RAAF pilots have begun flying deadly American Reaper drones over Syria, taking for the first time Australia's involvement in the fight against the so-called Islamic State from Iraq into the more complex neighbouring country.
A Defence spokesman has told Fairfax Media that five RAAF personnel are embedded with the United States Air Force's 432nd Operations Group, which flies armed MQ-9 Reaper drones.
"While the focus for [Australian Defence Force] operations to counter Daesh remains Iraq, a small number of Royal Australian Air Force personnel are now contributing directly to coalition operations to counter Daesh in Syria as well as Iraq, consistent with long-standing arrangements for ADF personnel embedded in US units," the spokesman said, using the alternative name for the Islamic State.
He said five RAAF personnel attached to the USAF were "performing operational duties with their parent unit as MQ-9 Unmanned Aircraft System pilots and sensor operators".
Please read source article for full story ok!
Personal Disclosure: Then distort them as I please ...
Way to break opsec! So Oz will have 5 qualified drone operators in any future conflict! Pathetic!
We need to get up off the planet in space farms so we can avoid border conflicts and arguments over territory!
Do any of my fellow HH members have any comments on this?
Last Edit: Aug 14, 2015 7:00:48 GMT -6 by omegalogos
So..is this jobs Americans won't do, or are we just making sure every nation gets a little hand in the game here? Only game in town, I guess...so everyone needs to get some kill shots in, eh?
I mean, it isn't like we could not find pilots for the couple dozen (at the very most, reported) drone strikes (hits..not sortes) going on. They must actually have crew problems in spreading the little bit of flight time between enough pilots to actually be representing other nations in a meaningful way.
Maybe when we get a new President, he won't have more sympathy with ISIS than his own nation...and we'll fight like winning means something. Until then? Hey, ISIS is the greatest show in town, and in a business where killing is the goal? Business seems spotty, but enough 'fun' to invite everyone into!
The US, Canada, Britain and several Arab countries are already carrying out air strikes in Syria, in the US's case often using drones.
Such an attack is believed to have killed notorious Sydney jihadist Mohamed Elomar in June.
The RAAF's main operations currently involve carrying out air strikes in Iraq. Six Australia Hornet fighter planes are conducting the air raids. They are supported by a KC-30 aerial refueller and a Wedgetail command and control surveillance and radar aircraft.
These two support aircraft have also been supporting allied combat planes, including some that have carried out strikes in Syria, though the Australians have always stayed in Iraqi air space.
IMO the coalition has lost command and control over their ISIS attack dogs in Iraq which has invited Iran into the whole area. ISIS still has some useful moments such as using them as a excuse to bomb the crap out of Syria. The false flag thread I posted with the video says there are SAS with ISIS in Syria... As in most things what we are fed or allowed to know all may be a total crock.