The US military have operated 66 bases (in 33 states) for unmanned drone aircraft within the USA itself, and has 22 more planned across the country.
This does not mean that active drones are taking off from those bases, although it will be true in many cases. Other uses include:
- remote cockpits, where soldiers fly the unmanned craft in the Middle East
- training facilities for prospective drone pilots
- depots for analyzing drone data
The bases house mostly smaller spy drones like the RQ-7 Shadow, the RQ-11 Raven and the Wasp III, which has a wingspan of less than two and a half feet.
Six of the bases are home to the larger Predator and Reaper drove, which can carry missiles.
[Source: Daily Mail]
View Current and future US military drone bases in a full screen map
