ISR

Kadena Air Base welcomes first of several USAF MQ-9As

On October 13, Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, greeted the first of several USAF-operated MQ-9A Reaper unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) that are scheduled to deploy to the base, which is also referred to as the ‘Keystone of the Pacific’

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How has Russia responded to Western ISR ops over NATO’s eastern flank?

Electronic intelligence flights in international airspace close to Russia have led to a series of incidents. Sérgio Santana looks at the heightened tensions and the Russian response to Western operations

Australia formally activates first MQ-4C Triton unit

The Royal Australian Air Force has formally reactivated No 9 Squadron at RAAF Base Tindal – located within Australia’s Northern Territory – as the air arm prepares to welcome its first Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles in 2024

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USAF operates RQ-170 stealth drone over Black Sea

Nine flights have been carried out over the Black Sea by USAF-operated Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel low observable (or stealth) unmanned aerial vehicles, according to a batch of secret US military documents posted online

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Taiwan’s upgraded F-16s finally regain LOROP-EO pod capability

When the Republic of China Air Force’s (ROCAF’s) fleet of F-16A/B Block 20s were upgraded to the F-16V, the latest and most advanced configuration of the Fighting Falcon to date, it was discovered that the AN/VDS-5 Long Range Oblique Photography Electro-Optical (LOROP-EO) reconnaissance pod was not compatible with the newly modified aircraft

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How the 95th RS conducts RC-135 ops from RAF Mildenhall

As the USAF’s 95th Reconnaissance Squadron celebrates 105 years since its formation, Luca Chadwick looks at its operations out of RAF Mildenhall in the UK

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RNZAF using King Air 350i fleet to bridge ISR capability gap

Two of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s four sensor pod-equipped King Air 350i aircraft were signed off in February to perform operational ISR missions in addition to their existing crew training roles

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What are the NATO ISR aircraft really doing on Ukraine's border?

NATO nations regularly fly a plethora of signals intelligence aircraft close to Ukraine’s western and southern borders. What are these aircraft doing? Thomas Withington explains all…

USAF pushes forward with RC-26B Condor retirement plan

Having served as an integral part of US ANG counter-narcotics operations for the last 30 years, the USAF is now moving to accelerate the retirement of its 11-strong fleet of RC-26B Condor reconnaissance aircraft – a type the service has been pushing to divest in recent years

NATO receives first upgraded RQ-4D Phoenix

The first RQ-4D Phoenix HALE UAV to complete the so-called Maritime Mode software upgrade and subsequent testing with the type’s manufacturer, Northrop Grumman, was returned to the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Force at Sigonella Air Base in Sicily, Italy, on September 17