NATO to buy 5 US-made drones

Thursday, February 16, 2012

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) — NATO will buy US-made reconnaissance drones and equipment for more than euro1 billion ($1.3 billion) after the war in Libya highlighted shortcomings in its surveillance and targeting capabilities.

An alliance official said Wednesday the total included five of Northrop Grumman Corp's Global Hawks, ground control stations, analysis equipment, and training for operators. He spoke on condition of anonymity following NATO rules.

The official said the order, which coincides with sharp defence cuts across the alliance, is expected to be signed in spring. Deliveries will take place between 2015 and 2017.

He said 13 NATO nations will band together to buy the drones, which can stay aloft for 36 hours. The alliance will then use them on behalf of all 28 members.

The costs of operating the drones over their 20-year life cycle will amount to about euro2 billion ($2.6 billion), the official said.

The drones will be based at Sigonella, Italy, and operated by about 600 service members.

Using advanced radar sensors, the unmanned craft are capable of detecting and tracking objects on the ground in any weather or light conditions.

Officials have lauded the purchase as an example of "smart defence," under which NATO nations pool resources to increase cost efficiency as military expenditures are declining in Europe and the US.

NATO's seven-month bombing campaign of Libya last year -- conducted primarily by European nations -- exposed shortages in their capabilities in strategic transport, aerial surveillance, air refuelling and unmanned drones, most of which had to be supplied by the US.

The NATO announcement comes just a month after Pentagon officials said budget cuts will force an end to purchases of the Global Hawks for the US. Air Force in favour of retaining the high-altitude U-2 spy plane. They said the US Navy's version of the craft will be retained.

The Pentagon said the Global Hawk had turned out to be a disappointment for the Air Force and was no cheaper to operate than the U-2, which was first introduced in the late 1950s.

Critics have pointed out that while the expensive, slow-moving unmanned craft can be useful in wars such as Libya or Afghanistan where the opposition doesn't possess even rudimentary anti-aircraft capability, they would make easy targets for forces with jet fighters or surface-to-air missile systems.