• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

First UAV flight in Germany

US Army Europe Release

Release Date: 8/18/2003

By Gerry Arbios, 282nd BSB

HOHENFELS, Germany - Something new is flying over Hohenfels these days - an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or UAV. The first RQ-5A Hunter UAV took its maiden flight in Germany during a ceremony on the Hohenfels Army Airfield Aug. 15.

Hohenfels' newest tenant unit and the unit responsible for the flight is A Company, 1st Military Intelligence Battalion (AE). The unit is standing up this month for USAREUR and V Corps. Their official flagging takes place Oct. 7.

Commanded by Capt. Kevin L. Fittz, A Co.'s mission is to rapidly deploy to contingency areas of responsibility, conducting operations in support of the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade and V Corps throughout the full spectrum of military operations.

According to CW2 Jonathan Daniels, the battalion's tactical operations officer, UAVs make significant contributions to the war fighting capability of operational forces. They improve the quality and timeliness of battlefield information, thus allowing commanders to make rapid and better-informed decisions. The UAVs perform a multitude of inherently hazardous missions, such as those in contaminated areas, which present unacceptable risks for manned aircraft.

The unit plans to train using split-site operations at times for speed of movement and coverage. The maiden flight was the result of close coordination between U.S. officials and the German Ministry of Defense. According to officials in the USAREUR Liaison Office in Berlin, they continue to work closely with the German government to determine a final air traffic pattern for the Hunter and to ensure all safety concerns are met. Although no additional flights are scheduled at this time, the unit plans to train in Hohenfels through October, and then move to a winter training site in another theater of operations.

With this historic flight completed, the unit is ready to move forward in their training. "I've got a great bunch of soldiers who have been working very hard to make this flight possible," Fittz said. "We have also received tremendous support from the 282nd BSB, the airfield, and the Falcon team for which we are very grateful."