In beautiful Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, a Pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle was dedicated onto the battleship U.S.S. Missouri earlier this month, the fourth such dedication for the Navy UAV.

On hand to accept the vehicle was Robert Kihune, retired Navy Vice Admiral and president of the U.S.S. Missouri Memorial Association. "Like the battleship Missouri," he said, "the Pioneer UAV is a proud example of American achievement, ingenuity, and might. We are honored to join the select few who boast one of their own." Kihune also explained the selection of this particular vehicle. "I am told that this specific UAV was selected because of its previous service aboard the Missouri. It was from these decks that this same UAV flew while the U.S.S. Missouri was in active service."

Since its inception in the 80s, Pioneer has flown over 23,000 hours in direct support of Navy operational commanders by providing the imagery intelligence necessary to enable force deployment decisions. Pioneer has a low radar cross section and a small infrared signature that minimizes its detection.

Once during Desert Storm, Iraqi troops actually surrendered to a Pioneer UAV. At the time, the U.S.S. Missouri, using her Pioneer to define accuracy for the 16-inch rifle fire, devastated the defenses of Faylaka Island, which is off the coast near Kuwait City. Shortly thereafter, while still over the horizon and invisible to the defenders, the U.S.S. Wisconsin sent her Pioneer over Faylaka Island at low altitude. When the Pioneer came over the island, the defenders heard the sound emitted by the two-cycle engine. The air vehicle was intentionally flown low to let the Iraqis know that they were targeted. Recognizing that with the "vulture" overhead, there would soon be more 2000-pound naval gunfire rounds landing on their positions with the same accuracy, the Iraqis signaled their desire to surrender by using handkerchiefs, undershirts, and bedsheets.

From the Navy's UAV program office, Capt. Lyn Whitmer spoke at the ceremony of the importance of UAVs to our future military. He cited the desires of President George Bush and Senator John Warner to see greater use of unmanned systems. "Warner envisions that pilotless planes will make up one third of the long-range aircraft fleet by 2010," Whitmer said. "Additionally, President Bush counts UAVs among the essential, high-tech assets needed to win the war against terror."

As with the previous museum dedications, this UAV was a donation by the U.S. Navy and Pioneer UAV, Inc., the vehicle manufacturer.

Built in 1944, the famous battleship was influential in three major American conflicts including World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War. In 1998, the Missouri came to Pearl Harbor, permanently moored there, to become a museum ship, toured by thousands each year.

The Pioneer UAV program is managed by the Program Executive Office, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviaiton (PEO (W)). To learn more about this or other PEO (W) programs, log on to www.strikenet.js.mil.