The MQ-9 Reaper took off and landed for the first time ever on a conventional highway - A-10C Thunderbolt II, MH-6M Little Bird and MC-130J Commando II took part in the exercise

The Pentagon conducted a small exercise in which the MQ-9 Reaper drone took off for the first time not from an airfield, but from a conventional road. The event, called Agile Chariot, began on April 30 and ended on May 2.

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Landing and taking off from the highway was part of an effort to maintain air power in the absence of access to conventional infrastructure. The exercise took place on two stretches of highway in Wyoming. In addition to the MQ-9 Reaper, two iconic A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, an MC-130J Commando II special operations transport aircraft and two MH-6M Little Bird special operations helicopters participated.

The Agile Chariot exercise focuses on a new U.S. Air Force concept called Agile Combat Employment (ACE). It is designed to ensure that combat aircraft can be used in a timely manner when military bases are threatened or destroyed. Such conditions could arise in the event of military conflicts with China or the Russian Federation.

The aircraft landed on Highway 287, where a forward weapons and refuelling point was established. Specialists carried out rearming and refuelling operations, after which the military vehicle took to the skies again.

The MQ-9 Reaper drone landed with the 2nd Special Operations Squadron, part of the 919th Special Operations Wing, and the takeoff and second flight was conducted by the 65th Special Operations Squadron. Details of the drone mission the US military prefers to keep secret. The only thing that is noted is that in the course of the exercise the drone demonstrated its ability to expand its operational capabilities to protect American interests around the world.

Source: The War Zone, DVIDS