Video: Is it ‘Star Wars’? Sure, Admiral Says, But Don't Call it a Drone

Don't call it a drone, Vice Admiral David Buss said. 

But for laymen–from those who are fascinated by the development of unmanned flights to those appalled that they might be used by authorities stateside–the term most commonly used for the technology is drone.

Whatever it is called, the Navy established a new squadron Thursday at Naval Air Station North Island that will soon take helicopters and unmanned vehicles on deployment.

It is the first of its kind in the nation and the pairing has so pleased the Navy and enthralled a long-term airman like Buss, that he said the milestone is Star Wars-like in its technological value.

“We are there today, absolutely,”

Buss said.

Helicopter Maritime Squadron 35 will employ eight MH-60R helicopters and 10 MQ-8B remotely-operated vehicles developed by Northrop Grumman in Rancho Bernardo.

The crew is set to be deployed with the USS Fort Worth next year, officials said.

Hundreds of people gathered Thursday, including Buss, commander Naval Air Forces, and several pilots from HSL-35, which was in place from 1974-92, to mark the beginnings of HSM-35 in Coronado. Commander Christopher Hewlett will head up the new squadron.

Results of the helicopter drone program, which has come at a cost of $2.8 billion, according to Wired.com, has been mixed. According to the report, it is more than a year behind schedule and in a key onboard test, Fire Scouts, as they are known, completed only about half of their missions.

One of the vehicles, which Wired.com dubs “Robocopters,” was on display Thursday. They cost $9 million each. Despite the troubles, the Navy and manufacturers think the program is ready to go.

“We don't want things to go out (if they) don't work the way they're supposed to work,” said Jim Zortman, a retired admiral who is a Northrop Grumman site manager for the Fire Scout project.

Though he's ruled out the term drone, Buss isn't sure yet if he prefers unmanned vehicle or remotely controlled vehicle for the MQ-8B flights.

He's concerned about operational effectiveness and he has not decided if any of the names affixed to the Fire Scouts fit what soon will be deployed on Navy ships. What they will end up doing, however, and exactly how they will be used, remains to be seen even for Buss who calls them “a brand new page” in naval aviation.

Don't look to spot the unmanned copters over Coronado or in Imperial Beach, site of the Naval Outlying Landing Field, though.

A Navy spokesman said they will be tested at Naval Weapons Station China Lake in Ventura County or offshore.