Re:Gremlins
by Animats on Tuesday August 28, 2018 @11:45PM
(#17865422)
This isn't just a concept. There's already hardware flying.[1]
As a concept, it makes sense. The USAF is being killed by the costs of the F-35. An aircraft that can survive in hostile airspace today is insanely expensive. The USAF just won't have enough of them to go up against anybody serious. Something cheaper is needed.
A cheaper unmanned aircraft won't survive as well. That's OK; if you can get 20 combat missions out of the thing, that's not bad.
As a concept, it makes sense. The USAF is being killed by the costs of the F-35. An aircraft that can survive in hostile airspace today is insanely expensive. The USAF just won't have enough of them to go up against anybody serious. Something cheaper is needed.
A cheaper unmanned aircraft won't survive as well. That's OK; if you can get 20 combat missions out of the thing, that's not bad.
[1] https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2018-05-09