Predator UAVs With High-Res Video Is An Effective Weapon Against Insurgents

(Click To Enlarge)
An MQ-9 Reaper waits out a haboob beneath a shelter on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Sept. 8, 2008. Haboobs are sandstorms that result from the collapse of thunderstorm cells. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jason Epley

The Real Time Video Revolution -- Strategy Page

October 16, 2008: The U.S. Army and Air Force are so anxious to get as many UAVs to Afghanistan, or aircraft that can act as UAVs (like fighters with targeting pods, or other manned aircraft with real time video capability), because commanders have discovered that "persistent video" is a crucial battlefield advantage. Time and again, in Iraq and Afghanistan, when the ground commander had enough airborne RTV (real time video), the enemy was at a severe disadvantage. Put simply, with enough RTV, you could see nearly everything the enemy was doing, while the enemy had much less awareness of what U.S. forces were up to, or about to do. Add to that night-vision devices, thermal sensors, and smart bombs and missiles, and you have a combination that produces all those lop-sided victories you read about.

How much RTV is enough? It depends on the battle, but half a dozen Predators (or similar UAVs), or manned aircraft with similar capabilities, will usually do it. Add a few of the micro-UAVs and helicopter gunships (who also have night vision devices, but usually can't share their RTV), and you have the battlefield covered. Where the RTV is really crucial is in "preparing the battlefield." For example, you get a tip that the bad guys are operating in a certain area. Maybe it's a mountain valley in Afghanistan, or a village outside Baghdad. If you can put two or three UAVs over the area for a day or so, you can detect any hostile operations in progress. While many of the enemy are on to this possibility, they cannot stay hidden from the RTV at all times, especially at night (when the cooler temperatures make it easier for the heat sensors to pick out who is moving around down there.) Even Special Forces scouts on stakeout (usually in some remote area, in pursuit of a terrorist big shot) can use some RTV from above to make sure their subject does not slip away.

Read more ....

My Comment: The Predator/Reaper UAVs are an incredibly effective weapon against insurgents .... both in Iraq and Afghanistan. I would not be surprised to see more of these weapon systems in war theaters very soon.