an AK could bring it downIt looks so fragile that if the pilot sneezed it’ll blow the wings off and eject the pilot.
Looks like a drone.
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How many rounds of 50 cal. can it absorb and still complete its mission?
This thing replaces an A10 in the same way that a Porshe 911 replaces a Caterpillar bulldozer.
I’m not seeing a space for the gatling gun.
The survivability probably goes like this:
A piloted sample arrives in the general target area with his 6 drone comrades. He sizes things up, then sends in his drone brethren to perform the actual attack.
Then he goes home with however many survive that attack.
The mistake that Scaled Composites made with the ARES was to try to interest the Air Force in CAS platforms: the AF is genetically opposed to CAS of any kind since Billy Mitchell walked the Earth.
Chances are that this bird is intended to become unmanned CAS which might be more palatable to the AF - or maybe even the army, should the Air Force continue to be stubborn.
Well, if you just have to spend a bunch of money, that looks like a fun way to do it.
Does it make sounds guaranteed to send chills up the backside of the enemy?
an AK could bring it down* Burt is retired from Scaled, good team in place.
* It is now owned by Northrup.
* So the question begs, is it and internal project for Northrup or an external one.
Tyler Rogaway over at the drive has a great story on this bird.
Their are 2, one might be unmanned and some have noted other than the dihedral the wing is very Predator C-ish. The Stealth has elements of the Northrup "Tacit Blue" and Boeing's Stealth concept from the 50's.
IMHO it is an R & D project for a lighter duty application that is not A-10ish.
This is just another excuse not to buy a real A-10 successor. It’s just more stalling while the air force continues to pour more money into F-35’s.
The A-10 and AC-130 are both dangerous for their crews and are used in areas without advanced AA.
I know, the A-10 has redundant systems and titanium armor but it is dead meat in some scenarios.
Of course they both pack a punch.
Nah, doesn’t cut the mustard.
We need two engines and a much more sturdy backbone. (wings etc)
The A-10 was a sturdy two engine overpowered aircraft that could limp home with massive damage.