UAV patrols, intel analysts wanted

[unhappycamper]

UAV patrols, intel analysts wanted
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Apr 21, 2008 10:36:27 EDT

Thousands of miles from the streets of Baghdad, intelligence airmen watch endless hours of Predator footage — pumped back to Air Force bases in the U.S. via satellite. These airmen provide the eyes and expertise essential to achieving military goals in Iraq and saving lives of troops on the ground.

The Defense Department, Army and U.S. Special Operations Command are now pressuring the Air Force to meet the ever-growing demand for UAV intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in the war zones.

When asked by Military Times to name his top hardware priority, Army Gen. David Petraeus, commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq, said sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment has become the key to many units’ success on the battlefield.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has instructed the Air Force to bump up its number of Predator patrols to 24 orbits over Iraq by June 1, while Navy Adm. Eric Olson, head of Special Operations Command, told Congress that Central Command and SOCom need 30 Predator orbits.

In response, the Air Force has frozen future assignments for many Predator pilots and called back others who have already completed their three-year tour flying drones. But it’s not just pilots who are needed to make the Predator missions effective.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/04/airforce_uav_intel_042108/