Unmanned Drones to Patrol Africa

[Patient]

Looks like drones will be patrolling the danger areas off of East Africa, specifically Somolia. Although aimed at Militant groups the Indian Times mentions that they would also be used to monitor pirate activities.

Do you think this will help with the problem or is it money wasted?

-Pat

U.S. Expands Drone Flights to Take Aim at East Africa - WSJ.com

WASHINGTON—The U.S. military is deploying a new force of armed drones to eastern Africa in an escalation of its campaign to strike militant targets in the region and expand intelligence on extremists, officials said.
The military has reopened a base for the unmanned aircraft on the island nation of Seychelles to intensify attacks on al Qaeda affiliates, particularly in Somalia, defense officials told The Wall Street Journal.
The U.S. has used the Seychelles base for flying surveillance drones, and for the first time will fly armed MQ-9 Reapers from the Indian Ocean site, supplementing strikes from a U.S. drone base in Djibouti.

[anotherT34C]

Reaper, predator... Can we stop naming our military weapons like we're the baddies?

Seriously, what's next? Helmets with skulls on them?

[atoll]

about time,as increasingly piracy is also increasing in other areas.
it must be a lot cheaper to run a drone than a warship?
just need to change international law so as to be able to engage the bad guys......

[svBeBe]

These unmanned drones could be very useful in Somalia. IMHO it is highly unlikely these drones could/would be used against piracy. It is a big ocean and boats move constantly. Utilizing the drones on land to find/monitor known Al-Queda locations is a far more productive use of the technology.

Judy
S/V BeBe

[w1651]

Originally Posted by atoll

about time,as increasingly piracy is also increasing in other areas.
it must be a lot cheaper to run a drone than a warship?
just need to change international law so as to be able to engage the bad guys......

As long as it is used against them and not me. I don't have guns on board so I couldn't fight off a bad judgement 1000 miles away in a bunker on a computer screen. I hope they use high def screens.
At least a ship will call you on the vhf and you can pull alongside and top off your water.

[martinjrichter]

Originally Posted by anotherT34C

Reaper, predator... Can we stop naming our military weapons like we're the baddies?

Seriously, what's next? Helmets with skulls on them?

Oakland Raiders pretty well own that symbol

[IdoraKeeper]

It will be more than drones. Solid state lasers mounted on phalanx mounts, using phalanx pointing for engagement of multiple targets at distances of up to several klicks. Large high powered vessels only....for now.

Practice makes perfect as we all know. It's gonna suck to be a pirate.

Todd

[MarinerJo]

Originally Posted by anotherT34C

Reaper, predator... Can we stop naming our military weapons like we're the baddies?

Seriously, what's next? Helmets with skulls on them?

We are the "Baddies"

[Ironhorse74]

Originally Posted by anotherT34C

Reaper, predator... Can we stop naming our military weapons like we're the baddies?

Seriously, what's next? Helmets with skulls on them?

Part of military heritage. We are the bad boys. We own the night, and in a third world country like Somalia, we own the day too.

I worked for a military contractor in the Sudan in 92 and 93. Most of Africa is beyond hope. The only thing you can do is kill the shooters

Brad

[anotherT34C]

Mitchell & Webb Nazis - YouTube

I hear Webb has a schooner.

No I didn't.

[Unicorn Dreams]

I don't care if they call the UAV's Nuke the Bastards as long as they slow down or stop the piracy.

I have absolutely no sympathy for low life trash that preys on innocent people. UAV's won't put good people in harms way. USE MORE OF THEM.

[Rhapsody-NS27]

Originally Posted by anotherT34C

Seriously, what's next? Helmets with skulls on them?

You mean like this??

http://www.irintech.com/x1/images/je...aint_skull.jpg

[James S]

Originally Posted by w1651

As long as it is used against them and not me. I

Thats the challange that I see..I had a friend killed in a drone attack...he was not the target....collateral damage.

Sorta makes me think twice.

[Wavewacker]

Wow, I got the hot topic warning!

Well, sorry to hear about your friend, nothing is 100% in war.

But now that the area will be covered, it almost makes one want to go out there just to watch them target the pirates.

[James S]

Originally Posted by Wavewacker

Wow, I got the hot topic warning!

Well, sorry to hear about your friend, nothing is 100% in war.

But now that the area will be covered, it almost makes one want to go out there just to watch them target the pirates.

Yeh...thats sort of the thing...it happened in a country that the US had not declared war on.