Remote Control Is How The British Fly the Armed Reaper UAV | Aviation International News

Remote Control Is How The British Fly the Armed Reaper UAV

The UK RAF is proud of its Reaper capabilities and confident its rules of engagement in Afghanistan comply with the law and are adhered to.

The Reaper can be armed with four Hellfire missiles and two GBU-12 laser-guided 250-pound bombs. The RAF usually flies with all four missiles, but only one bomb. The UAV’s Raytheon MTS-B sensor ball and laser rangefinder/designator is beneath the nose, with the satcom antenna above.

By Chris Pocock • Defense Correspondent

July 14, 2014

In response to increased scrutiny of armed UAV operations by human rights groups, British legislators and the United Nations, the British Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) has stepped up efforts to reassure the public. Late last year, it allowed media (including AIN) access to the Royal Air Force Reaper ground control station (GCS) at RAF Waddington for the first time. New documents describing UK operational procedures, including targeting, have been released. The UK is one of only three countries to have fired weapons from UAVs in combat, the others being Israel and the U.S.

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