[Red Badger]

AVIATION PING!....................

[Red Badger]

AVIATION PING!....................

[desertsolitaire]

Imagine what the Ukes can do with a lot of these targeting refineries and weapons manufacturing way inside Russia and over all the Russian supply lines to their invasion force!

[Aeneas2112]

Which means our adversaries know about it, and that we have something even better almost ready.

I am quite hopeful that some of the major accomplishments of President Trump will not be known for many years, as regards ‘black’ programs.

[rktman]

My retirement check should be safe then.

[Getready]

No reason, except for aerodynamic mods and power upgrades, that it couldn’t be a hypersonic suicide stealth drone.
If only they could hide a wave front of hypersonic air turbulence

[Brian Griffin]

Unless something is transparent, it is typically going to be different looking than what is normally seen from above.

‘Vulture’ flight style drone spotters might be able stay up in the sky for long time periods.

If there are dense clouds that can visually hide drones, potential targets can take to hiding out or hardening down.

[Hatteras]

The line between science fiction and reality is fading quicker than I imagined...

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I'm always amazed at technology advances. Here's an historical item for comparison that not many people know about.

Lockheed D-21 Stealth Drone
Number built: 38
Max speed: >Mach 3.3, 2,200 mph
Operational altitude: 90,000 feet
Begin Development: October 1962
Introduced: 1969
First flight: 22 December 1964
Retired: 1971

Designed to carry a single high-resolution photographic camera over a preprogrammed path, then release the camera module into the air for retrieval, after which the drone would self-destruct.

Several successful test flights were made, followed by at least four unsuccessful operational D-21 flights over China.

Famed Skunkworks designer Kelly Johnson developed the concept of a long-range drone and specified speeds of Mach 3.3–3.5, an operational altitude of 87,000–95,000 feet, and a range of 3,000 nautical miles. It was intended to make a one-way trip, eject its camera payload at the end of the mission for recovery, then self-destruct.

Imagine doing the pre-programmed path pre-digital computers! And, without data telemetry, you had to recover the camera then destroy the aircraft.

Compare to 2025...

My son and I saw the D-21 at the fantastic "Blackbird Airpark" at an annex of the Air Force Flight Test (AFFT) Museum at Edwards AFB. All aviation buffs should visit this place!

[Brian Griffin]

“PATUXENT RIVER, Md., Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) collaborated with the U.S. Navy and General Atomics (GA) in a first-ever live control flight demonstration of an uncrewed system by the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Mission Control Station (UMCS).

“Powered by the Skunk Works® MDCX™ autonomy platform, the UMCS controlled a GA MQ-20 Avenger uncrewed air system (UAS) as it completed a live fly mission. This demonstration is a pathfinder that helps to advance the complex technology necessary to enable crewed and uncrewed teaming as envisioned for programs such as CCA and others.”

https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2024-11-07-U-S-Navy-and-Lockheed-Martin-Skunk-Works-R-Demonstrate-First-Live-Control-of-an-Uncrewed-Air-Vehicle-by-UMCS-and-MDCX-TM

[Nachoman]

This will have the anti-gravity propulsion system, right? Otherwise, their captured UFOs are just going to waste.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Looks like...Nothing, but a beautiful nothing.

[Brian Griffin]

If a bomb or drone interferes with a light beam, one or more napalm canister shot(s) can be shot off to where the bomb or drone is likely to be.

A flaming ball of hardened metal would penetrate the explosive casing and set off the explosive at a point where it would do little damage.

[Vermont Lt]

Well….I guess that is what folks have been seeing at night all over the place. It’s a UAP until the press release comes out.

[Tommy Revolts]

That’s a drone? Good Lord.

[BatGuano]

Wow, I say, “WOW!”
Thank you, Red, for the update.
“Autonomous,” is a frightening word for an old Pilot to see.
To think that elevator operators thought their “skills” would always be needed!
Here we are looking at the advance of real “Auto,” displacing the skilled aviators of yore.
I’m happy to have had my go at it. 22,000 + hours from 1961 to 2007.
USAF, UAL, Ohio ANG, Coast Guard Auxiliary with my Piper Aztec!
Cheers!

[RayChuang88]

This research drone is likely limited to just over Mach 1 speed, and could fly as high as 70,000 feet. It’s more a technology demonstrator since the Northrop Grumman RQ-180 is already operational with similar flying characteristics.