RQ170 unmanned reconnaissance aircraft

RQ-170 Sentinel reconnaissance aircraft. . . It is a stealth drone developed by Lockheed Martin and is mainly used for reconnaissance and surveillance of specific targets. It is also known as the "Kandahar Beast". The nickname comes from its numerous sightings at Kandahar International Airport in southern Afghanistan in recent years. The U.S. Air Force acknowledged its existence in 2009, saying that the RQ-170 is a low-detection unmanned aircraft system (UAS) being developed, tested and about to be fielded by the U.S. Air Force and will be carried out by the U.S. Joint Force Commander. Reconnaissance and surveillance missions. It was deployed in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, and there are reports that it will also be deployed in South Korea.

It is designed by Lockheed Martin's "Skunk Works" and is positioned as a stealth drone. Some researchers have noted similarities with previous stealth aircraft and UAV projects, such as the RQ-3 Dark Star and Polecat. It follows the design concept of a tailless flying-wing aircraft, and its appearance is similar to the B-2 stealth bomber, like a boomerang. Unlike the F-117A stealth fighter and B-2 stealth bomber, the RQ-170's wings do not cover the exhaust device. The purpose of this may be to avoid operational losses after sensitive parts enter the aircraft platform, and ultimately lead to Such technology falls into the wrong hands.

On December 4, 2009, the U.S. Air Force confirmed the existence of the RQ-170 for the first time. During Operation Enduring Freedom, RQ-170 was deployed in Afghanistan. It earned the nickname "The Beast of Kandahar" after its appearance at Kandahar International Airport in southern Afghanistan in late 2007. It is worth noting that the Taliban forces in Afghanistan currently have neither air defense missiles nor radars, so the hidden performance of the RQ-170 does not mean much for the Afghan battlefield. The deployment of the RQ-170 in Afghanistan is likely to target China. There is also news that RQ-170 will be deployed in South Korea to monitor North Korea.

Raid on Bin Laden

On the evening of May 1, 2011, at least one RQ-170 was involved in the military operation of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group to raid bin Laden's residence. Sentinel monitors the area and provides a continuous video feed to Obama and his top national security advisers. RQ-170 also monitored the Pakistani army's radio broadcasts to provide early warning of the Pakistani army's response to the military operation. This raid occurred only 18 months after the United States recognized the existence of the RQ-170 stealth drone project. What can be confirmed is that it was the first real actual combat operation of the RQ-170.

The actual combat history of RQ-170

In December 2009, North Korea's "Central Daily News" reported that the US RQ-170 "Sentinel" had been conducting military operations in South Korea in the past few months. It has undergone test flights and will be put into actual combat deployment in 2010. Its goal is to replace the Lockheed Martin U-2 reconnaissance aircraft in service at Osan Air Base. Based on this news, Bill Sweetman speculated that the RQ-170 "Sentinel" deployed in Afghanistan and North Korea may be tasked with monitoring North Korean ballistic missiles. In August 2010, it was reported that the RQ-170 has been or will be deployed to Afghanistan again, and this drone already has full-motion video surveillance capabilities. This is very consistent with the situation announced by the United States in the future about the White House's real-time video surveillance of the military operation against bin Laden. In fact, the RQ-170's mission at this time included flying over Pakistan at high altitude to monitor a building in Astabad, which the United States suspected was the residence of Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda. On the night of May 1, 2011, at least one RQ-170 Sentinel monitored the area during the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group's raid on bin Laden's compound and provided support to Obama and his top national security officials. The consultant provides a continuous video feed. RQ-170 also monitored the Pakistani army's radio broadcasts to provide early warning of the Pakistani army's response to the military operation. This raid occurred only 18 months after the United States recognized the existence of the RQ-170 stealth drone project. What can be confirmed is that it was the first real actual combat operation of the RQ-170.

Although the United States has not disclosed any official pictures and information about the RQ-170 so far, it is foreseeable that after becoming famous in World War I, the status of this stealth drone in the US military will be further enhanced.