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To: JohnHuang2
The Predator has its uses. However, as far as this event goes, I say "big deal". This is nothing a single bomb dropped from one of our strike aircraft couldn't have accomplished.

Predator is probably the most over-hyped technology of this war. Kind of like how they went on and on about the first generation of Patriot missiles in GWI, when all they really did was occasionally knock a Scud off its original course - onto a new course which was actually just as good (and random) as the original.

The Predator UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) flies around at low altitude with a video camera that has a very small field of view. It cannot see much. It's like flying around and looking through a soda straw at the ground. It is useful as a surveillance platform for looking at specific targets of interest (e.g. the way the CIA used it in Yemen). It is terrible as a general means of search and surveillance. The US has MUCH better tools in its ISR arsenal.

The Global Hawk UAV is also overhyped, although less so. Both are good, and have great future potential, but UAVs are FAR from being good, reliable, workhorses for ISR operations yet.

Sorry. Just tired of hearing all about Predator & Global Hawk from commentators and news people who don't understand what they're talking about.

3 posted on 03/23/2003 10:07:27 PM PST by MCH
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To: MCH
But they can still loiter and strike when needed. And their surveillance capability will improve steadily. You're too dismissive.
4 posted on 03/23/2003 11:32:59 PM PST by BushMeister
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