Posted on 05/11/2010 2:10:01 PM PDT by rdl6989
Unmanned aircraft took a leap forward Monday when Boeing unveiled the Phantom Ray -- an advanced robotic craft that the company calls a test bed for advanced technologies.
Describing it as a great day for Boeing, the company took the wraps off its new plane at an event in St. Louis. The fighter-sized aircraft has been in development for about two years by Boeing's Phantom Works division and is described as cutting edge in the world of unmanned aircraft. The developers say it can carry 4,500 pounds of payload.
“Phantom Ray offers a host of options for our customers as a test bed for advanced technologies, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air defenses; electronic attack and autonomous aerial refueling -- the possibilities are nearly endless,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I’ve seen this movie. Isn’t this how SkyNet gets it start?
I wonder how many “UFO sightings” are going to be reported over this drone?
:)
single engine ...
big advantage IMO
Why is a single better than multiple. I thought redundancy was good — though I’ve heard that a twin prop is much harder to pilot than a single engine one.
there is no pilot on board to lose
..............................
single engine
cheaper, better in every way,
except for the .000001% of the time
you lose one from engine failure
the bat works
Reminds me of the joke about planes of the future. They will be so advanced they will only need a pilot and a dog to fly them.
The pilot is there to feed the dog. The dog is there to bite the pilot if he touches anything.
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