Air Force to Fly F-15s, F-22s and F-35s Controlling Attack Drones From the Air

DooKey

DooKey

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The Air Force is currently in the process of developing new hardware and software that can be installed in 4th and 5th generation fighters that will let them control unmanned aircraft in the air. Current testing is on Learjets and ground-based sims at Edwards AFB. The system will eventually make it to current airframes and allow those pilots to give drones tasks/missions that they will then perform autonomously. This makes perfect sense to me because it gives the manned systems control and oversight of both the manned and unmanned assets in the battlespace. The drones can be tasked to scout ahead and take out antiair or simply see what's going on without putting the manned systems in danger. Once the drones occupy the enemy the manned aircraft can take advantage of the situation immediately. This is a perfect first step to going mostly unmanned.

Fighter-jet controlled drones could also be programmed to fly into heavily defended or high-risk areas ahead of manned-fighter jets in order to assess enemy air defenses and reduce risk to pilots. Furthermore, given the fast-evolving efficacy of modern air-defenses, drones could fly into high-threat or heavily contested areas to conduct ISR, scout enemy assets and even function as a weapons truck to attack enemy targets.
 
FYI, in a few years, everybody including the enemy will have the same weapons. Be cautious what you unleash.

There are at least ten thousand Kindergardens ready for redoing them....no...we build weapons.

So sad
 
this stuff gives me the sweats. its china guys. nobody wants a war with them, probably china the least- theres too much $$$ to be made with trade. but their worldview is completely incompatible with ours. theyve already claimed and guard fishing waters around other countries.
 
semi-autonomous drones fly themselves, just need tasks assigned to them.
 
fightingfi said:
who flies the planes while controlling the drones ? LULZ wtf
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If you actually make the drones properly they act as both APS and active weapon systems without tasking the pilot with those duties. Think about it like a tank crew. All drones and automation do is eliminate the driver, loader, and gunner allowing the commander(pilot) to focus on the next action.

Some people have the mistaken belief that swarm systems like the new F-15x will outpace APS. They will not. Direct fire weapons are going to be coming back into style in the next 20 years.
 
Reminds me of the WISKERS on SeaQuest. Drones that fly point and cover the rear to extend your capabilities.
 
fightingfi said:
who flies the planes while controlling the drones ? LULZ wtf
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they go on autopilot well above the range of any AA fire i'd bet ..as remember the f 22's and f 35's are total stealth

some smaller drone may not show up on radar ..so they can test the enemy radar systems , use drones + unmanned aircraft to take out what they need or get recon info that may help plan sorties
or even take out a single target quickly

and provide fast air support over any hot region of the encountering the enemy with zero casualties
it's better to blow up or use a drone and put it in harm's way vs a billion dollar jet / or a human pilot
 
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-=SOF=-WID99 said:
they go on autopilot well above the range of any AA fire i'd bet ..as remember the f 22's and f 35's are total stealth

some smaller drone may not show up on radar ..so they can test the enemy radar systems , use drones + unmanned aircraft to take out what they need or get recon info that may help plan sorties
or even take out a single target quickly
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Optical tracking is actually making strides in noticing things even as tiny as drones. Though a drone would be better at sneak and peak for NLOS weapons similar to the eyeball on some helicopters.
 
From the recent Russia Satellite freak session:

"But Moscow has reportedly been investing heavily in obtaining the ability for a satellite to move around in orbit and interact with other satellites. This could give it the ability to attach spy equipment to an opponent’s satellite, push it out of alignment, distort its signals, damage it, destroy it — or even potentially capture it."

Source: https://www.news.com.au/technology/...t/news-story/618fa3f5cf0bf28f83e0bf370f7cdd0c

Pretty heavy
 
mstaab said:
From the recent Russia Satellite freak session:

"But Moscow has reportedly been investing heavily in obtaining the ability for a satellite to move around in orbit and interact with other satellites. This could give it the ability to attach spy equipment to an opponent’s satellite, push it out of alignment, distort its signals, damage it, destroy it — or even potentially capture it."

Source: https://www.news.com.au/technology/...t/news-story/618fa3f5cf0bf28f83e0bf370f7cdd0c

Pretty heavy
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Sweet ww3 syated over Facebook going offline for a day.
 
Would be a great role for an upgraded two seat F-15. A solid threat if needed and can carry a lot of fuel and arms. Also still very fast for keeping out of range and getting out of Dodge in a hurry.
 
orange_monster said:
theyve already claimed and guard fishing waters around other countries.
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Sounds a lot like the US when we did our westward expansion. We didn't care who claimed the land at the time, we just took it (or bought it, in a few cases) and said it was ours and that was (mostly) the end of it. Not saying I agree with what China is doing (I don't), just that I understand it.
 
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may peace be upon you
 
BitMaster said:
FYI, in a few years, everybody including the enemy will have the same weapons. Be cautious what you unleash.
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There's no stopping what will be unleashed. If Western powers hold back, you can count on Russia and China doing what they can to get an edge.
 
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