Scott Kenny
ACCESS: USAP
- Joined
- 15 May 2023
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- 11,668
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So? Reapers are a completely non-stealthy drone that costs a couple million dollars and has a design that is 20 years old or more.
Which would make it even more vulnerable.The video of the alleged missile launch posted shows a hit at a much lower altitude than where a Reaper is supposed to fly.
A Reaper is at least 30 million dollars.Which would make it even more vulnerable.
Again, it's a Reaper, the things barely cost more than a Tomahawk. (Unit price appears to be for 4x craft plus ground stations) Who cares if we lost one?
Unit Cost: $56.5 million (includes four aircraft with sensors, ground control station and Predator Primary
(Current as of March 2021)
At the end of the day, no pilots were killed, which are the most expensive thing. If they'd lost 2 AEW planes in half that time, that might be more concerning.Yes, the most expensive is the control station. See the many post above dealing with Air Forces buying them.
4x Reapers plus the ground control station is $56mil. Reapers are about $8mil each, ground station is ~$24mil.A Reaper is at least 30 million dollars.
A Tomahawk is 2 million.
And no critical classified technology was lost, which is the other expensive thing.At the end of the day, no pilots were killed, which are the most expensive thing.
I think each control station is limited to flying one Reaper/Predator/Gray Eagle at a time, but they can be set up to trade between aircraft in a chain: one control station is for takeoff and landing, maybe a bit more distance away from the airfield; then they trade off with a second control station farther out that might not be the one controlling the drones over the battlefield; etc.Oh, wow, I didn't know the cost had come down that far. I mean, 4 million for a Reaper is a steal, especially in today's money!
They should really expand those ground stations or centralize operations to cut down costs further! Can you fly more Reapers per station?
That's a ridiculous marginal cost!
Is that 4x sonobuoy pods?
Is that 4x sonobuoy pods?
The challenge would be packing a couple of torpedoes, the middle wing stations can only hold 750lbs and that's right at the edge of a Mk54+parachute pack, not counting the high-altitude glide pack from the P8.
Of course, the Reaper can more easily drop down to low level without burning absurd amounts of fuel since it's a turboprop.
And honestly, I'm not convinced that modern lightweight torpedoes are capable of doing more than chasing a submarine. Starting to think that the USN needs to put 21" torpedoes on surface ships and aircraft again, to use as ASW shots.It's intended mainly as a sensor adjunct to a manned platform carrying weapons. If you wanted to arm a drone this size, I think you'd need to look at mini-torpedoes rather than lightweights.
#MojaveUAS once again proves its unmatched versatility: using two Dillon Aero DAP-6 gun pods, it destroyed multiple static targets in a live-fire test. #AAAA2024
— General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) April 23, 2024
See Mojave in action and read about our recent test: https://t.co/rGVewJL9JZ pic.twitter.com/6d3m3ZMifw
Mojave’s adapted wing and tail assembly reduces ground roll for takeoff and landing, setting it apart from the U.S. Army’s current mainstay UAS, Gray Eagle.
— General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) May 9, 2024
Learn more: https://t.co/29WBxBjIu8 pic.twitter.com/A4MmTB4JlL
BREAKING: GA-ASI is working with @USSOCOM to develop a new missile threat detection and defense capability for #MQ9.
— General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) (@GenAtomics_ASI) May 9, 2024
The Airborne Battlespace Awareness and Defense pod will enable the tracking of RF and IR missile threats, defensive countermeasures, and real-time threat… pic.twitter.com/ctpmfUNR9b
I think the Mojave is closer to a Skyraider than the A10.A-10's son immitating daddy.
🇾🇪🇺🇸 | #Yemen: US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper UCAV fell in an uninhabited area in Yemen. The vehicle remained mostly intact after touching the ground.
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) May 29, 2024
The Houthis already claimed responsibility for its downing. pic.twitter.com/siw0MZYyYD
Russia may attack US/NATO RQ-4B Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance drone over the Black Sea most likely in response to the use of western weapons on Russian soil
— OSINT Intuit 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 🇬🇪 (@UKikaski) June 1, 2024
Note: Behind every rumor is an ounce of truth...
Russian Source: #https://t.me/sevinfo92/9724
"The authors… pic.twitter.com/Hxew4omlP7
Pretty sure "shooting down another country's warplane when it is outside your territory" still counts as causus belli.View: https://x.com/UKikaski/status/1796873167224307713Russia may attack US/NATO RQ-4B Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance drone over the Black Sea most likely in response to the use of western weapons on Russian soil
— OSINT Intuit 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 🇬🇪 (@UKikaski) June 1, 2024
Note: Behind every rumor is an ounce of truth...
Russian Source: #https://t.me/sevinfo92/9724
"The authors… pic.twitter.com/Hxew4omlP7
I still want a full defensive suite with MAWS and DIRCM...![]()
New Electronic Warfare Pod Turns Marine MQ-9 Reaper Into "A Black Hole"
The new electronic warfare and intelligence collection pod enables MQ-9 Reapers to be "mostly undetectable," according to the Marine Corps Commandant.www.twz.com
It does. They've already had their freebie/benefit of the doubt with the fuel dump fly-bys that downed a Reaper. The next one will cost them.Pretty sure "shooting down another country's warplane when it is outside your territory" still counts as causus belli.
Calm your beating hearts, matelots! One potential manned/unmanned future for the QE-class carriers on display at #FIA2024... pic.twitter.com/jXDKbelwkq
— Gareth Jennings (@GarethJennings3) July 22, 2024
#Houthi claim shot down another 🇺🇸#US made MQ-9 Reaper drone
— C4H10FO2P ☠️ (@markito0171) September 8, 2024
🇾🇪#Yemen pic.twitter.com/rMqrzCw83n
So what?View: https://x.com/markito0171/status/1832673257792663552#Houthi claim shot down another 🇺🇸#US made MQ-9 Reaper drone
— C4H10FO2P ☠️ (@markito0171) September 8, 2024
🇾🇪#Yemen pic.twitter.com/rMqrzCw83n