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.
Yes, major nations can counter them. But it’s pretty tough if you’re trying to survive as an old school guerrilla without links to major state sponsors.
This is a great weapon to fight inferior forces. Fighting a more conventional foe, like China, it won’t help much. I would expect China to shoot down all our satellites in the first few minutes of a conflict.
yep, that’s the downside.
That would be a pretty tough task.
The Predators must be guided by a secure line of sight link that would be tough to break and would require a transmitter in the area of operation that could easily be detected. For long range operation they likely use secure satellite guidance which would I suppose be vulnerable but I really don't see the Chinese or anyone else being able to capture that control link.
And I would assume that these UAVs have some sort of default behaviour that would automatically return them to base if there was any failure or interference with the command and control link.
Just guessing here but it seems logical to me.
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.
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.
That's one means of attack. But they have a long-established military philosophy that says that will not be the only means that is likely to be used.
In attacking with fire, one should be prepared to meet five possible developments:Fire: CEMP-ET
(1) When fire breaks out inside to opponent's camp, respond at once with an attack from without;
(2) If there is an outbreak of fire, but the opponent's soldiers remain qui et, bide your time and do not attack;
(3) When the force of the flames has reached its height, follow it up with an attack, if that is practicable; if not, stay where you are;
(4) If it is possible to make an assault with fire from without, do not wait for it to break out within, but deliver your attack at a favorable moment;
(5) When you start a fire, be to windward of it. Do not attack from the leeward.