Posted on 06/14/2012 11:17:33 PM PDT by Theoria
The Department of Defense has identified 110 sites in the United States that could serve as bases for military unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones. A new report to Congress lists each of the 110 sites “and the UAS likely to fly at that location.” See “Report to Congress on Future Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training, Operations, and Sustainability,” Department of Defense, April 2012 (pp. 9-12).
The newly disclosed DoD report was first reported by InsideDefense.com.
The actual or potential drone bases are located in 39 of the 50 states, from Fort McClellan in Alabama to Camp Guernsey in Wyoming, as well as Guam and Puerto Rico.
Currently, the DoD and the military have “88 active certificates of authorization (COAs) at various locations around the country” that permit them to fly UASs outside of restricted military zones, the report to Congress said. COAs are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.
But “The rapid increase in fielded UAS has created a strong demand for access within the NAS [National Airspace System] and international airspace. The demand for airspace to test new systems and train UAS operators has quickly exceeded the current airspace available for these activities,” the report said.
The Senate Armed Services Committee, evidently receptive to this demand, said in its report on the FY2013 defense authorization act that integration of drones into domestic airspace should be accelerated. See “Senate: Drones Need to Operate ‘Freely and Routinely’ in U.S.,” Secrecy News, June 8, 2012.
The website Public Intelligence previously identified 64 U.S. drone site locations. See also “Revealed: 64 Drone Bases on American Soil” by Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, Wired Danger Room, June 13:
“UAS will not achieve their full potential military utility unless they can go where manned aircraft go with the same freedom of navigation, responsiveness, and flexibility,” the new DoD report to Congress said.
A bill “to protect individual privacy against unwarranted governmental intrusion through the use of the unmanned aerial vehicles” (HR 5925) was introduced in the House of Representatives on June 7 by Rep. Austin Scott. A companion bill (S.3287) has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Rand Paul.
yitbos
Thank goodness its only spying on Americans by the government on ericsn soil, and something nefarious like intercepting calls between known terrorists. Zero wants to protect our freedoms.
BFLR
Is it illegal for citizens to possess and operate drones ? Heck, even Chavez has them now.
Pull!
Oops...
Can you imagine going to a “re-education center” in Key West???!!
YIKES...one in Jax Fl where I am!
The radio-controlled model airplane hobby still exists.
Even more terrifyingly, Obama has plans in the works for DRONES that carry PEOPLE inside them!!!!!!!
Wait till you see the map with all the bases for those!!!!!
You have noticed you have a giant naval base and a naval air station in JAX, haven't you?
How odd that sailors stationed there might want to, say, practice with their UAVs before they have to use them in the Persian Gulf or off Somalia or whatever. Nah, maybe they shouldn't do that because ill-informed people might wet their pants in terror.
Guess I’ll be mowing the lawn nude with a sidearm.
Funny, DHS was attempting to shut down the radio control hobby late last year.
Only intense lobbying and having some RC enthusiasts in Congress put it on hold.
But, it will rear it’s ugly head again.
Isn’t there a law against this kind of thing?!?!?!?
Police State USSA
FReedom, Liberty, Surveillance 7by24.
What’s not in the Constitution?
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