OrionHunter
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It is certain that the future of aerial warfare is stealth combat drones. Remote controlled warfare is a reality and wars would be fought sitting hundreds if not thousands of miles away safely ensconced in high tech control rooms or even in virtual cockpits therein, with complete situational awareness.
The UCS is arranged in a " wrap-around" fashion, which places the
operator in a virtual cockpit that allows for multiple views of what is
going on around the UAV and can control multiple aircraft simultaneously.
Whats interesting is that the United States isn't the only country interested in developing long-range and lethal drone technology.
Here is a curtain raiser of some of the deadly drones that seem straight out of a sci-fi flick.
Northrop Grumman X-47B
Developed by Northrop Grumman as part of a research contract awarded in 2007. Slated for Naval use, which hopes to use them as carrier-based drones. Tests for that begin in 2013.
Status: In development, used by Navy for testing.
Cruise Speed: 420 mph, (Mach 0.55).
Wingspan: 62 ft.
Range: At least 2,400 miles.
Boeing Phantom Ray
The project was hatched in 2007, and was carried out in utmost secrecy. The drone's development was funded internally, without funding from the government or military. The Boeing Phantom Ray, which precedes the development of the Phantom Eye, is Boeing's planned ground strike and surveillance drone.
Status: In development, maiden flight April 27, 2011.
Another image of the Phantom Ray atop the NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft....
Cruise Speed: 614 mph (Mach 0.8)
Wingspan: 50 ft
Range: 1500 miles
BAE Systems Taranis
BAE Systems, a major supplier of aircraft to the Royal Air Force, began development of their drone after being allocated funds from the British Ministry of Defense. The project also involves General Electric and Rolls Royce, and the aircraft is named after the Celtic god of thunder.
Status: Ground tests complete, Flight trials upcoming.
Cruising Speed: Unknown.
Wingspan: 30 ft.
Range: Expected intercontinental.
Dassault nEUROn
The project is being closely protected by manufacturer Dassault. Flight tests were planned for last year but were delayed to late 2012.
Status: Maiden flight planned for 2012.
Cruising Speed: Undetermined, Top speed 0.8 Mach.
Wingspan: 41 ft.
Range: Unknown.
EADS Cassidian Barracuda
The Barracuda is a project of Germany and Spain to develop a ground-attack drone.
Status: Maiden flight April 2006. Remains in development.
Cruising Speed: Uncertain, Top Speed 0.85 mach
Wingspan: 24 ft
Range: Unknown
Mikoyan Skat
Made by Mikoyan formerly MiG the Skat was developed as one of two concept drones for the Russian government. Skat means "manta ray" in Russian, and the aircraft would be used against enemy air defenses and as an attack drone.
Not much is known of its technical details.
Cheers!
Read more: Check Out These Next-Generation Drones - Business Insider
The UCS is arranged in a " wrap-around" fashion, which places the
operator in a virtual cockpit that allows for multiple views of what is
going on around the UAV and can control multiple aircraft simultaneously.
Whats interesting is that the United States isn't the only country interested in developing long-range and lethal drone technology.
Here is a curtain raiser of some of the deadly drones that seem straight out of a sci-fi flick.
Northrop Grumman X-47B
Developed by Northrop Grumman as part of a research contract awarded in 2007. Slated for Naval use, which hopes to use them as carrier-based drones. Tests for that begin in 2013.
Status: In development, used by Navy for testing.
Cruise Speed: 420 mph, (Mach 0.55).
Wingspan: 62 ft.
Range: At least 2,400 miles.
Boeing Phantom Ray
The project was hatched in 2007, and was carried out in utmost secrecy. The drone's development was funded internally, without funding from the government or military. The Boeing Phantom Ray, which precedes the development of the Phantom Eye, is Boeing's planned ground strike and surveillance drone.
Status: In development, maiden flight April 27, 2011.
Another image of the Phantom Ray atop the NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft....
Cruise Speed: 614 mph (Mach 0.8)
Wingspan: 50 ft
Range: 1500 miles
BAE Systems Taranis
BAE Systems, a major supplier of aircraft to the Royal Air Force, began development of their drone after being allocated funds from the British Ministry of Defense. The project also involves General Electric and Rolls Royce, and the aircraft is named after the Celtic god of thunder.
Status: Ground tests complete, Flight trials upcoming.
Cruising Speed: Unknown.
Wingspan: 30 ft.
Range: Expected intercontinental.
Dassault nEUROn
The project is being closely protected by manufacturer Dassault. Flight tests were planned for last year but were delayed to late 2012.
Status: Maiden flight planned for 2012.
Cruising Speed: Undetermined, Top speed 0.8 Mach.
Wingspan: 41 ft.
Range: Unknown.
EADS Cassidian Barracuda
The Barracuda is a project of Germany and Spain to develop a ground-attack drone.
Status: Maiden flight April 2006. Remains in development.
Cruising Speed: Uncertain, Top Speed 0.85 mach
Wingspan: 24 ft
Range: Unknown
Mikoyan Skat
Made by Mikoyan formerly MiG the Skat was developed as one of two concept drones for the Russian government. Skat means "manta ray" in Russian, and the aircraft would be used against enemy air defenses and as an attack drone.
Not much is known of its technical details.
Cheers!
Read more: Check Out These Next-Generation Drones - Business Insider
