E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSView more videos at: http://nbcmiami.com.
An orange, 20-foot military drone that was found in Florida’s Upper Keys over the weekend had been shot down during a training mission in January, the U.S. Air Force said Wednesday.
Boaters discovered the drone floating in the water about a mile from the Port Largo Canal.
It was shot down at the end of January, said, Lt. Col. Lance “Blade” Wilkins, the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron commander at Tyndall Air Force Base in Pensacola, in an email to NBC 6.
The object was reported missing after it went undiscovered for three days.
The Air Force retrieved it after it was spotted in the Keys over the weekend.
Read more stories from NBCMiami.com
There have been over 600 launches of the BQM-167 drones since 2007, according to Wilkins.
Only 16 of the targets have been “lost,” and nine of those were later recovered, he said.
Retrieving the targets has two purposes, he said.
“It is in the best interest of the USAF to recover these drones rapidly so that we can reuse them and maximize return on investment,” Wilkins said.
“Additionally, it is our intent to remove these from the water as quickly as possible in order to ensure the safety of the Gulf and its mariners,” which include dozens of 82d members, he added.
NBCMiami.com
Leave a Comment:
Why did they shoot it down? How many millions did it cost us for that.
Because many of our enemies have and use drones. Target practice and testing our best-weapon usage for anti-missile systems.
Because Mary Whatever, it was lost. They were looking for it, found it, shot it down and retrieved it to reuse it.
Really? And who are these "enemies" that you refer to? Go ahead; list them all.
This type of drone is meant to be shot down. They are used for air to air target practice by fighter aircraft.
These specific drones are meant to tow targets so pilots can fire missiles at them for training/testing of new equipment. These are not the Predators and Reapers that we're using in the Middle East. They are meant to be shot at, recovered, and used again.
Tom Joad-2727392
Really? And who are these "enemies" that you refer to? Go ahead; list them all.
--------------------------------------------------
You only list the 1 enemy that is actually attacking the US. They do not train to shoot things down simply to go offensive, they train to shoot things down as a defensive measure.
You train just as much for the enemy that you do not know as you do for the enemy you now know.
Damn, that just turned the bite off for a couple of days.
If you release balloons into the air, you go to jail for 5 years, but if the government leaves used weapons in the ocean, no big deal.
@QE137
Who is attacking the US? The US is the one invading foreign countries.
Well since drones can be used to spy on anything, and any country can have needs to spy on the United States from their point of view, I would say just about any country. And that is leaving to the idea that it will be an official country sponsored event.
That being said, a few companies that are in possible range of the Florida Keys who presently do not have a favorable view of the United States could be: Cuba, Venezela, Iran (allied with Venezela), China, Russian Federation, Mexican Drug Cartels, etc.
FYI, if I remember correctly, the bombing of Japan in 1945 was stated to be "a training mission" by the Air Force.
Mike, they are not weapons. This is Target Practice to give our guys the best skills. All the complainers would btch if they ever missed a shot. This is like a toothpick floating in the ocean. They found it and will reuse it, I know it's hard for many but think positive..........
Has the Air Force ever heard of a GPS tracker?
You would have thought the first clue that this was meant to be found and reused might have been the fact it was painted BRIGHT @!$%#ING ORANGE.
And to the guy bitching about the 'cost'. Should we just send our troops out with no training on how to operate their nice new toys? I don't know about you but I'd like to think that before we throw our boys into a war, they might get some practice shooting first.
Really? Releasing balloons into the air is illegal, a five-year prison sentence? Please provide documentation for that statement.
The US military has been using drones for targets since WWII. The reason is that there's no other way to practice shooting down airplanes than to shoot down airplanes and you don't want to do that with a human pilot.
The particular drone is intended to tow targets rather than be shot at directly, and the reason a drone is used is that when people are learning to shoot sometimes they miss the target and hit the towplane, as apparently happened in this case.
