Just rotate drones on station. Four two person flight crews could keep a pair of these over a target 24/7. Other crews maintain the off-duty drone. These would have been great in Viet Nam.
Back in 84 I heard the 4-star commander of Air Force Systems Command talk to a bunch of whiney F-15 pilots about unmanned aircraft and fighters that would cruise supersonic at military power. Judging from their comments, they thought he was completely full of BS.
Everyone present at that meeting, including me, is retired now, but the reality General Marsh spoke of is finally here.
Apparently, flight time is key to getting promotions in the Air Force.
Does anyone know if they have changed that policy?
I'm sure any pilot would prefer to actually fly the jets. How resistant are pilots to signing up for 'flying' these new UAVs.
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.
Do they have the ability to "see" or attack through multiple canopy Jungle?
Can they fly, see and attack during a blinding monsoon?
If not - the NVA would soon discover that shortcoming and STILL be able to move unmolested through much I Corps.
What WOULD have been great in Vietnam -- was SERIOUS and UNRESTRAINED large scale attacks against infrastructure, dams and civilian populations in NORTH Vietnam and the rail/road/bridge links between North Vietnam and Southern China.
The North could replace everything we destroyed or killed before we could fully refit/redeploy for the next onslaught .
The SAME error of allowing our enemy SANCTUARY in his homeland -- was made, as we are now making in the Middle East..
Fight like WWII, end like WWII.
Fight like Vietnam, end like Vietnam.
As our brother TomasUSMC has often warned.