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December 2, 2008 9:11:20 AM CST

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7 Stories

 US Drone Downed in Pakistan 

Pakistan claims US spy craft crash-landed near Afghan border

Reuters Reuters Sep 24, 08 7:27 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Pakistani military says it has recovered the wreckage of an American spy drone in the tense Afghan border region. Local tribesmen had earlier claimed to have shot the drone down, but Pakistani officials said the wreckage had no bullet holes, and apparently was downed by a malfunction. US officials denied that any drones had been lost, but no other country operates drones in the region, Reuters reports. More »

More about:  Pakistan • Waziristan • drones • spy drones

 Army to Speed High-Tech
 Gear Into Combat 

New weapons could hit Iraq, Afghanistan by 2011

Popular Mechanics Jun 27, 08 2:33 PM CDT
(Newser) - The US Army has moved up the timetable for its high-tech weapons program, hoping to get new devices into the field by late 2010, 5 years ahead of its original schedule, Popular Mechanics reports. It’s also shifting focus away from conventional warfare tech like tanks and artillery and toward the communications and unmanned vehicles, including robots, infantry in Iraq and Afghanistan covet. More »

More about:  Robert Gates • robots • weapons • drones • Future Combat Systems • new weapons systems

Robot Drones Have 'Changed War' in Iraq, Afghanistan

Unmanned vehicles help troops target trouble spots, keep casualties down

Newsweek Newsweek Jun 5, 08 4:51 PM CDT
(Newser) - At the outset of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were little more than nifty, if sometimes helpful toys. They’ve since cemented a key role in US operations, Newsweek reports. Now hundreds of drones, some as small as model airplanes, keep an unblinking eye on militant movements, relaying images instantly to field commanders’ laptops. One battalion commander says 90% of his "kills" have been aided by UAVs. More »

More about:  Iraq war • military • Afghanistan war • drones • spy drones • UAVs

Miami Hopes to Patrol Streets With Flying
Spy Drones

Police nationwide are clamoring for the 'bots

Reuters Reuters Mar 26, 08 11:44 AM CDT
(Newser) - A flying spy drone may soon join the ranks of Miami's finest, pending FAA approval of the 14-pound bot. "Our intentions are to use it only in tactical situations as an extra set of eyes," says a department spokesman. The US military has been using spy drones for years, reports Reuters, and police departments around the country are interested in pressing them into service. More »

More about:  Florida • police • Miami • police department • drones • spy drones

US Drone Use Over Iraq Soars

Drones over Iraq hit 500K hours

Associated Press Associated Press Jan 2, 08 12:50 PM CST
(Newser) - The US military's use of unmanned aircraft in surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat missions has climbed to more than 500,000 flight hours. The drones are mostly deployed in Iraq, but they're being flown remotely by Air Force pilots based in the US. And as troops begin to trickle back home, demand for the drones is just gearing up, the AP finds. More »

More about:  Iraq • military • aircraft • weapons • drones • Predator

Military Flying Saucers Coming

Discovery Channel Oct 13, 07 12:10 AM CDT
(Newser) - They’re not science fiction anymore. Researchers have built a real life flying saucer that looks and flies like a B-movie dream. The unmanned craft takes off vertically, maneuvers well, and can land almost anywhere. Cheaper and safer than a helicopter, the Defense Department thinks the saucer could become a staple in urban war zones, Discovery News reports. More »

More about:  Defense Department • drones • UFO • UAVs • Flying Saucer

Military Battles for Drone Control

Branches vie with each other for high-tech craft

Financial Times (UK) Financial Times (UK) Aug 20, 07 1:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - New enemies are hovering over America's unmanned drone aircraft—branches of the US armed forces battling each other for control of the high-tech flyers. The Air Force is lobbying Congress for exclusive control over purchasing and developing the spy planes, a move opposed by the Army, Navy and Marines.  More »

More about:  Congress • US Army • airplane • Air Force • Department of Defense • aircraft • drones • UAVs

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