Air Force seeks support for unmanned aerial vehicle responsibility

An elecontronic counter-measures UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). Remotely piloted vehicles are used for a variety of purposes, including video reconnaisance and firing on-board missiles. The Air Force is seeking nearly $13 billion to buy 241 such craft in fiscal 2008, which starts Oct. 1.

Hoping to sell the service’s viewpoint on how to develop remote-controlled aircraft, Air Force representatives made their case Friday to members of several joint commands and Defense Department agencies.

Though invited, representatives from the Army, Marine Corps and Navy were absent from the session.

Col. Charlie Bartlett, director for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities on the Air Force’s A2 directorate, presented the service’s pitch. Bartlett said the Air Force hopes to meet with its sister services later this month or in May.

In a March memo, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley proposed that the Air Force be designated as the Defense Department’s executive agent for overseeing unmanned aerial vehicles that fly primarily above 3,500 feet. Such UAVs include the Air Force MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk, and the Army Warrior.

Read the rest at Air Force Times

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