Stealthy New Airlifter for US Troops?

Michael Vickers, assistant U.S. defense secretary has stated that by the 2020s, U.S. special-forces troops will need a stealthy new airlifter to sneak past ever-improving radar and missile systems into "denied areas."

So what does this beast look like?

Analysts say that it would look less like a modified C-130 and more like a traditional stealth aircraft. However, a flying wing design doesn't provide the volume you need, so what's the answer?

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/7e4ed11c3211.jpg[/atsimg]

Source: DoD: U.S. Needs Stealthy Airlifter - Defense News



[edit on 3-11-2010 by intelgurl]

Hmm interesting, but by the time they actually develop one would they still need it? Naturally during the period of development wouldn't more advances in radar/detection tech be made?

*excuse any spelling errors*

If I trusted politicans to be free of... shall we say "monetary influences", two chances of that happening. Slim and none.

A unique design build for at most, a couple dozen airframes? Not a snowballs chance in hell!


[Although LockMart, Boeing etc will love the idea]



If it were ever to happen, I would guess it would start from where the RAH-66 left off, and try to use the knowledge gathered in that program to produce a low RCS chopper capable of replacing a Blackhawk.

reply to post by intelgurl


isnt that the Future airliner which has been designed by the universities to be more fuel effecient and to cause less noice polution?

whats stealthy about it?

We have probably had a stealthy sub-sonic airlifter for Special Forces in the form of the "Senior Citizen" black project since the very late 80s-early 90s. Links:
www.bisbos.com...




[edit on 12-3-2010 by johnthejedi24]