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USAF training 'focused on drones'

The United States Air Force is training more personnel to operate drone aircraft than it is conventional manned fighters and bombers, the country's outgoing air force chief has said.

There are currently around 1,300 drone pilots operating USAF Reaper, Predator and Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the US intends to have around 2,500 pilots and support crew by 2014, according to an article in The Times.

Some 350 new drone pilots were trained in 2011 compared to 250 conventional fighter and bomber pilots.

US Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz, in his last press conference as chief, said: "Manned aviation will be part of the chemistry because at least for the near term, the Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) capability is not for contested airspace. It is a benign airspace capability."

"When and if we're challenged, manned aviation – F35s are a case in point, and B2s – will be part of our force structure, I would estimate, at least for a generation and a half. Thirty years probably - maybe more, probably not less."

"We're training more RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) aviators than we are bomber and fighter pilots," he said. "Ultimately, it is conceivable that the majority of aviators in our Air Force will be Remotely Piloted Aircraft operators.

Schwartz is expected to be replaced as chief of staff by General Mark Welsh upon his retirement later this month.

For more information
www.guardian.co.uk/world

 

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