12:08PM
Time's Battleland: If US wants to steer global rules on drones, it needs to dominate global sales
Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 12:08PM 
Financial Times story last week (US urged to rethink export controls on drones) re: Paris Air Show cites multiple US defense corporate sources complaining that unless the US Government lifts some of the restrictions, the world's "insatiable appetite" for drones will be exploited by other nations' military-industrial complexes . . .
Read the entire post at Time's Battleland.
Reader Comments (1)
Drones are going to make a huge impact on law enforcement. Current costs are the only thing keeping them in the military area. American cities and local government entities are facing serious financial problems. As drones multiply and get cheaper they will start to become a powerful tool for police agencies. Some of the cameras currently installed in cities such as Chicago can cost as much as $30,000 each. That can add up fast when you try to cover large areas.
I was in five major riots and many anti-war "demonstrations" back in the day. Number one problem is trying to determine where to allocate manpower. You can end up with 100 men battling a handful of protesters and a few blocks away four or five guys are fighting for their lives. Manned helicopters are expensive to maintain and usually need to get "close" to the action. Hovering helicopters can draw an unwelcome crowd. The new drones can operate at a distance. Funding is the key.