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Eagle eyed
By Lt Simone Heyer

Edition 1165, May 03, 2007
 
Dizzy heights: Maj Bernard White briefs the Prime Minister and CDF on the ScanEagle UAV in Iraq.
 
Flying high: WO2 Reece Hay and Michael Roseberry from Boeing Company ready the Boeing ScanEagle UAV.
Photos by Sgt John Carroll
THE eagle hasn’t landed for 20 STA Regt – it’s still scanning the MEAO for vital intelligence.

ScanEagle is a Tier 2 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) contracted from Boeing to fill a gap until I-View is introduced into service in 2009.

CO 20 STA Regt Lt-Col Phil Swinsburg said the UAV provided a very important capability.

“ScanEagle conducts tasks for route recon, force protection, overwatch of battle group patrols and counter indirect-fire,” he said.

“It sends live imagery to a ground control station with feeds are sent simultaneously to patrols.

“It’s a vital capability, allowing the element to operate at a high tempo to meet demands.”

Lt-Col Swinsburg said the aircraft was proving its worth supplying OBG(W)2 with AO surveillance.

“It regularly flies missions of 10 to 12 hours a day,” he said.

Use of the Tier 2 UAV in the MEAO came from an operational user requirement to provide aerial surveillance over a large area.

Lt-Col Swinsburg said 20 STA Regt’s UAV Bty operated the airframe in conjunction with Boeing civilian contractors who launch and recover the aircraft and provide maintenance, while battery members command the aircraft in flight and process gathered data.

The regiment has been continuously deployed over the past two years with more than 80 per cent of members having completed at least one MEAO rotation.

Currently, 20 STA Regt soldiers are trained in UAV operations in the USA and will, in turn, train other soldiers in Australia. Training should begin in Australia later this year.

Lt-Col Swinsburg said that while the regiment was growing, it was always looking for soldiers interested in a new challenge.

“People from any rank or trade can apply to transfer and corporals and sergeants will retain their rank.”

n CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy has been presented with a framed ScanEagle memento from Boeing to mark 1000 operational flying hours of the UAV.

In a ceremony at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggerra, Lt-Gen Leahy thanked the Boeing civilians who deploy with 20 STA Regt for their courage in Iraq.

“This is an important capability. You are helping our soldiers do their job and stay alive,” he said.

Anyone interested in operating UAVs should visit 20 STA Regt’s site http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/Sites/20STAR/ or contact their career management agency.