New York Army National Guard Deploys Advanced Unmanned Aircraft

Strategic Insights -

Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team have successfully operated the cutting-edge Shadow RQ-7 unmanned reconnaissance aircraft from Fort Drum's Wheeler Sack Airfield, gaining a hawk's eye view of the battlefield. This exercise marked the first time the detachment flew the aircraft at Fort Drum, completing new equipment fielding and giving Soldiers experience in launching, flying, and operating the aircraft's cameras. The Shadow enables the brigade to gather crucial intelligence for the battlefield, including enemy locations and actions, which helps improve security for friendly forces and civilians.

Key Takeaways:

  • The New York Army National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 with the support of the Shadow RQ-7 unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.
  • Over a dozen Soldiers of the brigade's Detachment 1, Company B, Special Troops Battalion, flew four training missions during a brigade command-post exercise from Fort Drum's Wheeler Sack Airfield.
  • The Shadow enables the brigade to instantly see things that couldn't be seen otherwise, creating a more three-dimensional picture of the battlefield.
  • Staff Sgt. Nathan Edwards, the detachment's standardization instructor-operator, stated that they are the "commander's eye in the sky."
  • The Shadow can fly to heights of 15,000 feet, use its infrared camera system to see minute details on the ground, and gather crucial intelligence for the brigade.
  • Pfc. Brian Delaney, a Shadow-operator, stated that the main purpose of the aircraft is to keep lives on the ground safe, both civilian and military.
  • Sgt. Kyle Benedict, another Shadow-operator, explained that the Soldiers who operate the Shadow must stay abreast of the latest intelligence and recognize suspicious activities to transmit accurate information to the brigade.
  • The Shadow's infrared camera is sensitive enough to discern the temperature difference of freshly turned earth, indicating the emplacement of improvised explosive devices.

Statistics:

  • 15,000 feet: The maximum height that the Shadow can fly.
  • 4: The number of training missions flown by the detachment during the brigade command-post exercise.
  • 12: The number of Soldiers from Detachment 1, Company B, Special Troops Battalion, who flew the Shadow.
  • 15 years: The amount of experience in Army Aviation possessed by Staff Sgt. Todd Berardicurti, the detachment's maintenance supervisor.

Sources:

  • U.S. Army Public Affairs Office
  • Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Drumsta
  • Master Sgt. Peter Towse
  • Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Drumsta, New York Army National Guard
  • U.S. Army New York Army National Guard Public Affairs Office