Defense Daily
October 27, 2003
Pg. 3
Predator Bs To Start Patrolling U.S. Mexico Border Today
By Amy Butler
The Homeland Security Department is scheduled today to begin using the Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle to conduct law enforcement missions along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Pentagon sources.
The endeavor, called Operation SAFEGUARD, is scheduled to last for 21 days.
Predator B is manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The UAV is designed to fly at medium altitudes for more than 30 hours, and it will carry an electro-optical and infrared camera. The vehicle’s pilot will be located at a ground station miles away, an advantage of using UAVs over manned aircraft for tedious, border-security missions.
Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Doyle refuted any specific missions are planned.
“We are taking a look at them,†he said, speaking generally of using UAVs. However, Doyle said “no decisions have been made†regarding the use of specific UAVs for homeland security purposes. He declined to directly discuss Predator, and the plans for missions slated to begin today.
Nevertheless, the actual aircraft that will fly the missions is an Air Force-owned prototype of the Predator B, which is a new design that is more robust and able to carry a larger payload than its younger cousin, the Predator, Pentagon sources said. Congress directed the Air Force in fiscal year 2002 to purchase the only two prototypes in existence to begin experimenting with the UAV. Since then, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper has said he plans to use the vehicle as a “hunter-killer†UAV, capable of detecting and destroying pop-up targets during the same mission.
The UAV has the ability to carrying at least six weapons of varying type. Air Force officials first explored adding weapons to the original Predator’s payload in 2000; since then they have employed such weapons as the Army Hellfire anti-tank missile and the Stinger air-to-air missile.
Eight Predator UAVs were used during Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to an after action report by the air war commander. Some of the older, prototype models of the original Predator vehicle, which had reached the end of their service lives, were actually flown before the start of the war to draw fire from enemy forces and reveal air defense locations. The measure worked, according to Air Force sources.
Predator gained notoriety on national news casts last year after allegedly destroying a car carrying suspected al Qaeda terrorists and a key operative believed to be responsible for the attack on the USS Cole (DDG-67) destroyer in Yemen. That UAV was operated by the Central Intelligence Agency, officials speculated at the time.
The Predator B will be unarmed during its Homeland Security flights, Pentagon officials said.
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz recently approved use of the vehicle for the homeland security missions. An official notification of this approval, signed by Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Paul McHale, was sent via letter to the Homeland Security Department Oct. 23, one Pentagon source added.
The Homeland Security Department’s immigrations and customs enforcement bureau will oversee Operation SAFEGUARD, according to Pentagon sources.
However, the Pentagon and contractor agreed to a cooperative research and development agreement to transfer oversight of the vehicle to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the duration of the missions. Laws preclude law enforcement officials from employing military assets for domestic law enforcement activities.
As a result, all Air Force markings will be removed from the aircraft while it conducts its missions in the southwestern skies of the United States. And, no active duty or military personnel will contribute to the missions, sources added.
October 27, 2003
Pg. 3
Predator Bs To Start Patrolling U.S. Mexico Border Today
By Amy Butler
The Homeland Security Department is scheduled today to begin using the Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle to conduct law enforcement missions along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Pentagon sources.
The endeavor, called Operation SAFEGUARD, is scheduled to last for 21 days.
Predator B is manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The UAV is designed to fly at medium altitudes for more than 30 hours, and it will carry an electro-optical and infrared camera. The vehicle’s pilot will be located at a ground station miles away, an advantage of using UAVs over manned aircraft for tedious, border-security missions.
Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Doyle refuted any specific missions are planned.
“We are taking a look at them,†he said, speaking generally of using UAVs. However, Doyle said “no decisions have been made†regarding the use of specific UAVs for homeland security purposes. He declined to directly discuss Predator, and the plans for missions slated to begin today.
Nevertheless, the actual aircraft that will fly the missions is an Air Force-owned prototype of the Predator B, which is a new design that is more robust and able to carry a larger payload than its younger cousin, the Predator, Pentagon sources said. Congress directed the Air Force in fiscal year 2002 to purchase the only two prototypes in existence to begin experimenting with the UAV. Since then, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper has said he plans to use the vehicle as a “hunter-killer†UAV, capable of detecting and destroying pop-up targets during the same mission.
The UAV has the ability to carrying at least six weapons of varying type. Air Force officials first explored adding weapons to the original Predator’s payload in 2000; since then they have employed such weapons as the Army Hellfire anti-tank missile and the Stinger air-to-air missile.
Eight Predator UAVs were used during Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to an after action report by the air war commander. Some of the older, prototype models of the original Predator vehicle, which had reached the end of their service lives, were actually flown before the start of the war to draw fire from enemy forces and reveal air defense locations. The measure worked, according to Air Force sources.
Predator gained notoriety on national news casts last year after allegedly destroying a car carrying suspected al Qaeda terrorists and a key operative believed to be responsible for the attack on the USS Cole (DDG-67) destroyer in Yemen. That UAV was operated by the Central Intelligence Agency, officials speculated at the time.
The Predator B will be unarmed during its Homeland Security flights, Pentagon officials said.
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz recently approved use of the vehicle for the homeland security missions. An official notification of this approval, signed by Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Paul McHale, was sent via letter to the Homeland Security Department Oct. 23, one Pentagon source added.
The Homeland Security Department’s immigrations and customs enforcement bureau will oversee Operation SAFEGUARD, according to Pentagon sources.
However, the Pentagon and contractor agreed to a cooperative research and development agreement to transfer oversight of the vehicle to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for the duration of the missions. Laws preclude law enforcement officials from employing military assets for domestic law enforcement activities.
As a result, all Air Force markings will be removed from the aircraft while it conducts its missions in the southwestern skies of the United States. And, no active duty or military personnel will contribute to the missions, sources added.
