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news/2008/05/airforce_24_uav_050608w
news/2008/05/airforce_24_uav_050608w
More Predators flying above Iraq, Afghanistan
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday May 7, 2008 7:28:48 EDT
Posted : Wednesday May 7, 2008 7:28:48 EDT
Soldiers can expect to hear one more flying lawn mower loitering overhead now that the Air Force has established the 24th MQ-1 Predator combat air patrol in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The announcement was made May 1, just a couple weeks after Secretary of Defense Robert Gates launched a task force to cut through bureaucratic tie-ups and get more unmanned aerial vehicles airborne in the Central Command area of operations to help troops track insurgents.
A Predator CAP entails 24-hour coverage — often referred to as the “unblinking eye” — over the battlefield using four different Predators. The patrols supply 13,400 hours of full-motion video to ground forces each month.
Air Force spokesman Ed Gulick said the service plans to stand up its 25th CAP next month and its 27th by September. Navy Adm. Eric Olson, head of Special Operations Command, said 30 are needed over Iraq now.
Last year, the Air Force had only 12 Predator CAPs over the CentCom area of responsibility.
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