Ultra Stealth? Is Northrop building a secret bomber prototype?

[Raptor1]

Yeah, but for bombers, as long as they don't get jammed, those things could be pretty effective...

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by Raptor1

Yeah, but for bombers, as long as they don't get jammed, those things could be pretty effective...

That is what they are intended for - bombing SAM sites. No pilot really likes that job. If you lose a machine or two doing it, no big deal.

Flexibility is still a problem with drones and always will be though.

-S

[PeriscopeDepth]

Any fixed target really, not just SAM sites.

PD

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by PeriscopeDepth

Any fixed target really, not just SAM sites.

PD

Thats true but a SAM site is a tier 1 target for them.

-S

[Zachstar]

Subman surely you have heard of the plans to put a laser of the F-35

And yes todays lasers are dinosaurs. but they are RAPIDLY falling in size.

And lol about the maneuvers. You keep believing that they are that dumb. Meanwhile bots the size of flies are being built to perform missions.

By 2030 or even 2020 the idea of a manned fighter will be silly. We are on the verge of several things today that are going to SERIOUSLY upgrade drones in the future.

CPU: Simple.. 3D transistors Also simple about possibly Quantum computing which actually exists today. They will be able to computer tactics at speeds unfathomable and at details no human can possibly learn.

Weapons: Again lasers, railguns, The enemy having bigger and better missiles. Etc..

Materials. Not in time for the F-35 are a plethora of new researched materials that will be stronger and able to withstand maneuvers on the frame WELL past the human limits. This will be even more apparent in the future.

This is not a game. We can't keep putting pilots in the seat because of some romantic idea that man must fight. Because eventually the enemy will take advantage of such.

If we are to remain the military power of the earth we MUST move on. And the .gov seems to be doing little to get in the way of that.

Why have 1 F-35 when you can have a team of 5 drones able to fly and survive longer?

And obviously subman you have trouble understanding between conservative and conservative.

[MothBalls]

Originally Posted by Zachstar

CPU: Simple.. 3D transistors Also simple about possibly Quantum computing which actually exists today. They will be able to computer tactics at speeds unfathomable and at details no human can possibly learn.

You mean like the ones in the Matrix? Or Skynet? Or Wargames?

Cool, where do we sign up?

[Zachstar]

You for one welcome the robotic overlords?

And yes it ought to have happened a bit ago. There is nothing special about drone CPUs except shielding.

In 1969 a computer had enough power to calculate burns, event times and even a lunar landing. While it got its data from a landing radar.

From there it is just AI. simple calculations to say "Will I die if I go left or right?"

Did we get it? Nope we got a program that took over a decade and a half to get a fighter in the hands of pilots yet has a good amount of CPU power itself.

Sure in 2030 we may have something better. but they will be unmanned. And manned fighters will not have any use.

Yes even transport and recon units will be unmanned as well.

[Zachstar]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

That is what they are intended for - bombing SAM sites. No pilot really likes that job. If you lose a machine or two doing it, no big deal.

Flexibility is still a problem with drones and always will be though.

-S

100 percent bull

Flexibility is what makes drones great. Thinking otherwise is just the romantic fantasy that is not rooted in any truth at all.

UAVs can operate anywhere. A sub can launch em. A speeder can launch em. They can launch from CVNs they can operate on damaged airfields, they can operate from a road, they can operate from a soda can or operate from a pen.

They will go after sams they will hunt and kill any enemy pilot who dares attack. They will pinpoint any lasers or cannon at anything it can compute for LOTS of targets removed with less ammo.

They will zap RPGs in flight they will decimate any force trying to use cannon fodder. They will hunt enemy navies and their subs.

They will kill drug smuggling, They will locate and track people trying to enter the country unlawfully. They will end the era of police chases. They will monitor disasters.

They will decimate any landing force, They will tear apart enemy forces, etc..

[SUBMAN1]

Zachstar - you are saying 2030 here, yet you make it seem like it should have happened 50 years ago? Flip flop why don't you.

Anyway, manned fighters will be a scarcity in the coming years, but always needed. After 2015, who knows if we will even have drones? Nanotech should be online shortly after and that will chance combat, the world, and possibly life for every last person on the planet. One suitcase will be able to kill every last man, woman, and child on the planet 50 times over.

-S

[Zachstar]

Originally Posted by Raptor1

Yeah, but for bombers, as long as they don't get jammed, those things could be pretty effective...

The whole idea of future drone projects is to be able to do missions on their own. So that we don't have an enemy denying forces by jamming.

And it may be a good thing anyway because we will be less encouraged to change the target when the drone can compute best targets in the area for maximum effect on the enemy.