US Plans 50% More Drone Flights For Attack, Reconnaissance

The US military plans to increase the number of daily drone flight to 90 by 2019 from the present 61 to enhance its intelligence and strike capability.

The new plan indicates the first effective increase in the US drone program since 2011. The move reflects the rise in global hotspots, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.

The new plan would extend the Pentagon’s capacity for lethal drone air strikes, apart from providing surveillance in Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, the South China Sea and North Africa.

The program, which has become larger under present Obama’s administration, is criticized by observers saying that the secretive drone raids have taken lives of many civilians.

The US drones have killed about 3000 people, Non Partisan group said.

In this new plan, the US Air Force which carries out the bulk of drone missions would also be aided from the Army, Special Operations Command and government contractors.