RAF Reaper drone successfully targets Daesh terrorist with Hellfire missile in Syria
An RAF Reaper drone has carried out a strike in northwest Syria, killing a Daesh terrorist, the Ministry of Defence has announced.
The remotely piloted aircraft was conducting armed reconnaissance over Aleppo Governorate when it tracked the individual.
After monitoring him for some time, RAF crews waited until he was alone before launching a Hellfire missile to minimise the risk to civilians.
The MOD said the strike was part of the UK's ongoing efforts to prevent Daesh - which is also known as Islamic State or IS - from regrouping in the region.
RAF Reapers are deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Shader, the UK's mission against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
The MQ-9A Reaper is a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone used for surveillance and targeted strikes.
The UK has been conducting airstrikes in Syria and Iraq since 2014, with drones playing an increasing role in monitoring and targeting militants.
The MOD says such operations remain essential in countering the continued threat posed by Daesh, despite the group's territorial defeat.
The Reaper has a remote crew of three comprising a pilot, sensor operator and mission intelligence co-ordinator.
They fly the UAV from a remote ground control station, while an in-theatre launch and recovery team is responsible for its ground operations. The operational crew controls the aircraft, its sensors and weapons system via an advanced, secure satellite communication system, providing over-the-horizon data link capability from bases in the UK and US.
Two cameras in the aircraft’s forward fuselage provide a forward view for the crew on landing and take-off, while a full sensor suite, with targeting, daylight TV and infrared capabilities is turret mounted beneath Reaper’s forward fuselage. An internal synthetic aperture radar completes the MQ-9’s sensor suite.
How it works
A crew comprising a pilot, sensor operator and mission intelligence co-ordinator fly the Reaper from a remote ground control station, known as a GCS.
An in-theatre launch and recovery team is responsible for its ground operations.
The operational crew controls the aircraft, its sensors and weapons system via a secure satellite communication system, providing an over-the-horizon data link capability from bases in the UK and the United States.
Two cameras in the aircraft's forward fuselage provide a forward view for the crew on landing and take-off.
A full sensor suite, with targeting, daylight TV and infrared capabilities is turret-mounted beneath Reaper's forward fuselage.
An internal synthetic aperture radar completes the MQ-9's sensor suite.
How it began
The RAF's association with the Reaper has its origins in 1115 Flight, which was formed under the Combined Joint Predator Task Force in January 2004.
This embedded UK personnel in US Predator operations, providing a core of expertise when Reaper training began in December 2006.
Operations in Afghanistan began in 2007, with 39 Sqn working out of Creech Air Force Base in Nevada with an initial six aircraft, although one of these was subsequently lost.
Reaper had been scheduled to go out of service in 2015, but has since been heavily committed to Operation Shader.
Nevertheless, in April 2016 the MOD announced the selection of Protector to replace Reaper.
US State Department approval provides for up to 26 airframes, with 16 confirmed and 10 options.
New ground control stations will also be acquired - and UK weapons could be integrated.
Join Our Newsletter
