Arizona 's Predator Mission Restored

Gov. Janet Napolitano announced that Governors were successful in repeatedly pressuring Congress to fund the Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) program for National Guard programs in 5 states, including Arizona.

Gov. Napolitano & her counterparts from 4 other states wrote to Congress last month, urging members to restore the program. Since 2004, the Arizona National Guard had been targeted for the program, but funding had been zeroed out & the program postponed several times since then. Napolitano did not back down, repeatedly contacting members of Congress & leaders in the National Guard Bureau to stress the importance of a Predator Program in Arizona.

"This is excellent news for our National Guard," said Napolitano. "The Predator program is the future of the military & the Guard, & I am pleased to see that our persistence has paid off."

The Predator UAV is considered the wave of the future for the military. In addition to being a drone, the UAV is less expensive & more versatile than traditional military aircraft. It can be used in war missions overseas, & at the international border for drug interdiction & other law enforcement support functions.

Congress has allocated $82.8 million in funding for the program for the next fiscal year, to be shared by Guard units from Arizona, California, New York, North Dakota & Texas.