Unmanned aircraft deliver full view for Soldiers

By KARI HAWKINS Assistant editor Redstone Rocket

Even in the wake of defense budget cuts, the employees of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office and its parent organization – the Program Executive Office for Aviation – remain steadfast in their support of the war fighter.

During the annual Pathfinder Symposium held March 13-14 by the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International at the Von Braun Center, Col. Tim Baxter, project manager for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, told attendees that the top priority is to provide the unmanned aircraft systems needed in overseas contingency operations.

“PM UAS has a significant role in supporting worldwide operations across the Unmanned Aircraft Systems portfolio,” Baxter said.

In its work to support several Joint Urgent Operational Need Statements, the employees in the UAS project office work on a “time sensitive” basis and have provided rapid acquisition to support combatant commands. In addition the UAS provides the best in logistics support and maintenance with more than 500 support contractors deployed in theater to support the efforts of Puma, Raven, Shadow, Hunter and Gray Eagle UAS.

Currently, 90 percent of all UAS hours have been flown in combat. Of those hours, 1 million hours were flown during Operation Iraqi Freedom and 1.56 million hours have been flown in Operation New Dawn/Iraq, Operation Enduring Freedom/Afghanistan and Kuwait. Total flying time for the Army’s UAS is 1.747 million hours.

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