The actual cost was about $500,000 for this one. Dirt cheap if it means that the people it is used to train shoot down an enemy aircraft that might otherwise destroy, say, a $4,300,000 Abrams tank.
it's a cheap blow up drone...kind'a like one of them hot dolls you get in the mail...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FWf9t2Sqq0
Chris, you made my spit my coffee out, LOL. Yes, it is ORANGE and by finding it they Air Force saved money. Get a grip people, this helps our military training.
@Mike-1304143: Who is attacking the US? The US is the one invading foreign countries.
As someone who knew people killed on 9/11, I find this quite offensive.
If you don't like our pilots shooting down reusable drones for practice, how about you take a plane up and give them something to shoot at?
Also, drone technology is nothing new. Over 50 countries use them, and besides the US other countries make their own such as China and Israel and perhaps Iran.
Heck, the Viet Cong and Chinese shot down American UAVs during the war in the 1960s!
Ryan O'L-
And make it waterproof? And make it impervious to salt water? Why make it more expensive? It is a 'throw away' drone (per se) that has a cheap motor that can simulate either a cruise missile, a linear UAV/Drone, or an aircraft. Pilots need to train to experience what it feels like with an air-toair missile comes off the rail so when they are engaged in a dog fight for the first time, they will not be shocked at what the sound and sensation of launching a missile feels like.
That is why they paint them orange; so they can locate them easier than the gray missiles we actually use in combat. How the Air Force wasn't able to locate this drone escapes me; it happens but still...
I am glad they were able to locate it; a little fiberglass and bondo and stick a new motor on it and check the actuators and this thing should be fine for a couple of more sorties.
Haha Chris! You beat me to pointing out the obvious! Although, the article could have expounded on what a BQM-167 drone exactly does just a little bit better. Simply stating that it was a training mission in the first sentence left me wondering...so I googled it. They are pretty state of the art targets.
Use of drones by the military against our enemies is one thing, but one day these will be used to monitor your every move. By then it may be too late to do anything. You laxed Americans had better take the use of drones over America seriously, or one day you may regret that you did not speak your opposition to them.
No wonder we are in such fiscal straits. The military moved Tyndall AFB from Panama City, Florida to Pensacola, Florida. Did congress conduct a BRAC overnight?
@IndianaEngineer: I put a link in post #22.1...
@ sighber
It's the Obama tin foil balloon doctrine, there are secret micro tracking devices in the balloons that will identify people to be taken to the massive, sprawling, but secret, concentration camps that will house the entire US population./sarcasm
sighber and antistupidity-http://www.naturalnews.com/039469_balloons_romance_prison_time.html recent news, if the link doesn't show up then do a search, guy released balloons near a natural reserve habitat and faces jail time. It's not tin foil hat stuff, it's just florida.
the boaters should have just kept it as a "lawn decoration" could legally declared"salvage rights "to it if they either board it or tow it back,then sell it back for some good beer money!
Target drones are used for gunnery practice.
MinerFortyNiner
The link you provide takes me to a site that is so overzealous in reporting what they see as an affront to human dignity that they have no problem publishing a massively misleading headline. The website you reference actually has a headline that states that the Obama administration supports the use of aborted human fetal cells in soft drinks. THAT is a PATHETIC LIE. If you read enough of the completely ridiculous article you get to a point where even the moron who wrote it admits that the headline is a lie! What an offensive bunch of garbage.
I suppose you date a French model too, after all they can't put anything on the Internet that isn't true!
Good grief, no wonder the country is in so much trouble!
The soft drink manufacturer mentioned in the article ought to sue the pants off the idiots that run it.
It's just another whack job Florida trooper misapplying a law. This wont go anywhere. The troopers tin foil hat is on too tight.
sighber,
Hey, for what its worth on the balloon issue, I was ticketed in Wisconsin back in the late 80's for shooting water balloons at one another down around the Hudson, Wisc area of the St Croix River basin, The DNR was the ticketing official because of water pollution I was told.
I even fought the ticket and had its fine reduced because we hadn't a clue about it back then and even had a latter from the balloon companies chemist saying the balloons were biodegradable. So yeah, balloons are pollution and cannot be let go into or onto our lands and lakes and rivers for what that's worth. We were using a water balloon slingshot at the time between our boats and just having a blast shooting at each other on a nice hot day.
