Rise of the Reaper: Predator on Steroids (Hunter-Killer UAV)

Air Force Magazine ^ | Feb 2008 | John A. Tirpak

[Gritty]

These will cause some major headaches for the bad guys!

[PsyOp]

No doubt potential adversaries like China have plans for cyberattacks in the event of conflict.

Yup. Shoot down or disable the com sats (using technology we sold them), or real strong EMP near the Command trailers and the UAV is flying blind.

I believe the aircraft are programmed to return to base if they lose communications, but the mission is over.

A few more years though and we'll probably see "launch-and-forget" or "smart" UAV's, that will not require ground or sat comms to do the mission, and which have hardened electronics.

[Jack Black]

These will cause some major headaches for the bad guys!Yes, now the only question is how long until Freepers are considered Bad Guys. Let's see Jan 20, 2009 is how long??

[tlj18]

I would expect China to shoot down all our satellites in the first few minutes of a conflict.

We'll find out in a few weeks if we can do the same. The interesting thing without satellites is that if they shoot down everything, that means no GPS, no satellite-guided bombs, etc. I'm sure a lot of civilian operations would be affected. The military uses civilian satellites, too.

[Grampa Dave]

How long will it be before the Clintoon Perfumed Princes and Princesses in the Pentagon want to file murder chargers against the controllers of these Reapers>

How long before the Rat scum bags in congress, who love the Islamofascist Serial Killers will demand we stop using this weapon?

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the ping.

Just another step/tool in our message to the Islamofascist terrorists, “You can run but you can’t hide!”

[Squantos]

Agree with all but the multi-layered canopy of jungle penetration ability is questionable IMO. I think such as we did encounter there and in central America the Congo etc would hamper the electronic ability of even the best of sensors the UAV’s have today.

[ReignOfError]

the obvious achilles heel of these things is the command and control network. No doubt potential adversaries like China have plans for cyberattacks in the event of conflict.

Good point. I'm sure these things have GPS, and automated systems are sophisticated enough for an autonomous landing; so I'd think the fail-safe would be for the plane to return to base and land if the communications lonk is broken.

[L,TOWM]

All they need is a couple of 11 yo boys that are being told they are getting to play the coolest vid game in the world. 15 hours? My boy and his cousin could do that without a meal or bathroom break, if the game was “cool” enough.

Ender’s Game anybody? Or how ‘bout how prescient “Lords of the New Church” were in 1981.

[norton]

"Like an instinct to rally to the defense of Waco, for example. It didn't matter what kind of nutso Koresh was. Real liberty lovers would've surrounded the place and freed the children first, opposed the 'lightly armed' government forces.

THAT's the really scary part, because people did rally;

They/we rallied 'round TV sets to watch US troops annihilate a dissident sect.

Couldn't keep our eyes off of it.

In Texas of all places!

Resistance may not be futile, but it's not real likely either.

[ReignOfError]

I'll bet the Dept of Homeland Security can't wait to get some of these babies.

DHS already has Predators. What advantage would the Reapers give them? It's not like they're going to be dropping JDAMs or firing Hellfires on US soil.

[FreedomProtector]

Thanks for posting.

[ReignOfError]

A few more years though and we'll probably see "launch-and-forget" or "smart" UAV's, that will not require ground or sat comms to do the mission, and which have hardened electronics.

I have my doubts about that. You want human judgment in the mix when you pull the trigger; the situation on the ground might have changed since the UAV took off. It might get to the point, though, where the UAV does all the flying and targeting,and all it needs is someone on the ground to press the "go" button.

[Squantos]

Don’t know current policy. Not a union member but I think UAV pilots think of themselves, as do other pilots, as sort of like SCAB’s that cross a line during a strike........taking missions away from “pilots” vs this gamer version of a pilot that most look at them as.......all I know is the UAV’s WORK and work well. Solid platform for CAS 24/7 IMHO.

Now that is just my opinion from the couch of course.......no knowledge of that system or environment with regards to UAV’s at all .

[Travis McGee]

Very thoughtful answer. In a nutshell you are summing up many of the dynamics at play in the new novel I’m currently writing.

[Travis McGee]

"And having U.S. soldiers who already know how to drive a car, fly a flight simulator, shoot a gun, and operate a joystick; have been an invaluable aid to our war readiness for generations."

True, but the world is catching up fast. Most of the things on your list above are now made in Asian countries for export to the USA.

[Travis McGee]

I’m mentioning this in my new book. That is, referencing a UAV operator’s past USAF experience at Nellis: drop a hellfire on a terrorist safehouse in Iraq one hour, drop a quarter in a slot machine in Vegas the next hour.

[Travis McGee]

Yes, now the only question is how long until Freepers are considered Bad Guys. Let's see Jan 20, 2009 is how long??

That's what I'm wondering.

[patton]

Cool, isn’t it?

[OKSooner]

"I'll bet the Dept of Homeland Security can't wait to get some of these babies. "

LOL... I betcha maybe a dozen or so of these things hovering around and an air strike could be called in just about anywhere in the US...