UV Online
US remains cold on Pakistani Predator push
Peter La Franchi / Sydney
The United States remains cold on a push from Pakistan for the release of advanced unmanned air systems, including the General Atomics Predator A, to the insurgency wracked country as part of ongoing military assistance efforts.
Head of the US joint chiefs of staff ADM Michael Mullen acknowledges Pakistan is seeking UAS capabilities but says other options on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support are currently being explored by the Pentagon.
Addressing a Pentagon press briefing 26 February, Mullen said that the US remains committed to helping Pakistan counter insurgency in its northwestern provinces.
He said the US will continue to “resource them and develop this comprehensive strategy with Pakistan over a number of years. And I'm delighted to see that kind of support in the '10 [US defence] budget.
“In addition, that -- the kind of capabilities -- not just drones but other military capabilities support more precision, faster reaction, better operations, which is one of the things we focus on to try to assist the Pakistani military for a long time -- certainly, newer -- new capabilities, as we learn lessons.
“They do ask for those kinds of things, and I think we need to be mindful of that in trying to help them get better.”
He said the US is examining capabilities covering the “full spectrum of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, but it's what we've learned and used and how can we best, in the future, assist them in their operations with those kinds of capabilities.”
US defence secretary Robert Gates told the same press briefing that “more intelligence is an important aspect” of ongoing assistance talks.
He said however that “in terms of the drones specifically, that hasn't come up in...my talks. But figuring out ways to help them have better intelligence to guide their operations, I think, is a positive thing and we ought to do as much as we can.”
Pakistan has made multiple informal approaches to the US for release of the Predator A over the past five years but has met with repeated rebuffs.
The Pakistani military currently operates a mix of tactical UAS types, these including Selex Galileo Falco and EMT Luna systems acquired as part of a surveillance and reconnaissance modernisation drive after the 1999 Kargil war with India. The Luna order was placed in 2005 with the Falco deal following in 2006.
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