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The Signature
Phoenix Soars Over Sig By NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
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t took over 20 years and more than 20 countries to make it happen, but on June 4, the Phoenix rose into the Sicilian sky for a momentous first flight, heralding a new era in NATO aviation history. Coming in at over 7 tons and with a longer wingspan than a Boeing 737, the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) NATO RQ-4D “Phoenix” remotely piloted aircraft is not your average drone. Based on the US Air Force block 40 Global Hawk, it has been uniquely adapted to NATO requirements, providing state-of-the art intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities that will benefit all NATO allies. This initial flight test lasted 9 hours, with pilots working in the NATO AGS Operations center controlling the aircraft from takeoff to landing. During the flight, the Phoenix’s sensors collected Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery and Moving Target Information (MTI) data which,
Photos curtesy of NATO
was transferred to the Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination (PED) center for near realtime processing and future distribution to Allies. “I am proud of the team! They were able to successfully conduct the first mission launching, operating and landing our NATO RQ-4D Phoenix “MAGMA10” today,” said Major General Phillip Stewart, United States Air Force, commander of the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Force (NAGSF). “For many among the Force and for the whole of NATO, this is a great milestone event opening the chapter for a new and muchneeded capability of the Alliance in the field of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance,” he added. Naval Air Station Sigonella (NASSIG), known as the Hub of the Med, is the “perfect fit for long-term flight,” said Lt. Col. Stephan Mehl, a German Air Force pilot involved in this mission. Capable of continuous flight for over 20 hours,
