DoD IG Criticizes Air Force Reaper Buy

[unhappycamper]

http://breakingdefense.com/2014/10/dod-ig-criticizes-size-of-air-force-reaper-buy/



DoD IG Criticizes Air Force Reaper Buy
By Colin Clark on October 01, 2014 at 6:44 PM

WASHINGTON: The Air Force planned to buy 401 Reaper drones for $76.8 billion but didn’t know why it was gong to buy that many, the Pentagon’s Inspector General says in a new report.

“This occurred because Air Combat Command officials did not:

* follow the Joint Capabilities Integration Development System requirement to obtain Joint Requirements Oversight Council approval for an increase in procurement quantity; and
* conduct and maintain consistent, complete, and verifiable analyses for determining the necessary aircraft quantity.

“As a result,” the report’s summary says, “the Air Force risks spending approximately $8.8 billion to purchase, operate, and maintain 46 MQ-9 aircraft it may not need.”

Sadly for you and me, dear reader, the report is classified For Official Use Only, which means we only get to read a summary of the report.

[ladjf]

1. I believe that if we are going to continue to carry out aerial only type of combat,

the MQ-9,s are exactly what we need. The are primarily designed for carrying out wide area surveillance for many hours per flight.
An array of MQ-9's could effectively monitor every significant square foot of Iraq and Syria simultaneously. Further, that can relay vital target information to fighter jets that are in the air with them. Also, they are capable of carry air-to-air missiles to protect our aircraft that are currently involved in combat. Considering that an F22 carries not only it's pilot by has a cast of about a quarter billion bucks, the MQ-9.s would be saving lives and money.

Ultimately, our more advanced UAV drones will completely replace manned fighters. They will be as effective at a cheaper cost and no loss of life.