The fiscal 2010 Pentagon budget unveiled Thursday held no surprises since Defense Secretary Robert Gates in early April previewed what it would include. As expected, the budget provides a good deal of money for unmanned aerial systems. It has $1.45 billion for five Air Force Global Hawks high-altitude UAVs, as well as funding for five Fire Scout unmanned helicopters for the Navy. The Pentagon also plans on buy Ravens for the Army and Shadows for the Marines. The Predator is giving way to the more advanced Reaper. The budget also includes $400 million to restart the competition between Boeing and Northrop Grumman/EADS for the aerial tanker project. (Source: Multiple, 05/07/09) Gulf Coast note: Global Hawks and Fire Scouts are made in part at the Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss.; Northrop/EADS plan to build the tanker in Mobile, Ala., if they win the competition.
