Here’s how the Air Force will have armed drones
Defense has decided to arm their drones. As Rid reported, confirmation came from the 2021 Multiannual Planning Document
Italy will also have its own armed drones.
The Italian Air Force is ready to arm the remotely piloted (Apr) Reaper aircraft available to the 32nd Wing of Amendola (Foggia).
The issue had been in the air for some time and the confirmation came from the Multiannual Programming Document (Dpp) 2021-2023 of the Ministry of Defense, as underlined by the specialized magazine Rid , which links this novelty to the emergence of new scenarios.
The Defense therefore decided to transform unmanned reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft into guided bombers.
All the details.
NEW SCENARIOS EMERGED
So far the drones or the Male class Aprs (Medium Altitude Long Endurance), Mq-1A Predator and Mq-9 Reaper, supplied to the 32nd stromo of the Italian Air Force were unarmed.
In recent years, the Air Force has used them in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and currently in Kuwait for operations against Isis in Iraq.
But soon the reconnaissance aircraft could become bombers.
According to the Italian Defense Magazine, the decision of the Italian Ministry of Defense would be related to the emergence "of new scenarios – which from Nagorno Karabah, to Libya, have shown the relevance of the armed drone on the battlefields – have caused uncertainties and resistance to fall. of an ethical nature which until now had prevented the completion of this step. Our commanders on the ground will thus have a fundamental option to protect the forces on the ground and to neutralize any threats before they can manifest themselves ”.
WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE 2021-2023 DPP
Indeed, the programs of the 2021-2023 Dpp include “Updating the MQ-9 payload”, where MQ-9 is the acronym that indicates the Reaper drones. As stated in the document: “In particular, the aircraft will guarantee increased levels of safety and protection in the context of convoys escort missions, making available a flexible defense capability that can be expressed from the air. It will also introduce a new protection option both aimed at forces on the ground and for the benefit of aerial devices during high intensity / valence operations ”.
RESOURCES ALLOCATED
The program – which includes the updating of spy sensors and transmission equipment – provides for an investment of 168 million euros, of which a tranche of 59 million distributed over 7 years is financed.
WHICH WEAPONS ON BOARD REAPER UAVs?
“The Defense has not provided further details and the type of weapons that will be integrated on the aircraft is not known. The Reaper will also be equipped with new electronic warfare equipment that will allow them to operate in higher military contrast scenarios, ”writes Rid .
As we read in an in- depth study by Cesi, with regard to armament, “the Mq-9 Reaper can carry war loads up to 1400 kg. Normally it is a combination of 4 Agm-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles to which 2 230 kg GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs or 2 GPU 38 Jdam Gps-guided bombs of the same weight are added. Both in the case of missiles and bombs it is extremely precise armament suitable for hitting specific objectives, both in motion (tanks, armored vehicles, pick-ups and vehicles in general), and static (buildings, bunkers, various types of shelters. ) ".
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MQ-9A PREDATOR TAKEN FROM THE ITALIAN MILITARY AERONAUTICS SITE
The MQ-9A “Predator B” aircraft, built by the US General Atomics, is a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (APR) used by the Air Force to carry out reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition missions. The aircraft, with a wingspan of over 20 meters, a speed exceeding 400 km / h and a flight capacity at medium and high altitudes, guarantees a great flight range, allowing to obtain high performance both in the conduct of ISTAR missions ( Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) and both, in the maritime and terrestrial fields, in the context of Patrol, Search and Rescue operations.
Each copy now costs around 30 million dollars, reports the Agi .
HOMEWORK
The Predator B of the Italian Air Force are able to perform a wide range of tasks demonstrating high qualities of flexibility, versatility and effectiveness. For example, it is possible to detect the presence of threats such as improvised explosive devices which represent the most insidious and widespread danger in today's operating theaters.
Missions can also be carried out in hostile operating environments, in the presence of nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological contamination, or to acquire data and information relating to small and large targets in areas potentially subject to operations. Furthermore, the Predator B aircraft make it possible to contribute in a unique way to the creation and maintenance of the so-called “Situational Awareness”, or rather to the control of the evolution of the situation by the authorities responsible for the command of the activities.
The characteristics of autonomy, speed, persistence and range of action, combined with low operating costs, make the system one of the best tools for border control, environmental monitoring, support for the police forces and intervention in case of natural disasters.
WHAT YOU NEED TO ARM THE REAPERS
Returning to the concrete possibility of arming the Reaper, it should be specified that the sale of the armament kit produced by the US General Atomics Aeronautical System Inc., according to the American legislation on the subject, must be authorized by the United States government.
As Repubblica recalls “in 2010, when the maximum military commitment against the Taliban was reached, the Berlusconi government asked Washington for authorization to arm our drones and purchase the guidance equipment. The application was rejected because the system was considered top secret. The green light came years later, but when the Italian interest was extinguished ”.
In 2015, Italy renewed the request and obtained the green light from the American government. "London was until now the only ally of the US to have been authorized not only to arm its Reaper but even to embark on the guided aircraft the Brimstone missiles produced by Mbda and made in the UK" highlighted AnalysisDifesa in 2015.
Soon the Italian Reaper could also be armed. But the issue must get the go-ahead from Parliament. As stated in the Dpp, “the approval process of the envisaged Ministerial Decree / Dl pursuant to art. 536 COM ".
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/ecco-come-laeronautica-militare-avra-droni-armati/ on Wed, 08 Sep 2021 06:03:25 +0000.