Wanna See MQ-9

The US Border Patrol also operates Predators.

The United States Air Force (USAF) couldn't and wouldn't be selling any foreign nation Predator drones (UAVs). Foreign Military Sales (FMS) must be approved by the State Department of the US government in conjunction with the cognizant military UAV/aircraft/missile program office for current production UAV/military aircraft, or US missiles. What you saw may have been an American Predator operated by the US Border Patrol Service, working in conjunction with the US Customs Service. There are also limitations/prohibitions on FMS resales.

Permission for FMS if granted would then be granted to the UAV/aircraft/missile manufacturer to negotiate price and delivery to a foreign nation if approved by the US Department of State. I worked at the Pacific Missile Test Center at NTD with the German government in their AGM-88 HARM missile support equipment procurement, so know the rules and limitations of FMS. With missiles, the current, latest version cannot be sold to a foreign government based on time of negotiation. So, Germany got the missile test set software one version back from current at the time, as well as 1,000 missiles one version back. Auch, Ich sprech Deutsche.

The US Border Patrol also operates Predators.

One was on display at Oshkosh this year.

Doug, according to Wikepedia, there are a few foreign operators of the Predator:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predator_drone

Doug, according to Wikepedia, there are a few foreign operators of the Predator:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predator_drone

hmmm

Others

Since the end of 2004 it is also used by the Italian Air Force and since 2006 by the Royal Air Force.

Two civil-registered unarmed MQ-1s have been operated by the Office of the National Security Advisor in the Philippines since 2006.-citation needed-

I wonder if they are leased with supervision(to Italy and England), or what the story is on this. Maybe they are an older version?

I know someone who is in the airforce who said the same thing Doug did. the current, latest version cannot be sold

Interesting.

Regards

The US Military is also involved with Foreign Military Aid to friendly nations. This aid is also coordinated with the US Department of State and does depend somewhat on the military system. Humvees, for example (basically a GM-designed personnel vehicle) might be the latest version provided. As to the foreign use of the Predator, an older or lesser software encryption datalink version might be involved. Probably changes/improvements/upgrades since 2004. BTW, I do not use Wikipedia much-have found errors not corrected. I don't consider it necessarily gospel truth.

Ensenada is about 70 miles into Mexico. Would US Customs and Border Patrol have jurisdiction to fly that far into Mexico?

I have talked with Mexican airmen at the field and they told me its a new experimental project to use the UAVs to search the area around Ensenada for drug camps, as well as checking the border. I've never actually seen them in operation, every time I'm there they are just sitting on the ground, so I don't know for sure.

If they are Reapers, they are essentially upgraded Predators with offensive capabilities.