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DARPA Plans Unmanned Versions of the A-10, F-4 and F16 and a hypersonic plane
Next Big Future ^ | Mar 6, 2010 | Brian Wang

Posted on 03/09/2010 7:39:00 AM PST by decimon

1. DARPA's is seeksing purpose-built unmanned systems for close air support, as well as unmanned versions of manned fighters, including the "QF-4, QF-16 and UA-10". The QF-4 and QF-16 designates target drone versions of the original F-4 and F16 fighters, while the UA-10 is presumably a reference to an unmanned version of the A-10.

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2. DARPA is planning an April test flight for a prototype of a hypersonic weapon

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(Excerpt) Read more at nextbigfuture.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Military/Veterans
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To: rstrahan

Drones are great for near-realtime ISR, but the commander will want to have manned assets avail. to him for the forseeable next decade or two.


21 posted on 03/09/2010 8:52:33 AM PST by DCBryan1 (FORGET the lawyers...first kill the "journalists".)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

Sure, I was being overdramatic.

An ancient 727 filled with fuel and a couple cannon barrels filled with C-4 sitting where the seats used to be would work too, I bet.

Get rid of the SAMS and have those puppies dive bomb the target.


22 posted on 03/09/2010 9:08:44 AM PST by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: rstrahan

“Only real problem is that people will be trying to interfere with the uplink system.”

Or blowing up the C&C.


23 posted on 03/09/2010 9:09:23 AM PST by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: decimon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZEEcb_yIAg


24 posted on 03/09/2010 9:58:53 AM PST by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
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To: decimon

Bad idea, the good un-manned fighter aircraft are so inherently unstable and designed for hi-gee maneuvers that taking a low-gee aircraft and converting it would just be wasting time, because the OTHER side will have the faster more nimble drones.They may not be as high tech but they just might have more, quatity has its own quality.


25 posted on 03/09/2010 10:02:21 AM PST by Eye of Unk ("Either you are with us or you are for the terrorists." ~~George W. Bush)
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To: decimon

Bad idea, the good un-manned fighter aircraft are so inherently unstable and designed for hi-gee maneuvers that taking a low-gee aircraft and converting it would just be wasting time, because the OTHER side will have the faster more nimble drones.They may not be as high tech but they just might have more, quantity has its own quality.


26 posted on 03/09/2010 10:02:35 AM PST by Eye of Unk ("Either you are with us or you are for the terrorists." ~~George W. Bush)
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To: Mr. Jazzy

Well, if they’re removing the pilot, I hope they remove the dog...unless the dog is there just to pee on the computer when it screws up.


27 posted on 03/09/2010 2:58:30 PM PST by CodeToad
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To: MortMan
Hah. . .you discovered the reason for my “tactical” name. . . .I was, in my leadership position as a young officer, a very warm and cuddly guy, the “Big Toe” of our squadron. I'm quite pleased with the name. . .
28 posted on 03/10/2010 4:39:50 AM PST by Hulka
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To: rstrahan
“UAV Predators have outflown manned fighters in head-to-head competitions as there’s no restrictions on g-forces other than the airframe.”

Not sure I follow you? “head-to-head,” like a dogfight? Like engaged in air-to-air and air-to-ground engagements?

What “competitions” are you referring? Really would like to know, as I am unaware of any head-to-head comparison to validate that statement. BTW, Predator's are very g-limited and slow, much more so than any fielded fighter, and are extremely limited in the type and amount of ordnance they can carry. And BTW, times two, you do know that not all RPVs are "Predators," that there are many different types, correct.

UAVs, PRVs, or UAS (take your pick), they are capable in a permissive environment but not so much in contested airspace. They are also very, very limited in their ability to “sense and avoid” threats like other aircraft or missiles.

“There will always be a need for some manned aircraft, but UAVs can remain on station far longer than manned aircraft, are cheaper to construct, and are the future.”

In a permissive environment. I was at a talk by Gen Deptula (USAF A2), and he is a big advocate for RPVs and even he sees no near-or mid-term obsolescence for manned fighters. Once we see unmanned tanks and armored vehciles operating on a battlefield, then maybe we are getting somewhere to talk about unmanned fighters being replaced by RPVs. We need to crawl before we can run, and a 1-G, 20 knot, 2-dimensional environment is tough to crack using armored vehicles, let alone jumping right to a multi-G, over-the-mach, 360 degrees operating system.

” Only real problem is that people will be trying to interfere with the uplink system.”

A BIG threat, for sure, and one they are working on very diligently.

29 posted on 03/10/2010 4:54:24 AM PST by Hulka
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To: DCBryan1

It’s not actually “flying”; it’s falling at the same rate as the earth’s curvature...;)


30 posted on 03/10/2010 10:03:42 AM PST by bt_dooftlook (ACORN = Another Communist-Overrun Rats-Nest)
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To: Mr. Jazzy

BTTT!


31 posted on 03/10/2010 3:24:45 PM PST by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
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To: rjp2005
HTML Sandbox

;-]

32 posted on 03/10/2010 3:39:58 PM PST by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: decimon
Stunned I am.... STUNNED that nowhere in here is a single reference to Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines!! Much less a pic! Stunned.

I did like the reference to Star Trek (original version) in the Captain Dunsel post.

33 posted on 03/11/2010 8:22:08 AM PST by ExSoldier (Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.)
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