Today's Drones Are Useless In The Pacific

Today's Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Will Be Totally Useless In The Pacific Theater -- Business Insider

The vast fleet of military drones the Pentagon has at its disposal will likely be worth very little in the Pacific, against more advanced, capable enemies, according to a report by Dave Majumdar of the site Flight Global.

"We are now shifting to a theatre where there is an adversary out there who is going to have a vote on whether I have that staring eye over the battlefield 24[hours], seven [days a week], 365 [days a year], and pretty certain they are not going to allow that to happen," says Gen Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

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My Comment: It has always been understood that America's drone fleet is only effective against insurgents and a foe that does not have the means to shoot down high flying aircraft. Countries like China, Russia, etc., do have the means, and they will be effective in shooting down such aircraft. But these drones are just the first generation, and with time they are developing into better and more formidable instruments. At least that is the goal.

The Never Ending Drone War

The Long Third War -- Micah Zenko, Foreign Policy

No matter who wins in November, America should get ready for 10 more years of drones.

Nov. 3 marks the tenth anniversary of America's Third War -- the campaign of targeted killings in non-battlefield settings that has been a defining feature of post-9/11 American military policy as much as the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Unlike other wars, there won't be any ceremonies at the White House or Pentagon, parades down Main Streets, or town square rallies to acknowledge the sacrifices made by the countless civilian and military personnel involved. There won't even be a presidential statement since targeted killings cannot and will not be recognized by the U.S. government. The war is conducted by both the CIA -- covert and totally unacknowledged -- and by the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) -- described without any specificity as "direct action" by the White House. Whether the CIA or JSOC is the lead executive agency, the Third War is marked by the limited transparency and accountability of U.S. officials.

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My Comment: Not only should we be ready for 10 more years of drones, but an even greater escalation in the use of drones (and other robotic means of warfare) as research and development proceeds in the production of even more effective and lethal killing machines.

What Does Israel Shooting Down A Drone Teaches Us About “Modern” Air Combat

Photo: U.S. Air Force F-15s fire missiles over the Pacific Ocean in an exercise. (USAF File Photo)

Israel Shoots Down Intruder Drone: What It Teaches Us About “Modern” Air Combat -- Washington Times

WASHINGTON D.C., October 6, 2012 – The Israeli Air Force released a video today which shows a missile homing in and destroying a small aerial object, presumably a drone, and another aircraft which appears to be an F-16 breaking away from the kill. According to Israeli authorities, the interception occurred around 10 am IST and was brought down around the northern Negev region after breaching Israeli airspace.

While suspicions abound over the origin of the intruding drone, U.S. policymakers should use this incident and its implications as a free case study for the growing trend of remotely piloted drones and UCAVs as America’s intelligence and combat aircraft of choice.

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My Comment: A sobering assessment on what drones are capable now. But .... here is a prediction from me .... 20 or 30 years from now we will be scratching our heads and asking ourselves why would anyone want to fly in a manned fighter when drones are faster/more maneuverable/and have far more capabilities than a manned plane with all of the "biological limits" that a human operator will impose on it.

What Does Israel Shooting Down A Drone Teaches Us About “Modern” Air Combat

Photo: U.S. Air Force F-15s fire missiles over the Pacific Ocean in an exercise. (USAF File Photo)

Israel Shoots Down Intruder Drone: What It Teaches Us About “Modern” Air Combat -- Washington Times

WASHINGTON D.C., October 6, 2012 – The Israeli Air Force released a video today which shows a missile homing in and destroying a small aerial object, presumably a drone, and another aircraft which appears to be an F-16 breaking away from the kill. According to Israeli authorities, the interception occurred around 10 am IST and was brought down around the northern Negev region after breaching Israeli airspace.

While suspicions abound over the origin of the intruding drone, U.S. policymakers should use this incident and its implications as a free case study for the growing trend of remotely piloted drones and UCAVs as America’s intelligence and combat aircraft of choice.

Read more ....

My Comment: A sobering assessment on what drones are capable now. But .... here is a prediction from me .... 20 or 30 years from now we will be scratching our heads and asking ourselves why would anyone want to fly in a manned fighter when drones are faster/more maneuverable/and have far more capabilities than a manned plane with all of the "biological limits" that a human operator will impose on it.

What Does Israel Shooting Down A Drone Teaches Us About “Modern” Air Combat

Photo: U.S. Air Force F-15s fire missiles over the Pacific Ocean in an exercise. (USAF File Photo)

Israel Shoots Down Intruder Drone: What It Teaches Us About “Modern” Air Combat -- Washington Times

WASHINGTON D.C., October 6, 2012 – The Israeli Air Force released a video today which shows a missile homing in and destroying a small aerial object, presumably a drone, and another aircraft which appears to be an F-16 breaking away from the kill. According to Israeli authorities, the interception occurred around 10 am IST and was brought down around the northern Negev region after breaching Israeli airspace.

While suspicions abound over the origin of the intruding drone, U.S. policymakers should use this incident and its implications as a free case study for the growing trend of remotely piloted drones and UCAVs as America’s intelligence and combat aircraft of choice.

Read more ....

My Comment: A sobering assessment on what drones are capable now. But .... here is a prediction from me .... 20 or 30 years from now we will be scratching our heads and asking ourselves why would anyone want to fly in a manned fighter when drones are faster/more maneuverable/and have far more capabilities than a manned plane with all of the "biological limits" that a human operator will impose on it.

The Drone Culture

The Emerging ‘Drone’ Culture -- Eugene Robinson, Miami Herald/Washington Post

The age of the drones has arrived. It’s not possible to uninvent these Orwellian devices, but we can — and must — restrain their use.

As instruments of war, pilotless aircraft have already become essential. The Washington Post reported last year that more than 50 countries had developed or purchased drones to use in surveillance — and that many of those nations were working to weaponize the aircraft. Deadly missiles fired from drones are among the most effective U.S. weapons against the Taliban and al Qaida.

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My Comment: Eugene Robinson hopes that the use of drones can be restrained .... I doubt that in today's world such a "hope" is even possible.