Darpa TERN drone
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How useful would it be if we can get 'predator level airpower and recon' on every ship that can host a helicopter?
Is this a nice to have capability, or something that can dramatically change the way things are done?
Darpa's TERN is specced to carry 600 pounds worth of ordnance with a range of about 900nm (1,670km), and be able to land vertically.
http://nextbigfuture.com/2016/07/darpa-making-second-tern-drone-with.html
>>30578882
I think it'll pair very favorably with the LCS
Sounds like a good loitering platform in low-intensity environments. I feel like this really would have seen its heyday 5-10 years earlier.
>>30579930
It's not like low-intensity environments are going away. This will free up carriers to focus on China
>>30579991
>a handful of UCAVs replacing an entire air wing
Not quite, I think.
>>30579991
It's not a one for one replacement obviously. The idea is to give small ships organic airpower so that the limited number of carriers we have can be tasked to do more important things.
It's sensible.
>>30580130
My reply is meant for >>30580077
>>30580130
Of course, I agree it's a useful utility for whatever air power it can replace.
>>30578882
> 'predator level airpower and recon'
> 'predator level
> air power
Would be better just to put flat decks on top of all these ships, and operate STOBAR drones t b h
>>30578882
>ordnance
they better find ways to cram AN/APG-81 into it.
