The Predator B, unmanned drone, has been deployed along the Arizona/Mexico border to help in the fight against illegal immigration. While I see this as great for an experiment, I think at $14 million a pop there are better solutions that should be addressed first. Such as the $500 million Aerostat balloon system proposed by Congressman Rick Renzi last week. The Aerostat balloon system would cover the whole 2000 mile border and not just one specific area.

The drones could come in handy in addition to the balloon system in tracking spotted drug trackers, smugglers, terrorists and the ubiquitous illegal alien.

Arizona Daily Star

US Customs and Border Protection unveiled its new Predator B unmanned aerial vehicle to help monitor illegal immigration activity along the Arizona/Sonora border.

The $14 million project will include the plane and a pilot and maintenance team, initially leased from a company in San Diego. After one year, Border Patrol will have its own pilot and maintenance team.

Predator B will be used to help Border Patrol agents on the ground monitor areas of illegal migrant activity where the terrain is difficult to access, such as the Chiricahua Mountains and the Buena Vista Wildlife Refuge.

Tipped by: Speed of Thought