While local, national and international debate rages over the use of drones for surveillance and war, the only question at the Point Mugu Naval Base is when can they get started on establishing a new drone center there.

The U.S. Navy is seeking public comment on its draft environmental plan to base four remote-controlled Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems at Point Mugu, 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles, to “provide continuous maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities in support of national defense objectives and policies.” It would also be a drone maintenance center, capable of servicing four more planes.

Drones have become big business for defense contractors and, as they proliferate around the world, vehicles for questionable behavior. These planes, Northrop Grumman's MQ-4C Tritons, will be unarmed.

Drones are being increasingly used by the U.S. government to kill suspected terrorists overseas and by local law enforcement agencies conducting surveillance and crime fighting activities ranging from the war on marijuana to border patrol. They can be equipped with facial recognition software, wi-fi sniffers, infrared cameras and other technology for use in domestic and foreign spying.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, told the Los Angeles Times, “The proliferation of this technology will mark a major shift in the way wars are waged. We’re talking about very sophisticated war machines here.”

The plan is for the drones to make five sorties a day from Point Mugu, although the draft environmental assessment leaves the nature of the missions unclear. The plane is 48 feet long and has a wingspan of 131 feet.

Folks in the area are mostly excited about the prospect of the region becoming a high-tech center for developing and testing the pilotless aircraft. The base would add 700 people by 2020 and embark on a major renovation and construction project.

The comment period for the public on the Navy’s proposal will be open until March 11.

–Ken Broder

To Learn More:

Navy Proposes Establishing a Drone Center at Point Mugu (by Stephanie Snyder, Ventura County Star)

Draft Environmental Assessment (U.S. Department of the Navy) (pdf)

Officials Hope Aerial Drone Business Will Come to Ventura County (by Michael Collins, Ventura County Star)

Naval Base Drone Plane Clears Panel (by Michael Collins, Ventura County Star)

Robert Gibbs Told Not to Acknowledge Drone Program Exists as White House Press Secretary (by Michael Calderone, Huffington Post)

Drone Makers Push to be Allowed to Expand Foreign Sales (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)

Why Is the Navy Building a Shiny Drone Base in Sunny Malibu? (by Sam Biddle, Gizmodo)