Sunday, August 26, 2007

UAV Predator


The integration between conventionally piloted aircraft and UAVs "was outstanding" during the Iraq war, the major emphasized.

Predator pilots "would identify a target and we would drop (ordnance) on the target - that would happen quite often," Valentine remarked. He said that UAVs "obviously have the endurance to stay in an area a lot longer than we have, because they use less gas."

The employment of Predators in the war against global terrorism "offers a lot of different capabilities," Vanzanten explained, pointing out the UAV's "laser- ball" device that's used to guide the Hellfires to target.

And the Predator has been used in joint-combined operations, he continued, noting that during recent overseas deployments U.S. Air Force Predator crews worked with members of the other armed services, as well as British coalition forces.

Capt. Sam J. Vanzanten, 32, is an earthbound controller of the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle. The eight-year military veteran noted he's been in the Predator program for the past two years.

Vanzanten, his armaments specialist, Air Force Tech. Sgt. George H. Russell, and their Predator were at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., May 16 for the kickoff ceremony at this year's Joint Service Open House.

The C-17 transport pilot said he'd put his UAV expertise to the test overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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