Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : American Presidential Politics and foreign affairs -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TimF who wrote (36060)	7/28/2009 12:01:33 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Respond to of 71588

Re: "but I think it will be a long time before remote situational awareness equals or very closely approaches the in plane pilots awareness." I agree about that. But it will also NOT be as long as that before the aeronautic capabilities of unmanned craft are capable of far exceeding that of manned craft. Fortunately, it is not an 'either / or' choice. (Systems deploying both paradigms are probably going to be more robust and capable and cost/effective.) At least, for the next generation or two....

To: TimF who wrote (36060)	7/28/2009 1:02:22 PM
From: Jim S	3 Recommendations Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 71588

"...I think it will be a long time before remote situational awareness equals or very closely approaches the in plane pilots awareness." You may underestimate the capabilities of new sensors. Think "Starship Enterprise." Threats to an aircraft must acquire our friendly aircraft. Typical acquisition methods are radar, infrared, optical, and acoustic. The first two are very easy to detect from a long distance, and the second pair (sight and sound) at a much closer distance. In any event, a threat will have its own signature and should be detectable at a range sufficient for evasive counter maneuvers. The greatest threat to an air superiority aircraft will be missiles. Because of their length and speed, missiles will have a limited turn radius and allowable g-loading. If a manned airplane is limited to short duration 9-g loads, and an attacking missile is limited to sustained 12-g loads, the airplane is in trouble. An unmanned aircraft could easily be built to perform sustained 20-g loads, which would greatly reduce the effectiveness of an attacking missile. Furthermore, an air superiority aircraft would be expected to operate at a fairly high altitude, so AAA (anti aircraft artillery) would be ineffective. Any ground threat with a thermal or electromagnetic signature is a sitting duck. Airborne threats have to acquire their targets and launch a weapon against that target, leading to the above described result.