Raven aircraft proves useful in Afghanistan

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Sgt. Christian Muller attempts to “launch” a Raven, an unmanned aerial vehicle used for reconnaissance by the U.S. Army in the war in Afghanistan.


Raven aircraft proves useful in Afghanistan
By Les Neuhaus, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, October 16, 2007


JALALABAD, Afghanistan — As winter approaches in the northeastern mountains of this rugged country, U.S. and Pakistani forces are making every attempt to learn the whereabouts of Taliban and al-Qaida fighters who jump back and forth across the border.

One tool helping the U.S. military is the Raven, a small, unmanned aerial vehicle that, with its multiple real-time cameras, offers a bird’s-eye view of any movements on the ground within a three- to six-mile radius of where it is operated.

This lightweight, reconnaissance-only, remote-control “plane” can help save the lives of soldiers who, 10 or 20 years ago, might have had to provide on-site surveillance for platoons or patrols looking to assault a designated area.

“It takes soldiers off the front line,” said Cpl. Erick Rodas, 21, who was selected to familiarize eight soldiers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and 173rd Airborne Brigade with the Raven.

“We have the capability to be where the enemy is, without sending men in first,” the Houston native continued.

The “front line” in this unconventional war is constantly evolving, making the Raven particularly effective. It can tell whether Taliban rebels are on the other side of a mountain that the troops want to traverse, for example.


Rest of article at: http://stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=49529