US Navy launches X-47B drone from aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush

[Donger]

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...w-bush05152013

A drone the size of a fighter jet took off from the deck of an American aircraft carrier for the first time Tuesday in a test flight that could eventually open the way for the U.S. to launch unmanned aircraft from just about any place in the world.

The X-47B is the first drone designed to take off and land on a carrier, meaning the U.S. military would not need permission from other countries to use their bases.

"As our access to overseas ports, forward operating locations and airspace is diminished around the world, the value of the aircraft carrier and the air wing becomes more and more important," Rear Adm. Ted Branch, commander of Naval Air Forces Atlantic, said after the flight off the Virginia coast. "So today is history."

The move to expand the capabilities of the nation's drones comes amid growing criticism of America's use of Predators and Reapers to gather intelligence and carry out lethal missile attacks against terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen.

Critics in the U.S. and abroad have charged that drone strikes cause widespread civilian deaths and are conducted with inadequate oversight.

Still, defense analysts say drones are the future of warfare.

[jiveturkey]

I wonder what the theoretical g limit is of a drone fighter built out of our most advanced air-frame materials???

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Donger

Yep, G loading has been a major limitation of our fighters (because of the human) for some time.

Not just that but think about the marathon flights they can pull by rotating pilots.

[mikey23545]

Originally Posted by Bo's Pelini

Hopefully it crashes

I've got an idea.

Why don't you quit playing around on the internet, and get back to work sucking Ron Paul's withered old cock?

[HemiEd]

Pretty cool video Donger, thanks for posting it. It will take a while for the flight deck crew to get used to not having a pilot to look at while directing the plane.

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by mikey23545

I've got an idea.

Why don't you quit playing around on the internet, and get back to work sucking Ron Paul's withered old cock?

Shutup you racist pile of shit

[Donger]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Pretty cool video Donger, thanks for posting it. It will take a while for the flight deck crew to get used to not having a pilot to look at while directing the plane.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by mikey23545

I can just imagine our fighter pilots fighting from inside what looks like a flight simulator, flying drones in combat and simply dominating the skies...

Sure, for 10 or 20 years, then the Chinese have it, then 10+ years after that everyone has it.

Obviously we need to maintain our military superiority, but this isn't some magic bullet that will make us an invincible military superpower. WE ALREADY ARE, at least insofar as conventional warfare is concerned.

But we're already aware of the limitations of military superiority... It doesn't stop terrorists. It doesn't let us reshape the world in our image. etc. ad infinitum.

[Chief Faithful]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Definitely.
Argued with a couple of fighter pilots when they found out I worked on HAWK. They told me about all the maneuvers they’d use to evade the missile and I simply said, “Can you pull a 110 Degree turn at Mach 3? Cause the HAWK can.”

Missile evation can be programmed and if it doesn't work so what? Today we have to be so careful because the pilot is the most unreplaceable resource, but with drones that pilot is on the other side of the earth in a bunker. I imagine fighters will be able to out perform older systems and cost less to manufacture and maintain.

Imagine, a bomber that can out perform an F18.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by Donger

I wonder if that guy is called the LSO now, or something similar? In the video, the flight deck sailer directing the movement of the plane positioning for the catapult, just like we always did, was looking where the fuselage canopy would be, with a pilot behind it.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by jiveturkey

I wonder what the theoretical g limit is of a drone fighter built out of our most advanced air-frame materials???

More than 9. And, more than 3.

[Chief Faithful]

Originally Posted by mikey23545

I can just imagine our fighter pilots fighting from inside what looks like a flight simulator, flying drones in combat and simply dominating the skies...

And that asset can be fully integrated with other assets on the ground, in the water and in the skies all controlable inside that same simulator.

[LiveSteam]

I want one. I can out fly anyone with my UJ4705. It takes a steady hand to fly the UJ4705. Box even says for ages 14+

[notorious]

I hope one of these doesn't land in hostile territory. We would have just given our stealth techonology away.......

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Gonzo

A lot of young or aspiring fighter-pilots just shat themselves.

I'm telling you all, it's just a matter of time before Skynet becomes self-aware.

Air Force fighter pilots had a four year wait for their own birds 20 years ago. I can only imaine what it is now, and that's not even considering this up and coming technology.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by jiveturkey

I wonder what the theoretical g limit is of a drone fighter built out of our most advanced air-frame materials???

I think missiles will pull 20+ g's in flight if I remember right.