A MQ-1 Gray Eagle surveillance UAV belonging to the U.S. Air Force crashed in Kirkuk, Iraq today.
Work has been started to remove the wreckage of the fallen UAV, Savunmasanayist reported.
The MQ-1 Gray Eagle surveillance UAV, which was supporting the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) within the scope of the US-led Joint Joint Task Force-Operation Natural Stability, crashed in the south of Kirkuk, Iraq. The US miitary explained the reason for the as a 'mechanical failure.'
The Iraqi Security Forces, which secured the area where the wreckage of the UAV was located, cleared the area with a controlled explosion. On the other hand, the US Army's CH-47 Chinook Heavy Duty Helicopters were dispatched to the region to remove the wreckage of the MQ-1 Gray Eagle UAV.
A week ago, a MQ-9 Repaer UAV operated by the USAF crashed as a result of being hit by a Russian warplane while operating over the Black Sea.
The slow-flying MQ-9 Repaer is an easy target for anti-drone systems.
Gray Eagle has an endurance of 25 hours, speeds up to167 KTAS, can operate up to 29,000 feet, and carries 1,075 lb (488 kg) of internal and external payload. The aircraft can carry multiple payloads aloft, including Electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) with laser designation, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), communications relay, and four Hellfire missiles.