The Snark - the meanest VTOL UAV on the planet

gizmag ^ | 10/25/05 | unknown

[ChildOfThe60s]

Manufacturer's web site is here: http://www.tgrhelicorp.com/snark.htm

How about a couple a thousand of these puppies on the Iran-Iraq border?

[mkjessup]

Honorable Mention to the original 'Snark' SM-62A, first generation of ground launched cruise missiles.

[GoldCountryRedneck]

Looks seriously wicked...

[doc30]

Well, at $5 million apiece, that's $10 billion if you want 2K of them.

[SevenMinusOne]

The amount of UAVs (in all their forms) that are flying in the sky's of Iraq would astound most people.

Though I haven't seen a SNARK just yet....

[incredulous joe]

"Well, at $5 million apiece, that's $10 billion if you want 2K of them."

Maybe some genius in congress will recommend that we have them made in China?

[ChildOfThe60s]

$10 billion is chump change. 2/3 of Clinton's request for midnight basketball.

[csvset]

Put a squadron of them up , on the lookout for IED burying bastards. Kill, crush, destroy.

[Bommer]

Those pictures don't do it justice. They are pretty big. About half the size of a standard helicopter.

[Tallguy]

The airspace over Iraq must be getting a little crowded with all the UAV's over there serving this user or that. I understand that the USAF wants a review over 'who controls what' -- sounds like they're asking for a latter day Key West Agreement.

As the UAV's tasked by the ground troops gain in size, range & payload they're going to begin 'bumping into' USAF assets.

[Tallguy]

I always wondered why we didn't put up a chain of tethered radar blimps along the Main Supply Route from Kuwait to Baghdad. I remember seeing these deployed in the Florida Keys to catch drug traffickers. 24/7 surveillence of the MSR at very low cost. It's gotta be cheaper & better coverage than flying UAV's.

[Eepsy]

"But, oh, beamish nephew, beware of the day

If your Snark be a Boojum, for then

You will softly and suddenly vanish away,

And never be met with again."

[SevenMinusOne]

As the UAV's tasked by the ground troops gain in size, range & payload they're going to begin 'bumping into' USAF assets.

Already happening to a small degree. And yes the USAF is b*tching (but what's new!).

The number of The RQ-11 Raven's being used is quite impressive (and being used very effectively).

Outside of seeing one of those Little Birds being flown by the Blackwater guys....sighting seeing for UAVs has become quite the past-time event when outside the gate.

[dr_who_2]

Exter-mi-nate all In-sur-gents! Dan-ger! Dan-ger! Path blocked by stair-way!

[SevenMinusOne]

While the Snark could have a role to play in Iraq...it would be overwhelmed and likely not capable of working the mountains of Stan.....

[Phsstpok]

I always wondered why we didn't put up a chain of tethered radar blimps along the Main Supply Route from Kuwait to Baghdad. I remember seeing these deployed in the Florida Keys to catch drug traffickers. 24/7 surveillence of the MSR at very low cost. It's gotta be cheaper & better coverage than flying UAV's.

They've deployed some since at least 2005 (more detail here) and have plans to possibly deploy many more with much more capability. 

[Young Werther]

Trivial knowledge note! Fleming's Dr No was written after several Snarks went awry. They left the Cape and landed in the Brazilian Jungle instead of the splash down rea of Ascension Island in the South Atlantic.

Good book. Bond, James Bond!

The Snark unlike the Bomarc was never operational since the liquid fueld IRBMs filled the bill in the late 50s until the Atlas came along!

[NicknamedBob]

James Bond will be so jealous.

[nothingnew]

Wow! They're invisible too! Awesome!

FMCDH(BITS)

[EQAndyBuzz]

"Those pictures don't do it justice."

Stealth?