Robot Plane Drops Bomb in Successful California Test, Boeing Says

AP ^ | 4/18/04

[Brian Mosely]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A robotic plane deliberately dropped a bomb near a truck at Edwards Air Force Base on Sunday, marking another step forward for technology the U.S. military hopes will one day replace human pilots on dangerous combat missions.

Under human supervision but without human piloting, a prototype of the Boeing Co.'s X-45 took off from the desert base, opened its bomb bay doors, dropped a 250-pound Small Smart Bomb and then landed.

The inert bomb struck within inches of the truck it was supposed to hit, Boeing said, adding that had the bomb contained explosives, the target would have been destroyed.

"It's absolutely a huge step forward for us. It shows the capability of an unmanned airplane to carry weapons," said Rob Horton, Boeing's chief operator for the mission. "From the video, you see the weapon going down and a huge cloud of dust and the truck shaking around."

The X-45A was preprogrammed with the target coordinates and used the satellite-based Global Positioning System to adjust its course.

Horton, who was sitting 80 miles from the target, authorized the drone to drop the bomb, which was released from 35,000 feet as the plane flew at 442 mph.

The military sees such aircraft taking part in its most dangerous missions, such as bombing enemy radar and surface-to-air missile batteries, in order to clear the path for human pilots.

The Y-shaped, tailless plane has a 34-foot wingspan and weighs 8,000 pounds empty. It is the first drone designed specifically to carry weapons into combat.

Other robotic planes, including the Predator spy drone currently being used in Afghanistan, have been modified to carry weapons.

Boeing hopes to build hundreds of the X-45 planes, which would cost $10 million to $15 million each.

AP-ES-04-18-04 1928EDT

[XBob]

And in line with Bush's outsourcing of jobs to save money, and Boeings recent corporate decision to stop manufacturing planes, this plane will be built in China, as soon as we give them the technology transfer, and build the factory, to employ chinese workers.

Boeing will sell the chinese built aircraft to the US for 1000% of the chinese profits, if it can get permission from the chinese.

Remember, boeing is no longer an American company, but a global company, dedicated only to profit.

Horray for free-traitors, contributing to US productivity, just like Bush's economic advisors predicted.

[DefCon]

ME:
On the other hand, flying at 400 mph and 35,000 feet, is not 'terribly' risky for a manned flight.
-
YOU:
Oh really? Would you feel that way with a mach 3 SAM coming at you? How about if a SU 27 is on your tail?
-
Of course, you are right,
my thoughts were too fixated on 'todays' war, I guess.

[DefCon]

"...Observer has GPS unit, knows where he is. Bounces laser off target, gets range and bearing. Computer calculates target coordinates based on above. Jdam programmed with coordinates, dropped from over head AC or UCAV. Boom. It's Miller time..."
- - -
Thanks.
Sound like a plan!
Make mine a gunuine draft.

[Southack]

Nice idea

[csvset]

Darpa has a short video of the event.

Here

[Pukin Dog]

One nice EMP would wipe out your fleet, partner. Then you got nothing but harsh language for your attack.

[SauronOfMordor]

Bombs are used against a fixed target, like a building. The hellfire missile is designed to kill a tank even if it is moving.

"Smart" bombs can be steered into their target. When you're dropping at terminal velocity, a small turn of the steering vanes can produce a very respectable lateral movement -- more than enough to stay on-target with a moving tank.

[US_MilitaryRules]

I saw this plane as it flew over me while I was out riding my dirtbike! 2 F18 around it. It was cool!

[FreedomCalls]

15 million? Is it gold plated?

No, but it has tail fins and white-wall tires!

[Southack]

EMP is overrated, at least against American technology. Its affects against optical computers are negligible, for instance...and even traditional electrical computers can be hardened against small and medium size EMP bursts.

[SauronOfMordor]

One nice EMP would wipe out your fleet, partner. Then you got nothing but harsh language for your attack.

An EMP that would knock out a robot plane's computer would also knock out a manned plane's computer. Since all the new designs are fly-by-wire, and are unstable without a computer continually tweaking the flaps, the human pilot would be in real trouble

That's why modern planes' electronics are heavily shielded against EMP

A bigger concern would be an enemy cracking the encryption for the command channel. Suddenly, his hackers make all your bombers, THEIR bombers

Or, as the orientals like to say it: "All your base are belong to us!"

[Pukin Dog]

I'm not talking about hitting the planes, but their communication channels.

[Drammach]

R. and D. ,.....always cost a lot of money at first ......if it works , it will be money very well spent.....the more we pump out , the less expensive the will be to build , add on the upgrades they will recieve through there carrer....just like the patriot missle , the sindwinder , the B- 52 !!!!!...lets hope this new weapons system puts a damn good hurting on our enimies......GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS , OUR PRESIDENT , AND OUR GREAT NATION.

Holey Moley!!!

Did you do the propaganda ads for "Starship Troopers"?

[Southack]

"A bigger concern would be an enemy cracking the encryption for the command channel. Suddenly, his hackers make all your bombers, THEIR bombers."

Besides being unlikely, it would merely allow two different sets of commands to go to the craft (i.e. the U.S. and the enemy's commands). That would be a far cry from making the bomber all "theirs."

And on mission runs like today's...where the UCAV was pre-programmed on the ground for its strike, there doesn't have to even be a command line open.

[Veloxherc]

Even at twice the cost you could have 8 of these X-45 for the price of one F/A-22 ($ 250,000,000). Any one who thinks there will not be pilot less fighter/bomber aircraft is in denial.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Robot Dogfighters and air supremacy aircraft are on the drawing boards. They'll be faster, more maneuverable, and virtually unbeatable.

Until they meet another "Robot Dogfighter"...

[Lokibob]

Hellfire missile uses a shaped charge, designed to penetrate armor.

Anything other than a direct hit with a 250 lb bomb would simply shake up the crew of a tank.

Different weapons, different missions...

Look, bombs do a lot of things, from putting holes in the ground (denying the enemy a runway, for example) to denying the enemy personnel land (cbu bomblets), to blowing up Palaces.

[traumer]

Wooooooo - Hooooooo !!

The next target: FALLUJA ....

[Eastbound]

"Remember, boeing is no longer an American company, but a global company, dedicated only to profit."

But there's an upside! China isn't part of Kyoto, so look at all the pollution-free air we'll have . . . uh . . . as long as the winds in China don't blow this-a-way.

[King Prout]

SkyNet is coming for us all!