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- MQ-1 Predator drone
Defense Department, San Diego win big in appropriations bill
Air Force gets eight more drones than requested
The military is doing cartwheels over passage of the 2014 defense appropriations bill by Congress. More than $99 billion for procurement in the base and war sections has the Penteagon particularly pleased, according to the publication Defense News.
San Diego should be celebrating. The bill directs the Air Force to purchase 20 unmanned General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper aircraft with $349 million in funding; that is eight more drones than the Air Force had requested. The General Atomics division making the drones is based in San Diego.
Another $40 million will go toward transitioning six Air National Guard squadrons into split operations of MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper units by 2020.
More from SDReader
- General Atomics scores another drone contract — April 20, 2017
- Extra killer drones not justified — Oct. 2, 2014
- Triton drones finish 60,000-feet flights in Palmdale — March 25, 2014
- General Atomics' DC office added to anti-drone protest targets — Nov. 15, 2013
- Unfriendly skies — Sept. 30, 2009
Comments
shirleyberan Jan. 20, 2014 @ 1:47 p.m.
Could keep a couple at Camp Pendleton.
Don Bauder Jan. 20, 2014 @ 3:17 p.m.
shirleyberan: I don't know if drones are kept at Pendleton. What's significant is the two big drone makers are based in San Diego. Best, Don Bauder
MURPHYJUNK Jan. 20, 2014 @ 4:03 p.m.
Lots of live video from the drones on ku band
Don Bauder Jan. 20, 2014 @ 4:33 p.m.
Murphyjunk: Help! What's ku band? Best, Don Bauder
MURPHYJUNK Jan. 21, 2014 @ 7:51 a.m.
http://www.afcea.org/content/?q=node/1904
Don Bauder Jan. 21, 2014 @ 9:05 a.m.
Murphyjunk: The University of Kansas marching band is also called the KU Band. Best, Don Bauder
Burwell Jan. 20, 2014 @ 4:42 p.m.
The Air Force already has 220 Predators and does not need any more. The Predator is worthless. In the event of a conflict with Russia or China, the Predator's signals would be jammed and the Predator could not fly. The money should be spent on maintaining the Air Force's existing fleet instead of buying useless equipment like the Predator.
Don Bauder Jan. 20, 2014 @ 7:24 p.m.
Burwell: Another alternative: the money could be spent on restoring cuts in food stamps. Best, Don Bauder
kevincw02 Jan. 23, 2014 @ 7:36 a.m.
1) Tell the soliders alive today because of a predator that they're worthless 2) i think you'll find $350mil will get you a lot less than 20 planes for the existing fleet of manned aircraft 3) The signal denied air-sea battle scenario with china/russia is actually very difficult for most of the manned aircraft as well.
Don Bauder Jan. 23, 2014 @ 7:51 a.m.
kevincw02: I will let Burwell answer this one. Best, Don Bauder
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