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 / Modified dec 11, 2015 3:56 p.m.

Air Force May Assign Drones, More Airmen to Davis-Monthan

Military expanding its unmanned aircraft programs with eye on Tucson, other sites.
by Christopher Conover

Predator Drone at DM MQ-1 Predator Drone assigned to Arizona Air National Guard's 214th Reconnaissance group at Davis-Monathan AFB, Tucson.
Courtesy AZ Air National Guard

Listen:

Air Combat Command headquarters announced plans Friday to double the number of squadrons flying remotely operated aircraft or drones.

Air Force officials said Tucson’s Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Langley Air Force Base in Virginia are two of the sites the military is considering housing the new units.

The Air Force plan requires assigning 2,500 to 3,500 more airmen to the units.

The Arizona Air National Guard’s 214th Reconnaissance Group pilots drones from Davis-Monthan. The craft, however, take off and land at Ft. Huachuca in Sierra Vista.

Forming the new squadrons will take Congressional and White House approval. No time table was announced with the plan.

MORE: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Government, Military, News, Tucson
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