Errant drone near DC almost met by fighter jets

[n2doc]

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer – Fri Sep 10, 9:22 am ET
WASHINGTON – The U.S. military almost launched fighter jets and discussed a possible shoot-down when an errant Navy drone briefly veered into restricted airspace near the nation's capital last month, a senior military official said Thursday.
The incident underscores safety concerns with unmanned aircraft as defense officials campaign to use them more often during natural disasters and for homeland security.
Navy Adm. James Winnefeld Jr., head of Northern Command, said Thursday that the August mishap could hamper the Pentagon's push to have the Federal Aviation Administration ease procedures for drone use by the military in domestic skies.
"It certainly doesn't help our case any time there's a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) that wanders around a little bit outside of its controlled airspace," said Winnefeld, who also is commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. "We realize the responsibility on our part to include the technical capability and proper procedures. We'd just like to be able to get at it quicker."

more

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100910/ap_on_hi_te/us_drones_homeland_defense

[gateley]

1. I was unaware:

"The incident underscores safety concerns with unmanned aircraft as defense officials campaign to use them more often during natural disasters and for homeland security."

:scared:

I certainly hope it DOES "hamper" the Pentagon's plan. I'm not especially concerned about Obama, but when a Republican gets back in the WH, well, you know...

[unhappycamper]

2. That errant drone was an RQ-8 unmanned helicopter.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9108979