Quote:
Originally Posted by 911pcars
Tonto once said to the Lone Ranger, "what you mean, we?"
Let's tally this up.
The U.S. Navy purchased the lastest version, the new MQ-9 Predator B UAVs for $8.3 million, but this includes ground control equipment, maintenance equipment and some spare parts. That's for ONE. Might be a bit overkill for even a large fishing trawler.
I suppose a good salesperson could make a decent commission selling these. Just need to find a customer willing to pay for 24/7 coverage.
Next option. Perhaps patrol convoys, modern radar and communications could do it. If high-tech weapons are used on-board for defense, the rest of the defense system, including trained personnel, better be a part of it. Otherwise, it's a window-shopping spree for weapons-hungry pirates; and there's nothing worst than an unskilled pirate in possession of a M134 Gatling gun.
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The Navy bought two Predators for very special missions. They own three older ones for test and eval.
The Navy owns two Global Hawks for test and eval to support the BAMS program.