So the LongShot program is continuing to move forwards now with flight testing in the near future. For those unaware, it's seeking to push engagement envelopes for fighters (and likely missile carrier aircraft, think F-15EX or maybe even B-1B and the like in the future) by making an air deployable drone that can fire missiles. Press release from the phase 2 downselect: https://www.ga.com/ga-asi-continues-longshot-support
In terms of current program status we're past CDR and moving into actual construction and flight testing of a prototype. I'm interested to see where this goes, what with programs like Anduril's recently acquired Fury UAV which seems to be a sensor equipped enabler potentially providing targeting data for missile-armed UCAV. We're soon entering an era where manned fighters will be able to simply hang back and command fleets of drones fired from carrier aircraft loitering far behind the front lines and perform complex missions in hostile airspaces.
Loyal wingmen finally?
Different program, this is more akin to a cruise missile which carries missiles than a full blown UCAV.
>Cruise missile MIRV except the MIRV is more missiles
So more like the Boner I mean B-1 Regional as a drone complete with AMRAAMs and JASSM/LRASMs?
The size of the drone in renders makes it seem like it's only a bit bigger than JASSM/LRASM and it's for air-to-air only so probably only AMRAAM
>The objective of the LongShot program is to disrupt the paradigm of air combat operations by demonstrating an unmanned air-launched vehicle capable of employing current air-to-air weapons
>we heard you like missles so we put a missle in your missle
>Bussing Peregrines to bust fighters
Bus(t)in makes me feel good
I assume it would come into it's own when given the AIM-260 which seems to be what the USAF is really gunning for to make all their new systems work.
Seems like it'd be a pretty good platform for launching ADMs and AARGMs too
I feel like the limitation is going to be sensors rather than the missiles. This thing is going to be taking BVR to another level and with its size I don't think it'll have a powerful onboard radar, if it even can carry a radar. AIM-260s would require support drones for targeting.
Time for the F-35s in the back to scan the battlefield and give the release commands to the drones before doing a quick paint of the target with one of the F-35s.
That'd be counter-productive since the F-35 would still have to emit radiation, even if it's difficult to detect, and it'd have to get closer. Much better to have drones do that work.
Can't argue with that but the F-35s are present and I suspect it'd be hard to do anything remotely close in terms of radar and EO capabilities of a F-35 in an inexpensive-ish drone given how much work went into the F-35's capabilities as a sensor shooter. It really doesn't have to get closer, either. It just ends up doing some midcourse updates when they're doing search scans before the missile radars go hot anyways.
If you're guiding an AIM-260 shot that's a pretty long midcourse cruise time you've got to guide for and with poor midcourse update data you lose a lot of energy during your terminal phase. When I say "closer" I mean rather than sitting far back commanding drones it'll have to be within radar range which then really negates the point of increasing the standoff range. The drones don't have to be more capable than the F-35 anyways, or even close to being as capable as they are, since they're much more expendable and you can risk pushing them closer to the enemy.
For now, the F-35's own radar will do. In the future, when LPI is defeated/degraded, there will probably be sensor drones and shooter drones all communicating with each other
F-35's own datalink (not Link 16) is directional. You have to physically get in between them to intercept it.
When I say radiation I meant the F-35s radar, not the datalink. That's still hard to detect but you're still emitting towards the target.
sexo
Are they going to land them on skids
I love skids
>We're soon entering an era where manned fighters will be able to simply hang back and command fleets of drones fired from carrier aircraft loitering far behind the front lines and perform complex missions in hostile airspaces.
Its almost like what the people have been saying is the true strength of the F-35. Really makes you wonder how they produced all these airframes right as the technology to best utilize them is coming out. Almost like they planned it that way and they know what they are doing,,,