Chump Change..Pentagon wastes a half billion dollars on interservice rivalry.

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/08/12/pentagons-half-billion-dollar-drone-boondoggle/

The Army’s encroachment on traditional Air Force territory set off a bitter turf war between the two services; Army commanders griped that the Air Force didn’t support ground troops, and the Air Force claimed the Army didn’t understand how to operate drones effectively.

The solution is altitude. Let Predator stay with the Air Force. Others to the Army.

However, Army pilots do not like the drone presence.

Congress and defense contractors rarely consider what actually works best for the ones who are in the midst of training and/or war.

The Predator is an obsolete weapons system already replaced by the Reaper in the AF. The Army would have Reaper support over a main operating base just because it desires to do so. There are limits to CAPS that can be flown. The AF has an inherent expertise in the drone area in regards to operation and employment of this weapon system. You know who your best drone operators are? Resrvists and National Guard folks and the best unit sits just across the Okaloosa County line.

I wonder how the Army might feel if the AF designed its own tank or artillery piece and wanted to employ that over the obvious expert knowledge the Army has with armored warfare?

There are delineated responsibilities given to each service. The Army is so bad at close air support that they have to use AF combat controllers and TACPs in their combat arms units just to get the job done properly. That is all the way up to the highest levels and in their SOF. They need to stay in their lane here and quit whining.

SheWrites wrote:The solution is altitude.  Let Predator stay with the Air Force.  Others to the Army.  

However, Army pilots do not like the drone presence.  

Congress and defense contractors rarely consider what actually works best for the ones who are in the midst of training and/or war.  

Army helo pilots can't stay on station over a target the way a drone can. That matters a lot when close air support is needed at a moment's notice. When a pilot goes bingo on fuel, he has to RTB. A drone can stay over a target nearly all day and remain on overwatch of a FOB or convoy for the duration of travel. Show me a helo pilot that can do that.

You have no clue about what you are talking about having no experience in military matters. Better grab some bread and make us some sammiches.