THE Jumbotron video screen had "Welcome to UAV Town, USA" emblazoned across at site of the unmanned aerial vehicle flight demonstration.

The demo was at the Webster Field annex to Naval Air Station in the US's Patuxent River. While not as sexy as "Fightertown, USA" - the nickname given to Miramar Naval Air Station in California - it was appropriate as all shapes and sizes of UAV stood ready to show their stuff.

UAVs have been stars in Op Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Protecting America is another mission these unmanned aircraft perform.

Among participants were Northrop Grumman, flying both the Fire Scout and the Hunter; Boeing, with its ScanEagle; DRS, the Sentry HP; Schiebel, the Camcopter; and Yamaha, the RMAX. The UAVs have been identified as being very economical. They are getting easier to fly and require fewer people and pieces of equipment to operate.

Vendors are branching out of purely military applications for their products.

- Jim Garamone, US Forces Press Service

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