Air Force Is Through With Predator Drones

[unhappycamper]

Air Force Is Through With Predator Drones
By Spencer Ackerman
December 14, 2010 | 5:24 pm

Wave a tear-stained handkerchief for the drone that changed the face of air war: The Air Force won’t buy any more Predators. The Reaper drone is about to be in full effect.

This year, the Air Force completed its scheduled purchase of 268 Predators from manufacturer General Atomics, somewhat behind a schedule the service announced in 2008. By “early 2011,” says Lt. Col. Richard Johnson, an Air Force spokesman, “we’re taking delivery of our last Predator.”

February, to be exact, according to Kimberly Kasitz, a General Atomics spokeswoman. “We’ve actually had a couple of internal celebrations,” she says.

That doesn’t mean the end for the Predator, exactly, since the Air Force will continue to fly the planes it’s bought. But it does mean the beginning of the end. “We’re not replacing the Predator with the Reaper,” Johnson says, “but as the (Predator) fleet diminishes by attrition, we’ll phase in the Reaper.”

Ah, the Predator: Flying at up to 25,000 feet for around 20 hours at a time, the drone was supposed to be a pure surveillance aircraft. But starting in late 2000, the Clinton and Bush administrations decided to outfit the Predator with Hellfire missiles to reduce the lag time between identifying Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and attempting to take him out. Bureaucratic wrangling delayed the armament, but in November 2002, a CIA-operated armed Predator blew up a Jeep carrying some of bin Laden’s acolytes. The age of the Predator — an age of remotely piloted air war — had begun.



unhappycamper comment: Of course they had celebrations - the Reaper is more expensive that the Predator and as an added bonus, it carries $160,000 Hellfire missiles.

[siligut]

1. Boeing creates unmanned systems

I didn't see where the Air Force was buying them though, just the Army. http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1380

[Supersedeas]

2. how does the Predator define acolytes from 25,000ft?

[DCKit]

3. If it moves, it's a target. nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. Reaper is Predator 2.0, Avenger is Predator 3.0

[Statistical]

5. Exactly they are simply upgrading to the more lethal version. n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. The technology bases is also rapidly expanding, so the USAF is getting more bang for the buck

Sorry, I just could not resist.

[Bandit]

6. I would bet the Army and Navy will pick up where the Air Force leaves off.

Drones are only going to be more prevalent not less.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Actually the Army and Navy are ahead of the USAF in many ways

There is still silk scarf mentality within the USAF, even with UAVs

[Statistical]

9. No they will be doing the same thing the AF is doing ... buying MORE LETHAL drones.

The OP is somewhat misleading.

The AF stopped buying Predators because it is now buying Reapers. The weapon load and long range attack capabilities of the Reaper make the Predator look like a child safe toy.

It is no different than saying Chevy stopped selling 2010 trucks. Chevy didn't stop selling trucks they are just selling 2011 trucks now.

[kenny blankenship]

10. But they'll still march in parades on Victory over Islam Day!

Thank you for your service... God Bless you (sniff) You're a better man than I am, Gunga Drone.