KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - For service members deployed throughout Afghanistan, the familiar high-pitched whine from an unmanned aircraft system high overhead is always a welcome sound, especially when conducting operations outside the wire. As Operation Enduring Freedom transitions to Resolute Support, key combat multipliers and enablers, such as the RQ-7B UAS Shadow, now call Kandahar Airfield home for the first time.
The Shadow has been around since 2002 and has always been a tactical asset providing vital intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to commanders. Shadows are designed to go and be set up by operators wherever the brigade combat teams go, which is generally at smaller forward operating bases.
Until now, Shadows have never flown out of KAF because there were always smaller FOB's available, and it is easier on the logistic and coordination piece to fly out of the smaller FOB's, said Warrant Officer Andrew Carrier, a native of Missoula, Montana, who serves as the UAS operation technician for B Company, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Division.
Unlike traditional aircraft, Shadows use a trailer mounted launcher to takeoff versus rolling down the runway, and then land similar to a jet on an aircraft carrier, with a tail hook and arresting cables that are actually affixed to the runway, explained Carrier.
These unique takeoff and landing requirements required months of extensive planning and coordination between Carrier and airfield officials before securing a permanent location at the international airport.
Prior to moving the Shadows back to KAF, they were physically located at FOB Pasab, while the operators were based out of KAF.
"By having the birds launch from FOB Pasab, it allowed them to cover more area, support more people and honestly, the runway was so crowded it was hard to fly in and out of KAF," said Spc. Michael Leibel, a native of Cold Springs, Kentucky, who serves as a UAS operator in B Co., 4th STB, 4th IBCT, 4th Inf. Div.
During this deployment, Leibel logged over 400 flight hours with the Shadow and gained vital system experience, which allowed him to understand how the aircraft functions and handles in emergency situations.
"When you work with it that much, you kind of become one with the system in a sense because you expect it to do things, you know it's going to do things, you can fly it a lot better and provide better support," he said.
For Sgt. Beau Remaly, a UAS maintainer with B. Co., 4th STB, his experience in Afghanistan supporting service members on the ground with Shadows has been a rewarding experience.
"Just knowing you are supporting the troops out there, it's rewarding ...working with people saving their lives at that very moment. Just something about it all puts chills down your spine thinking about it," said Remaly, an Easton, Pennsylvania, native.
As the Shadow moves to KAF, the military reaches another milestone as it prepares to hand off this vital mission to civilian contractors.
Carrier takes prides in his role of ensuring Shadow's legacy continues despite the drawdown of military forces.
"We led the charge on this transition to KAF and it would be cool to stay for the duration, but at the same time it's mission first." He added, "The main mission of the Shadow is to support the ground forces and without them, we don't have a mission."
The Shadow is manufactured by Textron Systems and is capable of seeing targets up to 125 kilometers away and can recognize objects up to 8,000 feet above the ground day or night.
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