Ugandans train on Raven unmanned aircraft system

Ugandan air force Pvt. Ronald Mudhasi locked his arm as instructed and flung the small remote-controlled airplane into the overcast sky.

The Raven flew majestically above Test Area 3 but Mudhasi's work wasn't finished. He joined his countrymen and their instructors under a nearby canopy to help control the unmanned aircraft system's flight.

Eight members of the Ugandan air force received training on the Raven Dec. 12-23. The Ugandan defense forces purchased four of the systems in July for $3 million, according to logistics management specialist Cindy Vanburg of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Command, or AMCOM, Security Assistance Management Directorate.

The Uganda service members, in two groups of four, received instruction on their country's new systems, which would be delivered in January after the training. The instructors were from Rally Point Management, out of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

"I like it," Mudhasi said of the Raven. "It's interesting, very interesting."

"It's good," Capt. Patrick Kubayo said. "It's a good support of our operations in Somalia. Very necessary. The instructors they're professional. They know what they're doing. They help us a lot."

"It is good. It will help us in our service in Uganda and other countries," explained Lance Cpl. Rowland Jimmy Odoch.

Using a laptop computer with stylus, Rally Point Management instructor Mike Mahowald taught the Ugandans how to control the aircraft.

"Every click is 20 feet up or 20 feet down," he said at one point.

The Raven flew overhead with the Ugandans at the controls when a few visitors prepared to leave. Rally Point Management site head Kurt Donaldson was asked how the Ugandans were doing.

"They're doing good," Donaldson replied. "They're doing very good."

The Raven is the smallest unmanned aircraft system the Army sells internationally.


Source: By Skip Vaughn, USAG Redstone , REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.  04 January 2012 - Rotorhub News (www.army.mil)

Photo: Ugandan air force Pvt. Ronald Mudhasi prepares to launch the Raven unmanned aircraft system during training Dec. 15, 2011, at Test Area 3 at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. (Photo by army.mil)

(4.02.2012)