They had problems finding this target drone, maybe they should consider putting a radio beacon on it and save time and money looking for it.
I would also wonder if they couldn't find an Orange drone they probably can't find smugglers either.
Sounds like "GOOD, OLD FASHION DoD B S TO ME... Upppppps, another $Billion down the drain !!!"
try Practice drone! they are cheep and don't do anything but fly around to be shot at, that is their only function, they have been around for decades, all they are is a big RC. not the orange paint job to make it more visible. do you expect the Navy to practice shoot at real maned planes? the things they shoot at those things cost more then the Target, think of it as a clay pigeon for big guns.
et220-
You are SO far off the mark on this it's not even funny...
Drones... coming to spy on a home near you!
No no no, this one was painted ORANGE for EASTER. There are also pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple drones. Oh, and red. Probably aqua.
@sighber
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/02/26/florida-man-charged-with-felony-for-romantic-balloon-release-gesture-on-valentines-day/
Mary, learn to read with comprehension, please.
The Newly Rebuilt American Government WOULD NEVER Waste Taxpayers money LIKE THAT!!!! Instead that money will go to An American Universal healthCare system With EFFECTIVE and FULLY STAFFED Psychiatric OutReach Teams with "Examine and Retain" Authority to Lock UP the Dangerous NutJobs Running Loose in OUR Society and commit them to OUR REOPENED Federal And State Mental Hospitals In Addition to TAKING CARE Of Our American Citizens, Like Our SANE ALLYS Do With their Citizens. Can we Dot It???? He ll YES!!!!
So, it is okay to shoot that big orange thing that is following me everywhere?
I'd be a lot more concerned about our military's projects than 'many enemies'.
For those who actually care:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firebee
if she was that smart she would have known that inhaling toxic gas could have lead to death.
A-student? more like DUMB A $ $ to me
@markl323
Kinda ironic that you're calling her out on her intelligence when in fact you posted your comment to the WRONG @!$%#ING ARTICLE.
Just a friendly FYI, lol.
it's the site's problem. happens all the time.
now you are not as smart as you thought you were.
Really? Because in 5 years and 3,018 comments, not a single one ever ended up on the wrong article. But hey, justify it however you think works.
@Signher, yes if you are going to release a weather balloon you need to file some paperwork with the FAA. A weather balloon would not be a good thing to run into @ 30k feet in a boeing jet ya know. And yes you can go to prison, anyone remember the lawn chair moron who strapped a bunch of balloons and took a ride?
The American and Isreali invention of the unmanned drone is the biggest mistake next to nuclear weapons. These war robots will allow any person or country to launch attacks 24/7 on any target. The military industrial complex will sell them to any country and air wars will pop up fast. A Chinese cyber hacker could take over a drone carrier and create war. Space based drones will be even faster and deadly unstoppable missiles will rain the earth. The MIC only cares about profit and not your life.
Al true. Even worse is the idea of our own government flying these drones over our own homeland. This is the biggest argument to keep the citizenry armed to the teeth. We have shown ourselves time and again to be imperfect electors. One can only imagine a sky full of drones over our heads, with a superDick Cheney's finger on the trigger. God help us.
The government cuts will give fleets to a small police department to patrol a state or city. This power will be untamed with few in control. Enforcement of laws by drones will be extreme and ruthless. Big brother will watch and be able to stop you.
Nuclear weapons ended WWII and through mutually assured destruction may have stopped WWIII from happening. If you use a computer, plastic instead of cash they ALREADY know everything about you, what the hell is a drone, other than a visual layout of where you are going to do?
Leave it to the war mongering Obama to use these things. Now he and his killer friends want to use them on U.S. citizens.
How is that different without drones?
Hardly. Drones have been around for quite awhile. In fact, they are not much different than large R/C aircraft that hobbyists fly. In fact, you can build your own drone with off the shelf components.
Bull. So called "cyber hackers" can't control anything without an idiot providing an opening into the system, like opening an attachment or a link that downloads malware. But you wouldn't know about that, would you?
