ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE - A statement released Monday by Air Force Materiel Command officials offered little explanation for a decision to award all airframe workload on two unmanned aerial vehicles to the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

The decision is a sharp departure from the Air Force's past practice of co-locating airframe tasks at the center where the overall weapon system is managed. The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base is the Air Force's choice to manage support for its three UAVs -- the Predator, Reaper and Global Hawk. However, the Utah site will handle airframe issues for the Predator and Reaper.

How that workload will build over time is unclear, although unmanned systems are increasingly important in today's military operations and in future planning. In terms of current trends, the Air Force will buy more unmanned than manned weapon systems this year and, for the first time in its history, will train more UAV operators than pilots for manned fighters and bombers. Robins currently employs thousands of workers who perform airframe tasks on its assigned manned aircraft, particularly the F-15, C-130 and C-5.

The AFMC statement confirmed that Ogden ALC has been designated as the Predator and Reaper airframe source of repair, although the statement gave no specific reasoning for the move. AFMC is the parent command for Robins, the Utah site and the Air Force's third air logistics center at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Tinker will work all engine related needs for the three UAVs.

"Warner Robins ALC has been assigned the electrical components (and) airborne electronics (for the Predator and Reaper) which include avionics, electronic support equipment and the software related to these systems," the AFMC statement added.

Robins will apparently handle all airframe, electrical components, ground station, avionics and electrical items for Global Hawk, although AFMC again gave no explanation for the split award of UAV airframe repair responsibility.

"The assignments were in alignment with AFMC's approved technology repair center structure which ensures the Air Force leverages the existing capability and expertise within the depots," the statement read. "We intend to complete (UAV deport source of repair assignments) and provide a package for public distribution in December 2009."