You can have relatively cheap sensors we see them everywhere integrated into various pods and simple a/cJensy wrote: ↑21 Jul 2023, 23:51From the above shopping list (particularly E) we're definitely talking about a platform that is neither cheap nor much more expendable than a manned combat jet.mrclark303 wrote: ↑21 Jul 2023, 18:03They are certainly going to have to engineered for 'occasional use', as you say, the engineering side will be a problem otherwise.SW1 wrote: ↑21 Jul 2023, 13:45 Unless the “loyal wingmen” are largely containerised with minimal support until use, there is either going to have to be a significant increase in engineering and ground services personnel or the numbers aren’t going to be anything like what some are suggesting or they will never get off the ground.
That said, they will have to be able to carry a meaningful war load, have a good radius of action and keep up ( within reason) with Tempest.
A: engineered for infrequent use, so bespoke engine and systems build with this in mind.
B: large enough to carry a good war load and fuel
C: Have a low radar and electronic emissions signatures
D: Be at least transonic.
E: Have a good sensor suite and some AI capabilities.
That's an expensive shopping list right there!
Over in camp SCAF the focus has been on a 'remote carrier' which seems to suggest something less complex. More of an extension of the manned platform that can be used to extend payload and sensor capabilities.
Meanwhile the US and their CCA programme is definitely Gucci. With aspirations for some autonomy and scaled for The Pacific. Will be challenging to deliver at the aspired price point,
It's taken since 2015 to get Protector into service and we're still waiting. With the cancellation of Project Mosquito, and the rising importance of GCAP, perhaps we should focus on getting the big aircraft sorted first. The state of technology, and the British economy, in a decade might well have changed what can and should be delivered by a loyal wingman.
I’d be 180 opposite in view, there is not a real need for a new manned platform, it’s getting the weapons and the attributable unmanned systems in and interacting with the current manned a/c that is more important allowing them to do the dangerous missions imo.
Protector is taking as long as it is largely due to our funding profile of it.