Fighter-controlled jet is tested

Fighter-controlled jet is tested

news.bbc.co.uk

The defence technology spin-out company Qinetiq has successfully completed the world's first flight of a plane remotely controlled by a fighter aircraft.

The trial flight, carried out at Boscombe Down airfield in Wiltshire, is part of a programme to develop a system that would enable a single pilot to control a number of unmanned aircraft by remote control.

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With the impending air war with Iran just around the corner this tech should come in pretty handy...

The potential war with Iran could be the first in history to be fought by drones..

It would certainly keep the allied causality rate down.

All the best people,

NeoN HaZe.


news.bbc.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

The US Air Force routinely uses unpiloted aircraft for search and destroy missions. These planes are controlled remotely from a missions operations centre.

It wouldn't be the first war fought with drones. In addition this particular technology, of enabling "a single pilot to control a number of unmanned aircraft by remote control", seems to still be in its testing phase. Even its effectiveness is disputed as...

"Militarily speaking not only does it allow the pilot to remain in a safe area - but it allows him to operate his team of unmanned aircraft and allow him to carry out the elements of the mission he wants to undertake."

HOWEVER...

The main risk is to the pilot being overwhelmed," he said. "They won't be able to deal with threats to the unmanned aircraft - so you may as well control them from sunny Wiltshire."

That and the fact that the USUK already have an overwhelming air force, i don't think well be seeing drone-controlling tornadoes pretty soon...at least not in time or during a war with Iran. IMO.

That and the fact that the USUK already have an overwhelming air force, i don't think well be seeing drone-controlling tornadoes pretty soon...at least not in time or during a war with Iran. IMO.

You are probably right... but I wonder what level of control the pilot would have. Would it be a command driven interface?? Such as this drone go to these co-ordinates... attack this target etc...

Or could the pilot take direct control over the drones??

I am all in favour for autonomous drones that could act as your wing men. Would be possible with today’s level of tech to issue vocal orders over encrypted channels to the drones and the drone carry them out autonomously.

Perhaps controlling an air force virtually has it's own problems with reaction time etc but not if we build the drones to be able to react dynamically to their surroundings....

All the best,

NeoN HaZe.

Here is the Video Report...

RAF controls robojet from skies

You can clearly see the pilot is controlling the plane by the numbers and from a grounded position.

This is amazing tech, its easy to see how a squadron of drones could be deployed and controlled by a high flyer.

All the best,

NeoN HaZe.