Unmanned Killers
Military's use of drones soars in Iraq.
Unmanned Killers
WASHINGTON - The military's reliance on unmanned aircraft has soared -- with those drones now clocking more than 500,000 hours in the air, largely in Iraq.
New Defense Department figures obtained by The Associated Press show that the Air Force has more than doubled its monthly use of drones between January and October. It's been forced to take pilots out of the air and shift them to remote flying duty to meet part of the demand.
The jump in Iraq coincided with the build-up of U.S. forces this summer as the military swelled its ranks to stop the violence in Baghdad. But Pentagon officials say that even as troops begin to slowly come home this year, the use of the unmanned aircraft will not likely slow.
c 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Updated: January 1, 2008, 7:21 pm
http://wkow.madison.com/News/index.php?ID=17866
Unmanned Killers
WASHINGTON - The military's reliance on unmanned aircraft has soared -- with those drones now clocking more than 500,000 hours in the air, largely in Iraq.
New Defense Department figures obtained by The Associated Press show that the Air Force has more than doubled its monthly use of drones between January and October. It's been forced to take pilots out of the air and shift them to remote flying duty to meet part of the demand.
The jump in Iraq coincided with the build-up of U.S. forces this summer as the military swelled its ranks to stop the violence in Baghdad. But Pentagon officials say that even as troops begin to slowly come home this year, the use of the unmanned aircraft will not likely slow.
c 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Updated: January 1, 2008, 7:21 pm
http://wkow.madison.com/News/index.php?ID=17866
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As it should be.
Doug0 -
Out of our total number of UAV's only a relative few are capable of offensive action. The vast majority are just orbiting around up there conducting electronic and visual surveillance.
It's much more cost effective to send up little flying beer coolers loaded with sensors than manned aircraft and having this real-time information at our fingertips 24/7 is saving us lots of casualties.0 -
500,000 hours. Not refuting that. What I would like to know, is over what length of time? Joe 0 -
Yep as soon as all the bugs are worked out they will own our sky too, and you thought red light and speeding cameras sucked! 0 -
Uh-oh. They'll be flying over to see if I'm using illegal incandescent light bulbs! 0
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