Article

2006-08-06 Science & Technology

Filling the space above the Navy's fleet

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Posted by Frank G 2006-08-06 17:31|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I just had a thought of the future aircraft carrier, surrounded by what looks like a flying flock of BIG seagulls.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-08-06 18:38|| 2006-08-06 18:38|| Front Page Top

#2 In the future, the carriers won't necessarily be needed as much. Air-Carriers for the drones and maybe some unter-sea style ones as well. Less profile to be taken out. Harder to track.

Now for sure we will still have some, but, yeah The Birds for sure.

Posted by bombay">bombay 2006-08-06 18:50|| 2006-08-06 18:50|| Front Page Top

#3 I imagine a large vessel, more like a supertanker, but carrying an armada of simple GPS-guided buzzbomb type drones. It's deck would have a dozen launch ramps, and the drones would be brought up on conveyor belts.

Below deck it would be fueled and have its small electronic brain programmed. Automatically hoisted onto its ramp, its wings would be spread and its bomb set to arm after takeoff.

When ordered to, the ship would begin launching salvo after salvo of a dozen buzzbombs, flying low over the water to avoid radar until at a set time when they would rise up over the land.

No other "cruise" guidance, though, just cheap and cheerful. Each buzzbomb carrying a 250, 500 or 1000 pound bomb.

All the buzzbombs would be in flight before being detected, but the ship would then instantly be a target, so it would be put on autopilot at high speed to return to safe waters, while the crew abandoned ship to a small, fast ship accompanying it and headed in another direction.

Ideally, the buzzbombs would cost about as much as an economy car. Steel shell, engine, gas tank, motor for wire guidance and GPS brain. And bomb. It might even be designed to use off-the-shelf iron bombs.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-08-06 20:44|| 2006-08-06 20:44|| Front Page Top

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