Stupidest @!$%#ing comment this week. Well done. Reality is not your strong point is it?
@CP War mongering Obama? WTF?
W bushie and dick the cheney were war mongers and not very bright to top it off. Calling Obama a war monger is akin to calling a monk a serial killer.
Singletermlimitsforeveryone, that is very true but I am much more concerned about BigBad Obama's finger on the trigger than SuperDick Cheny's. Obama has shown the country time and time again that he believes he is above the Constitution and can just disregard it by passing Executive Orders and drone-bombing American civilians and thousands of innocent civilians including women and children from foreign countries on his command. Chris for lala land (yacaipa) you must not pay attention to you Great Leader's actions...they speak much louder than his words to those who are attentive; your ignorance will get them best of you. That being said, I do not believe this drone was for any purpose other than a training exercise but it is still alarming, keep your wits people.
@Ebeneser Howard
You talk about ignorance and yet you just posted something that can barely be considered English at a 1st grade level.
@Scrooge (ebeneser) - ok Rand Paul. I seriously doubt they ever contemplated bombing American civilians on American soil, it was a blanket statement they should have elaborated on. They are talking about a55holes that have US citizenship but are waging war against the US on foreign soil. Come on, thousands of drone bombing civilian casualties?? Whose trying to oversensationalize now?
ebenzer..whatever. You really need to get out more. The world is much much different than the one Fox News, Beck, Limbaugh and others try to paint. And then you accuse others of being ignorant....Geesh!
obama is the biggest pu$$y to ever sit in the front office. He hasn't got time to incite wars. Remember, he ignored advice and advisors regarding Benghazi because he had already declared al qaeda in retreat.
Stonepipe - As individuals we can choose to use cash not plastic, we can choose not to use a computer, we can choose to avoid all the intrusive actions of government and business, But drone use domestically does not allow us any choice in the matter. With the camera technology now our privacy is even more in jeopardy due to these types of tools. I would love to see the use of drones (as well as traffic cameras, and other CCTV devices) banned, the state does not need to be able to track us where ever we go, where we go and what we do is none of their business.
All you who are calling Obama a war monger etc. Well IMHO BUSH shoulud have been impeached - he took us to war without a declaration by copngress. (OH and the Presidents who took us into VN should have been impeached also for the same reason). Only COngress can declare war- other than in immediate self defense no US tropps should be committed to combat without a formal declaration of War by Congress, and by the cost of that war being part of the budgetr process (that is another thing Bush forgot about).
When North Korea, Iran, and other extremely unstable nations fire a missile at us, you'll be happy our defense systems were being tested and trained on.
Oh you harbingers of hatred for a U.S. Defense system!
What happens if a missile landed in YOUR neighborhood? You'd blame the U.S. or not doing its part to protect your dumb Liberal @s$.
And on another note: My condolences to the families of the brave soldiers who died and were injured during a live fire exercise in NV. Unfortunately they paid ultimate price while learning how to effectively use defense systems meant to protect citizens of the U.S., our allies and possess knowledge to deter harm by offensive/defensive measures.
Tactical weapons training is done on multiple levels. Honor the military... it's YOUR job to do so.
Shake a soldiers hand, hug their wife/husband and look after their children, they do it for us.
Yes, an Orange drone is for target practice.
Sorry for the rant
Hollykb: he took us to war without a declaration by copngress.
An absurd argument. Congress has declared war exactly 5 times in 230 years.
The President has WIDE powers as Commander in Chief of the military. Otherwise, we'd also have to impeach Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, Clinton and every President since FDR (with the POSSIBLE exception of President Ford.)
MarkfromBP,
Agreed. BP CT?
@Realism: Of course!
People freak out at the word drone like its a science fiction disaster movie, where was the girl with the big breast, not there then this is not a science fiction movie or a disaster flick this is what is left over after a target practice, yes people drones have been in use for areal target practice for about half a century now, notice the bright orange paint job that's not there so the drone will be less visible, trust me the drone that your government is sending out to monitor you will not be near as noisy or as visible as a target drone, why is this even in the news they shoot them down by the dozens every day, they are cheaper if you buy them by the dozen. some times you will see them flying with a target streamer in tow. did you think it was real pilots that towed the targets. maybe you think our navy does not need to practice.
