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Why military drones have been prone to accidents

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Military rushed unmanned aircraft into service to meet high demand in skies over Afghanistan.

2010-07-10-lat-drone-crashes.JPGView full sizeA pilot in a remote site at Kandahar Air Field uses a camera pod to remotely steer a Reaper aircraft back into base after a mission. Thirty-eight Predator and Reaper drones have crashed during combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and nine more during training on bases in the U.S., with each crash costing between $3.7 million and $5 million.

From the Los Angeles Times:

Kandahar, Afghanistan — The U.S. military often portrays its drone aircraft as high-tech marvels that can be operated seamlessly from thousands of miles away. But Pentagon accident reports reveal that the pilotless aircraft suffer from frequent system failures, computer glitches and human error.

Design and system problems were never fully addressed in the haste to push the fragile plane into combat over Afghanistan shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks more than eight years ago. Air Force investigators continue to cite pilot mistakes, coordination snafus, software failures, outdated technology and inadequate flight manuals.

Thirty-eight Predator and Reaper drones have crashed during combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and nine more during training on bases in the U.S. — with each crash costing between $3.7 million and $5 million. Altogether, the Air Force says there have been 79 drone accidents costing at least $1 million each.

Read the story:

» War zone drone crashes add up

Related stories:

» 174th busy guiding Reapers, has plans for a larger role [The Post-Standard]
» Chart: Drone aircraft crashes [Los Angeles Times]
» Syracuse Air National Guard at Hancock Field operate Reaper drones from afar [The Post-Standard]
» U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan get mixed response [Los Angeles Times]
» Drone pilots have a front-row seat on war, from half a world away [Los Angeles Times]


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