Pentagon plan calls for contractors to pilot reconnaissance missions. A slippery slope for drone warfare?

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 10:25:10 -0400

Private contractors may play a more significant role in armed drone warfare in the coming years, thanks to a Pentagon plan designed to drastically boost the ranks of drone operators amid an ever-increasing need for the missions they conduct.

Following widespread reports that America's drone force cannot keep up with its demands, the Pentagon announced this week it would increase the total number of active worldwide drone missions from current levels of roughly 65 to about 90 by 2019. The military will draw the resources – including pilots and the drones themselves – for 60 of these round-the-clock missions from its Air Force ranks, with assets for 10 to 20 coming from the Army or special operations forces and the remainder from private contractors.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Thursday the contractors' role would be limited to reconnaissance flights conducted with drones owned by the government. They would not engage in the armed drone attacks that have helped define modern warfare, he said.

"We don't envision a time when they will be armed or need to be armed," Carter said, adding that these flights will be supervised "like everything else we do [with] contractors."

Still, some worry Carter's bureaucratic response, coupled with the military's need, leaves open the possibility of a troubling future for modern warfare.

Read more at ...

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/08/21/pentagon-opening-drone-missions-to-private-contractors

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 10:27 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 10:27:52 -0400

This is troubling. Cut the military numbers and pay contractors....did the civilians take a pay cut for these ops, I DOUBT IT. Bad call.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 10:37 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 10:37:49 -0400

It's only a slippery slope if we let it be. Reconnaissance only (meaning drones not even capable of carrying ordnance) is fine in my opinion, but there needs to be a VERY clear line.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Aug 25 at 2015 10:38 AM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 10:38:57 -0400

Just another step in the outsourcing of the nations military...

Response by SFC John Birks made Aug 25 at 2015 10:54 AM

SFC John Birks — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 10:54:42 -0400

It sounds like it could be a great opportunity for former military members..

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 25 at 2015 11:14 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 11:14:08 -0400

Great idea! I wonder what the requirements for the job are.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Aug 25 at 2015 11:17 AM

COL Ted Mc — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 11:17:00 -0400

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad - Gunny; I can see great gaping security holes opening up here.

I can also see the development of a whole new industry "Privately Funded and Directed Military Personnel and Equipment" - read as "Mercenaries" (you can't actually "off shore" those types of jobs).

The REALLY dangerous aspect of this is the fact that you will now have "civilians" engaged in "military activities" and that makes them "illegal combatants". It also makes the facilities used by those "illegal combatants" legitimate military targets. It also makes those "associated with and/or supporting" those "illegal combatants" legitimate military targets. [EXTREME EXAMPLE - A "Civilian Contractor" who just finished a shift piloting an UAV stops off at the 7-11 for a coffee. The 7-11 operator becomes someone who is "associated with and/or supporting" that "Civilian Contractor" and his apartment is blown up killing him, his wife, and his children - the explosion also sets fire to the building and it collapses killing the 106 occupants at the time. The "Civilian Contractor"'s wife, childern and the other 106 occupants of the building are "collateral damage" and - of course - much regretted.]

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Aug 25 at 2015 12:25 PM

SGT Scott Bell — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 12:25:53 -0400

I HOPE THE CONTRACTORS KNOW HOW TO

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 6:48 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 18:48:10 -0400

It was only a matter of time. I just think it's sad! I agree with COL Ted Mc on this issue. Do the contractors have to take an oath to defend the US Constitution? Would they adhere to military standards to disobey unlawful orders?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2015 6:02 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 06:02:29 -0400

This is more of the manipulation and corruption that the poor talent involved with our federal government attracts. Many a Contractor milk our government, by way of a CON job claiming to be able to provide a service. There is always a underhanded motive. In this case it sounds more like wanting the cover to kill people rather than cash. Meaning the first contract , i think will go to an ISRAELI firm right. This way they can kill people in the Middle-East and hide behind the American flag. I hate Dual-Citizens - don't you..

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2015 7:25 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 07:25:26 -0400

how about contracting out our spies??? @#$@#. unbelievable ....

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 18 at 2015 12:29 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 00:29:53 -0400

Something tells me that if this plan is implemented, the contractors will more than likely have military experience.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2015 12:45 AM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 Oct 2015 00:45:14 -0400

After seeing how contractors are willing to do anything in order to save a buck and win a contract, I sure hope not!

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Nov 28 at 2015 1:51 PM

Maj Mike Sciales — Sat, 28 Nov 2015 13:51:21 -0500

I think private enterprise will move much faster than any government or UN regulatory agency. There is a big buck to be made here. Private companies like a 21st Century BlackWater can incorporate in some country you never heard of, with servers in the Seychelles, operators world-wide who sign in for any particular flight and then vanish while their payments go to some numbered account.

A customer (despot somewhere) hires "DroneKill" to assassinate/kill/terrorize a population. The Despot enters in the coordinates of the area and and particulars of the mission.

An algorithm figures out the costs and the despot is shipped the correct number of 3D printers and TV monitors for the customer to observe the product in action.

DroneKill downloads propitiatory software that will generate the required number of pre-programmed one-mission-use drones. At the completion of the project the software erases itself and the drones shut down. It can also be re-programmed by DroneKill for other work, like crop surveillance and looking for poachers, but who are we kidding? This will be a mega-business and the usual players will get in there.

Indigenous troops snap the pieces together (shown assembly video) and transport to the area desired. A remote drone operator monitors the fight and makes adjustments as necessary.

Pay and repeat until the desired "political" outcome is achieved.

From that no longer unrealistic scenerio we'd be much smarter to invest in making robust ECM capabilities and move forward. This might just be like those guys in Call of Duty envisioned. Life imitating art I suppose.

The good news (if there is any) is that we won't need to send our people somewhere to get killed and all we have to do is keep them (the drones) out of our yard.

Response by Samantha S. made Aug 31 at 2018 5:00 PM

Samantha S. — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 17:00:28 -0400

Why are we reducing the number of active military personnel again?