The Demonstration event of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft "MQ-1 Predator" to take place in Lielvarde
On Tuesday, Sept.8, at 2:30 p.m. a distinguished visitors and media day is scheduled to take place at the Latvian National Armed forces Air Force Base in Lielvarde, where the Airmen form Texas National guard will demonstratethe U.S. Air force remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs)’ s „MQ-1 Predator”.
The event will be attended by the President of Latvia H.E. Raimonds Vējonis, the Minister of Defence Raimonds Bergmanis, the Chief of Defence Lt.Gen. Raimonds Graube, the U.S. Ambassador to Latvia H.E. Nancy Bikoff Pettit, the Michigan National Guard Commander Maj.Gen. Gregory Vadnais, the Air National Guard Mobilization Assistant to the Commander Maj.Gen. Eric W.Vollmecke, the Adjutant General of the Texas National Guard Maj.Gen. John N. Nichols.
The U.S. Armed forces have sent to Latvia, Lielvarde Air Force Base two RPAs „MQ-1 Predator” and approximately 70 Airmen to participate in a two-week training operation in order to test deployment capabilities and to carry out air operations while assuring NATO allies the U.S. commitment to regional security.
It is planned that the RPA team trainings will be held jointly with the Latvian air support controllers and the U.S. pilots of A-10 „Thunderbolt II” aircraft.
The training operation began on August 24, when Airmen and equipment of the 174th Reconnaissance Wing of the when Texas Air Force National Guard Airmen arrived in Latvia. The training operation will last until Sept.15.
As soon as the U.S. Air Force will conclude that this model of cooperation works, Lielvarde airfield will be recognized as one of the platforms from which, if necessary, “Predator” RPAs can take off.
For the first time the U.S. Air Force has sent the following RPAs for training operation with Latvian allies, and for the first time they will be used in Latvian airspace.
Last year, on May 15, soldiers from Michigan National Guard 126th Cavalry Regiment made the first RPA “RQ7-Shadow” flight to improve compatibility with the Latvian Armed Forces.
On June 4, 2015 land on Camp Adazi improved by the U.S. engineers was opened. The improved land now includes a runway that can be used to land such RPA as the "RQ7-Shadow" which provide training support opportunities for Latvian soldiers working with the Michigan National Guard. If necessary, helicopters or small planes can land on this particular runway.
The tactical runway that was built at the military base, give soldiers the opportunity to integrate the options RPAs provide by integrating them with other armed forces capabilities and the elements that would be impossible in the ordinary aerodrome.
Media contacts:
Anete Gnēze, Head of the Media Relations Section
Military Public Affairs Department
Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia
Phone: 00 371 67335093; Cell: 00 371 26474087
E-mail: anete.gneze@mod.gov.lv
Website: www.mod.gov.lv