U.S. Plans Land-Based UAV Patrols To Combat Piracy

The U.S. will place MQ-9 Reapers in the Seychelles islands to help combat piracy in the Indian Ocean. In this photo, an airman inspects an MQ-9 Reaper in Afghanistan. Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force

U.S. Plans Land-Based UAV Patrols To Combat Piracy -- Stars And Stripes

U.S. officials plan to use MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles to patrol the Indian Ocean as a way to combat piracy in the region.

About 75 U.S. military personnel and civilians will be headed to the Seychelles islands in the coming weeks to set up the Reaper operations, which could start in October or November. U.S. Africa Command is calling the Navy-led mission Ocean Look.

The U.S. will base the Reapers — to be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance — at Seychelles’ Mahé regional airport, Vince Crawley, AFRICOM spokesman, said.

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My Comment: These UAV's are not going to be armed .... so what is the point of having them there. Hmmmm .... I guess the goal is to take great video and to track suspected pirate ships.