The Air Force’s military deputy for acquisition, Lt. Gen. Donald Hoffman, told a Washington industry symposium Tuesday that the Air Force is working to streamline operations for its unmanned aerial vehicles. Currently the Air Force has one UAV pilot console at Creech AFB, Nev., from which the pilot can handle four Predators at once. Hoffman said that for many missions, sensor operators rather than a pilot can handle simple tasks such as monitoring a site once a vehicle is on station. However, he added, if the mission calls for an airstrike, the pilot can take over easily. Hoffman explained that the capability for a single pilot to fly several UAVs is very important and now more possible as the Air Force expands facilities at Creech—the center for most Air Force UAV training and operations.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.