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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."

5 of 530 comments (clear)

  1. In a related story... by slackergod · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Pentagon announced their new "Skynet" project.

  2. I think it was best said on The Simpsons by decipher_saint · · Score: 5, Funny

    "The wars of the future will not be fought on the battlefield or at sea. They will be fought in space, or possibly on top of a very tall mountain. In either case, most of the actual fighting will be done by small robots. And as you go forth today remember always your duty is clear: To build and maintain those robots. Thank you."
    -- Military school Commandant's graduation address, "The Secret War of Lisa Simpson"

    --
    crazy dynamite monkey
  3. No cockpit? by SirKron · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since there is no cockpit maybe they should paint one on the tail end to confuse our enemies' pilots. It works for fish with "eyes" on their tails.

  4. Re:X45 by Wakko+Warner · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes. In fact, I believe the article is wrong. This plane is designed not to destroy, but to bring hope to the hopeless.

    Large-breasted, scantily clad women are the bomb, and, at about 100 pounds each, this plane will be able to carry 30 of them. The payload will be dropped as a form of humanitarian aid at enemy Star Trek conventions, Linux User Group meetings, Magic: The Gathering marathons, and other places which haven't a hope of seeing the fairer species any other way.

    Let's hope this does the trick. (They say mass-sterilization efforts are the next and last resort, but I say it'd be a moot point.)

    - A.P.

    --
    "Remember when the U.S. had a drug problem, and then we declared a War On Drugs, and now you can't buy drugs anymore?"
  5. Flying X-10s? by WIAKywbfatw · · Score: 4, Funny

    Great, so those X-10 webcams featured in those annoying pop-up ads can fly now? Is there no end to the invasion of our privacy?

    --

    "Accept that some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue." - David Brent, Wernham Hogg