“A solar-electric helicopter big enough to carry guns and missiles, that can fly for an hour every day if it can land and recharge its batteries.”
Source? Who manufacturers this helicopter? How many kWhs would it take to keep a helicopter of this size in the air for one hour? Who makes the batteries, how many are needed in the helicopter, and how much does each one weigh?
Source? DARPA. Boeing.
Source is a program manager who gave me a tour of a facility.
For any watchers who are curious, or want something to put their teeth into, let me add another clue. The program began with a gasoline powered but unmanned Hughes 500 to develop the software. Then they created their own program specific electric helicopter that is much too small to support human pilots, but is large enough to support missiles and guns. It’s small enough to hide in the backyard of an empty house. And it’s smart enough to find its daily hiding/recharging place all by itself. And it knows when to wake up and go hunting. Day after day, until the ordnance is expended.