YMQ-18A/FORESTER UPDATE

September 4, 2010

Belmopan, Belize- The YMQ-18A /FORESTER being tested by the U.S. Military crashed while landing today at the Central Farm Airfield in Cayo, Belize.

No injuries or fatalities resulted from the accident and the cause is under investigation. Remaining test flights will be determined pending results of investigation. The YMQ-18A/FORESTER testing team on the ground conducts daily coordination with the Belize Civil Aviation Authority to ensure safety during the evaluation of the system and ensures that no test flights occur over populated areas.

The U.S. military, while assisted by the Belize Defence Force (BDF), began the 45-day testing of the YMQ-18A/FORESTER on August 1, 2010.

For media inquiries, please contact the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer, Kelly McCarthy at 501-610-0894.