Article

2010-06-02 Afghanistan

Newest manned spy plane scores points in war effort

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Posted by tipper 2010-06-02 08:45|| || Front Page|| [11129 views ] Top

#1 This is an L3 program. The aircraft are rather impressive.

Posted by 49 Pan 2010-06-02 09:43|| 2010-06-02 09:43|| Front Page Top

#2 Good to see that those in Provisioning have finally learnt that the Perfect (and Expensive and Late) is the enemy of the good enough.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2010-06-02 09:44|| 2010-06-02 09:44|| Front Page Top

#3 hmmm...isn't this simply an upgrade of the platform and methodology used in Columbia against the cartels and FARC?

Posted by Procopius2k 2010-06-02 09:55|| 2010-06-02 09:55|| Front Page Top

#4 How does this differ from Guardrail?

Posted by No I am The Other Beldar 2010-06-02 11:33|| 2010-06-02 11:33|| Front Page Top

#5 How does this differ from Guardrail?
As far as I can tell, the electronics package is different; guardrail in primarily ELINT, while this one has a broader spectrum upon which to work.

The basic airframe is one that the military has had in use for many years.

Posted by USN, Ret. 2010-06-02 14:18|| 2010-06-02 14:18|| Front Page Top

#6 Basic airframe is the same, mission equipment is different and it has greater capability, both image, and sigent.

Posted by 49 Pan 2010-06-02 15:49|| 2010-06-02 15:49|| Front Page Top

#7 It's a basic King Air (C-12) platform. Very, very necessary mission. Sadly, Gates has pulled the USAF into the IED/VBIED fight kicking and screaming. They neither wanted the mission or intend to keep it post-Gates. Not enough money, not sexy enough..... even though this effort and others like it save soldier lives every day.

2008 Firings (YES firings!) which I suspect were directly related to this issue:

Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley and Secretary Michael W. Wynne resigned over the department's concern over two incidents, including the August flight of a B-52 bomber that flew across the country with nuclear weapons.

"Focus of the Air Force leadership has drifted" in terms of handling nuclear weapons and equipment, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said

Posted by Besoeker 2010-06-02 16:13|| 2010-06-02 16:13|| Front Page Top

#8 Same airframe, different sensor packages. Army flies Guardrail, USAF flies this one. Army prefers Guardrail because they own it. USAF can be unresponsive.

Posted by OldSpook 2010-06-02 23:01|| 2010-06-02 23:01|| Front Page Top

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