Navy to launch unmanned aircraft from carrier

Ron Czapala

http://news.yahoo.com/navy-launch-unmanned-aircraft-carrier-071814116.html

EXCERPT:

The Navy will make its first attempt to launch an unmanned aircraft the size of a fighter jet from an aircraft carrier on Tuesday, marking a significant step toward the possibility of expanded drone use in future conflicts.

The X-47B can reach an altitude of more than 40,000 feet, has a range of more than 2,100 nautical miles and can reach high subsonic speeds. It is also fully autonomous in flight. It relies on computer programs to tell it where it to go unless a mission operator needs to step in. That differs from other drones used by the military, where someone directs the plane from a remote location.

LoopyByteloose

The Top Gun is soon to be a robot. It is a bit strange that the Navy has recently shifted from 4 wires for the tail hook to only 3. And now they think that can automatically land full jet sized drones.

mindrobots

I guess if there aren't any live bodies onboard, you can just slam it into the deck a little harder to make it stick.

I want to see the first few landing attempts on a pitching flight deck.

LoopyByteloose

I imagine this is a bit annoying to China. They are just getting their pilots in training to land and take off on their first carrier. Meanwhile we have 9 or 10 and are going to have drones on ours that can pull way over the g-forces that will black out a pilot.

It just ain't fair to have to dog fight a jet that doesn't have a pilot.

Maybe they should consider that old adage, if you can't beat 'em, just join 'em.