Hollykb -
How about looking up some facts first before touting the exploits of the almighty Obama.
Using this strict definition of a declaration of war, the United States has not formally declared war with Iraq. However, the Iraq Resolution or the Iraq War Resolution (formally the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 [1], Pub.L. 107-243, 116 Stat. 1498, enacted October 16, 2002, H.J.Res. 114) is a joint resolution (i.e., a law) passed by the United States Congress in October 2002 as Public Law No: 107-243, authorizing the Iraq War.
We were trying to give one to Cuba like we did Iran but they stipulated it has to swim there. ha ha.
And 3. To keep them out of "undesirables" hands.
Marywhatever; Once the technology for the drones is stabilized, mass producing them is cost effective. We need to stay on top of the technology and its capabilities in case someone/somewhere else decides to use them against us.
I hear so many negative reports about using drones, but if they save one American life, I say build them by the gross. They have the capability of "reaching out and touching" the enemy, without endangering our service people's lives, and that's fine with me. (BTW, definition of ENEMY: the people who are trying to kill, harm, maim, mutilate, subjugate or enslave you and/or your family, friend, neighbors and/or country.)
Zapper these drones will be used to take many America lives. The drones change war needing pilots and a like video games. When the drones proliferate, battle will be even more deadly driving man into the underground for safety.
Decimus, you must watch too many sci-fi movies.
While he is a bit exaggerating that, considered this.
If both sides in a conflict use un-manned vehicles (e.g. air drones, ground rovers, etc) to execute the actions of a conflict or war, what will each side target for destruction in order to press their argument? If each side can no longer force the other side into a surrender because they could destroy enough of their enemy soldiers to make it to difficult to pursue the war, what targets will be the target of those two enemy combatants? Hospitals? Schools? Homes? Civilians?
zapper. by your very discription you are talking about the federal government. and helluva nerve- do you really think given the fact that the government is governing against the will of the people that it is a stretch of anykind to say that they are going to use them against the people in our own country to kill our own citizens then I think you are the one who watches too much mslsd you numbnut I hope people like you are the first ones to see the devastation one of these can do to maybe your house and family.losers
Brian-3514684
Your last commet to Zapper was down right stupid. Maybe some of you 20 and 30 year olds should listen to some of these comments.
You have not idea how some of us feel. We didn't have drones flying over our heads all of the time, as a matter of fact the only people who new about the drones were the people driving their black cars. What is happening right now was what we saw on si-fi or cartoons we thought it was funny!
Every generation has something to complain. You will too. Oh yeah, our government did not find the drone, boaters did, within a mile from shore. I really believe the drone was lost for a few days before we found it and shot it down, other wise what kind of government do we have who can not find an orange missle in the water??
The government can't seem to find 11 million illegal aliens so I can see the difficulty in finding a 20-foot orange drone.
It's a target drone - they have been in use since WWII. They are little more than radio controlled platforms for towing targets during practice drills.
What they are not: armed surveillance aircraft flying around to shoot Americans. Sometimes when they fall into the water it takes a few days to find them. Big deal. I guarantee this is not the first time boaters found one before the Navy. The only reason this is in the news is because suddenly the word "drone" gets a lot of screen hits.
Perspective.
We live in a democracy. The government always governs against the will of many people. Just because you happen to be in the minority on an issue, or that you voted for the other guy doesn't mean you live a dictatorship. Don't be a child.
To believe that just because the government has a particular capability to do something - such as shoot missiles at Americans in a bid to end democracy and dissent - doesn't mean they are going to do that. You could just as easily ask why the government hasn't nuked Chicago yet, I mean they have had the technology for decades now - what are they waiting for?
Paranoia.
