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U.S. Navy lands fighter-jet sized drone on aircraft carrier for first time
National Post ^ | 13 July, 2013 | Brock Vergakis, AP

Posted on 07/11/2013 2:22:57 PM PDT by brityank

‘A chance to see the future’: U.S. Navy lands fighter-jet sized drone on aircraft carrier for first time

Brock Vergakis, Associated Press | 13/07/11 4:03 PM ET

The U.S. Navy successfully landed a drone the size of a fighter jet aboard an aircraft carrier for the first time Wednesday, showcasing the military’s capability to have a computer program perform one of the most difficult tasks that a pilot is asked to do.

The landing of the X-47B experimental aircraft means the Navy can move forward with its plans to develop another unmanned aircraft that will join the fleet alongside traditional airplanes to provide around-the-clock surveillance while also possessing a strike capability. It also would pave the way for the U.S. to launch unmanned aircraft without the need to obtain permission from other countries to use their bases.

The X-47B has a wingspan of about 62 feet (19 metres) and weighs 14,000 pounds (6,350 kilograms), versus nearly 49 feet (15 metres) and about 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms) for the Predator.


(Excerpt) Read more at news.nationalpost.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aircraftcarriers; drone; drones; droningpaultards; usn; x47b
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Several good large pics at the site, along with decent info.
1 posted on 07/11/2013 2:22:57 PM PDT by brityank
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To: brityank
Good training would be a good combat flight sim. I haven't seen one in years, though. I'd like to see what Gunship (Microprose) would look like today. I played it on a C-64 and it was a blast.

Microprose made some good flight sims. F15 Strike Eagle was a beast to land, but Spectrum Holobyte's Falcon 4.0 was too hard for me, LOL! You almost had to go to real flight school to learn how to fly that thing.

2 posted on 07/11/2013 2:32:18 PM PDT by jeffc (The U.S. media are our enemy)
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To: brityank

is it fully autonomous or is it remotely controlled?

i’m fine with remotely controlled... fully autonomous makes me nervous, and i’ve been in the tech sector for 30+ years.

not nervous for cool tech. that’s always fun. nervous for a future of a fully autonomous military, staffed by a handful of people controlled by one dictator in the WH


3 posted on 07/11/2013 2:35:11 PM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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To: brityank
The Navy plans to show the drone can be refuelled in flight, which would give it even greater range.

Incredible.

4 posted on 07/11/2013 2:38:06 PM PDT by Jacquerie (To restore the 10th Amendment, repeal the 17th.)
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To: brityank

5 posted on 07/11/2013 2:38:28 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: sten

Robo-cop, in the sky.


6 posted on 07/11/2013 2:39:17 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: sten
is it fully autonomous or is it remotely controlled?

From what I've read here and other places, it can be both. Personal opinion is that if used for any interdiction of opposing troops then it must be remotely controlled, keep Man-in-the-Loop. Surveillance and monitoring can be autonomous.

7 posted on 07/11/2013 2:40:47 PM PDT by brityank (The more I learn about the Constitution, the more I realise this Government is UNconstitutional !!)
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To: brityank
Here is video.
8 posted on 07/11/2013 2:46:12 PM PDT by Steely Tom (If the Constitution can be a living document, I guess a corporation can be a person.)
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To: sten

Read about it yesterday. Flies and performs programmed missions independently using an on board computer loaded with complex algorithms, but with human oversight for intervention if necessary. But there’s no one sitting in a bunker in Nevada flying the thing with a joy stick, which is the case with the Reaper and other current drones.


9 posted on 07/11/2013 2:54:47 PM PDT by katana (Just my opinions)
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To: Steely Tom

Wow! The number of YouTube views jumped by almost 1300 in the first nine minutes after I posted that link!


10 posted on 07/11/2013 2:56:51 PM PDT by Steely Tom (If the Constitution can be a living document, I guess a corporation can be a person.)
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To: Steely Tom
Great link - many thanks.

Culled this from the Youtube description:


11 posted on 07/11/2013 2:57:56 PM PDT by brityank (The more I learn about the Constitution, the more I realise this Government is UNconstitutional !!)
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To: katana

I just drove through New Mexico, AZ, and Nevada. We don’t see a lot of these drones in the East. They were all over the place out there. I know they were training, but wow. Kind of creepy knowing that my old RC plane has grown up.


12 posted on 07/11/2013 3:00:34 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?)
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To: Steely Tom

Was 561 when I first watched - just reloaded and got 1835. Lots of eyeballs out there! Thanks again.


13 posted on 07/11/2013 3:00:55 PM PDT by brityank (The more I learn about the Constitution, the more I realise this Government is UNconstitutional !!)
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To: katana

Skynet approves!


14 posted on 07/11/2013 3:02:49 PM PDT by miliantnutcase
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To: Paladin2

They will only hunt Freepers, if they have to hunt the Taliban they would run out of fuel before O would OK the strike.


15 posted on 07/11/2013 3:07:05 PM PDT by Lets Roll NOW (A baby isn't a punishment, Obama is)
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To: Steely Tom

How many views were kicked off by NSA?


16 posted on 07/11/2013 3:10:18 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Paladin2
Rocket-style. Can't top the original. Still the best.

What an amazing ride that would have been, any phase of its career.

17 posted on 07/11/2013 3:10:48 PM PDT by GBA (Our obamanation: Romans 1:18-32)
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To: brityank

This thing is proving to be very capable, affordable, and it seems to actually work.

This is about the time Obama usually cancels or shuts down a program.


18 posted on 07/11/2013 4:24:45 PM PDT by Carbonsteel
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To: Paladin2

The B-47 had to be one of the sexiest bombers ever built. That thing was beautiful. Lots of good footage in the Jimmy Stewart movie.


19 posted on 07/11/2013 5:21:16 PM PDT by beelzepug (if any alphabets are watchin', I'll be coming home right after the meetin')
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To: katana

fully autonomous UCAVs are not good for a free society... as it only takes a few at the top to directly wield unimaginable power... be it via drones or bunker launched missiles.

no actual people means higher probability of very bad things happening


20 posted on 07/11/2013 6:38:17 PM PDT by sten (fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
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