The Obama administration is planning to increase drone flights 50 percent over the next four years, a senior defense official says.
The increase in drone flights will give the military more intelligence access as well as increase its firepower, which is needed to take on hot spots around the world,
a senior defense official told The Wall Street Journal about the upcoming plan.
The increase in daily drone flights will allow for more surveillance and intelligence to be gathered from Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, the South China Sea and North Africa, the official said. The last time there was a significant increase in drone flights was in 2011.
Beyond increasing surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities, the military will also increase its lethal airstrikes, which the Journal notes is the part of the U.S. drone program that is considered the most controversial. According to estimates, at least 3,000 people have been killed by unmanned aircraft.
Most of the U.S. drone flights are operated by the Air Force, even those performed on behalf of the CIA, but the new drone plan will enlist the Army, Special Operations Command and government contractors.
The number of drone surveillance flights currently operated by the Pentagon is 61 per day. Under the new plan, the Obama administration is planning to reach 90 daily by 2019.
As the plan is unveiled, the Air Force will continue to operate 60 drone flights per day, the Army will operate up to 15, Special Forces Command will operate four, and government contractors will conduct 10 flights. None of the flights operated by government contractors will involve airstrikes. Their missions are purely for intelligence and surveillance missions.
According to military officials, there is definitely a need for more drones, especially for surveillance and intelligence-gathering purposes.
U.S. European Command Gen. Philip Breedlove told the Senate Armed Services Committee in April said that there was a need for more monitoring in the region, which includes the conflict in Ukraine.
"Earlier indications and warning and the ability to better understand Moscow’s thinking and intent are absolutely critical for avoiding future surprise and miscalculation, for deterring effectively and for preparing to respond if required," Breedlove said.
The cost of the increase in drone missions has yet to be determined.
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