Remote Control Drone Planes (Predator class) will be taking up residence in Houston's Ellington Field AFB. This tidbit came after the news that Ellington may yet lose its F-16 fighter Squadron.
The drones will pull double duty keeping an eye on border with Mexico from both illegal aliens and terrorists who may be going after the oil production fields. The drones can either be rigged for recon work or armed for combat.
Lockheed Martin F-16 C/D costs just under $27 million (USD), while the Predator RQ-1 costs about $5 million (USD), so about a 5 to 1 ratio it makes sense on paper but...early in the Predator's deployment over seas (2001-02) half of the 12 Predators were destroyed, or grounded.
I hope that significant improvements have been made.
Delay and Deny
