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Pioneer RQ-2A UAV, 1985. Creator: Pioneer UAV Inc
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Pioneer RQ-2A UAV, 1985. Creator: Pioneer UAV Inc
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle; Single engine; Pusher propeller; Twin tailbooms and rudders; Fixed tricycle undercarriage; Sensor package; Rocket assisted takeoff bottle included; Wings, tailbooms, tail assembly, and antenna breakdown for storage; Air Vehicle No. 159. The RQ-2A provides field commanders with real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and battle damage information. Ground controllers pilot the aircraft over its 185-kilometer (115-mile) range. The RQ-2A can be recovered by flying into a large net aboard a ship or by using a tail hook and arresting wire on land. Its small size and composite materials make the RQ-2A difficult to detect visually and on radar. U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine units began using RQ-2As in the late 1980s. This one operated from the battleship Wisconsin during the 1991 Gulf War. While it was assessing damage from naval gunfire to targets on Faylaka Island near Kuwait City, several Iraqi soldiers signaled their intention to surrender to the aircraft during a low pass-the first time enemy soldiers had ever surrendered to an unmanned aerial vehicle. They were later captured by U.S. ground troops
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the groundbreaking Pioneer RQ-2A UAV, a remarkable creation by Pioneer UAV Inc. Developed in 1985, this unmanned aerial vehicle revolutionized military reconnaissance and surveillance operations. Equipped with a single engine, pusher propeller, twin tailbooms and rudders, fixed tricycle undercarriage, and an advanced sensor package, the RQ-2A provided invaluable real-time information to field commanders. With its rocket-assisted takeoff bottle included and impressive range of 185 kilometers (115 miles), ground controllers skillfully piloted this cutting-edge aircraft. Its compact size and composite materials made it exceptionally difficult to detect visually or on radar systems. Notably deployed during the Gulf War in 1991 from the battleship Wisconsin, this particular RQ-2A played a pivotal role in assessing damage caused by naval gunfire on Faylaka Island near Kuwait City. However, what truly sets this moment apart is that several Iraqi soldiers surprisingly signaled their intention to surrender as they witnessed the low pass of this unmanned aerial vehicle—an unprecedented event where enemy combatants surrendered directly to technology rather than human forces. The significance of this incident cannot be overstated; it marked a historic milestone for unmanned aerial vehicles as tools for conflict resolution. This extraordinary photograph captures not only the technological prowess of Pioneer UAV Inc. , but also serves as a testament to how innovation can reshape warfare dynamics while inspiring awe-inspiring moments like these.
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