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The RQ-180 Drone Will Emerge From The Shadows As The Centerpiece of A Air Combat Revolution The Air Force's secretive, very stealthy, and high-flying drone won't be just a better spy aircraft, it will be a deeply networked game-changer.
The War Zone ^ | April 1, 2021 | By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on 04/02/2021 7:18:04 AM PDT by PIF

When it comes to phantom aircraft that are the product of 'bleeding-edge' technologies and supposedly exist only in the shadows, the so-called RQ-180 is unrivaled in our time. The existence of this high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) stealth drone has all but been officially disclosed. Specters of its existence and growing maturity seem to materialize around every turn, and as of November 2020, the public may have gotten its first glimpse of this aircraft that has existed behind a veil of secrecy and innuendo for over a decade. This is the first in a three-part series - the product of a ghost hunt of sorts that has lasted well over two years - that tells the story - as best as we can piece it together - of what is likely the most important military aircraft of a generation.

what is this aircraft supposed to do and why does it exist?

This is an impossible question for us to answer definitively at this time, and details are bound to change, in some cases possibly significantly, but drawing on a large number of clues, open-source information, historical precedent, capability gaps, emerging technologies, ongoing procurement and development initiatives, the picture, at least as we see it, becomes somewhat clear.

... the RQ-180 could be defined as a networking and reconnaissance platform that is capable of penetrating and persisting deep into enemy airspace. We are talking about a large, twin-engine, flying wing aircraft with slender laminar-flow optimized wings. Its overall design is largely motivated by highly advanced, broadband, all-aspect, very low-observable (stealth) requirements. It is meant to fly at very high altitudes in contested airspace, at or in excess of 70,000 feet, for very long periods of time without ever being detected.

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


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: drone; rq180; usaf
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To: PIF

Although satellites could provide some of this functionality, in war games, satellites are the first to go.....

The RQ-180 isn’t static and is survivable. The Pentagon is preparing for a complete loss of military satellite capability yet maintain data coordination between aerial assets........


21 posted on 04/02/2021 7:50:56 AM PDT by nevergore (I have a terrible rash on my covfefe....)
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To: Red Badger

Was there a tobacco ship in that ragtag fleet?


22 posted on 04/02/2021 7:52:50 AM PDT by z3n
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To: z3n

Who says it’s ‘tobacco ‘?......................


23 posted on 04/02/2021 7:54:04 AM PDT by Red Badger ("We've always been at war with Climate Change, Winston."..............................)
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To: nevergore

Good point on the satellites.

The future of warfare is something we can only imagine, but it is certain that drones and AI will feature into it heavily. Our nation is blessed with continued technological superiority. How long that last is debatable, but it is likely to continue for another decade or two.

The one thing that is absolutely required though is wealth. Incredible wealth and a vibrant economy with manufacturing ability is essential to our national defense.

That will be the Achilles heel of America. Bankrupt our nation from within and we will not be able to afford our military or project force beyond our borders.


24 posted on 04/02/2021 7:57:31 AM PDT by volunbeer (Find the truth and accept it - anything else is delusional)
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To: Red Badger
Who says it’s ‘tobacco ‘?......................

~~~~

Oh!


25 posted on 04/02/2021 7:57:51 AM PDT by z3n
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To: PIF

Now put a high powered laser on it.


26 posted on 04/02/2021 8:06:39 AM PDT by taxcontrol (You are entitled to your opinion, no matter how wrong it is.)
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To: PIF

$190 Trillion in unpayable debt & a collapsing society embracing insanity. Why does any drone design matter?


27 posted on 04/02/2021 8:09:42 AM PDT by Trumpisourlastchance
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To: taxcontrol

Now put a high powered laser on it.


That’s not what it is for - had you read the article


28 posted on 04/02/2021 8:14:08 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: nevergore

The Pentagon is preparing for a complete loss of military satellite capability yet maintain data coordination between aerial assets........


No.

The Pentagon is preparing to connect battle elements in a non-interceptable way across various platforms in a major contested space in real time over thousands of miles, something it cannot do now.


29 posted on 04/02/2021 8:17:36 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: Trumpisourlastchance

$190 Trillion in unpayable debt & a collapsing society embracing insanity. Why does any drone design matter?

Just shoot yourself ... why does anything mater?


30 posted on 04/02/2021 8:18:44 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: PIF

A high powered laser would do well at engaging anti aircraft missles. Just thinking that it needs some defensive measures.


31 posted on 04/02/2021 8:22:08 AM PDT by taxcontrol (You are entitled to your opinion, no matter how wrong it is.)
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To: PIF

This writer has diarrhea of the keyboard. I could have written this article with half of the space. He was way too repetitive.


32 posted on 04/02/2021 8:35:17 AM PDT by Lysandru
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To: PIF

Flying wing + laminar flow. This is where the technology continues to be classified, more than 60 years after introduction.

Based on the German Kugelblitz platform the allies recovered as war spoils.


33 posted on 04/02/2021 8:36:39 AM PDT by Kevmo (The tree of liberty is thirsty.)
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To: Red Badger

That thing is a geological pornography piece.


34 posted on 04/02/2021 8:39:00 AM PDT by Kevmo (The tree of liberty is thirsty.)
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To: Lysandru

he’s always looking for new writers so if you have any mil knowledge and like to write, apply


35 posted on 04/02/2021 8:41:33 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: Kevmo

This is where the technology continues to be classified, more than 60 years after introduction.

goes to show you have no knowledge beyond the rudimentary


36 posted on 04/02/2021 8:43:05 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: taxcontrol

A high powered laser would do well at engaging anti aircraft missles. Just thinking that it needs some defensive measures.

that is not its mission!!!


37 posted on 04/02/2021 8:43:55 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: PIF

LOL!


38 posted on 04/02/2021 8:44:37 AM PDT by SgtHooper (If you remember the 60's, YOU WEREN'T THERE!)
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To: Kevmo

German Kugelblitz was an anti-aircraft tank-like machine...............


39 posted on 04/02/2021 8:47:29 AM PDT by Red Badger ("We've always been at war with Climate Change, Winston."..............................)
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To: Red Badger

Wow, now anyone with a straight edge can design aircraft.


40 posted on 04/02/2021 8:47:32 AM PDT by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too." - Robert Conquest )
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