US Predator drone with EDO bomb rack kills 60 at Pakistan Funeral

Project Engineer
EDO Corp. (ITT)

(Public Company; Aviation & Aerospace industry)

2006 — 2007 (1 year)

Managed the complete development of the A10 Pneumatic Rail Launcher System for Northrop Grumman, including design and modeling through assembly and purchasing through completion

Designed and facilitated the development of both the MMA14 and 1430 Bomb Rack Units for Boeing’s aircraft carriers

Responsible for dealing with clients and vendors directly on a daily basis

Contributed to the development of the Boeing JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) & B1-B Lancer, as well as the U.S. Air Force’s Predator BRU’s (Bomb Rack Units)

February 14, 2006 06:25 AM

EDO to Develop Weapon-Release System for Predator UAS

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2006--EDO Corporation (NYSE: EDO) has been awarded a contract from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) to develop a weapon carriage and release system for the MQ-9 Predator B unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The initial system design and development contract is valued at $1.4 million.

GA-ASI is the prime contractor for the successful Predator UAS. The MQ-1 Predator has been operational since 1995 and has flown thousands of missions in support of NATO, UN and US operations. In 2005, GA-ASI received a contract from the USAF to acquire the MQ-9 "Hunter-Killer" version of the aircraft. The MQ-9 is the next generation of the Predator, whose military role is expected to expand considerably over the next few years.

"The Predator UAS Series is clearly an important focus of future defense capabilities," said James M. Smith, EDO's chief executive officer. "We are very pleased to be working with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to solve the engineering challenges needed to provide improved weapons carriage and release capabilities for Predator B. We believe that the Predator is one of the most promising and proven UAS platforms."

The current planned total production of the MQ-9 Predator B is well over 100 aircraft. The MQ-9 has significantly higher performance than the original Predator. It has an operational ceiling of 50,000 feet, a maximum internal payload of 800 pounds, and an external payload of 3,000 pounds.

EDO Corporation designs and manufactures a diverse range of products for defense, intelligence, and commercial markets, and provides related engineering and professional services.

Major product groups include: Defense Electronics, Communications, Aircraft Armament Systems, Undersea Warfare, and Integrated Composite Structures. EDO's advanced systems are at the core of the transformation to lighter, faster, and smarter defense capabilities.

EDO (www.edocorp.com) was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in New York City. The company employs 3,000 people and had revenues of $536 million in 2004.

These drones will be commonplace in all our citys soon if we dont pull our finger out and stop it. Why dont people understand the basic facts, that Al Queda and the Taliban have always been, and still are funded by the C.I.A and british intelligence services. When are you all gonna wake up and realise the war on terror is a fake, and that it is a war against the people and the means to remove all of your rights!

“It may play into the hands of elements like Mehsud because the attack took place on a funeral – there are cultural sensitivities" Seems these "sensitivities" are a one-way thing. When were the Taliban, Al Qaida etc known to respect "cultural sensitivities"?

These Al-Qadias are everywhere, there's probably one under your bed with the bogeyman. I can't believe there's still people who don't realise it's a spook story made up to frighten us in to submission. Where did bin Laden get his break? Did the US fund him to fight the Russians in Afghanistan? Or is that just another conspiracy theory? What is it they say about the secret services? Something along the lines of 'you never leave' isn't it?

Even if Al Qadea were real, are you really of the mind that bombing a funeral service is reasonable? If you think this is in any way justified I suggest you go away and think about it.

I'm no fan of the Taliban but your comment on cultural sensitivities reveals a lot about you. Who are we to impose our McConsumerist western values on another country? What right do we have? America see themselves as the policeman of the world, they ought to put their own house in order first. There's that biblical saying about removing a beam from your own eye that positively jumps to mind.

Really they ought to stop meddling in the affairs of other countries, but they just can't help themselves (especially when there's money to be made with either cheap oil or expensive wars). Illegal wars, fabricated evidence, torture, rendition flights, false flags, illegal occupations and more. Yeah our brand of democracy is way better than anyone elses. Coming soon to a country near you!

30 November 2005

In Brief - EDO explores Predator B bomb rack

EDO is working with aircraft maker General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to install a small bomb rack on the latter's Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) so it can carry Boeing's GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), JDW has learned. As part of the US Air Force-led SDB programme, Boeing has designed the BRU-61/A carriage that holds four of the 268 lb (590 kg) bombs. However, a bomb-laden BRU-61 would be too heavy for the Predator B's wings, according to one US industry source, although an air force official said the service had not yet determined this. In June EDO unveiled the Sabre ultralight UAV bomb rack.

 http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/archive/index.php?t-51399.html

A funeral is a funeral, if your dad is a heroin addict it doesn't mean that your a bad person, same if hes in the taliban.
Its your dad you will attend because hes your dad, unjustified attack simple!

The TV made a big deal out Obama killing a fly, some idiot joked about it being 'his first kill'. His first act in office wasn't to close Guantanamo as promised, it was to launch a drone killing innocent Pakistanis. By now, Obama has surely slaughtered more innocents than remain in Guatanamo. New Labour was first elected under the headline of an ethical foriegn policy, and 'Things could only get better'.

