Posted on 11/26/2004 1:22:19 PM PST by dumpdaschle
ST. LOUIS, November 18, 2004 - The Boeing [NYSE: BA] Company accepted the first two engines for the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems (J-UCAS) X-45C aircraft program Nov. 10 in a ceremony held at a General Electric plant in Lynn, Mass.
Boeing is building three X-45C aircraft in St. Louis as part of the J-UCAS program. Each of the aircraft will be powered by a single F404 engine.
"With the F404 engine, the X-45C will be able to fly a combat radius of more than 1,200 nautical miles, cruise at 0.80 Mach, reach altitudes of 40,000 feet and carry a 4,500 pound weapon payload," said Darryl Davis, Boeing J-UCAS X-45 vice president and program manager. "With that range, speed, and lethality, this unmanned system is truly revolutionary."
The first X-45C flight is scheduled for early 2007, with the initiation of an operational assessment by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy beginning that same year. The assessment will culminate in a demonstration of the capabilities of the J-UCAS system and the X-45's ability to conduct suppression of enemy air defenses; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and strike missions.
The X-45C will be 39-feet long with a 49-foot wingspan. It is designed to be a highly-survivable weapons system that will include advanced sensors and a robust communication system demonstrating advanced target detection and engagement capabilities.
The J-UCAS X-45 program is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)/U.S. Air Force/U.S. Navy/Boeing effort to demonstrate the technical feasibility, military utility and operational value of an unmanned air combat system for the Services.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis , Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $27 billion business. It provides network-centric systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense and Department of Homeland Security; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.
You know you are wrong for this.
Maybe for the same reason that the F-117 is a subsonic aircraft. Speed means heat, heat means visibility, visiblity is bad. The lower the heat signature overall on the airframe, the less visible it is to infrared systems.
Here's a hint, sparky:
We're laughing AT you, not with you.
(Did Wal-Mart have a sale on periods today that I missed?)
Not that pics mean much, but that thing even looks bad ass!
It's going to be a strange day when the first enemy aircraft is wasted by an unmanned drone. But hey, why not? We fire rockets on moving cars in Yemen from a drone controled out of Langley in 2002. Why shouldn't we built this?
Red6
I am a relative newbie, and this is not an important breaking news event. But I have been here long enough to expect a post criticizing me for that. I expected that. If he hadn't criticized, someone else would have. That was an obligatory post on his part. No harm. Cool plane, huh?
Well, for one thing, it would adversly affect promotions in the pilot career field... and if you think that's an odd consideration, look at what happened to the Air Force's Remotely Piloted Vehicle program after the Vietnam war. It was essentially canned, for essentially that reason.
Not that that's a good reason not to build it, but it gives some idea of the dynamics of the 'real' military and what may actually happen.
That is the problem with elections and other big events. They bring out all the moonbats. I recall the same thing happening at the turn of the millenium (ah, the good old "Y2K spam" threads) and the 2000 election. That is why I have hardly posted in the past few months, too many morons.
Don't worry, most of the "kewl" posters will have an attack of "short-attention-spanitis" and just, er, "move on".
Good post. Thanks.
That's a cool looking plane.
To those who aren't In The Know, a 0.8 mach cruising speed means that's its "efficient" cruising speed. Kind of like your car is typically geared to cruise at 65 MPH. The big deal with the F22 (one of them) is that it has the ability to cruise at mach 1+ without turning on the afterburners and dumping a lot of fuel (and losing range).
Somehow, I suspect that if they want it to go supersonic, it will. Kind of like if you want your car to go over 70. Just step on the gas a little harder.
Like the plane - thanks for the pic.
LMAO! So that's how we got it past the blue congresscritters.
I love new developments in aerospace. Thanks for the great post. Keep it up.
Holtz
JeffersonRepublic.com
If it is a non event, why did you come here and post your non event.
Anyone tried to JAM one of these things ?
Has ECM vulnerability even been considered ?
My apologies...or congrats! Whichever is appropriate. Daschle fought Boeing tooth and nail and pushed getting the Air Force to buy its next gen tankers from Airbus. I'm glad the bastard is toast.
Three cheers for South Dakota!
Huzzah!Huzzah!Huzzah!
smile......
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