Posted on 02/09/2010 1:07:35 AM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The U.S. Navy has sped up its efforts to ready its X-47B UCAS (Unmanned Combat Aerial System), for carrier operations. This includes an additional $2 billion for development, in an attempt to have the X-47B demonstrating the ability to regularly operate from a carrier, and perform combat (including reconnaissance and surveillance) operations, within five years. Senior admirals see this as a way to solve several problems. One is the dominance of the U.S. Air Force in UAV operations (with their fleet of Predator, Reaper and Global Hawk UAVs). Then there is the growing cost of the new F-35, that is supposed to replace older F-18s on carriers and U.S. Marine Corps squadrons. If the X-47B, and similar UAVs, can be developed quickly, and cheaply, enough, they could be purchased, instead of much more expensive F-35s, by the end of the decade. The X-47B is being put together using, literally, some proven components. This includes the tail hook from the retired F-14, the same tires used on the retired S-3, the brakes used on the F-18 and generators used in the F-22. The X-47B weighs the same as the F-18. The navy plans to use the X-47B for reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting. But it also has two internal bays holding two tons of smart bombs. Many naval officers believe that eventually, once it proves it can operate off a carrier, the X-47B will be used for a lot of bombing. Sort of a super-Predator. The navy has been impressed with the success of the Predator. The much larger, 15 ton, X-47B has a wingspan of 62 feet (whose outer 15 foot portions fold up to save space on the carrier). It uses a F100-PW-220 engine, which is currently used in the F-16 and F-15.
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
Again the US Navy leads the way into the future.
Its a fantastic plane, I would like to see it a “Red Flag” conditions against a human opponent.
Soon they will out turn because of G force. We have a whole new generation of video game player that will kick butt in the sky.
Oh lookie at the Navy drinking that Zoomie Kool-aid!
New movie script idea: “The Right Silicon”!
As usual, the scarf wearing prima donnas were late to the party.
But we looked damn good when we did get there. There
s nothing quite like a flight suit with golf spikes.
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