF orders the AF to get more UAS platforms in theater and the AF rushes a manned aircraft into production and deployment in record time. This program was at light-speed for an acquisition effort. Hell this was faster than the Bunker Buster was developed and deployed in Desert Storm.

Is it me or is there a blatant agenda operating here?

[Boss Hog]

Hmmm--

Far be it from this oh-so-humble correspondent to criticize the grand-exhalted-poobah, the esteemed SecDef...

However, this SecDef cat needs to get a grip. Seven months from letting a contract to the first operational combat mission of a new weapons system?

What cha' want, Mr. Secretary? An' yer lookin for reforms in the contracting - deployment cycle?

[LOAL-D]

Yawn....the Army has been flying these things for years....slap an ISR sensor on it....good to go


as long as you have air supremacy...that is.....

[ramprat]

Originally Posted by LOAL-D

Yawn....the Army has been flying these things for years....slap an ISR sensor on it....good to go


as long as you have air supremacy...that is.....

Not exactly "off the shelf" as its (C12s) a joint service aircraft but each service has its own
electronics packages at different costs naturally. Many configurations were produced. for
specialized missions even the army parachute team .
Got to give credit to the AF and contractor as they didnt get wrapped around the axle
getting the job done ,in contrast to the Navy way.

[NFCstang]

Not sure what the big deal is...we were flying something just like this at Balad in 05 that was ISR for IEDs

[BRUWIN]

Originally Posted by NFCstang

Not sure what the big deal is...we were flying something just like this at Balad in 05 that was ISR for IEDs

Judging by the IED stats at the time I'm thinking the aircrews must have been up there sipping magaritas the entire mission?

[sigecaps]

TF Odin has been around for three years now. Welcome to the party Air Force.

[NFCstang]

Originally Posted by BRUWIN

Judging by the IED stats at the time I'm thinking the aircrews must have been up there sipping magaritas the entire mission?

It was a concept that didn't work. That much was admitted while I was there and then I had to work the removal out of theater.

But I'm pretty sure it was the same type of place. I know it was a two prop job

[TJMAC77SP]

Ok, anyone NOT missing the point that a manned option was fielded when UNMANNED platforms were mandated?!?!?!?