US Africa Command says one of its drones, an apparently armed Gray Eagle, malfunctioned in Niger

Flashpoints

By Howard Altman / Military Times / January 24, 2021

PHOTO: When asked about this photo, of an MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone, apparently armed with a Hellfire missile, on the ground in Niger, AFRICOM officials said one of their drones malfunctioned in the area. (via Twitter)

An MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone, operated by U.S. Africa Command made an emergency landing near Agadez, Niger, on Saturday, a U.S. Africa Command spokesman told Military Times.

“The aircraft experienced a mechanical malfunction while conducting a routine mission in support of operations in the region,” Air Force Col. Christopher Karns told Military Times.

An investigation into the cause of the malfunction will take place, he said.

“The aircraft is under observation by U.S. forces with host nation cooperation and assistance,” Karns said. “Assessment and the process of recovery of the aircraft and safeguarding the site is underway. Due to force protection and operational considerations this is about all I can say. Early indications reflect a mechanical issue but an investigation is underway.”

#Niger atterrissage d’urgence d’un #MQ1C #GrayEagle #SkyWarrior dans la région #Ingall #HellFire visible sous l’aile gauche pic.twitter.com/WoyCqYWuBw

— Wassim Nasr (@SimNasr) January 24, 2021

Karns told Military Times the drone is an MQ-1C Gray Eagle, a multipurpose drone that “provides reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, command and control, communications relay, signals intelligence, electronic warfare, attack, battle damage assessment, and manned-unmanned teaming capabilities,” according to the Defense Department.

AFRICOM’s Twitter account confirmed the loss of the aircraft after being asked about social media postings of what appear to be an armed Gray Eagle drone, with a Hellfire missile still under its wing.

(1/2) A U.S. Africa Command remotely piloted aircraft conducted an emergency landing in the vicinity of Agadez, Niger, Jan. 23. The aircraft experienced a mechanical malfunction while conducting a routine mission in support of operations in the region.

— US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) January 24, 2021

“We continue to work with African partners providing a range of assistance in the region to include a valuable threat detection capability via aerial overwatch,” said Karns.