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X-45 Makes Debut Flight

Posted by Hemos on from the let's-go-fly-a-kite dept.

jonerik writes "The Associated Press (by way of MSNBC) reports the debut flight on Wednesday of Boeing's X-45A, the first unmanned aircraft designed from the start to carry weapons. According to the article, the X-45 - one of two being tested - flew for 14 minutes and will be able to carry 3,000 pounds of guided bombs. If eventually purchased by the Pentagon, expect to see it in service sometime between 2007 and 2010. The plane's relatively cheap cost ($10-15 million per aircraft), ease of maintenance, and lack of an onboard pilot will likely make it a staple of future U.S. war plans."

3 of 530 comments (clear)

  1. Cowardly by Meowharishi · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    And we wonder why our enemies call us cowards. Unmanned recon aircraft is one thing but I believe there should be a human physically ID'ing a target -- IN the cockpit -- before they press the button to release the bombs.

    But wtf does my opinion mean..

    The days of the intrepid dog fighting pilot have been over for some time anyway... I suppose this is just a natural extension of that.

    --
    mje0w!!!1!
    1. Re:Cowardly by thetbone · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      "And we wonder why our enemies call us cowards"

      Actually, we don't wonder. Name calling and acts of terrorism are about the only things they can do.

      Anyways, how is avoiding casualties while fighting a war cowardly? Should you always try to have some of your own soldiers die, so you aren't considered cowardly?

  2. Yeh its so tyically American by DABANSHEE · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Americans like to wage war without the natural justice of having casualties.

    look at their reliance on air superiority, It's gotten to the stage that their mountain troops don't even do mountains

    & look at their reliance on gadgets, no wonder they couldn't cope with peasents in pyjamas in the jungle with nothing but Kalashnikovs & RPGs, & had to resort to defolients.

    Hence its no wonder how pissed they are at UBL et alle - they were able to take out more than 3000 Americans & many billions in American real estate simply through the use of Stanley knives & by putting their own lives on the line.

    Something that US Special forces wouldn't pull off without millions in high tech gadgets etc & would probably fuck up.