From the PR Wire

The US military's reliance on unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAV) has soared to more than 500,000 hours in the air in Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to new figures of the US Defense Department, the monthly use of drones that can watch, hunt and sometimes kill insurgents has doubled, largely in Iraq.

The increased use of drones, between January and October, has taken pilots out of the air and shifted them to remote flying duty to meet part of the demand.

One key reason for the increase is the enhanced military operations all across Iraq and the gradual pull-out of troops-- announced by the administration-- that will not be replaced.