Hunter Killer: Inside America's Unmanned Air War

I was curious about the aircraft, the pilots, sensor operators, and accomplishments in the unmanned air war. The author took you on a eye opening inside tour into the world of information gathering, flight operations, and new technology relating to flight dynamics in the unmanned aircraft world. I can think of many applications in using this technology benefiting humankind when wars are no longer needed. In part, because of the developing technology advancing unmanned flight. We are witnessing this phenomenon in it's infancy. Much like those that witnessed the Wright brothers first flight. Now, we can fly, fight, and win while not exposing our flight crews to the harm's way in the fog of war. This author as a storyteller kept me reading his story in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. Hence, the five stars.

Reading this book taught me a lot about the missions they fly, the people who operate them, the challenges with regard to the drones themselves, and the potential uses of drones moving forward. It will dispel many preconceived impressions that most of the general public has with regard to drones, specifically how they are used and the layers of caution employed before dishing out deadly force. It is not remotely similar to video games nor is it child's play.

Another reviewer disparages the book as "a memoir" but it is a very well written one and the view from inside is often the best view. I was struck at how this book supplements what I consider an excellent movie I saw last year called, "Eye in the Sky." The author if this book even uses the same term. The author graduated from the Air Force Academy and flew for several years but not fighters. After 9/11, he wanted to get into the war so he volunteered for the Predator program, which was mostly filled with pilots who had screwed up somewhere. It was not a desired career. In the beginning, they were limited to observation. Eventually the armed Predators began to play a role in Afghanistan. He relates the details of the famous "Lone Survivor" mission where bad weather kept manned aircraft grounded. The stories he tells are a great way to learn about the RPA program. Those in it prefer Remotely Piloted Aircraft to the "drone" term. These aircraft are piloted by Air Force officers who are thousands of miles away. The visual systems are operated by an enlisted "Weapons Systems" associate. The pilot fires the weapons. I highly recommend it.

This is an engaging tale of UAV warfare and its potential and limitations. It shows a side unseen in the media.

Enjoyed the behind the scenes view of how this war is fought. It started drag a little when he starts talking about his personnel issues. But I would recommend it for easy reading and it keeps your interest.

There have been many books written on the rise of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, but few have offered the operators perspective. T. Mark McCurley was involved from the beginning of the USAF's adoption of UAVs, helped develop their expanding roles and capabilities in combat, and concluded with the tour as a commander for a front-line UAV squadron. His story is the first book I've read that truly captures the heart, spirit, challenges and perspective of UAV operators that have been at a full sprint since the War on Terror started. McCurley was directly involved in some of the most high profile UAV operations and strikes, and played a critical role in the transition of UAVs from the intelligence to the hunter killer mission. I highly recommend this book for anyone that wants the ground truth on UAVs past operations and in the current fight.

This is not a great book. It's a good enough book if you are interested in the subject - just don't expect a compelling read. The author is a military aviation guy. They are a little … rigid. This leads to a fair amount of the book dragging us through the quagmire of rules, processes, procedures and checklists associated with military aviation with an occasional excursion into discussion of specific missions. The last 5-10 pages of the book finally get into the meat of the matter. Remote operated vehicles are one of a class of new technologies that is going to change the face of conflict in a fundamental way. The military is struggling culturally and programmatically with how to incorporate this new class of technology into their toolkit. And he was there for the catalytic last decade. That's the story I wanted to hear. Worth a read. You'll be hungry for something with more meat when you're done.

As a military aviation fan, former military aircrew member, retired IT "Nerd", and current radio controlled aircraft enthusiast I wanted to learn more about the USA RCA aircraft program. This very well written book was a great introduction to the ever expending world of RCA. I recommend it to anyone interested in aviation in general, and especially those interested in military aviation.

Couldn't put this book down it is a look inside warfare by video game that actually shows that there are actual people making decisions of life and death behind these amazing machines.

With „Hunter Killer“ T. Mark McCurley describes his experiences as a pilot, instructor and unit commander operating with armed unmanned aerial systems over several years conducting operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East and Africa. This book provides a good inside into the tactical conduct of operations, the actual concerns of operators and the experiences they encounter. The reader gets a good feeling for the situation of the people conducting these missions. What McCurley describes is thus very authentic but also limited to his own experiences and views, which necessarily are not objective and will describe situations only as well, as memories go. Although this is not completely a memoir as it focusses on McCurley’s time with the Predator program, his firsthand account is neither as comprehensive, nor descriptive as a researched outsider’s account would have been. Nevertheless McCurley’s account is an easy read, provides unique first hand insides and is authentic. Therefore it is well suited to be read alongside other more comprehensive descriptions of the program. The reader should not expect any soul searching on the morality or discussion of the legality of the operations conducted. The professional soldier he is, McCurley describes his missions without moralizing them. In summary this is an authentic and easily readable book describing one man’s experiences inside the Predator program. This is an interesting perspective on the program but should not be mistaken for a comprehensive description and analysis.

Clearly written and well told by a US F-16 pilot who has also worked exclusively in the field with this weapon of war. It provides exactly the information and insight I was looking for, being curious to know more as to the modus operandi of these military assets. Probably the most significant information that emerges is the care and accuracy with which this weapon is deployed and the corresponding amount of rigorous training that the pilots undergo before their deployment. What strikes me most forcibly about the literature relating to the subject of Remotely Piloted Aircraft is the assumption made by authors and a proportion of the general public that this is a 'smart bomb' of the silently menacing kind deployed in Iraq when Saddam annexed Kuwait. Along with this fallacy goes a strong tendency to direct a moral and ethical objection at the Predator programme and the power that has produced it, the United States. Remotely Piloted Aircraft are not 'smart bombs'. They are airplanes piloted by fully-trained air force pilots sitting in a control centre surrounded by plasma screens and other complementary - and just as highly trained - personnel such as a 'sensor' who uses applications of the same technology to do reconnaissance. Also in the loop are higher-ranking military personnel whose task is to monitor the target and its environment and control the implementation of the set of rules of engagement, until ready to authorise an attack. I found this book very informative, the more so because it is presented as the narrative of a real person with a point of view. I feel that it could easily have become unpalatably dry had it consisted entirely of factual technical material.

Not a bad read

very intersting