FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Army News Service, April 30, 2008) - Soldiers
assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne got a hands on
perspective on the Raven, an unmanned aerial vehicle, during a 10-day
Raven training course from April 22 to May 2 at the 3rd Brigade Combat
Team headquarters.
Once limited to brigade and higher level commanders, the hand-launched
aircraft is one of the latest technologies to enhance warfighting
capabilities, putting aerial reconnaissance tools in the hands of
Paratroopers on the ground.
Soldiers learned to assemble and inspect the aircraft, launch the
aircraft and operate the remote control to manage the plane's movements
and cameras. The crash-course is designed to give a Soldier of any job
or skill a basic idea of how to operate the Raven instead of relying on
a UAV specialist. The course is usually a mixture of combat and
non-combat Paratroopers who have never touched a UAV.
At just over 4 pounds and having a span of five feet, this small
aircraft gives its operator a full-range battlefield perspective. The
Raven is equipped with three cameras: an electrical optical camera and
two infrared cameras. This provides an aerial observation of 10 to 15
kilometers at altitudes up to 1,000 feet.
"When we first went over to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, we had
Raven capabilities," said Spc. Gregory J. Chandler, 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 82nd Airborne Division. "What we (infantry units) didn't have was
anybody to train us on it."
Although this tool of war is not meant to be treated like a video game,
instructors of the course explained that gamers quickly get the concept
of the Raven and its capabilities.
"It's the game people-the guys who love Play Station 3 and computer
games--who really have a good understanding of the Raven," said Chief
UAV flight instructor Mike Plonski.
"It's like a gigantic video game for adults, but with real consequences in the bigger picture," he said.
By the fifth day, most of the trainees will have a pretty solid concept
of the complicated aircraft, said Plonski, who has seen the progression
of UAVs in the last twenty years. The hardest part of the training is
launching the aircraft.
Before launching the aircraft, Soldiers have to practice with baseball
bats. This exercise gives each person a feel of how the Raven should be
launched in order to be mission capable.
"If you can't launch it, there's no mission," said Plonski. "So the
Paratroopers launch baseball bats, which have the bottom-heavy feel of
the Raven, until they are able to throw straight and far. After a
sturdy launch, the aircraft takes over and pulls itself up to altitude."
With the Raven, Soldiers are able to respond to accurate intelligence
rather than an attack, said Plonski. It provides a multi-dimensional
eye on the enemy, much further than what a Paratrooper views directly
in front of him, ultimately sparing lives, he said.
(Sgt. Amanda Jackson serves with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Office)
Pfc.
Kyle J. Matlack, infantryman, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne
Division, holds a the Raven prior to launching it in the air.
Paratroopers got a first hand look at the Raven unmanned aerial vehicle
aircraft and its capabilities during Raven UAV training at Fort Bragg,
N.C. Photo by Sgt. Amanda Jackson
Source and credits :
http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/05/01/8913-raven-launches-new-battlefield-perspective/
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