214th Attack Group

214th Attack Group
Unit name	214th Attack Group
Dates	2015 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Unmanned Aircraft Operations
Role	Close Air Support, Reconnaissance, Surveillance
Size	Group
Command structure	Twelfth Air Force → Air Combat Command
Garrison	Davis–Monthan Air Force Base
Equipment	General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper
Battles	War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Military intervention against ISIL
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

214th Attack Group is a United States Air Force unit operating the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned combat aerial vehicle. It is a key component of the service's remotely piloted aircraft enterprise, providing persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and precision strike capabilities for United States Central Command and other combatant commands. The group is headquartered at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona and falls under the operational control of the Twelfth Air Force within Air Combat Command.

History

The unit was established in 2015, consolidating remotely piloted aircraft operations previously conducted by the 162nd Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard. This reorganization aimed to create a dedicated, active-duty group structure to meet the escalating demand for UAV support in ongoing conflicts. Since its activation, the group has been continuously engaged in combat operations across multiple theaters, most notably supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Its personnel have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, for sustained performance in high-tempo missions.

Organization

The 214th Attack Group is organized as a classic associate unit, uniquely partnering active-duty United States Air Force personnel with members of the Arizona Air National Guard's similarly numbered unit. This Total Force Integration model leverages the expertise of both components. The group comprises several subordinate squadrons responsible for distinct mission areas, including operations, maintenance, and support functions, all working in concert to generate and sustain MQ-9 Reaper combat air patrols. Its command structure reports through the Arizona Air National Guard wing to Air Combat Command for operational tasking.

Aircraft

The group operates the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, a versatile and heavily armed remotely piloted aircraft system. The MQ-9 Reaper is primarily employed for close air support and intelligence-collection missions, capable of carrying a mix of AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles and GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs. This aircraft provides commanders with unparalleled persistence, able to loiter over areas of interest for more than 27 hours, conducting signals intelligence gathering and providing real-time full-motion video to ground forces via datalinks.

Operations

The group's primary mission is to conduct sustained unmanned aircraft operations in support of global combatant commander requirements. Its crews execute daily combat missions from ground control stations at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, providing critical over-the-horizon support to troops in contact across the Middle East and Africa. These operations include armed reconnaissance, close air support, combat search and rescue overwatch, and high-value target tracking, directly contributing to the campaigns against Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Assignments

The unit is assigned to the Twelfth Air Force, which is headquartered at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base as part of Air Combat Command. For operational tasking, the group falls under the Air Forces Central component of United States Central Command, which directs its daily combat missions in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. This assignment aligns the group with other key ISR and strike assets like the 55th Wing and the 432nd Wing, ensuring integrated airpower delivery across the theater.

Bases

The group's main operating base is Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, located in Tucson, Arizona. This installation, known for hosting the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), provides the infrastructure for the group's flight operations, maintenance facilities, and mission control centers. Personnel also periodically deploy to forward operating locations, such as sites in the Middle East, to facilitate line-of-sight launch and recovery operations for the MQ-9 Reaper in combat zones.

Category:Groups of the United States Air Force Category:Aviation units and formations established in 2015