U.S. Develops New Reconnaissance Drones
The U.S. has developed three new unmanned next-generation reconnaissance aircraft.
A secret test flight of the newest drone, dubbed Global Observer, was completed at the Edwards Air Force Base. It can survey "an area larger than Afghanistan -- at a single glance... at a stratosphere-skimming 65,000 feet," the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
The U.S. media and military cheered, calling it a weapon that will completely change the aspect of the battlefield.
Global Observer
Global Observer, which is produced by AeroVironment for about US$30 million, is completely different from previous unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, the daily added.
Unlike the propeller-driven Predator and Reaper drones, the jet-propelled Global Observer is capable of flying at 65,000 feet, out of range of most antiaircraft missiles.
"Current spy planes can stay airborne for only about 30 hours," the paper said, but Global Observer is capable of flying for days at a time. It has a wingspan almost the size of a Boeing 747's.
The drone can survey about 660,000 sq. km -- about three times the size of the Korean Peninsula. The Pentagon called it an "unblinking eye" over the war zone.
Two other unmanned spy aircraft, Northrop's X-47B and Boeing's Phantom Ray, will also be tested soon. The X-47B equipped with laser missiles can be launched from an aircraft carrier. The stealth Phantom Ray will help U.S. fighter jets carry out missions over enemy territory safely.
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/01/13/2011011300524.html



The U.S. has developed three new unmanned next-generation reconnaissance aircraft.
A secret test flight of the newest drone, dubbed Global Observer, was completed at the Edwards Air Force Base. It can survey "an area larger than Afghanistan -- at a single glance... at a stratosphere-skimming 65,000 feet," the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
The U.S. media and military cheered, calling it a weapon that will completely change the aspect of the battlefield.
Global Observer, which is produced by AeroVironment for about US$30 million, is completely different from previous unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, the daily added.
Unlike the propeller-driven Predator and Reaper drones, the jet-propelled Global Observer is capable of flying at 65,000 feet, out of range of most antiaircraft missiles.
"Current spy planes can stay airborne for only about 30 hours," the paper said, but Global Observer is capable of flying for days at a time. It has a wingspan almost the size of a Boeing 747's.
The drone can survey about 660,000 sq. km -- about three times the size of the Korean Peninsula. The Pentagon called it an "unblinking eye" over the war zone.
Two other unmanned spy aircraft, Northrop's X-47B and Boeing's Phantom Ray, will also be tested soon. The X-47B equipped with laser missiles can be launched from an aircraft carrier. The stealth Phantom Ray will help U.S. fighter jets carry out missions over enemy territory safely.
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/01/13/2011011300524.html







