DARPA working on air to air UAV system

There is a meeting planned for Feb 28th between DARPA and several defense industry officials to discuss plans for the Distributed Battle Management program. The system would allow for more computer control of manned and unmanned aircraft in air to air combat situations.

The UCLASS (which has changed parameters more than some people change their underwear), is now potentially being looked at as similar in size to an F-14 Tomcat, and used as a missile truck. It would go into combat beside F-18 and F-35 aircraft, who would spot and target aircraft, and the UCLASS would fire on them. The BDM could potentially got farther than that and give a limited ability for air to air combat.

A UAV capable of firing on other aircraft is a necessity given the types of ranges and basing limitations in the Pacific theater. It would give a carrier air wing much more flexibility than they currently have, as a UAV could potentially stay on station for 12 hours or more.

The U.S. military appears to be assembling all the technology for robotic jet fighters to be able to shoot down enemy planes.

This is a big, big deal. Able to fly farther and stay in battle longer than manned planes, drones could help solve the most pressing problems facing American air power in the vast Pacific. Namely, distance and sortie rate.

The Pentagon’s fringe-science Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has a meeting scheduled for Feb. 28 to explain to defense industry officials what the agency wants from the new Distributed Battle Management program.

DBM is software meant to automate decision-making in aerial battles “involving manned combat aircraft as well as fighting drones,” according to Military and Aerospace Electronics magazine.

medium.com...

reply to post by Zaphod58


Eventually cruise ships and passenger airliners will be destroyed due to 'Computer Glitches.'

These types of developments need to be banned by the UN now!

Otherwise, we will eventually be in Star Wars territory without the Jedi Knights.

It will be baby steps, one at a time. Missile trucks, then the ability to defend itself, then autonomous control with a supervisor, then ....... computers in control killing civilians, err, unarmed enemy combatants.

P

reply to post by Zaphod58


Skynet.........This is getting a little bit scary to say the least. Just imagine what they are letting us know is 30+ year old tech.


What people really need to start asking is who is the enemy we need all this new stuff for? Last time I checked the bad guys live in caves and use ww1 era tech.......Hmm. Maybe it might be a better idea to spend the money helping create new jobs instead of gearing up for a war with................Who is the bad guy again?