Posted on 07/15/2007 11:32:19 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
In January 1984, I sat in a Q&A session in Okinawa. The speaker was General Robert T. (Tom) Marsh, Commander of Air Force Systems Command (AFSC). The questioners were 30 F-15 pilots stationed at Kadena AB in Okinawa. Most of the questions had to do with unmanned aircraft.
General Marsh was somewhat evasive in his answers but in no way denied that unmanned aircraft were being planned. What the pilots were anxious about was something that those of us in the aircraft Research and Development community had always known: The pilot and the hardware to support him are the weak link in the performance of any aircraft. Altitude ceilings, weight limits, and G-force envelopes are limited by the tolerance and capability of the human system controlling the aircraft.
This was in the early days of high-speed satellite link communication and certainly well before the internet became a reality. It is only now that I feel comfortable revealing that the concept of remotely manned aircraft had been under development at AFSC since the early 80's. In those days, the AFSC Command Surgeon's office in which I was Chief, Clinical Medicine had begun to undertake a project known as "Human Capability Enhancement." The purpose was to develop systems that would enable humans to tolerate more g-forces, see farther, hear better, stay alert longer, and think faster. At some point in 1985, we were directed to cease or sharply curtail all of our efforts. The explanation was classified but we figured it out. Take the man out of the aircraft, put him in a comfortable seat in a climate and altitude-controlled environment and the aircraft's weight is reduced and its performance is dramatically enhanced.
In the mid-80's remotely controlled aircraft were a concept under heavy security and intense development. Many dominoes had to fall in order for it to become a reality. It appears the hurdles have been cleared. Good luck and God speed, Reaper.
Not only hacking, but look for many new anti-air weapons from our friendly WallMart suppliers in the near future.
Slow moving, lightly built, perfect target for mobile ground based laser.
Also, expanding rod munitions modded to become expanding net. Catch them like butterflies.
Good place to bump this thread, primary source material. Thanks for the post.
“The skies over Iraq should be covered with these weapons.”
“Damn the cost.”
I read that 4 Reapers with ground equipment are $69 million. That’s a hell of a bargain.
They don't have to have perfect health, hearing or eyesight. If they get sleepy, they just hand off control to the fresh guy next to them. It doesn't matter how many G's they can take without blacking out. The aircraft can handle 12. They don't pull any.
I generally like the concept of of drones. Things can be replaced. I am concerned that they could be taken out by hacking. The possibility of drones in friendly fire incidents didn't escape me, either, but I would guess that they should have that pretty well covered.
They're not self-aware.....just yet.
anything off Megadeth's Peace Sells but Who's Buying?
and for the irony, Hezobollah by Megadeth.
Black Sabbath, NIB
Also, any good burn for Doom.
As for classical, screw Wagner. Try Holsts' The Planets, Op. 32/H 125: Mars http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6840639/a/Time+Life+Presents+-+Classical+Thunder.htm
I am 101% for these things......stacked and loitering over infantry that has ability to paint a target will make these things very popular with the grunt on the ground.
UCAV’s will be the fastest CAS the troops on the ground can get IMO.
Yup.
UCAVs are also a much harder target for Congress to shoot down over Iraq.
Then what happens to my beloved Spectre gunships? Gonzo?
You see "Son of Specter" yet? Got a COIL laser on it. Bet that leaves a mark.
I’d like to see them mount a .50 cal Gatling gun on a Reaper. Turn it into a “mini-me” version of the A-10
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