DARPA "Mission Truck" for F35

Thought this was an Aprils fools joke to begin with.
Mission Truck
Instead of doing a larger plane that does it all why cant they invest in upgrading all the platforms to work with the F35 in unison other than having to rely on the one plane to lead.

a reply to: Blackfinger

I might add, the entire "aircraft carrier in the sky" thing is a way the Navy is going as well, hopefully they'll be compatible cross service. In essence, you've got agile, broadly capable target designators that can paint every bad guy in the area and then they just dump a #heap of munitions into the air that decide which targets they're going after.

There's some flocking algorithm that keeps them all from picking the same thing.

Nice idea if you can pull it off.

a reply to: Blackfinger

Because they can't. They can't run the required systems in older aircraft.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Blackfinger

Because they can't. They can't run the required systems in older aircraft.

(cracks knuckles) Well, they COULD, they just don't want to pay enough for the retrofit.

Yet.

a reply to: Bedlam

They'd have to do a major rebuild on them just for their structure issues, then more for their systems. It would be cheaper to build new aircraft.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Bedlam

They'd have to do a major rebuild on them just for their structure issues, then more for their systems. It would be cheaper to build new aircraft.

When has that sort of thing stopped anyone?

a reply to: Bedlam

When it would take as long to do as developing a new platform that's better than anything else.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Lol I'm guessing you aren't familiar with the senseless waste spending of the U.S. government (I know u are jk)


I did notice that they were targeting a Russian s-400 missle system heh....I thought the s-400 was the best surface to air missle the ruskies have? Other than the 500 coming soon. Does that mean the s-400 can be jammed by these things?

Oh one more question....why even have a fighter pilot int he f-35? The "truck" can hold a gunner that does the same thing right? All the fighter is doing is relaying and a satellite can do that. Maybe he's needed as an escort?

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Bedlam

When it would take as long to do as developing a new platform that's better than anything else.

I can tell you right NOW that you're using too much common sense. We've pitched chucking and restarting several times on other projects. Why restart when not only can you use an old f'd up system that's almost beyond consideration, you can add a grenade launcher while you're at it?

a reply to: Bedlam

And adding that grenade launcher is going to cost as much as building a laser canon that slices, dices, and makes julienne fries.

a reply to: Blackfinger

At this point it seems that pilots are only there to push the little red button. Everything else is done for them.

Reminds me of a vague statement a friend of mine who is a DoD contractor said. She couldn't tell me much except "think of Jarvis" (from Iron Man).

It's becoming more and more like a video game, and the pilots are there to basically babysit the systems to make sure there isn't any foul ups. Is that the direction we're going? Automation with human oversight?

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Bedlam

And adding that grenade launcher is going to cost as much as building a laser canon that slices, dices, and makes julienne fries.

It didn't stop them on this particular project. It's amazing what sort of bs people do.

a reply to: Bedlam

There are some that it makes sense to. Over a thousand 4th gen fighters doesn't.

Seems like they are just extending the operations of "Spooky" by going this way..

a reply to: Blackfinger

There's an entirely new generation entering service.

a reply to: Bedlam

Aircraft carrier in the sky, jeez what next. Submarines in space ?

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Blackfinger

There's an entirely new generation entering service.

In that case lessons learned plus whats being developed now leads to a very potent mix..Are AWAACS being upgraded as well?

a reply to: nelloh62

They saw this and said.

Heeeeeeeey