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CAB Has Fish Catcher Turned Spy Plane

By Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Troth

With 17 months of combat experience, the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division is used to flying. However, two months into their second deployment to Iraq, the CAB is flying like they never have before. The CAB received the ScanEagle - the fish-catcher turned spy plane - to increase its capability of supporting U.S. and Iraqi ground forces.

The ScanEagle is an unmanned aerial vehicle that was originally designed to locate schools of fish for fishermen. For this reason, a launch and recovery system had to be designed that could be operated from a boat. It is launched via a catapult and recovered using the SkyHook retrieval system, which uses a hook on the end of the wingtip to catch a rope hanging from a pole on the ground.

A ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle snags its recovery line after completing a flight over Iraq. The ScanEagle, which uses a SkyHook on its wingtip to "land," is being utilized by the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, to gather intelligence for U.S. and Iraqi ground forces. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Troth, CAB, 1st Inf. Div., USF-I)

"It is another asset to provide full motion video coverage to the BTCs (brigade combat teams)," said Capt. Joseph Swinney, commander of Troop F, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, which operates the ScanEagle. "When it comes to things that fly within the division, the CAB is where all the knowledge resides."

Spec. Joshua Shubrick talks with the air traffic control tower during the launch of a ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle. The ScanEagle is being utilized by the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, to gather intelligence for U.S. and Iraqi ground forces. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Troth, CAB, 1st Inf. Div., USF-I)

Whether looking for fish or IED emplacers, the ScanEagle is able to loiter over trouble spots and provide live surveillance and reconnaissance data, or communications relay. Troop F has six ScanEagles at their disposal to provide seamless 24-hour coverage.

"After seeing someone plant an IED, we can watch the guy as he drives off and maintain positive contact," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Tyson Riemann, a Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot assigned as Troop F's aviation safety officer. "You have the time to stay out and gather the intelligence. It is awesome."

A ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle snags its recovery line after completing a flight over Iraq. The ScanEagle, which uses a SkyHook on its wingtip to "land," is being utilized by the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, to gather intelligence for U.S. and Iraqi ground forces. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Troth, CAB, 1st Inf. Div., USF-I)

The ScanEagle can stay on station monitoring a situation before needing to refuel up to six times longer than the CAB's regular reconnaissance platforms, the Apache and Kiowa Warrior helicopters.

When the intelligence has been gathered the ScanEagle's operators can pass off the target off to a helicopter pilot.

A ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle snags its recovery line after completing a flight over Iraq. The ScanEagle, which uses a SkyHook on its wingtip to "land," is being utilized by the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, to gather intelligence for U.S. and Iraqi ground forces. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Troth, CAB, 1st Inf. Div., USF-I)

"Our operators can talk directly with the pilot and coordinate fires that way," said Riemann. "We can transfer positive ID and hostile intent to the guys that are flying out there carrying the weapons."

The ScanEagle is not only new to the CAB, it is also new to the operators who are monitoring its live feed. Troop F is made up of Soldiers from throughout the brigade - truck drivers, clerks, vehicle and helicopter mechanics.

Cesar Garcia, a civilian contractor, launches a ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle. The pneumatic catapult takes the UAV from 0 - 60 in 0.3 seconds. snags its recovery line after completing a flight over Iraq. The ScanEagle is being utilized by the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, to gather intelligence for U.S. and Iraqi ground forces. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Troth, CAB, 1st Inf. Div., USF-I)

Besides Soldiers, Swinney has several Insitu (a subsidiary of Boeing) contractors who are responsible for maintenance, launching and recovery of the ScanEagle. The Soldiers communicate with the control tower to clear airspace during the launch and recovery as well as developing intelligence reports from the aircraft's live feed.

"The biggest training hurdle has been learning the tactical side and how them doing their procedures fits into a tactical operation of either protecting U.S. forces or finding the enemy," said Swinney. "They picked it up pretty fast and are glad they are more involved with the overall fight."

Their involvement in the fight is evident across Iraq too; the ScanEagle video feeds are monitored on classified computers in Iraq, giving ground commanders the edge they need.