Pentagon developing ‘all-seeing eye’

The Pentagon plans to introduce an important innovation on its most advanced unmanned aircraft next year that will vastly increase the ability of the aerial drones to simultaneously track militants.

Unmanned MQ-9 Reaper aircraft now produce a single video feed as they fly continuously over surveillance routes. The new technology initially will increase the number of video feeds to 12 and eventually to 65.

Like the Reaper and its earlier counterpart, the Predator, the newest technology program has been given a fearsome name: the “Gorgon Stare,” named for the mythological creature that turns unwitting victims to stone.

“Predators and other unmanned aircraft have just revolutionized our ability to provide a constant stare against our enemy,” said a senior military official ...