? US Air Force’s next spy plane ?

[space otter]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/this-could-be-the-us-air-force%e2%80%99s-next-spy-plane/ar-AAekpxR?li=BBgzzfc
The Verge
Sean O'Kane
11 hrs ago

This could be the US Air Force's next spy plane

© Provided by The Verge

The US Air Force has been locked in a years-long battle over the retirement of the famous U-2 spy plane. In the meantime, Lockheed Martin has unveiled what could be the successor to the U-2. It's called the TR-X, and it could be ready as early as 2025, according to Lockheed.

The image you see above was released by Lockheed at an Air Force Association conference this week, and it's important to note that it is just an artist's impression. There are few details on the plane's specifications or mission, beyond the knowledge that the TR-X concept was developed by Lockheed's advanced development arm (known as Skunk Works). But Flightglobal reports that it would be more powerful, could be configured for communication, electronic warfare, and outfitted with offensive or defensive laser weapons.

There's also no clear decision on whether it will be piloted or not, another sore topic that the Los Angeles Times recently explored in great detail. But if you wanted a glimpse at what the future of spy planes look like, now you have it

[rdunk]

It would be surprising if this proposed aircraft ever flies!! Normally, a craft for a mission such as this simply would never be "announced". They mention that this aircraft could be ready as early as 2025, which openly implies (for public & enemy consumption) that the U.S. will not have capability beyond the OLD U2 for at least another 10 years!! Wow, how dangerous can this world get over the next 10 years, and how unlikely for the U.S. to be in such a technically behind situation - isn't it??

There likely is a very classified Paul Harvey type "rest of the story on this", which possibly could even include the such-like of the "classified space plane" which is currently operational, with several classified orbital missions "under its belt" already. The U2 is a "high-flyer, and the space plane is simply even a "higher flyer"!!The world knows that the U.S. doesn't sit on it thumbs, when it comes to its needed technology and equipment for covert mission specifics. So, this news release is likely just a public "snow-job", and not reflective of the real reality of the present/existing capabilities!

[space otter]

star wars cometh...sigh   machines to fight machines..what happened to the humans?

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-air-force-will-have-combat-lasers-on-its-war-planes-by-2020/ar-AAeu2kZ?li=BBgzzfc

Engadget
Andrew Tarantola
5 hrs ago

The Air Force will have combat lasers on its war planes by 2020

© USAF Testing Lab


The Army has its HEL-MD (not to mention is working on GI Joe-style rifles and minesweepers); the Navy put a battleship-mounted railgun aboard the USS Ponce; and within the next five years, the Air Force expects to have laser weapons of its very own. These armaments, dubbed directed-energy weapons pods, will be mounted on American warplanes and serve to burn missiles, UAVs -- even other combat aircraft -- clean out of the sky. "I believe we'll have a directed energy pod we can put on a fighter plane very soon," Air Force General Hawk Carlisle said at a Fifth-Generation Warfare lecture during the Air Force Association Air & Space conference earlier this week. "That day is a lot closer than I think a lot of people think it is."

The 150 kW HELLADS system from General Atomics appears to be the current frontrunner for the USAF contract despite the system only having just recently entered ground tests. HELLADS stands for "High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System". The third generation prototype measures just 1.3 x 0.4 x 0.5 meters -- small enough to fit onto a Predator C UAV, exactly what DARPA wants to do by 2018 -- and runs off of a single lithium ion battery pack.

© General Atomics


According to DARPA's Dr. David Shaver,


The goal of the HELLADS program is to develop a 150 kilowatt (kW) laser weapon system that is ten times smaller and lighter than current lasers of similar power, enabling integration onto tactical aircraft to defend against and defeat ground threats. With a weight goal of less than five kilograms per kilowatt, and volume of three cubic meters for the laser system, HELLADS seeks to enable high-energy lasers to be integrated onto tactical aircraft, significantly increasing engagement ranges compared to ground-based systems.

But before it enters operational service, the system must first pass a grueling set of field tests against mortars, rockets, UAVs, simulated surface-to-air missiles and both ground and air vehicles at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. According to Ars Technica, Air Force leaders at the presentation Beyond that, the USAF is working to develop and install Lockheed Martin's ABC laser system on its 6th generation fighters by the mid-2030's.