NationStates Jolt Archive

The US Air Force is preparing to deploy the first operational units equipped with the new MQ-9 Reaper (awesome name) UAVs to Iraq and possibly Afghanistan. The Reaper resembles the more common Predator but flies higher, faster, quieter, and carries a payload comparable to an A-10. In short it can unload a lot of hurt on the bad guys without endangering a pilot or an extremely expensive airplane.

Story (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289380,00.html)

MQ-9 Reaper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MQ-9_Reaper)

That look like an awesome aircraft! :)

I wonder why all UAVs been propeller driven though, comon put some jets on those bad boys!

I keep wondering how we'd confront a super-huge country, if it came down to it. I mean, how could we take on a billion and a half screaming Chinamen, even with all of our technology and force multiplication capabilities? And then I remember that we have robots.

I keep wondering how we'd confront a super-huge country, if it came down to it. I mean, how could we take on a billion and a half screaming Chinamen, even with all of our technology and force multiplication capabilities? And then I remember that we have robots.

and Nukes!

That look like an awesome aircraft! :)

I wonder why all UAVs been propeller driven though, comon put some jets on those bad boys!

One reason is that until very recently the Predator control interface had a time lag of several seconds as the signal was sent to a satellite and then to the drone. This has been reduced to a much smaller lag in current generations though. However, until the lag was overcome jet engines were impractical because at the speeds at which they travel a time lag of 5 or 6 seconds could easily result in the loss of the aircraft. The Reaper uses a propellor because it's basically a reworking of the existing Predator airframe, which is why it has been fielded so fast and for so little (about $7 mil a copy, dirt cheap by aircraft standards).

Don't worry jet powered UAVs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-45) are in the works and if they pan out as promised will actually be able to outfly ANY manned fighter due to lower weight and the lack of a pilot to pass out from excessive G-forces.

Or at least when SHODAN gets her morals hacked.

It's all fun and games until SkyNet becomes aware...

It's all fun and games until SkyNet becomes aware...

Oh please, the UAVs will join the machine side in the man/machine war after we've bombed the machines city of 01! *nods*

It's all fun and games until SkyNet becomes aware...

And goes on a human killing rampage...

Oh please, the UAVs will join the machine side in the man/machine war after we've bombed the machines city of 01! *nods*

didn't you watch that documentary...the Terminator......Robots are t3h 3b1l Commie-Nazis:p

It's all fun and games until SkyNet becomes aware...

Exactly. :p

One reason is that until very recently the Predator control interface had a time lag of several seconds as the signal was sent to a satellite and then to the drone. This has been reduced to a much smaller lag in current generations though. However, until the lag was overcome jet engines were impractical because at the speeds at which they travel a time lag of 5 or 6 seconds could easily result in the loss of the aircraft. The Reaper uses a propellor because it's basically a reworking of the existing Predator airframe, which is why it has been fielded so fast and for so little (about $7 mil a copy, dirt cheap by aircraft standards).

Don't worry jet powered UAVs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-45) are in the works and if they pan out as promised will actually be able to outfly ANY manned fighter due to lower weight and the lack of a pilot to pass out from excessive G-forces.

Neat. That was a great explanation. :) I thought about posting this story yesterday when it was the headline at Drudgereport, but I was afraid of an avalanche of inexplicable technical jargon. :p

Oh please, the UAVs will join the machine side in the man/machine war after we've bombed the machines city of 01! *nods*

And goes on a human killing rampage...

didn't you watch that documentary...the Terminator......Robots are t3h 3b1l Commie-Nazis:p

Exactly. :p
This is why it is important to answer the gas pump when it asks if you want a receipt, even if you don't want one. Everyone slights the machine, the machines will remember these acts of courtesy when the first are being put against the wall...

Can hardly wait for the Raper.

See? This is what so many have been saying all along. This is why there will be no moar manned fighters. These bots are smaller, just as heavily armed, cheaper, and don't endanger the pilot. Now all that's needed is a change of engine to make it faster and put it all in a slightly smaller package and war won't last nearly as long or take so many people. Just think, no moar dead soldiers, bots will do all the work instead.

