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U.S. Border Patrol Drone Goes Down, Rest of Fleet Grounded
coondoggie writes "The U.S. Customs and Border Protection service said today it has grounded its nine remaining unmanned aircraft after one of them was forced to ditch in the Pacific Ocean. The unmanned aircraft had an unknown mechanical failure while on patrol off the southern California coast. The crew determined that it wouldn't make it back to Sierra Vista, Arizona, 'and put the aircraft down in the water.' The drone cost about $12 million. 'The Predator B, also known as the MQ-9 Reaper in the U.S. Air Force, can fly as many as 27 hours and reach an altitude of 50,000 feet (15,240 meters), according to the website of Poway, California-based General Atomics. It has a wingspan of 66 feet (20 meters) and can carry more than 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of cameras, weapons or other payload, according to the company.'"
Thanks for the heads up; see you on the other side.
they put it 'down' to enhance their budget for next year. no individual in any agency in any government in the US is monetarily rewarded by coming in under budget.
Drone: Confirmation on armament of payload?
Pilot: Cancel armament
Drone: Armament confirmed. Target 48 miles and closing.
Pilot: CANCEL TARGET
Drone: Confirmed, Arming warhead.
Pilot: Warhead?!? Cancel Target!!!
Drone: Nuclear detonation will destroy drone, confirm?
Pilot: Nuclear? What?!?! Putting her down!!!
*giggles from outside control room*
Pilots friends: Dude we totally got you!! You thought it was going to launch a nuke!!! Hahahaha! Did you piss yourself?!?! Hahahaha!
Pilot: No, I put her down in the pacific.
*Pilots ex-friends back slowly out of the room*
The fact that it ditched in the water while patrolling off the southern coast is a good indication that it was not patrolling for illegal immigrants, but rather for drug smugglers. They are very sophisticated, using not only fast boats, but also submarines. And the pacific ocean is way too big to patrol with toy quadrocopters.