X-61 Gremlin takes flight

[Slater]

Looks like this project has translated into actual hardware. The theory is that a C-130 or other aircraft would launch these drones. They would perform their mission (recon, electronic warfare, decoy/deception, etc.) and then return to the mother aircraft and be recovered. They would then be refurbished for their next mission within 24 hours.

It remains to be seen whether this program will make it all the way through to operational use (funding is probably a concern), but it's an interesting idea. A warhead, guidance system and/or terminal seeker could probably be fitted, but that would destroy the whole "reusable" concept.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3DncMeGqTg

[hotrodder636]

I like the idea of the mothership. Kind of like an aircraft carrier for the sky but full of UAVs.

[Diamondback]

A warhead, guidance system and/or terminal seeker could probably be fitted, but that would destroy the whole "reusable" concept.

True, but having the option available means you can send it out, bring it back if it survives; if it's shot down no great loss, and when it's past useful life just load full of boomstuff and Kamikaze Lawndart it.

[mack7.62]

I kinda like what the Marines are doing with Harvest Hawk.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/bu...gunships-24697

"Six $22 million HAWK kits were assembled, and ten KC-130Js modified to accept them. The kits added an AAQ-30 Targeting Sighting System sensor pod under the KC-130J’s left wingtip fuel tank which can spot individuals up to ten miles away; an M299 quad-launcher capable of carrying four AGM-114P2 Hellfire II anti-tank missiles (or P2A anti-personnel models) under the right wing; and a box-launcher loaded with ten smaller AGM-176 Griffon GPS-guided missile on the cargo ramp. That’s right, the beast had to lower the cargo-bay door midflight to fire the Griffons."

"A Harvest Hawk was deployed by Marine Air Refueling Squadron 352 to Afghanistan in October 2010, and first saw action at Sangin on November 4 while supporting 5th Regiment Marines, killing five Taliban insurgents with a Hellfire missile. The lone Hawk soon proved to be under constant demand by ground troops."

"By 2012, Harvest Hawks were a reliable fixture of Marine air support over Helmand Province, Afghanistan as detailed profile by Code One Magazine in which Marine Major John Bulter of VMGR 252 shared a starting figure: “Our launch total was considerably more than Marine Harriers, Navy Hornets, and even Air Force A-10s. With only one aircraft, we shot close to half of all the kinetic weapons launched in theater in the nine months we were there.” The armed tankers averaged four flight hours a day, though could remain aloft as many as ten hours if necessary."