I also wonder if they include things like replacement parts and ground crews in their figure that it will cost "75 percent less to operate and maintain." I think that parts and labor are going to be constant, event with new planes. Pilots are obviously an expensive part of military aircraft, but I have to wonder if simply moving the pilot to the ground is going to save 75%.
You raise some very good points but I think that they are definitely taking into account ground crew/replacement parts, etc. Keeping fighters up is incredibly expensive and HUGE amounts of that work go into keeping men up in the air. But all that aside, every new generation of fighters is cheaper to maintain from a support perspective.
I was at NAS Fallon once w/an F-14 squadron I worked in. We were out on the flightline launching a Tomcat. It took a minimum of 3 of us - not including all the trouble shooters, the huffer, the apu, etc. to get that thing started and running. Just a short distance across the tarmac they had some F-16s getting ready to go. One airman walks out - plugs his headphones into a jack on the nose gear -(we did everything w/hand signals) - runs some checks and they are off. No external equipment and it was all done w/a fraction of the people in a fraction of the time. I expect this trend to continue.
pilots would be unable to tell the difference between simulator and real combat
Not to be nitpicky. But there is not simulator- especially one that is ship board that is indiscernable from actual ACM. Pulling G's is something no simulator I have ever been in replicates.
This kind of link has been required for a long time w/many systems already in use that need to share information on the battlefield.
STARS is something that does a lot of this already. (My sister in law works for Boeing and Apaches are able to share incredible amounts of data w/a wide variety of) systems.
That site should give some good info and be a good launch pad for further digging if you are really interested in military data links.
The Predator was not originally designed to deliver ordinance. That it has been modified to do so, and do it w/some degree of accuracy is pretty impressive.
It was built for surveilance.
UAVs are following the same development path as piloted aircraft. They start out as observers. Then they start carrying limited payloads to attach the ground. Then they become armed to attack one another. But the curve is greatly accelerated as this is the second time around.
I wore mine to the club last Friday and I got like 12 phone numbers and went home w/a major betty. Sweet.
Then my battery ran out and I realised I was standing in the middle of a dump surrounded by toothless hobos. But I still had a good time. I'm not gonna let details interfere.
It works! I just tried it. I went flying for like 70 feet. I had to use rapid bursts with less recoil to land w/out breaking my neck. People were amazed.
I don't want you to hate me or anything but it's not the best. It doesn't even make the top 20. While I greatly appreciate your enthusiasm, I must warn you now that it is misplaced.
I recommend checking out some of the items higher on the BEST list before you judge me harshly. I think that tonight you should try and then carefully consider:
The police already have training methods that are much more low tech and much more effective. They are not tied to computers at all but rather modified weapons that actually fire, and cause pain but no real injury. And you get to practice just like you play - w/out all this gear all over your body.
The military has live fire exercises. Much better at getting people to take things seriousely. This may have limited uses but not nearly to the extent that you seem to think.
You may not be at the cap any more since this got modded down a bit.
I'm not selling people short but how many times does something like this come up in the middle of the day and like 200 people silmultaneously post the same joke? That's why I don't like when that kind of thing gets moderated as redundant. You log in you reply and at the very same time a bunch of other people say just the same thing. So why should someone get modded down for that?
Anyways I'm not trying to argue w/you and your post had some good humor value. And I'm hoping to get modded down some myself as I'm at the cap too and I like to have something to shoot for.
Plus I'm real close to 200 posts and I'm thinking I can get there today if my boss doesn't bother me w/too much work today. (Yeah I'm a slacker sometimes but I gotta be me)
That rant got you some karma but it wont change \.
In all likelyhood 75% of those people thought they were the first to post what they said. The other 25% want to get on everyone's nerves and repeat crap endlessly. You just validated their existence.
Me I just want to hit 200 posts today if I can and I got tired of waiting for good things to say.
Slashdot Mirror
I also wonder if they include things like replacement parts and ground crews in their figure that it will cost "75 percent less to operate and maintain." I think that parts and labor are going to be constant, event with new planes. Pilots are obviously an expensive part of military aircraft, but I have to wonder if simply moving the pilot to the ground is going to save 75%.
You raise some very good points but I think that they are definitely taking into account ground crew/replacement parts, etc. Keeping fighters up is incredibly expensive and HUGE amounts of that work go into keeping men up in the air. But all that aside, every new generation of fighters is cheaper to maintain from a support perspective.
I was at NAS Fallon once w/an F-14 squadron I worked in. We were out on the flightline launching a Tomcat. It took a minimum of 3 of us - not including all the trouble shooters, the huffer, the apu, etc. to get that thing started and running. Just a short distance across the tarmac they had some F-16s getting ready to go. One airman walks out - plugs his headphones into a jack on the nose gear -(we did everything w/hand signals) - runs some checks and they are off. No external equipment and it was all done w/a fraction of the people in a fraction of the time. I expect this trend to continue.
pilots would be unable to tell the difference between simulator and real combat
Not to be nitpicky. But there is not simulator- especially one that is ship board that is indiscernable from actual ACM. Pulling G's is something no simulator I have ever been in replicates.