They are making thousands of drones that do nothing but act as decoys, to send to Iran to drive them nuts in the event Israel attacks swarms of decoy drones will use up Iran's resources before the fighters even close in, for the cost of one combat drone 50 decoy drones can be sent in to draw fire and confuse the defense systems. then when they expose the defenses the real drones can clear the way for the next stage the cruise missiles followed by the fighters, war is changing, send in the drones, modern day pestilence! then we can send in the robot bugs, the robot dogs,followed by troops wearing exoskeleton armour with super human abilities your biggest nightmare, can you imagine some guy running up to you in a Kevlar titanium suit with electrically assisted hydraulics's and flipping your tank over. maybe Obama is stalling for the next batch of toys.
@Bonnie,
Take an orange marble, find someone with a good arm, and have them chuck it as far into a dirt field as they possibly can. Then have that person tell you which direction they threw it and you go find it. Good luck.
"....never posed any kind of threat to anyone" Wouldn't that be considered a "hazard" to the small vessels? The orange is in keeping with target drones, but usually there is much more damage to the drone if shot down as a target drone. Wonder why they lost track of it? Curious what they shot it down with too. Oh well, they know what they are doing.
When was the last time you heard of a military pilot accidently firing on a pleasure craft. These pilots operate in areas that civilian air and marine access is closed. The target drone pictured in this story was floating in the ocean for two days before it was found. In that time it could have floated twenty or thirty miles from where it went down. In choppy seas or inclement weather, it could be very difficult to see or find a (even an orange) drone. It is very rare for military practice ordinance to be anywhere as powerful as live rounds. The goal in these training exercises is to hit the target, not to destroy it. These target drones can be used many times each before it becomes so damaged as to be unusable. At which time, it will be dismantled for repair parts on other drones.
I think Iowa meant more along the lines of someone accidentally hitting it.
I have a home in the Keys. Man, I'd hate to hit one of these things while on my boat.
Don't you have boat insurance, Bobster? You're covered. If you're not insured, (and if you're not you're an idiot), you can file a claim in septuplicate and wait for the government to respond. Could take a while but eventually you'd be reimbursed for repairs. Probably.
Peridot-1693859, What you said,
"Don't you have boat insurance, Bobster? You're covered. If you're not insured, (and if you're not you're an idiot),"
That is all well and good, but what if Bobster's boat sinks after hitting this drone, and with scenarios that are valid, Bobster could be dead after all is said and done. How will your solution help him in that case?
Just wondering why they don't have a GPS on board the drone for tracking it down.
I would think that it is a cost issue. It might be cheaper to loose a low tech drone every once in a while than it would be to put expensive electronics in all of them. Also, the GPS system might be destroyed when the drone is shot down and they would still have to go out and find it the old fassioned way.
It may have had one but it could have been damaged. The antenna
could have also been damaged. If it did not maybe you could send in a suggestion.
The Orange paint worked just fine they found it. night time might be a little different, I hope fish and game doesn't hear about this the Navy could get in trouble for putting orange Styrofoam in fish habitat! they can confiscate their boat, their drones and fine the Navy, plus take away their gun rights. it would not be much of a Navy without their guns. don't mess with those liberals at fish and game they all went to college.
This is NOT a million dollar spy drone. The word "Drone" means unmanned, remote controlled. This one is used just for target practice and is the cheapest way to perform target practice. They are shot down, retrieved and used again. That is why it is painted bright orange. This is a non-story, so dont get carried away with it. With Pensacola Naval base in that general area, I am sure this happens often.
Pensacola Naval Air Station is 400 miles away from the Florida Keys. They were referencing Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, FL. Get your facts straight BEFORE you decide to write a post.
@Sir Kit
And Tyndall is what, 60 or 70 miles east of Pensacola? Woo hoo!!!
It's irrelevant really. The only limits you have are fuel ranges.
MSNBC is F'n with the sheeple again, I love it when they do that. ha ha ha ha ha!!!
Tyndall AFB is in Panama City, FL.
How did they get that screwed up?
iowa-61 good question, "Curious what they shot it down with too"? I have always asked myself when things like this happen. Such as what do they know that is why they are practicing shooting down our own weapons. If you can remember the "Hawk Missile" system when they were called the "bullet that shoots down a bullet" I don't even know if they have that system anymore?
and to your other question, why they lost track of it? it went under their radar and no longer could track it.
