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Transcript
February 28, 2003
NARRATOR: This unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, called a
"Predator," was designed for surveillance. In Yemen, one was used to
fire on and kill a suspected Al Qaeda leader, proving its potential
as a weapon and indicating how some wars may be fought in the
future.
As shown on PBS's NOVA, UAVs are primarily used for surveillance.
The video-camera-equipped aircraft give the Air Force real-time
views in the hunt for enemy targets. The military is also trying out
smaller ones for troops in the trenches.
BRIGADIER GEN. WILLIAM D. CATTO (U.S. Marine Corps):
You know, when you see a Predator or a Global Hawk as they have been
used in Kosovo or in Afghanistan, the information for those always
goes to higher headquarters.
NARRATOR: The Marines are hoping this small UAV, called
"Dragon Eye," will give soldiers on the ground their own eye in the
sky, eliminating risky scouting missions. At about five pounds,
Dragon Eye sends live pictures of what's over a hill or behind a
building back to a laptop ground station. It can fly at about 40
miles per hour for up to an hour. It can transmit its bird's-eye
view from as far as six miles away.
But UAVs aren't invulnerable. Some on duty over Afghanistan were
shot down or crashed. This Global Hawk prototype went down in
California. Unlike a piloted plane, it didn't have a back-up control
system. Its operators could not save it once something went wrong.
COL. TOM EHRHARD (U.S. Air Force): Most of our manned
aircraft have multiple systems that can take over in case of
failure. The issue is expense. How much do you want to spend to make
it a reliable system? And the plain fact of the matter is that UAVs
are expensive.
NARRATOR: Researchers are even trying to make bug-sized UAVs,
proving bigger isn't always better. I'm Bess Greenbaum.
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