Remote-control spy plane squadron reactivated at Nellis

Saturday, Aug. 2, 1997 | 2:21 a.m.

The 15th Reconnaissance Squadron was reactivated during a brief ceremony on Friday.

When the squadron's inventory is complete in 2004, it will have 24 of the pilotless aerial vehicles, or Predators, stationed at Indian Springs Auxiliary Field, 40 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

That's where its sister unit, the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, is based. That squadron has three of the unmanned planes, but plans to expand its inventory to 24.

The units are the only two in the country operating the pilotless spy planes.

The 15th Reconnaissance Squadron was revived to reduce costs and protect human life, said its commander, Lt. Col. Keith Trouwborst.

"The systems in the (aircraft) aren't cheap," Trouwborst said. "But there's also no risk involved because they're unmanned. They can loiter in target areas and provide continuous surveillance."

An operational Predator costs $2.2 million to build, while an F-16 costs $25 million, Trouwborst said.

Pilotless aircraft are smaller and sleeker than most military jets and can travel as fast as 70 knots, or 80 miles per hour. They also can loiter in the air for 32 hours at a time under normal weather conditions.

The vehicles' surveillance equipment includes a color camera used by remote pilots, an infrared camera and a television-type camera with zoom capabilities. Images taken in the air are transmitted by satellite to a ground station.

An operational deployment of the reconnaissance unit includes four pilotless vehicles, a ground control station operated by 55 people, two electric generators, a communications system and two Humvee vehicles.

The planes are part of NATO's peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia.

Nellis spokesman Mike Estrada said the Air Force is considering establishing a third squadron that would train personnel to operate the unmanned vehicles.

Officials refer to aircraft as reconnaissance vehicles rather than spy planes because "they're not meant to hide or be stealthy," Estrada said.