A squadron of Predator drones is coming to the Houston area, to be stationed at Ellington Field.
Ellington Field will become the new home of 12 pilotless Predator aircraft, bringing 450 more jobs to the air base, Gov. Rick Perry announced this morning.The addition of the Predators should serve as a strong message to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission that Ellington has a crucial role in guarding the Houston area and the Texas coast, Perry and U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay said at the base today.
The unmanned aircraft will be attached to the Texas Air National Guard, whose 147th Fighter Wing at Ellington has been slated to lose its F-16 fighters.
Perry said the Predators will play a major role in patrolling the Texas coast. They also will be used in helping to stem the tide of illegal immigrants crossing the Mexican border, DeLay said. The Coast Guard also has expressed interest in using the aircraft.
The Predators are expected to be operational by summer 2006, Perry said. The system allows crews to keep planes in the air for at least 12 hours at a time.
Look forward to more details about exactly how these powerful devices will be used. Aerial patrols of the highly vulnerable Port of Houston and Houston Ship Channel would be helpful.
Related:
• General Atomics Aeronautical Systems - Predator
• Gov. Rick Perry - Press Release
• GlobalSecurity.org - Ellington Field
• Houston Airport System - Ellington Field