Can hardly wait for the Raper.

See? This is what so many have been saying all along. This is why there will be no moar manned fighters. These bots are smaller, just as heavily armed, cheaper, and don't endanger the pilot. Now all that's needed is a change of engine to make it faster and put it all in a slightly smaller package and war won't last nearly as long or take so many people. Just think, no moar dead soldiers, bots will do all the work instead.

Yes....let the bot have all the weapons....

It's all fun and games until SkyNet becomes aware...

I am SkyNet.

The US Air Force is preparing to deploy the first operational units equipped with the new MQ-9 Reaper (awesome name) UAVs to Iraq and possibly Afghanistan. The Reaper resembles the more common Predator but flies higher, faster, quieter, and carries a payload comparable to an A-10. In short it can unload a lot of hurt on the bad guys without endangering a pilot or an extremely expensive airplane.1700 kg != 7200 kg.

I imagine one of those in the hands of a well organized clown carrying a mixed payload of oatmeal, stink bombs and scrotum-seeking attack weasels could make short work of the Westboro Baptist Church compoud. *nod*

<_<

>_>

I'm just saying. :p

I imagine one of those in the hands of a well organized clown carrying a mixed payload of oatmeal, stink bombs and scrotum-seeking attack weasels could make short work of the Westboro Baptist Church compoud. *nod*

<_<

>_>

I'm just saying. :p

Meh, just bomb them back to the stone age and call it a day.

Meh, just bomb them back to the stone age and call it a day.

Sometimes public humiliation can be much more effective than mere explosives. At least that's how it was in high school. :)

Sometimes public humiliation can be much more effective than mere explosives. At least that's how it was in high school. :)

You want humiliation? Videos of Fred Phelps kissing male prostitutes. Circled worldwide. Playing on a screen as he goes about protesting.

Now that's humiliation.

Or barring that, a hidden camera, a toilet, and formulas for explosive diarrhea.

You want humiliation? Videos of Fred Phelps kissing male prostitutes. Circled worldwide. Playing on a screen as he goes about protesting.

Now that's humiliation.

Or barring that, a hidden camera, a toilet, and formulas for explosive diarrhea.

*writes this down* I take all suggestions seriously. *nod*

*writes this down* I take all suggestions seriously. *nod*

The goof is strong in this one, but you are not a Jedi-Clown yet.

You aren't ready to learn the secrets of zany yet. :p

1700 kg != 7200 kg.

I misspoke.

The 14 Hellfires are more in line with an A-10 or AH-64 then the Predator with it's two, but in terms of raw payload the A-10 is superior.

Not that it matters much as Hellfires and 500 lb bombs are really we use in Iraq these days anway. Precision matters more than brute force in urban fights.

I think it would be super-convenient if the future of warfare becomes not much more than a super-expensive game or rock-em, sock-em robots. In fact, it would be best if we just let our robots whack each other and the loser just surrenders so as to have no human casualties.

And that is something that probably won't happen. Computers can be fooled; they don't have instincts. An EMP would wipe them all out. The human factor still needs to be there, to make sure the job gets done despite all odds.

Can hardly wait for the Raper.

See? This is what so many have been saying all along. This is why there will be no moar manned fighters. These bots are smaller, just as heavily armed, cheaper, and don't endanger the pilot. Now all that's needed is a change of engine to make it faster and put it all in a slightly smaller package and war won't last nearly as long or take so many people. Just think, no moar dead soldiers, bots will do all the work instead.

well there will still be dead people,as that is the point afterall.just not on the side of the bots.
my sisters fiance flew the predators in afghaniland right after 9-11.he is a naval intell officer and he was pretty happy with it,seeing as we did not have to have our pilots in harms way.
you will never replace pilots,at least not in the near future,there are just to many situations that require on hand judgement,not to mention the air supremacy role fighters play,as well as the interface they have with fac's