There are a few drone sites in England and Wales, listed in the archive here.

BRU-71/A MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B)

 http://es.is.itt.com/BRU71A.htm

ITT’s BRU-71/A is a 14-inch pneumatic Bomb Release Unit (BRU) that has been developed for use with the MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). The BRU is based on ITT’s legacy BRU-46/A which is a proven design that has been in production for years. With BRU-46/A and BRU-47/A deliveries approaching 8000 units, the design represents a very reliable and stable design base for the BRU-71/A.

The BRU-71/A is capable of carrying and ejecting 1000 lb class weapons between 6 and 20 inches in diameter. Safety features include a Reversible In-flight Lock (RIFL), dual redundant arm and fire lines, and mechanical and electrical safety interlocks that allow for safe ground operations. With each release unit weighing less than 20 lbs, the BRU-71/A represents a formidable capability in a lightweight package.

Pneumatic ejection and actuation provides a clean, repeatable means of safely ejecting a wide variety of stores from the MQ-9. There is no maintenance operations required. This rack was developed for the MQ-9, but can certainly be used on other manned and unmanned platforms.

PRODUCT BROCHURE TEXT

27.4. 2009

 http://es.is.itt.com/DocumentationCenter/BRU71ADataSheet.pdf

ITT Corporation's BRU-71/A is a newly developed 14-inch
pneumatic bomb rack recently qualified for use on the
MQ-9 Reaper. It has completed qualification testing, and
units are presently being delivered.

The BRU-71/A offers users significant benefits over previous
generation bomb racks. These include ease of loading via
independent, self-latching hooks, pneumatic operation to
eliminate pyrotechnic impulse cartridges and the resultant
cleaning/maintenance actions, *zero retention force arming
units*, and a high reliability pneumatic in-flight lock.
____

Sabre

 http://es.is.itt.com/Sabre.htm

The Sabre Carriage System addresses the need for lightweight, small, low cost single & multiple-station stores carriage and release equipment.

It is suitable for lightweight, 500lbs class and smaller stores including ground sensors, miniature UAVs, etc. It is compatible with MIL-STD-1760 interfaces, including miniature munitions. Each station utilizes a common, self-locking release module that simplifies loading and eliminates the need for cartridges and the associated time-consuming servicing cycle.


First line operation and maintenance is achievable without specialist skills, tools or equipment, and second line servicing is required annually. Currently available in a single or twin carriage configuration, however the high level of component commonality and modularity facilitates further variants to meet specific user applications.

____

Lightweight Stores Release Unit (SRU)

 http://es.is.itt.com/SRU.htm

ITT's Lightweight Stores Release Unit (SRU) is an entirely new design specifically developed for the carriage and release of small UAV payloads for utility and military applications such as sensors, resupply, search and rescue, and stores and weapons carriage.

For more information

Business Development Manager

Brighton, UK

01273

Your post reveals a lot about you too.

We only have the word of a Taliban spokesman that it was a funeral. Are we really meant to take it at face value? If you were the Taliban and a drone had just blasted your training camp, what would make a better story to tell the world, that your camp had been attacked or that a funeral had been attacked?

Secondly you make the wild assumption that I wish to impose some foreign system on that part of the world. I really don't care how they live in the tribal areas of Pakistan or in Afghanistan. They can go around in their traditional burqas or in bikinis, it's up to them, as long as they don't provide a haven for terror.

In Las Vegas a pilot pulls the trigger. In Iraq a Predator fires its missile

An RAF unit based in the Nevada desert is conducting highly secret operations against Iraqi insurgents and Afghan guerrillas using unmanned, powerfully armed American Predator aircraft.

Opening 1115 Flight's doors to a news organisation for the first time, the unit commander, Sqn Ldr Andy Bird, told The Daily Telegraph that British crews had "engaged targets" six times and had inflicted casualties.

British crews have been based at Nellis for two years, in which time some of the missile strikes have attracted headlines.

Chief Technician Gary Smith said: "We have been here so long that now we are training the Americans.

"Sometimes when you give their lads an order, you can see them stopping and wondering, 'Do I have to do this?'"

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1520143/In-Las-Vegas-a-pilot-pulls-the-trigger.-In-Iraq-a-Predator-fires-its-missile.html

See also :

RAF controlling unmanned US bombing missions

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/jun/02/usa.iraq

Hahahaa you really are as dumb as you sound. A haven for terror? You have to be taking the piss, isn't that a George Dubya tagline?

The Pakistan governement has told the US to stop dropping bombs within its borders. The US have continued, that would be YET ANOTHER illegal act of war against a sovereign nation. These rules are the ones that America and the UK continually espouse whilst breaking them at every available opportunity.

It worries me that there's still people who buy this war on terror, spreading democracy, they hate us for our freedoms bullshit. It's all about money and power, it always has been and always will be because the people who put themselves forward as leaders are the ones *least* qualified to do it!

Good Heavens, where do we satrt with you?

