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UAVs, not just an Air Force gig anymore

Flash

SEVAL/ECMO
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Anyone care to elaborate but in AFROTC it's now a separate track apparently, and the commissioning class of 2014 for last year was 3 pilots (UPT, ENJJPT, and UAV, no Navs?).

The USAF has a separate career field and even a pair of wings just for UAV folks, they still use 'regular' pilots as UAV guys but now they have folks that will supposedly fly nothing but UAV's for their career. The Navy has not done that yet and I don't think we will for some time with the main difference being numbers, the USAF operates hundreds of larger UAV's where the Navy plans to operate only 68 or so MQ-4C Tritons and those are less pilot intensive than MQ-1/9's.
 

ea6bflyr

Working Class Bum
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
The USAF has a separate career field and even a pair of wings just for UAV folks, they still use 'regular' pilots as UAV guys but now they have folks that will supposedly fly nothing but UAV's for their career. The Navy has not done that yet and I don't think we will for some time with the main difference being numbers, the USAF operates hundreds of larger UAV's where the Navy plans to operate only 68 or so MQ-4C Tritons and those are less pilot intensive than MQ-1/9's.
USAF RPA Wings
uavwings-525.jpg
 

Jublov

Play Top Gun Til' the VHS breaks
The USAF has a separate career field and even a pair of wings just for UAV folks, they still use 'regular' pilots as UAV guys but now they have folks that will supposedly fly nothing but UAV's for their career. The Navy has not done that yet and I don't think we will for some time with the main difference being numbers, the USAF operates hundreds of larger UAV's where the Navy plans to operate only 68 or so MQ-4C Tritons and those are less pilot intensive than MQ-1/9's.

Why less UAVs, is it cost?
 

Flash

SEVAL/ECMO
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Why less UAVs, is it cost?

Need and mission, the USAF has the mission to do ISR overland and there is a huge need for that while we do it over water where there is less need. That is putting it very simply but that is the main reason.
 

Jublov

Play Top Gun Til' the VHS breaks
Need and mission, the USAF has the mission to do ISR overland and there is a huge need for that while we do it over water where there si less need. That is putting it very simply but that is the main reason.

Gotcha, thanks.
 

Uncle Fester

Robot Pimp
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Are they called "Big Red" because their "operators" spend a lot of time at their monitors chewing gum?

Oh wow, you sure dropped the mike on that one.

3555536.jpg
 
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