US Navy launches squadron of drone helicopters
US: The US Navy has introduced its first squadron of drone
helicopters, amid international and domestic opposition to Washington’s
use of surveillance and assassination drones. The squadron, called the
Magicians, was unveiled at an air base near San Diego on May 2. It will
be deployed off coastal combat ships that are smaller and faster than
destroyers and aircraft carriers.
“This approach is designed for near-shore environment where our
current experience shows us we're most likely to encounter threats,”
Admiral David Buss said.
The new unit comprises ten MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned autonomous
helicopters - developed by Northrop Grumman to ‘provide reconnaissance,
situational awareness, and precision targeting support for ground, air
and sea forces’ - and eight MH-60 Romeo helicopters.
The MQ-8 Fire Scout can be controlled by two pilots on the ground or
on a ship up to 177 kilometers (110 miles) away. It can fly for at least
eight hours compared to MH-60 Romeo’s maximum airtime of 3.3 hours.
“Helicopters can't stay airborne as long as the Fire Scout,” Buss
said. “With the Fire Scout's endurance of up to eight hours, the
helicopter crew can return refuel, rearm and re-man while the Fire Scout
maintains contact.”
Washington uses assassination drones in several countries, including
Pakistan and Yemen, claiming that they target “terrorists.” According to
witnesses, however, the attacks have mostly led to massive civilian
casualties.
This comes as the United Nations Human Rights Council has called for
a moratorium on the production, transfer and use of drones worldwide
because the robotic weapons violate international law.
- PRESS TV |
