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Re:Unmasking Northrop Grumman's XRQ-72A by jmnicolas on Wednesday April 01, 2020 @10:03AM (#22748537)
I wonder what's the rationale behind releasing this information to the public ...

I understand when they release info about weapons, to let your enemies know what you're capable of or to just sell the tech to foreign customers.

But this thing is a surveillance drone that probably will never be sold, wouldn't it be better to keep it fully secret ?

Re:Unmasking Northrop Grumman's XRQ-72A by themodelplumber on Wednesday April 01, 2020 @11:16AM (#22749514)
It might be aimed at impressing and retaining investors, perhaps even with some urgency. From Motley Fool, discussing defense companies including Northrop Grumman:

"Assuming these companies avail themselves of the [USG's COVID-19] aid, therefore, it could be a good long while before investors can expect to receive any dividend income from them. That probably doesn't seem like such a big deal to investors in Textron, which only has a 0.3% dividend yield. But for shareholders in Northrop Grumman (with an 1.8% yield) or General Dynamics (3.6% yield), it could be a much more significant factor in your decision to buy or sell."

Also I do wonder just how secret this tech is. The shape has a stealthy look but other than that?

Anyway just some thoughts.

Re:Unmasking Northrop Grumman's XRQ-72A by throw1234651234 on Wednesday April 01, 2020 @12:23PM (#22750428)
This is no longer cutting edge. This is B-2 tech coupled with electrical motors on a platform that is slow and only survivable in a low-tech environment.

Turkey is attacking Syrian assets with similar, albeit less stealthy drones as of a month ago.

This is an incremental improvement and not at all "secret".