Predators allow border agencies to reallocate resources.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew

* Monitoring and policing 7,000 miles of border shared by the United States and its northern and southern neighbors has always been a tall order for Customs and Border Protection and the Border Patrol.

In an era of increasingly scarce funding, CBP officials are finding unmanned aerial vehicles a valuable tool for funneling resources to trouble spots along those lengthy land boundaries.

"It's a force multiplier is what it is," said Jim Knoell, director of air operations at National Air Security Operations Center Grand Forks, N.D.

CBP's unmanned aircraft fleet has come a long way since its only Predator crashed during a nighttime mission in Arizona in 2006. It now operates 1.0 MQ-9s, most of which are concentrated at bases in Arizona and Texas. They have flown a collective 18,000 hours, Grand Forks is the headquarters of CBP's unmanned aircraft mission.

It is the training center for all of the Department of Homeland Security's unmanned aerial vehicle pilots and sensor operators, said Supervisory Air Interdiction Agent Kevin Kriegh.

CBP operates a total 300 aircraft--the largest law enforcement air force in the world. Grand Forks is also the only operating location for the northern border.

CBP welcomed an expanded fleet of unmanned aircraft authorized by Congress in recent years, but also needs to focus on the infrastructure to keep those Predators aloft and operational, Knoell said.

The agency was authorized to have 24 Predators as late as 2012, but budget concerns have capped the fleet at 10.

Knoell said the CBP has enough aircraft, but needs upgraded sensors. At the core, drones are simply machines to carry sensors aloft, he said.

"What we would really like is more upgraded sensor packages to put on the birds. At this day and time, 10 is very efficient for us," he added.

Using a collection...