Message posted by Hank on February 10, 2004 at 6:18:57 PST:

The Air Force plans to break ground in the next few weeks on a $26 million operations hangar for the Predator unmanned spy plane at the Indian Springs auxiliary field, 45 miles north of Las Vegas.

And another allocation in the same amount in the upcoming fiscal 2005 budget is expected to fund four additional new maintenance buildings for the Predator program here, according to U.S. Sen. John Ensign, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Two operational Predator units -- the 11th and 15th reconnaissance squadrons -- are based at Indian Springs. A third squadron, the 17th, is envisioned to handle medium altitude MQ-1 models and advanced versions being designed to carry heat-seeking missiles and satellite-guided smart bombs. Nevada's Predator fleet could end up growing from 40 planes to as many as 88 by 2007 or thereafter, according to Air Force officials.

The Air Force envisions employment at Indian Springs increasing from 750 to 881 active duty military, and from 175 to 217 civilians, by 2007.

This is good news not only because it means more jobs and a strengthened military cash stream into the Las Vegas valley, but also because it demonstrates the value the Air Force puts on the 44,500-square mile Nellis Air Force range, where the Air Force conducts development and training flights for the Predator and other aircraft, Sen. Ensigns notes.

By 2020, the Pentagon estimates that one-third of America's combat planes will be robotic-- making it all the more important that Nevada has found a role in this developing technology at such an early stage.

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