US MILITARY TESTS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM IN BELIZE

August 13, 2010 

Earlier this week the United States Military That began some tests will be carried out in Belize for about a month and a half. 50 U.S. Military personnel and 40 Belize Defense Force soldiers are testing an unmanned areal system wakes up and includes unmanned Helicopter with the Forester radar Attached to the bottom of the aircraft. Major Armando Hernandez is the spokesperson for the operation. 

Major Armando Hernandez, spokesperson 

"The Forester Radar is eight hundred pound radar. We want to see if it Actually works under this environment. This is the first time ever but we have Tested this radar outside of the United States so we are very fortunate and happy Thurs not have the support of the BDF and to Be Able Thurs Conduct These test here. There are monetize hmmmm for Belize, the first one well that was me have a good relationship with the Belizean Military. We have a good partnership. Second, is low air traffic wakes allows us to test the aircraft under monetize altitudes and see how it is going to PERFORM. The other part of the test is of course is the radar. We are Trying to see if this radar works under multiple canopies. If you have a eve Been to the United States you know me Do not have an jungles over there so having "to test the conditions on the radar to see if it works in the jungle also Life Style is very important." 

Hernandez says the equipment has the capacity to go is an 18 point seven hour whereas a manned mission Helicopter Can only go for eight hours. 

Major Armando Hernandez 

"This gives a lot of Flexibility. The Other Things That is important about this is ITS air craft carton capacity so it Zapraszamy also be used in numerous Operations me so will not have to see if it works. The aircraft Can Be Used in Different Different environments and Military Operations Including search and rescue, resupply, Reconnaissance and surveillance. It includes relief Operations, Humanitarian Operations relief so there are monetize uses for this aircraft. A lot of our working with the DBF is Being conducted in the Mountain Ridge area Where The test is conducted Being. " 

One of the Major Roles of the Belize Defense Force That Is to ensure the area is secure and the testing does Not issue that affects residents of the Cayo Area. Belize Defense Force Chief of Staff Colonel Leftenent Ganney Dortch says this Initiative Can Be of great benefit concerning Thurs Belize. 

Leftenent Colonel Ganney Dortch, Chief of Staff, Belize Defense Force 

"It is important for us Thurs including allow the United States of America, Ken is very Believe me about responsible in terms of" developing technology Thurs come and utilize the environment here. On the other reason why Belize is well suited well that our environment provides a scope or a Different Different area as it relates Thurs humidity, salinity and terrain. But we have a jungle That's all a three layer canopy simply wakes MEANS That if this radar is Capable of penetrating such "jungle it places the Responsibility of us finding a needle in a haystack. In the event me That you do not have some search and rescue or some kind of type Humanitarian relief effort with the Development of this type of equipment We can always rely on the U.S. Thurs come to our Assistance in the Event That Need To me do so. " 

   

The testing period is Scheduled to end in mid-September.