More drones headed to Iraq and Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) -- A top military official says the Pentagon plans to double the number of armed drone patrols supporting U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says the sophisticated, unmanned planes can mean the difference between life and death for U.S. forces on the ground, USA Today reported Wednesday.

Drones supply troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan with real-time video of insurgent activity.

The Pentagon says demand for information supplied by drones has been growing at 300 percent a year.

On Tuesday Mullen toured Nevada's Creech Air Force Base where pilots for the remote-controlled aircraft work.

Mullen said the need to increase the number of drone patrols today is the result of years of failing to come to grips with the entire issue of aerial surveillance.

"We can't afford that now because people's lives are on the line," he said.