The U.S. Navy recently completed a test flight of a surveillance drone whose route began in California, crossed the Southwest and the Gulf of Mexico, and ultimately landed in Maryland. The drone, which has a wingspan of 130 feet, is the first cross-country flight in preparation for "near worldwide coverage through a network of airborne orbits operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week" by 2017.
The drones will use "radar, infrared sensors, and advanced cameras to provide full-motion video and photographs to the military" during their constant patrol. They are manufactured by Northrop Grumman, which spent more money lobbying the government than any other single corporation in 2013.
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