The first unmanned aeriel vehicle slated for the U.S. island of Guam is due to arrive at Andersen Air Force base in the spring. Brig. Gen. Douglas O. Evans, the base's new commander, said the first UAV would be for demonstration purposes for Pacific Rim national leaders, but four to six UAVs were tipped for the base.
Stars and Stripes reported on November 18 that Guam has increasingly emerged as an essential military component in American strategy for the Western Pacific, having hosted both B-2 bombers and attack submarines. Owens told reporters at a press conference that while he sees no immediate changes in base mission or policy, he will implement a number of changes already inaugurated by the Pentagon. A $53 million hangar and operations complex for the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, is currently under construction.
One of the most significant new developments for Guam is the relocation of 8,000 Marines and their families to Guam from Okinawa under the terms of U.S.-Japanese military realignment plan, scheduled for completion by 2014. |