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Unique French Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron protects Airmen at Bagram Air Field

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. John Jung
  • 455th Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN --  Stealthy, like the lynx painted on their aircraft tailfin representing the squadron insignia, is what the French Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operational Squadron likes to be.

Much like a lynx, the French squadron is active on patrols in the darkened skies of Afghanistan looking for any movement that could mean danger to friendly troops. Their main mission is to provide Coalition and International Security Assistance Force troops with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

"We provide important information to soldiers about what is on the ground ahead of them and around them from a god's eye view," said Lieutenant Colonel Cyril Carcy, French UAV Operational Squadron commander.

The UAV squadron stationed here at Bagram Air Field, is the only one of its kind in the French air force, demonstrating the commitment of the French military to Coalition forces and importance of the mission here. The squadron traces its heritage back to an original French surveillance squadron from World War I, according to Lt. Col. Cyril Carcy.

"Our pilots wear the lynx squadron insignia with great pride," Lt. Col. Carcy said, "we wish to uphold the honor, reputation and traditions of our heritage."

Several dozen French air force members fly, maintain and monitor the handful of UAVs deployed here. The French UAV is similar to the U.S. Air Force MQ-1 Predator. The French model is an all-weather platform that can loiter over an area all day and night and features an anti-icing system on the wings and has a fully automated take-off and landing routine aided by a Global Positioning Satellite system. The UAV itself is referred to by its pilots as a "Harfang," or snowy arctic owl, reinforcing the idea of stealth.

The French UAV squadron brings with it a sense of comfort and calm to its Coalition partners.

"The more eyes we have in the air, the better for all of us," said Staff Sgt. William Schroeder, 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Sergeant Schroeder, deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah was providing security on the flightline near the UAV hangar. "The French contributions to the mission here at Bagram are making a huge difference to our safety," concluded the Spencer, Iowa native.