New US drones too vulnerable
The US is to use its “vulnerable” new generation of drones on nations such as Afghanistan and Libya who do not have an air force and therefore cannot fire back.
The US is developing a new generation of drones which could be used on any of its eleven worldwide carriers.
The drones which may be deployed in Asia would have a combat radius of over 2,700 kilometers, and would remain airborne for 50-100 hours.
Press TV conducted a phone interview with author and investigative journalist, David Lindorff to discuss the matter.
Press TV: Many believe these kinds of weapon systems are designed to counter the growing power of China. What is your take?
Lindorff: I don’t believe that for a couple of reasons. First of all these drones are not difficult to shoot down if you have a first rate air force, which the Chinese have. They’re being used right now against Libya which has no air force. It is also being used against Afghanistan and the Taliban, which also have no air force. They are being used on Pakistan, which may or may not be allowing them to be used. So, even though they have an air force, I don’t think they’re trying to shoot them down. If they were to use it on China, China’s air force would shoot them down.
I think this is all about justification and building some pointless aircraft carriers in a new class called the “Gerald Ford class,” which are basically USD 20 billion white elephants, vulnerable to submarines. The navy is not going to commit them accept only in an all-out war.
Press TV: What do you think about the other aspect of the new program, the diminishing of the US economic supremacy in the international arena. The US is planning to spend less on its wars, many say. Do you share the same thought?
Lindorff: Well, I think the US is financially strapped. And people you never would have thought would be talking about cutting back on the expenses of the wars and military spending are. I am talking about some Conservative Republicans who are actually talking about cutting back on the wars.
But even if they cut off of the wars, there still is this enormous lobby of military contractors who want to make money and have the ear of all the congress members that they make campaign contributions to. They love things like these gigantic aircraft carriers. So they’re going to find ways to justify spending massive amounts of money, 14 to USD 20 billion per aircraft carriers for as many as eleven new ones to replace the current ones. They need to explain why these things are still going to be functional ten to fifteen years from now.
It’s really not so much a threat to China or Iran, but it’s a threat to American tax payers.
Press TV: I learned just a couple of hours ago that these drones might be used against individuals as well.
Lindorff: That’s a pretty costly way to take out an individual. They’ve been proven to take out mostly civilians and the occasional individual.
