
A task force of U.S. Southern Command wants Predator unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for use in counter-narcotics missions for around-the-clock coverage, a command official said on Tuesday. Joint Interagency Task Force-South, which is part of SOUTHCOM, has a proposal in front of Congress for MQ-9s, “likely” two of the UAS, that would be forward-based in the task force’s area of responsibility to provide “persistent coverage,” Coast Guard Rear Adm. Steven Poulin, director of Operations for SOUTHCOM, told the House Transportation…