Giant Attack/Recon Drone Query

[Cobra]

Hey Guys, a Question kinda popped into my head:What If some kind of Super Attack or Recon Drone were Developed as a Support or Countermeasure for Bombers like the Vulcan,Victor,Valiant,B-47,B-52,B-1,Etc.? I'm talking the Size of a Fighter or Bomber on Radar,something Similar to a Decoy but with Combat Use in mind. Would it work? What say You? Thanks for looking.Dan

[Maverick]

Dan,

I guess it would depend on the timeframe.  Earlier machines would be able to be flown, but whether they could effectively be combat platforms would be debatable.  That being said, I believe Ryan Firebees were at least tested with A/G armament.  I think the attack mission would be much easier to fly for the given machine in comparison to a fighter vs fighter engagement.  Whilst a drone could be expected to maneuver more aggressively than a fighter, if it were human controlled (ie a drone), I would still bet on the manned aircraft each time.  Whilst it could be said that AAMs are sort of unmanned autonomous aircraft of a type, they haven't the ability to make decisions where manned aircraft can.

In a later scenario, I'm sure we'll end up seeing fighter type UCAVs as we already have strike capable UCAVs in service.  Predator with Hellfires comes to mind.  Whether UCAV fighters (still human controlled) are capable of going up against real fighters will be interesting to see.  Equally so, whether AI can be developed that will allow truly autonomous flight will remain to be seen, regardless of what some would have us believe.

Regards,

Mav

[rickshaw]

Well, Ryan demostrated time and again with their Firebees that they would have taken your money, Maverick.  They invariable "waxed" their manned opponents in air combat exercises.  The US Navy pilots after one test complained they simply couldn't pull "Gs" as hard or as fast as the drone.

In the air-to-ground mission, the drones regularly were tested with all manner of weapons - 500-1,000lb bombs, Maverick missiles, etc.  They invariably hit their targets.

In both cases they were remotely controlled and in later tests in the early 1970s, equipped with TV cameras, allowing them to "see" their ground targets.  In the air-to-air engagements, the drones and their opponents were plotted on simple cross-haired plots (using wires) over maps, with their altitudes being read out from a separate height finding radar (the ranging radar gave their positions and were automatically linked to the plotting board).

Highly recommend you read this book.



Great read and explains all about just how advanced the Firebee programme was (including stealth!).

[RLBH]

It wouldn't be too much of a stretch if you took the XSM-73 'Goose' decoy missile, a ground-launched equivalent to the Quail. The planned replacment for the Quail was the AGM-86A Subsonic Cruise Armed Decoy: if the Goose were developed and deployed, its' replacement might well be imagined as being armed.