Robot air attack squadron bound for Iraq

Yahoo ^

[Sub-Driver]

Robot air attack squadron bound for Iraq

By CHARLES J. HANLEY, AP Special Correspondent 30 minutes ago

The airplane is the size of a jet fighter, powered by a turboprop engine, able to fly at 300 mph and reach 50,000 feet. It's outfitted with infrared, laser and radar targeting, and with a ton and a half of guided bombs and missiles.

The Reaper is loaded, but there's no one on board. Its pilot, as it bombs targets in Iraq, will sit at a video console 7,000 miles away in Nevada.

The arrival of these outsized U.S. "hunter-killer" drones, in aviation history's first robot attack squadron, will be a watershed moment even in an Iraq that has seen too many innovative ways to hunt and kill.

That moment, one the Air Force will likely low-key, is expected "soon," says the regional U.S. air commander. How soon? "We're still working that," Lt. Gen. Gary North said in an interview.

The Reaper's first combat deployment is expected in Afghanistan, and senior Air Force officers estimate it will land in Iraq sometime between this fall and next spring. They look forward to it.

"With more Reapers, I could send manned airplanes home," North said.

The Associated Press has learned that the Air Force is building a 400,000-square-foot expansion of the concrete ramp area now used for Predator drones here at Balad, the biggest U.S. air base in Iraq, 50 miles north of Baghdad. That new staging area could be turned over to Reapers.

It's another sign that the Air Force is planning for an extended stay in Iraq, supporting Iraqi government forces in any continuing conflict, even if U.S. ground troops are drawn down in the coming years.

[vietvet67]

The skies over Iraq should be covered with these weapons.

Damn the cost.

[Grizzled Bear]

They will be closing shop as they have been informed there’ll be NO NEW manned combat aircraft.

---

That may be true. But I don’t think I like it.

[SSR1]

You have called the ball here.
The Raptors and the JSF will be the very last maned fighters we build.
It is just soo much cheaper to build the robots and have our guys and gals sitting in an office complex somewhere making the rubble bounce and then getting in their cars and going home for a cold beer.

[Polybius]

The Reaper is loaded, but there's no one on board. Its pilot, as it bombs targets in Iraq, will sit at a video console 7,000 miles away in Nevada.

My kid will be piloting it on non-shool nights until his bedtime.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

I think pig squeals at ear-splitting volume, say 12, would be much funnier!

[Mariner]

At volume production, we can put 10 of these in the air for the cost of a JSF.

Pilot training is also 1/10th the cost.

It's a no-brainer.

[denydenydeny]

You might be interested in this heartwarming article.

[magslinger]

That may be true. But I don’t think I like it.

I concur. While there is a lot to be said for not endangering pilots by having them physically present in unfriendly skies, and it does work well against Muslims, I'd still be concerned with the possibility of hacking with a more technologically astute enemy.

[4yearlurker]

The song from the old cartoon “Gigantor” is running through my head.

[KarlInOhio]

Plus 15 or 20-G turns in air combat or to evade a SAM are a lot easier when the pilot isn't there to complain that his neck just snapped.

[BBell]

Hippies Hate Slayer!!!

[BBell]

I’m sure this has upset both old and young pilots of all the services.

[tlj18]

reference

[Hoplite]

This thread is worthless
without my pic!

[GoldCountryRedneck]

Want to see inside the "Flight Deck" trailor while actual mission(s) are flown ??

AOPA Special Video - UAV's Beyond the Border

It's not your fathers R/C airplane!!!

Credit: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (Current issue AOPA Pilot magazine)

[CindyDawg]

Not for 39 dollars:’)

[GoldCountryRedneck]

uh oh........the login page show up?????

[manic4organic]

Megadeth.

[TXnMA]

Reaper -- with ordnance onboard...

[GreenHornet]

What kinda music? Slayer?

I think we should show them no mercy whatsoever: Give em' the Time-Life Disco Collection!