If my phone can have GPS, so can this drone. Not like the transmitter/receiver is expensive.
Drop your phone in water and see how long it works.
Works fine if they are configured for it... "Black Box" flight recorders sound familiar.
Yeah, my phone encased in a water tight steel casing would do just fine dropped in the water.
Philly
F-14 has been retired for years.
Dropped in the water, or shot out of the sky and plunged into the water? The Navy operates so many of these that the expense of fitting each one with GPS is probably prohibitive and may not offer much of an improvement over current procedures for tracking. Of course, I could be wrong and the thing does have a way of being tracked - which of course likely got damaged when it was shot out of the sky as I'm sure can happen.
Ya they could stick it in a zip lock sandwich Bag just don't shoot the bag when you shoot down the drone, how much do you want to spend for a target, wasn't the $800.00 dollar paint job enough, cost more to retrieve it then any potential damage it might cause, and it will make its way to shore, probably have one hanging in half the Bars in Bermuda and Havana. cut them up and they make good floats for fishermen. do you really think it would be wise to have a Aircraft carrier or a Destroyer cruise around looking for the damn thing, someone will find it and if they can fix it and make it fly they can have it. as far as a gps well they knew exactly where it was at when they shot it down, and if you think GPS is a good idea then with one that is bullet and missile proof and is under $25.00 the navy might buy it from you. if not try the air force.
Put a 20mm round through it and see if it remains waterproof.
Coming soon(if not already) 24/7 surveillance to a home near you. Never forget these machines of death are also legal for local states and communities to use. Contact your members of Congress and have them make illegal the use of these evil devices on American soil. They do have military value, but SINCE WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS, DON'T WE HAVE A SAY? NOT ON AMERICAN SOIL!
HODAG 54
Your say in it is STFU. Now I know I want to live on another planet most of these humans on these web sites are to stupid to even say they have a brain. If they did have one it would be out looking for the other one cell it is missing.
Arlington TX has gotten permission from the FAA to fly drones for our safety. LOL if you believe that one, our safety..Really?
Target drones have been in use since WWII. Jesus christ people, understand the story and the issues before opening your mouths and looking stupid. You are screaming about delusions and you are afraid of shadows.
Local and state governments have been flying planes and helicopters over your heads since the '40s at least. And it took you this long to complain?
Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City Florida - Home of William Tell (ever see top gun?)
TOPGUN = Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Program at NAS Fallon, NV (formerly at NAS Mirimar, CA - now MCAS Miramar)
William Tell = Air Force aerial gunnery competition at Tyndall AFB, FL
A more relavent comparison for TOPGUN would be the Air Force Weapons School at Nellis AFB, NV.
Wow, some people can sure take some things and really just immediately take them into the dire gloom and doom category.
You Knuckleheads, this isn't the type of drone that is used for spying and blowing inocent people up. It is an aerial target drone used for target practice. There are thousands of these things lying on the bottom of the oceans. They just simply missied hitting this one. Now put your tinfoil hats back on and continue prepping.
Lou and Philly You have to remember that it is more exciting if you can throw some B/S in with true facts. These idiots do not want to listen to anything. A fire destroyed a house, they hear a fire destroyed a house and at least 30 more were damaged. Remember Dragnet if you are that old and Friday use to say "Just the facts mam or sir" These idiots on here just want B/S and MSNBC gives them plenty.
And the droning continues.
Well now why would they shoot it down...?
As explained in the article, it is a target drone. Target would imply shooting. That is why it was shot down, because that is its purpose. As to expense, its cheaper than shooting down an old fighter like an F-4. Firebees have been used for this purpose for decades.
Nothing sinister here. Not really much of a story either.
Really isn't a story, but as you can see from the comments, the minute you put the word "drone" in the headline everybody jumps in and starts screaming.
