Posted on 07/03/2024 12:11:44 PM PDT by Red Badger
An open-secret American spy plane has broken cover after the US Air Force released photos of its Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft (ULTRA). Built by DZYNE, the semi-classified drone is now confirmed as deployed and active.
The recent unrest in the Middle East, and especially in the Red Sea have been a proving ground for Western military technology, tactics, and policy. The MQ-9 Reapers used for long-range reconnaissance to guard against terrorist attacks on shipping, as well as other on other missions, have been invaluable. Unfortunately, one hard lesson is that the Reaper is vulnerable and at a cost of US$30 million each, there have been a string of very expensive losses to enemy fire.
The reason for this price tag is that the Reaper began life as a ground strike aircraft that was later modified for reconnaissance missions. That's all well and good, but it later turned out that only about one in a hundred missions involved making attacks. Since a one-percent combat rate was a very large redundancy while putting a very expensive air frame at risk, the Air Force needed an alternative. And fast.
(Excerpt) Read more at newatlas.com ...
AVIATION PING!....................
The Houthis: “Hold my non-alcoholic beer.”
This is the drone based on the Stemme S12 motorglider, with the resemblance clearly visible. Lots of articles about the Ultra over the past few months.
a Schweizer SGS 1???
YB-49 off spring ?
How come they put a bump for the pilot on a pilotless aircraft?
I asked the same question.
Maybe it’s just tradition..................
“...much cheaper...” than MQ9.
No dollar amount. Figures.
It’s definitely not overflying any territory. More like operating along the country borders to do electronics intelligence. The even more secretive Northop Grumman RQ-180 drone likely will overfly enemy territory because that is a truly stealthy RPV.
It is faster and less expensive to mimic a proven, existing aircraft than to make any changes.
I’m sure it’s for the satellite communications antenna.
I wonder how long it will take China to steal the plans for it .. I stand corrected ... I wonder how long ti took China to steal the plans for it.
Also a relevant question: How many of its electronic components are chicom manufactured?
Does it get us out of or into wars started by the CIA, like Ukraine?
Answered before the ?
“Also a relevant question: How many of its electronic components are chicom manufactured?”
About half. I remember seeing an article on it, it was either 40% or 60% of our electronic components used by the military come from China.
Maybe some day we’ll have leaders capable of understanding the RISK that puts our country in, especially when they also run around the world starting wars, some of them quite large.
Vertical stabilizer looks disproportionate.
And the exhaust on the bottom seems helpful to anyone using a heat seeking warhead.
That’s where the satgear goes. It’s a radome covering the satellite antenna, etc. If you look at the Global Hawk, same thing. It’s a little less pronounced on the Reaper.
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