F-16 jet takes off with pilotless/empty cockpit

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Oberon

So, Skybird is correct, the next logical step is autonomous drones, and I'm pretty certain that this is already being worked on, and when that happens then the risk of drone control intercept is closed, and the human oversight that is needed is reduced, so you could have one pilot for an entire squadron. At this point the boneyards become a very busy place and the numbers game starts to change in a big way.

And/or Skynet...

In Daniel Suarez' hightech-sf-novel "Kill Decision" swarm intelligence of ants gets implemented and remodelled in Ai control for drones, and then several drones get linked to form an autonomous swarm. The plot goes that the hive builds containers with drones inside from where they get launched by the hundreds like it is feared for cruise missiles started from a containership in an unconventionel future naval conflict. The AI loads them onto a cargoship - thousands of them, and then there it is - an autonomous drone carrier defended by thousands of drones linked and controlled by artificial swarm intelligence. A murderous weapon (in the novel ).

Telling it because of the plot only. His earlier, linked books "Deamon" and "Darknet" are much more recommendable. Intelligent and action-dripping hightech speculation I would call them. It is about AI, virtual reality, Google Glasses, and autonomous community building and democracy.

Suarez is a former software expert, and knows this kind of stuff. Thats what makes his speculations so tempting. The Dale Brown of computer-tech-scifi.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by August

He's saying it's cheaper to use existing aircraft than build new ones.

The problem is that a remotely piloted F-16 will still have the same strengths and weaknesses versus a remotely piloted MiG-29 as they did when humans were aboard. Nothing really changes here.

Thank you August; One overlooked possible factor with unmanned cheap rehabs is the lack of finesse possible, No need to dogfight, just RAM when all else fails. And then ... launch a new rehab(after lunch) from the desert boneyard! That MIG may not out-perform an F-16 but the kamikaze threat will deter any mission considerably. Axiom 2: 'numbers have cachet of their own'; an outnumbered F-16 may get a few in a distance standoff missile-wise but something WILL get through. The Germans learned this first hand at Kursk when their superior tanks were simply rammed by Russian T-34 tanks-and the great 'defense war' back to Berlin started.

[August]

Originally Posted by Aktungbby

Thank you August; One overlooked possible factor with unmanned cheap rehabs is the lack of finesse possible, No need to dogfight, just RAM when all else fails. And then ... launch a new rehab(after lunch) from the desert boneyard! That MIG may not out-perform an F-16 but the kamikaze threat will deter any mission considerably. Axiom 2: 'numbers have cachet of their own'; an outnumbered F-16 may get a few in a distance standoff missile-wise but something WILL get through. The Germans learned this first hand at Kursk when their superior tanks were simply rammed by Russian T-34 tanks-and the great 'defense war' back to Berlin started.

There ain't that many aircraft in those boneyards that one could waste them in kamikaze attacks. As for numbers having a cachet of their own that's true but you should remember that there are a lot more Migs in the world than there are F16's. Oh and the T-34 was not an inferior tank. It was comparable and in many aspects superior to the German.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by August

There ain't that many aircraft in those boneyards that one could waste them in kamikaze attacks. As for numbers having a cachet of their own that's true but you should remember that there are a lot more Migs in the world than there are F16's. Oh and the T-34 was not an inferior tank. It was comparable and in many aspects superior to the German.

True enough as to the sloping armor however the guns of the panther(long barrel) and tiger (88) were 'considered' superior firepower at the time and at a distance, would prevail, hence the brutal(true hate?) tactic of simply ramming. Of course the fatal delay to bring the new panther( Germany's response to the T-34) on line only gave the time factor advantage to the Russian defensive preparations (pits,mines and anti tank gun positions) at Kursk. I should have been clearer on the 'numbers cachet' thing: THERE are a LOT more MIGs than F-16s-something will get through!

[Armistead]

Wait until some 12 year old kid takes it over from his home PC.