Does no one remember back in the WWII and Korean war days, target practice was a trainer plane pulling a sock, tied on with a LOOOONG rope. Occasionally the gunners would get too far ahead of the target sock and hit the plane - not happy with the pilots. Drone doesn't get PO'd at a few stray shots....
Wych, I remember those days. I had an Air Force ROTC instructor who had been a fighter pilot in the Korean War. Periodically, he would be transferred to Japan where he would fly jets that towed targets for training new fighter pilots. He said this was much more dangerous than being in combat in Korea. When he told how he had more than once he barely escaped when trainees shot at his plane instead, there was real fear in his voice. This experience may explain why he alway taught the class with a paper cup of bourbon in hand.
This is not a military or government conspiracy. This is just one more example of the media trying to influence the news instead of simply reporting the news.
These pilots operate in areas that civilian air and marine access is closed. The target drone pictured in this story was floating in the ocean for two days before it was found. In that time it could have floated twenty or thirty miles from where it went down. In choppy seas or inclement weather, it could be very difficult to see or find a (even an orange) drone. It is very rare for military practice ordinance (missiles) to be anywhere as powerful as live rounds. The goal in these training exercises is to hit the target, not to destroy it. These target drones can be used many times each before it becomes so damaged as to be unusable. At which time, it will be dismantled for repair parts on other drones.
The media trying to influence the news? On what planet?
This is a report of the missing drone being found. Your filters are strange if you think there is any influence in this lameass report of a drone found by boaters.
All the hype is in these ridiculous comments by tinfoil hat wearers and conspiracy nutjobs.
In 2005 the average cost of a target drone was $400,000.00 Some here seem to think that's small change, if so, could you spare some cash?
http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=14593
Well, $570,000 for this one.
But (!) there have been 600 launches and they have only 37 in inventory. Heck, round that up to 40 and that's 15 uses each *to date*.
$38,000 per launch isn't bad!
I believe the Air Force continues to get a decent ROI for these units.
When I was in we had a $400,000 phone bill for one satellite
phone. Now before you freak out. This phone had the ability to be set up in less
than 5 minutes. Was able to be 100 % secure for both Data and voice. The data
was the big one because it is allowed to access to the secure internet.
We went through the phone bill and found that one it was on
24 and that it there was no misuse. We deterred that the General had want to be
able to get on secure internet at any time. We were able to with the satellite provider
to lower the cost per minute. The general was informed by higher ups that the phone
could not be on line at all times. If there were any changes he would be called
and they he could access the secure internet.
If we had not used this system we would have had to deploy seven
personal and a satellite communications van that would have taken a C-17 to
deploy. The cost would have been in the millions of dollars just to use the satellite.
MarkBP,
I'll take that as a bargain. I think most of the U.S. population is still hung up on $10K toilet seats as reported in the 80's and 90's. I think a reusable drone target at $36K per use so far is a great deal. many are too focused on the costs of staying ahead of the military game in the world... until as I stated earlier, an enemy launches one their way.
Waterbury CT here.
I will be opening soon the first used Drone lot. Special financing. Buy Here Pay Here.
what was the military surveilling?? American citizens activities??
Be careful folks, Big Brother is watching and is far more involved in our lives than we could imagine
mojoman2 Have you taken your meds today and how come you our out and on a computer, since when did they put them in a physco ward. Run here comes Big Brother and he has baby sister with him. DUH!
Ban all drones. BERMA SHAVE
Virgil -
If you are going to continue your silly little posts, at least spell it correctly. It is "BURMA SHAVE."
you must be politcally correct also
slow news day.
Must be very slow, but the had to let the dogs get their yip and yapping done somehow.
Obama is a war monger !!!!!!!! End all wars, bring home the troops !!!!!!!!
Sounds to me like the AF is having trouble with their shooting! But that can be expected I guess. My son worked on a salvage boat in the Navy for awhile...they pulled old useless, stripped ships out in the ocean (Pacific) for the AF to shoot at...they would go several miles away & watch. Kind of funny when NOT ONE plane can hit a ship sitting still in the ocean....which was what happened often!
THEY NEED THE TARGET PRACTICE! I can shoot better than that & I'm an old woman!