Slashdot Mirror
Secret New UAS Shows Stealth, Efficiency Advances
Fnord666 writes in with this link about one the development of a new unmanned toy for the U.S. Air Force. "A large, classified unmanned aircraft developed by Northrop Grumman is now flying—and it demonstrates a major advance in combining stealth and aerodynamic efficiency. Defense and intelligence officials say the secret unmanned aerial system (UAS), designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, is scheduled to enter production for the U.S. Air Force and could be operational by 2015. Funded through the Air Force's classified budget, the program to build this new UAS, dubbed the RQ-180, was awarded to Northrop Grumman after a competition that included Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The aircraft will conduct the penetrating ISR mission that has been left unaddressed, and under wide debate, since retirement of the Lockheed SR-71 in 1998."
... for eternal peace. Those funds --- ah forget it. Nothing going to change anytime soon.
It takes time to reposition a satellite. Even after changing orbits, enemy forces can make reasonable estimates about when there will be coverage gaps and plan operations accordingly.
Have gnu, will travel.
As an American, I'd be fairly pissed off if the military didn't have a secret replacement for the SR-71 already in service (since before 1998).
"[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz
After the missile had been launched and hit the target range, but before our satellites passed over again, they'd move the target closer to the impact point.
In Soviet Russia, target hits you!
(Sorry, couldn't resist)
Have gnu, will travel.