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Pentagon battle breaks out over a spy plane
Los Angeles Times ^ | March 21, 2008 | Peter Spiegel, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Posted on 03/21/2008 10:19:29 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

Defense Secretary Gates wants more unmanned Predator aircraft in Iraq. But the Air Force worries about the long-term viability of the spy plane program.

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has ordered the Air Force to put nearly all of its unmanned Predator aircraft into the skies over the Middle East, forcing the service to take steps that officers worry could hobble already-stressed drone squadrons.

Pressure from the Defense secretary in recent months has nearly doubled the number of Predators available to help hunt insurgents and find roadside bombs in Iraq. But it has forced air commanders into a scramble for crews that officers said could hurt morale and harm the long-term viability of the Predator program.

Some officers said pressure from Gates resulted in one plan that could have taken the Air Force down a path similar to the German Luftwaffe, which cut back training in World War II to get more pilots in the air.


"That was the end of their air force," said Col. Chris Chambliss, commander of the Air Force's Predator wing. The Air Force plan, presented to the military leadership in January, eventually was scaled back.

The surge in drone flights is Gates' latest push for short-term measures to win the Iraq war that will have long-term implications for the U.S. military. In recent months, Gates has campaigned to increase the size of the Army and to ship new, heavily armored troop transporters, known as MRAPs, to Iraq.

Because of the far-reaching implications of the Predator debate, a fight has broken out between the Army and the Air Force over control of one of the most heralded technological successes of the war.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: drones; miltech; predator
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1 posted on 03/21/2008 10:19:30 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Some officers said pressure from Gates resulted in one plan that could have taken the Air Force down a path similar to the German Luftwaffe, which cut back training in World War II to get more pilots in the air. "That was the end of their air force," said Col. Chris Chambliss

That seems over-stated. The problem for the Germans was that inexperienced pilots were sent up too early, and got shot down by the RAF. German pilots didn't live long enough to gain the skills that ought to have been passed on to the next group of young pilots.

Planes can be replaced far more easily than pilots. The Germans sacrificed their pilots.

You really can't get yourself into the same sort of fix witht he Predators.

2 posted on 03/21/2008 10:26:14 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: NormsRevenge; elhombrelibre; Allegra; SandRat; tobyhill; G8 Diplomat; Dog; Cap Huff; ...

fyi


3 posted on 03/21/2008 10:27:13 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

General Atomics Bump!


4 posted on 03/21/2008 10:29:17 AM PDT by heywoodubuzzoff (:-))
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

So lets buy some more.

Solved.


5 posted on 03/21/2008 10:29:50 AM PDT by Ramius (Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Ok, easy solution. Turn the program over to the Army and Marines.
6 posted on 03/21/2008 10:30:44 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I can just imagine how stressful it is getting up in the morning in Las Vegas, driving all the way to Nellis or Indian Springs and settling-in for that several hour Predator flight.

Where do we find such men?

7 posted on 03/21/2008 10:30:49 AM PDT by paddles
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Train Army & Marine crews. They’ll do the job without crying about the workload.


8 posted on 03/21/2008 10:32:03 AM PDT by csvset
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To: ClearCase_guy

Hard to get hurt when driving a drone from an air-conditioned shelter just outside of Las Vegas.

I can imagine that looking at a monitor for 12+ hours looking for Hajiis in the bush can strain the old eyeballs tho...

Shame they can’t multicast over the web so many eyes can look as well....it would be the ultimate video game to some.


9 posted on 03/21/2008 10:32:54 AM PDT by ASOC (I know I don't look like much, but I raised a US Marine!)
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To: ClearCase_guy
I think the Air Force sees bad things ahead....from the article:

Trainers will turn out more pilots for Predators next year than for all other Air Force fighter planes combined.

10 posted on 03/21/2008 10:36:30 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (No Burkas for my Grandaughters!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Obviously softer Ascots are needed in Nevada. Tough duty???


11 posted on 03/21/2008 10:39:24 AM PDT by mortal19440
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To: ClearCase_guy

Remember the Nena song 99 Luftballoons?

“Keine Doesenflieger mehr”

(We are out of pilots!)


12 posted on 03/21/2008 10:39:42 AM PDT by patton (cuiquam in sua arte credendum)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

The Air Force upper brass is seeing the tactical air future - and it doesn’t have pilots!


13 posted on 03/21/2008 10:41:09 AM PDT by WarEagle (Can America survive a President named Hussein?)
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To: paddles

You said: Where do we find such men?

um...the Air Force?


14 posted on 03/21/2008 10:46:29 AM PDT by big'ol_freeper ("...millions hate what they mistakenly think that the Catholic Church is." ~ Archbishop Fulton Sheen)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Good morning.
“German pilots didn’t live long enough to gain the skills that ought to have been passed on to the next group of young pilots.”

Yet three of the five highest scoring aces in history were Luftwaffe pilots who survived the war.

Michael Frazier


15 posted on 03/21/2008 10:49:24 AM PDT by brazzaville (No surrender, no retreat. Well, maybe retreat's ok)
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To: paddles

I fly large R/C planes and would love the chance to fly one of the drones. I’d fly for free! I wished they had these drones when I was in the Navy back in the 80’s.


16 posted on 03/21/2008 10:51:03 AM PDT by dis.kevin
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Fred Nerks; george76; ...

In four years, the same nimrods opposing the program will be publicly endorsing one or more of the Demwit candidates for President. Thanks Ernest.


17 posted on 03/21/2008 10:52:12 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/______________________Profile updated Saturday, March 1, 2008)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Since a lot of the Air Force is top heavy with Fighter Jocks I see it more as the brass being threatened. They know the writing is on the wall for manned fighter aircraft and with it, their monopoly on power they held for 60 years. Think of it like in the 30's when calvary was forced to give over to the tank


18 posted on 03/21/2008 10:52:44 AM PDT by McCloud-Strife (McCain-You maniac, you blew it up, damn you to hell.)
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To: ClearCase_guy
...and, of course, the Los Angeles Times fails to suggest just who it might be that would be engaging these drones in dog fights and how the lives of the drone pilots could possibly be endangered.
19 posted on 03/21/2008 10:53:24 AM PDT by Mr. Lucky
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To: McCloud-Strife

Bingo!

It’s times like this that we need Rummy around to kick some top brass butt!


20 posted on 03/21/2008 10:59:09 AM PDT by BigBobber
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