UAV & UCAV need mid air refuel?

Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:06 am

After thinking about it I am not so sure the UCAV and UAV will need the "Next gen" air refueler :!:

Sat Mar 08, 2008 7:02 pm

Mmmm, Boeing (for one) and the AF are already testing that concept out..

Sun Mar 09, 2008 2:13 pm

i wouldn't think so, their loiter time is tremendous as it is.

Sun Mar 09, 2008 2:48 pm

An unmanned fighter has the same fuel limitations as a manned fighter.

Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:01 am

The difference being unmanned craft of any type are expendable. Randy I am thinking you my have something to do with modern high performance aircraft :wink:

how do you feel about UAV's and UCAV's taking over for the fighter and bomber jocks?

Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:01 am

randy, i watched a documentary on the uav & it stated that they can loiter for 36 hours.

Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:27 pm

tom d. friedman wrote:randy, i watched a documentary on the uav & it stated that they can loiter for 36 hours.

Well, don't mistake the loiter capabilities of the RQ-1, MQ-1, MQ-9, or Global Hawk -- all of which are basically designed for really long loiters -- of what a UCAV, or "fighter UAV', would be.

Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:30 pm

The navy has also participated in auto-refuleing tests, using a modified F-18 to simulate a UAV AAR.

This site also has comments on Boeing's efforts..

http://www.air-attack.com/news/news_art ... ility.html

Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:37 am

..and since a UCAV won't require life support, radios, ejection seats, or the weight and complexity of a carbon based unit, it can be built lighter, cheaper, quicker, and be a throw away item. Need a bomber version? Configure one so it selects its target, noses over and sheds its wings, the entire cheap to build item becomes the bomb!
Yours got shot down by the baddies? Go get a 'FULL THROTTLE' from the vending machine and hit 'reset' on your control console and pick the next one in the que......Sorry Randy, you are. like aircraft builders becoming an endangered species

Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:18 am

As far as being cheap a Global Hawk cost $35M. Will be interesting to see the cost of a production UCAV. I don't think the Air Force is going to just through them away, thats what the weapons they will carry are for.

Mike

Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:42 pm

A global hawk costs around $35M, an F-22 is North of $130M, if a ucav is hit, disabled, or shot down all the enemy gets is really cool radio control gear, and we don't have to put/expend other lives at risk to find and hopefully rescue the pilot unless he falls out of his lounger @ Nellis :shock: