New weapon headed to the drug war front lines in Texas.
MCALLEN, TEXAS – Texas is about to get its second Predator drone. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Corpus Christi will take delivery the Predator B later this week.
The Predator has become the weapon of choice in 21st century warfare. It has had tremendous success in taking out terrorists in Afghanistan, Iraq and else where in the Middle-East.
With this Predator, CBP now has seven of the unmanned aircraft in it’s fleet.
The CBP drones are currently unarmed and serve as surveillance platforms. But like all Predators, it does have the ability to be weaponized with missiles.
The Predator will help the CPB monitor illegal immigration crossings, but it’s primary role will be tracking Mexican cartels waging the brutal drug war that is collapsing Mexican society.
Predators are often referred to as drones, but CBP doesn’t like that moniker. They call it a remotely piloted aircraft. The CBP websites describes states, “The pilots, the aircraft and its support equipment comprise a far more sophisticated and flexible system than the “drone” nickname implies.”
The new Predator drone will be based at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi where another Predator is already in operation. Both will patrol the Gulf of Mexico and the 1,300 mile border with Mexico.
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