The latest UAV losses:-
The UK's combat and peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and Iraq since
earlier this decade have resulted in the loss of almost 50 unmanned air
vehicles and irreparable damage to almost 40 more, secretary of state for
defence Des Browne has revealed.
"Since 2003, 33 UAVs have been lost in Iraq", says Browne, adding that a
further 38 were damaged beyond repair. The Ministry of Defence has not
released details of the air vehicle types involved, but at least 23 of the
British Army's BAE Systems Phoenix UAVs are known to have been lost or
written off during the combat phase of Iraqi operations. Other unmanned
systems believed to have been used in the country by British forces include
Mission Technologies Buster and Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk mini UAVs and US Air Force-owned General Atomics MQ-1 Predators.
Browne has also revealed that 15 Desert Hawks were destroyed and another
damaged beyond repair during operations in Afghanistan until 24 April.
What do you expect when you let the Army 'fly' them?
The newer generations of UAVs need professional pilots to operate them properly. Stop giving them to artillery gunners and you might see those figures come down somewhat...
As for cost.....well, the annual legal aid bill for failed asylum seekers would buy us another 20 Predator B's, pay for the crew training, and still leave us enough change left to build a decent Sqn bar...nuff said!