Posted on 03/29/2006 3:28:05 PM PST by Cecily
"When it was clear the individuals were placing a bomb, the Predator launched the 100-pound Hellfire missile, killing all three insurgents."
Anyone know how this works? Remote viewing by ground crews?? I would hate to see them blow up a road constuction crew.
"The MQ-1 Predator is a system, not just an aircraft. A fully operational system consists of four aircraft (with sensors), a ground control station, a Predator Primary Satellite Link, and approximately 55 personnel for deployed 24-hour operations. "
Video junkies..... not pilots.
Pac man is paying off big time.
They have excellent optics and are remotely operated. Road construction 'crews' don't normally place explosives into holes in a road and run wire to an observation point.
Certainly a bargain then.Deterrence effect alone must be worth this.
"Letting them waste their last moments on earth digging a hole is a nice touch."
- Yes, and an even nicer touch was in waiting for them to get into a ditch so that money wasn't wasted in repairing a huge hole in the road.
I love good news.
Better killing through science!
It's nice to see we're using our technological advantage!
Well that is good optics if they can distinguish a bomb from a pipe and surveying equipment alongside a road.
Surveyors don't usually dig with a pick in the road for a half an hour. It is good enough to make that distinction. What isn't mentioned in the report is that it is followed up by ground forces (to disarm any remaining bombs) which likely confirmed the activity.
Maybe in the future we'll see signs like this along the road:
"Earn money from your home PC - Fly Predators in your spare time!"
I have an old picture taken in 75 that hung on the base ops wall at Davis Monthan AFB taken by a U2 Camera from many miles above the earth.......It was of a titleist golf ball and ya could read the word titleist on the thing.....
Supposedly one can read the date on a dime from thousands of feet AGL with the newer cameras resolution these days.
Awesome hardware......
If there's a utility break in a line on a road, it is very typical to have a crew of 2 or 3 men come in and dig it up, with ancillary surveying/measuring equipment, pipes, etc. near the site. Believe it or not, I have seen this with my own eyes. Of course over here they use power equipment too, but in Iraq that is probably not so available, it would more likely be done manually.
It would be possible to mistake this actvity for an IED crew. And, as others have helpfully pointed out, the predator has the ability to make that distinction. You my friend, do not.
Beware the Predator!
Let's see, 12,000,000 illegal immigrants times $25,000 to $75,000 per Hellfire =
Pretty dang good photo.
I'd be happier if the hellfire missiles got out to the terrorists instead of the word but I do know what you mean.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.