The United States government is making a huff about a report we brought you on Wednesday's broadcast concerning the testing operations of an unmanned helicopter presently being conducted at Central Farm in the Cayo District.
According to the U.S. Embassy's press officer, Kelly Mcarthy, our report that the helicopter can be equipped with the capability of carrying up to eight 100 pound missiles is inaccurate, although we got that information from the manufacturer, Boeing's website.
But to clarify their mission in Belize, today, we were introduced to the U.S. military's point man in Belize, Major Armando Hernandez who told us why their mission is about strapping on an 800 pound radar, not ordnance:…
Major Armando Hernandez, U.S. Military Spokesperson
"This aircraft has never been tested by the US military for offensive capabilities. We have no plans to test this aircraft for offensive capabilities. We are currently testing this aircraft for its ability to operate in a humid environment, for its ability to carry an 800 pound radar which is what u see at the bottom of the aircraft. But in its current state there are no plans to test this for offensive capability. This is the first time this aircraft has ever been
tested outside of the US. In Belize we are going to see how it functions at different altitudes, see how it functions with humidity, also the radar, we are testing a system so you have the 800 hundred pound radar underneath and we're going to see if it works. The radar is able to work under single canopy radar. In the US we don't have any jungles, but in Belize you have multiple layers, this will give us a good opportunity to see if this aircraft works."
Jim McFadzean
"But it wouldn't be a far fetch idea from a layman's perspective to assume that the US military might be looking at arming this type of unmanned aircraft, the fact that its not been tested before, it wouldn't be a far fetch idea to say that you all might be looking at arming it someday or testing the capability as such."
Major Hernandez
"Well I'm not a Boeing spokesperson, Boeing is looking for multiple uses. Boeing does not speak on behalf of the United States. The report you saw was put out by Boeing and we have done two tests. Tests are the ability to conduct resupply operations and we have tested its ability to carry this 800 pound radar."
The U.S. military is here conducting the tests at the invitation of the government of Belize and working in partnership with the Belize Defense Force to carry out the tests in Belize's thick jungles and little used airspace.
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