The Future is HERE: X-47B

[alpine]

Northrop Grumman X-47B - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Progressing and advancing; this nation yet again hit another historical technological threshold, that would start another golden age in world domination. While the rest of the world is still trying to catchup with the 5th gen, US made the leap forward to deliver a 6th gen, unmanned semi-auto aircraft.

Technology delivered another tool to guarantee another half a century of military superiority for the US.



And yet some people still doubt the science and technology delivering them the best of the best...

 

[The Great Goose]

I think I saw fishing line.

 

[there4eyeM]

Pilotless planes, crewless tanks, small floating aircraft platforms. It isn't bigger, it's smaller and more plentiful for future weapons systems. Fewer casualties, cheap, little targets. Aircraft carrier groups are WWII thinking. That age is over.

 

[Bleipriester]

Sounds interesting. A futuristic aircraft. However, I see no purpose for this type as it will probably very expensive.

 

[Bleipriester]

Pilotless planes, crewless tanks, small floating aircraft platforms. It isn't bigger, it's smaller and more plentiful for future weapons systems. Fewer casualties, cheap, little targets. Aircraft carrier groups are WWII thinking. That age is over.

It all depends on the conditions set by the war. In the age of asymmetric warfare, drones will rule the skies. In a World War, it will be like WWII.

 

[longknife]

And they're hurting so badly for people to drive them, they are considering using enlisted personnel to do so. Just like other countries throughout the world.

 

[alpine]

Sounds interesting. A futuristic aircraft. However, I see no purpose for this type as it will probably very expensive.

You know what's the most valuable part of any Air Force?

Pilots...

You can afford as many planes as you want, but can't enough pilots to fly em, especially in a war situation, where you losing them at the same time.

With this tech, you can simply deploy as many as you want, no casualties, all you need is MONEY, which US has TONS!!!

Not to mention the AI tech making these aircrafts a piece of cake like gaming experience for the pilot. Less training needed...


What you looking at is the main element of the wars US Air Force will be fighting, in very near future...

 

[Bleipriester]

Sounds interesting. A futuristic aircraft. However, I see no purpose for this type as it will probably very expensive.

You know what's the most valuable part of any Air Force?

Pilots...

You can afford as many planes as you want, but can't enough pilots to fly em, especially in a war situation, where you losing them at the same time.

With this tech, you can simply deploy as many as you want, no casualties, all you need is MONEY, which US has TONS!!!

Not to mention the AI tech making these aircrafts a piece of cake like gaming experience for the pilot. Less training needed...


What you looking at is the main element of the wars US Air Force will be fighting, in very near future...

AI will always be of limited use. However, the US maintains only a small number of the ultra advanced aircraft and I guess the outcome of this demonstrator will also be very limited in numbers.
Maybe it can replace B2 and/or F 117. As for now, the USAF and Navy struggle to replace the variety of types with the F-35.

 

[there4eyeM]

Unmanned aircraft can be produced faster and at a fraction of the cost of manned.

 

[Bleipriester]

Unmanned aircraft can be produced faster and at a fraction of the cost of manned.

About 100 computers are charged with one task in the B2: Prevent it from going down like a clinker.
The B2 is just a major example and as flying wing it needs additional "babysitting."
All modern jets have very small decks compared to their weight and would not even take off without computers permanently correcting their behavior.

 

[there4eyeM]

All that just to be 'stealth'. If they were too numerous to shoot down, they wouldn't need to be so 'stealthy', and could be even cheaper.

 

[shadow355]

Unmanned aircraft can be produced faster and at a fraction of the cost of manned.

But is very much more limited than manner fighter aircraft.

Shadow 355

 

[alpine]

Unmanned aircraft can be produced faster and at a fraction of the cost of manned.

But is very much more limited than manner fighter aircraft.

Shadow 355

The only advantage of manned vs un-manned, is the variety of aircrafts.

Un-manned just started, and may not have much equipment, yet...

Unmanned already replaced your "surveillance" crew.

What you are seeing above is to replace your "stealth attack"

Then fighter bombers...

Then strategic bombers...

Then all together...


DId you ever wonder why helicopters dont have an auto pilot?
Because they are harder and more complex to fly, compared to planes

And today; a human being who cant fly a helicopter, can teach a machine to fly one...

This is CRAZY!!!

 

[longknife]

The move toward unmanned aircraft is simple. Human bodies can only tolerate certain G-forces thus limiting the maneuverability of aircraft at extreme speeds.