Poof! $12 million surveillance drone crashes
Ron Czapala
Posts: 2,418
http://cbs12.com/news/top-stories/stories/drone-crash-off-southern-california-coast-12840.shtml
A Homeland Security Department drone has crashed off the coast of Southern California.
Customs and Border Protection says the drone was on a border security mission when a mechanical problem developed about 20 miles southwest of San Diego late Monday night. Spokesman Mike Friel says the crew operating the drone from Texas decided to crash it in the ocean.
The $12 million surveillance drone was one of 10 that Homeland Security uses to patrol the border with Mexico. It was just one of two Predator B drones equipped with radar specifically designed to be used over the ocean.
Friel says the cause of the mechanical failure is unknown and that the remainder of the drone fleet has been temporarily grounded while the investigation into the incident continues.
A Homeland Security Department drone has crashed off the coast of Southern California.
Customs and Border Protection says the drone was on a border security mission when a mechanical problem developed about 20 miles southwest of San Diego late Monday night. Spokesman Mike Friel says the crew operating the drone from Texas decided to crash it in the ocean.
The $12 million surveillance drone was one of 10 that Homeland Security uses to patrol the border with Mexico. It was just one of two Predator B drones equipped with radar specifically designed to be used over the ocean.
Friel says the cause of the mechanical failure is unknown and that the remainder of the drone fleet has been temporarily grounded while the investigation into the incident continues.
Comments
At $12 million a copy, I'd budget in another $50K for a ballistic parachute and inflatable orange float that would allow recovery at sea.
FWIW...considering the cutting edge/classified tech on board, likely no chutes are the only option.
Perhaps they did not want it recovered....... Just sayin'
Exactly.
It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the drones are rigged to self destruct if the need arises.
LOL more like not wanting to allow the sensory technology to be handed over to our enemies.
FWIW...a crashed "weaponized" drone would be no different than a crashed "weaponized" manned craft...both loss of dollars and technology.
FWIW...I would be more worried how your local government is using GIS data to spy on your home, backyard, RV and dog.
I seem to recall hearing that some municipalities are already using things like google maps to look for patios, room additions, etc. that could be added to the property tax rolls...
C.W.
That's why we're sticking to only expanding the underground areas of our compound....um, house. They'll have to check the depth of the lake to find the dirt!
I've always dreamed of designing and building a house in a big pile of rocks. Something like around the Jacumba area of Southern California:
LOL...with the NSA grade sensors they can tell what sex the dog is...really.
Recently here they checked for RVs via low level flight surveys...and crossreferenced motor vehicle/property records and everyone who had one got to pay more taxes...and of course most were stored illegally on private property so they also got fined and so many days to store them in commercial storage.
Talk about freaking MAD people...the police had to attend that public meeting.
This spring they are going after anything new in the backyards...vehicles, trailers, boats, additions, pools, dog kennels...
Some of the hardcore are covering everything with bright blue Harbor Freight tarps...like that won't invite a visit from the city.
Ever check out your property on Zillow?
Better yet ever check out your neighbor's property?