Air Force training Navy pilots on UAS tech

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force is increasing efforts to address the call for more surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities through new training initiatives.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has called on the Air Force to increase intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. In response, the Air Force has begun a new training initiative for the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system. Training on the drone aircraft previously lasted five months, but now has been condensed to four, the Air Force reported.

Officials say the Navy currently doesn't have a training program for the RQ-4 UAS. To increase the training capacity of the RQ-4 UAS, the Air Force is training Navy pilots. The expedited training class is part of a joint effort to install a Navy Global Hawk presence for Central Command.

"This is the initial Navy RQ-4 class, which is on an accelerated course," Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Coon said in a statement.

"They are getting top priority. We have trained our coalition partners; now we are training our joint brethren to rapidly employ combat capability into the fight."