Posted on 01/25/2011 10:52:17 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
All of a sudden it was there, but then like any good stealth aircraft it vanished. Now the “Beast of Kandahar” has resurfaced in new photos, spurring aviation and defense wonks to once again speculate about the function and purpose of such a stealthy-looking unmanned aerial system.
The Beast, also known as the Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel, first appeared in 2009 in the skies over Kandahar in Afghanistan. It was later revealed to be a product of Lockheed’s Skunk Works and property of the U.S. Air Force, but that’s about all that was revealed. What the RQ-170 is designed to do—or is doing in Afghanistan—remains under wraps.
Bill Sweetman, keeper of Aviation Week’s Ares blog and the civilian authority on the drone at this point, has speculated that aside from the obvious reconnaissance functions, the Beast could perhaps be configured to carry “a high-powered microwave source” to fry computers and electronic equipment on the ground, or an electronic jamming platform to support other aircraft. But at the official level, silence surrounds the Beast of Kandahar and its potential combat (or non-combat) functions, and quiet is exactly the way a secret stealth drone likes it.
(Excerpt) Read more at popsci.com ...
Looks like a miniature B-2.
Well they already have this capability in other aircraft so likely it very well could. My son flew in such an aircraft and said people would be astounded if they knew all we can do to mess with the enemy.
>the Beast could perhaps be configured to carry “a high-powered microwave source” to fry computers and electronic equipment on the ground,<
and China will steal the tech like clockwork.
You are correct.I have heard that you can modify the radar avionics to give a strong EMP with the proper modification
I do not have the technical abilities to comment on that...but hearing some of what my son spoke of was beyond impressive. Since he was TSC, for what he participated in, I would not feel comfortable sharing here. He was at best vague in describing the little which he did but enough to recognize our military capabilty is beyond impressive.
I agree
Alls they have to do is ask the poseur in the White Hut or bent willie and they'll give it to 'em.
Carries some kind of high powered jamming device would be my guess. Something powerful enough that you couldn’t have it on a manned aircraft.
I agree.
“Something powerful enough that you couldn’t have it on a manned aircraft.”
Maybe they have it crammed full of uranium, and just fly real low!
One poster on the thread over at Popular Science speculated that, while the bird was being launched and recovered out of Kandahar, it was most likely spending its mission time over Pakistan.
That would make sense if it is as quiet as it is stealthy looking. I can imagine a lot of interesting places in Pakistan where close range quiet observations would be of extreme interest.
When they malfunction, thousands of birds get fried and die. Fish too.
Thank you, George Noory.
“When they malfunction, thousands of birds get fried and die. Fish too.”
So it doubles as a humanitarian mission platform by providing, hot, cooked meals to the indigenous population?
It may very well have the ability to fry electronics, but no one would bother using it in Afghanistan considering the lack of electronics.......other then our own.
Now You’re Thinking! Nice one.
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