First off, the USA is to my knowledge the only country on the planet that has been censured by the UN for state teroorism. But that hypocrisy aside, take one look at the US's closest allies (a.k.a. porxies/clients/henchmen). Saudi Arabia: truly appalling human rights record, massive supporters of Islamicist terrorism (if not the very epicentre of it) and the founders of the Taliban... and seemingly the country behind the attacks of 911; Pakistan: a lighter version of Saudi but with even more terrorists and nuclear weapons; Israel: waginga genocidal war on Palestine; Egpyt brutal police state; Turkey: waging a genocidal war against the Kurds, poor human rights... and that's before we start getting into what the US has been up to in terms of the terrorism of civilians firly directly in Central America under the equally bogus 'War on Drugs ("drugs"= not wanting to be wage slaves)', and toppling unfavourable regimes through proxies (founding/funding/assisting groups to overthrow heads of state that won't bend to US bullying), or that the IRA's major source of funding came from the US. Then we can get into the fact that apart from Gitmo the United States is still running concentration camps, where the slow genocide of the indigenous population carries on through the pathology of abject poverty- some of the worst stats to be precise. You know nothing about the FBIs war on US civilians (COINTELPRO) where peaceful activist were targetted (and killed) alongside more militant ones; the Stalinistic Unamerican Activities Committee?

But we'll stick with what you do "know": al qaeda

AQ is to begin with a made up name. It was invented by the State Dept. so that they could prosecute one Usama bun Laden in absentia (without having him under arrest) for the USS Cole and African embassy bombing, since US criminal process only affords in absentia trials under certain circumstances, and they needed to pin a 'organised crime' badge on bin Laden. Al Qaeda is Arabic for 'the Base/Camp'.

The US had history with bin Laden before the USS Cole though. Bin LAden was to some degree involved with the Mujahadin war in Afghanistan where the the US & Saudi poured millions of dollars funding & weapons, and US & Special Forces trained volunteer fighters to wage guerilla war on the Soviet forces.

There are conflicting stories on how the close the relationship between bin Laden & the CIA was (both side play it down), but they were singing from the same hymnsheet at they very least.

Before 911 Bin Laden was a big fish in a small pond, even after the USS Cole hardly anyone beyond some spooks & secuirty journalists knew of him in the West.

His network wasn't known as al Qaeda, it was really bin Laden a rich kid wannabe and his real deal pal (needing a financial backer ) Ayman al Zawahiri... and only who ever they could hire to pretend to be their army for promo videos. Bin Laden was one big illusion.

When the US asked for bin Laden to be handed over, the Taliban folowed normal international protocol and asked teh US to submit an extradition case porviding compelling grounds. The US failed to provide a case that suggested bin Laden was culpable for 911- and instead commenced an war that saw and contues to see thousands of civillians bombed with impunity. Amusingly enough, Rumsfeld & Cheney's first reaction to 911 was to try to blame Saddam Hussein.

It's however mere coincidence that so far the only two countries to have been (overtly) attacked in the War on Terror[ism] have been high strategic targets in geopolitics: Afghanistan as an essential location for the transportation and exploitation of Central Asian fossil fuels & Iraq as a major oil producing nation.

And next in the crosshairs is Iran. A country that to date has never waged aggressive war on any neighbour- but has won a horrific war waged on it by Saddam Hussein who was acting as a proxy for his US & UK Government sponsors. Iran is portrayed as an evil Islamic tyranny. To a certain degree that is true, but is truly pales into insignificance in comparison to the US & UK's bestest buddies Saudi Arabia where women are treated like livestock, where public executions, and amputations are far more frequent, where freedom of speech is far more suppressed, where there in semblance of democracy whatsoever ( a bit like dictatorship Kuwait). Lovely Saudi that threatened the UK with suicide bombings if criminal proceedings against it favourite arms dealer weren't dropped...

The "War on Terror"? Ted?

Just a relatively quick post because I don't have time to respond to all your points, many of which don't really have anything to with the question at hand and are just a general leftist rambling about the evils of the world.

* I never said anything about Bin Laden et al not being previously linked to the CIA. It doesn't really have much to do with the issue beyond the short-sightedness of this strategy of supporting Islamist militants in the 80s.

* "9/11": you assume that the attack was an ordinary crime to be dealt with by ordinary extradition methods when in fact it was closer to an act of war (Bin Laden considers it a war).

* I don't think there is any truth in the claim that the USA was the only country to be accused of international terrorism by the UN. Even if true, it would make little difference as the UN is not the supreme moral authority of the world as some claim. So what if, say, Mullah Iran, Saddam Hussein Iraq, Syria, Robert Mugabe Zimbabwe, Janjaweed Sudan, Taliban Afghanistan, Burma and North Korea had passed such a resolution. Would the stamp of the UN have given it some magical moral standing?

* Saudia Arabia. More rambling. I don't approve of their internal regime or funding of Islamic militancy either.

The idea that Afghanistan allows access to Central Asian fossil fuels is silly. To build and maintain a pipeline one needs a relatively peaceful environment, something notably lacking in wartorn Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Who would invest billions of pounds trying to build a pipeline that would simply be attacked by the Taliban and other militants? Especially when there is a far better route, one that is already used, from Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean Sea through Turkey. This is just another example of reducing everything to the issue of oil and natural gas.