This kind of link has been required for a long time w/many systems already in use that need to share information on the battlefield.
STARS is something that does a lot of this already. (My sister in law works for Boeing and Apaches are able to share incredible amounts of data w/a wide variety of) systems.
That site should give some good info and be a good launch pad for further digging if you are really interested in military data links.
Yes.
UAVs are already operating from carriers. Predators were launched from the USS Carl Vinson during the whole Bosnia deal.
They are so small, light and have short enough take-off/landing requirements that this is pretty easy to do.
To my knowledge all branches of the military have UAV programs in full swing.
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The Predator was not originally designed to deliver ordinance. That it has been modified to do so, and do it w/some degree of accuracy is pretty impressive.
It was built for surveilance.
UAVs are following the same development path as piloted aircraft. They start out as observers. Then they start carrying limited payloads to attach the ground. Then they become armed to attack one another. But the curve is greatly accelerated as this is the second time around.
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Thank You. Thank You very much.
this makes 201. I have not done crap at work all day but I feel a sense of accomplishment that has me smiling from ear to ear.
I don't know if that makes me want to cheer out loud or despise myself.
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Totally TRUE
This should be modded WAY up as it cuts through all the crap and gets to the reality of the situation.
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You got that right.
I wore mine to the club last Friday and I got like 12 phone numbers and went home w/a major betty. Sweet.
Then my battery ran out and I realised I was standing in the middle of a dump surrounded by toothless hobos. But I still had a good time. I'm not gonna let details interfere.
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You got that right brother. Scam ol-a.
And \. got sucked right into it. I expect the retraction in slashback.
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It works! I just tried it. I went flying for like 70 feet. I had to use rapid bursts with less recoil to land w/out breaking my neck. People were amazed.
Go outside and try it right now!
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I don't want you to hate me or anything but it's not the best. It doesn't even make the top 20. While I greatly appreciate your enthusiasm, I must warn you now that it is misplaced.
I recommend checking out some of the items higher on the BEST list before you judge me harshly. I think that tonight you should try and then carefully consider:
Food
Sex
Music
Driving too fast
Well that should get you started.
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You're not lyin' Alfred and I have been playing wearable quake in the bat cave for like 10 years now.
I make Alfred put on a rubber monster mask over his gear to make it a little more exciting.
Robin refuses to play since that time Alfred fragged him like 20 times in less than a second. What a wuss.
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Those are some pretty good ideas. Take a lot of storage for some of those things. And a lot of infrastructure as well - but pretty cool none the less.
I like the firemen one.
They are already toting around a bunch of gear anyway. If this stuff can be minituarized to some extent the added equipment wouldn't even be noticed.
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Mod it up some more - I'm fascinated.
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The police already have training methods that are much more low tech and much more effective. They are not tied to computers at all but rather modified weapons that actually fire, and cause pain but no real injury. And you get to practice just like you play - w/out all this gear all over your body.
The military has live fire exercises. Much better at getting people to take things seriousely. This may have limited uses but not nearly to the extent that you seem to think.
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Just stamp "I'm a huge dork" on your head and save some serious cash.
Really the cops wont shoot you. People who hate geeks will kick your butt and take away your toys.
This is in a word - lame.
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Good Bye!
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You may not be at the cap any more since this got modded down a bit.
I'm not selling people short but how many times does something like this come up in the middle of the day and like 200 people silmultaneously post the same joke? That's why I don't like when that kind of thing gets moderated as redundant. You log in you reply and at the very same time a bunch of other people say just the same thing. So why should someone get modded down for that?
Anyways I'm not trying to argue w/you and your post had some good humor value. And I'm hoping to get modded down some myself as I'm at the cap too and I like to have something to shoot for.
Plus I'm real close to 200 posts and I'm thinking I can get there today if my boss doesn't bother me w/too much work today. (Yeah I'm a slacker sometimes but I gotta be me)
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so go away
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Raise that minimum to browse.
That rant got you some karma but it wont change \.
In all likelyhood 75% of those people thought they were the first to post what they said. The other 25% want to get on everyone's nerves and repeat crap endlessly. You just validated their existence.
Me I just want to hit 200 posts today if I can and I got tired of waiting for good things to say.
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your president too?
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and I have many markers. Come on by and we'll set your c.d.s free.
I have successfully burned 1000 copies of The Fast and the Furious soundtrack already.
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come over to my house and I will set your c.d.s free.
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I would think the short question to ask would be - "What doesn't DARPA fund?" They really should be FARPA - Fund Any Research Project Agency.
I'm not complaining - just observing
Nobody will get $250 bucks. Way too many people will file claims for that (at 250 bucks a pop that wont even cover 35000 people).
So you are right - it sucks all the way around and the only people who really benefit are the vultures.
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