(Airforce)Reaper ready to deploy next month (With Video)

Stop The ACLU ^ | Aug 28, 2007 | Tom Vanden Brook

[Jay777]

The Air Force next month will deploy a new generation of pilotless airplane with the bombing power of an F-16 to help stop the stubborn Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan. The Reaper is an upgraded version of the Predator, which has become one of the military’s most sought-after planes since it first appeared in Afghanistan in 2001. The Reaper can fly three times as fast as a Predator and carry eight times more weaponry, such as Hellfire missiles, the Air Force said. The Reaper’s greater range and speed make it better suited than the Predator to Afghanistan’s vast, rugged terrain. The Reaper will also be deployed to Iraq. Its speed and arms will let it track and kill moving targets able to elude a Predator, said Brig. Gen. James Poss, director of intelligence for Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, Va… The Reaper carries about the same payload as the F-16 but can stay aloft as much as eight times longer than the F-16, which must refuel about every two hours. “You’ve got a lot of ammo circling overhead on call for short-notice strikes,” said John Pike, director of the military think tank, Globalsecurity. “It seems like a good idea.”

[Jay777]

VERY COOL VIDEO ON THE REAPER!

[Vinnie]

Cool.
Where they really need it is the Iran-Iraq border.
Stop the Iranian intrusion.

[sure_fine]

“It seems like a good idea.”

submitted for understatement of the war

[RoseofTexas]

I love the name! Reaper...good one!

[JamesP81]

“It seems like a good idea.”

Let's see: we can blow up more stuff faster, for a longer period of time, with greater safety for our own personnel. I think this would qualify as understatement.

[Billthedrill]

I've said it before, but what would it take for the Air Force to put up a website and let us play too? I promise I wouldn't blow anything up without asking. Well, anything important. And when the boss catches me with a game controller at my desk, what's he gonna say? "Time for the staff meeting, Drill! As soon as yer through blastin' commies, that is."

I call it a win-win situation but nobody listens to me.

[JohnBovenmyer]

Suitable background music is here. Mix with soon to be arriving video of your favorite targets and upload.

[ishabibble]

That’s not true, Gary.

:)

[beelzepug]

“Cool.
Where they really need it is the...”

Mexican border.

[Bender2]

More info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MQ-9_Reaper and http://www.defense-update.com/products/p/predatorB.htm

[HKMk23]

IT'S BUSH'S FAULT!!!

Sorry. It's obligatory. Gotta have one on every thread.

[MSF BU]

I keep wondering how difficult it would be to jam the signal?

[gonzo]

Cool killer .................... FRegards