LAS VEGAS (AP) — If there's ever a radiological catastrophe in the U.S. like the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan, remote-controlled drones could be deployed from a federal program in Nevada to check for contamination.
Nevada National Security Site officials announced they now have two unmanned aerial vehicles to sniff the sky and provide an eye from above in the event of an emergency.
National Security Technologies chief Jim Holt says pilotless aircraft could be used where it's not safe for people.
Drone program manager Karen McCall says seven team members — including remote-controllers, engineers and mechanics — are training to have the unmanned aerial systems program up and flying this fall.
The drones will add to a fleet already including a helicopter and a twin-engine airplane based at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas.