Beneath the Surface

摘要

Naval aircraft have been a routine presence in the skies over Afghanistan since 9/11, heavily engaged in the campaign to free the land-locked country of Taliban and al Qaeda forces. But this summer, a unique Navy squadron took on the task of helping Afghanistan develop its future economy. Acting on a request of the Afghan government, the U.S. government tapped the Navy's Scientific Development Squadron One (VXS-1), based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., to conduct an aerial survey of Afghanistan using sophisticated sensors to map the country and identify areas with potential for exploitation of natural resources.