The Air Force Times reported last week that the service is increasing retention bonuses to $35,000 per year for radio-controlled drone operators. With the Obama administration expanding the drone program over the years and both major presidential candidates in favor of keeping it, the Air Force needs more pilots. Now officer drone pilots re-upping get $175,000 for five more years beginning Oct. 1. In July, Barack Obama claimed that drone and other airstrikes have killed between 64 and 116 civilians during his administration. The administration claimed that it launched 473 strikes that killed between 2,372 and 2,581 terrorist “combatants.” Activists claim those reported numbers are lower than reality.