Message posted by Peter Merlin on February 12, 2010 at 8:43:53 PST:
I suspect that the RQ-170 started out as the P-170, since the Skunkworks uses project numbers (the Polecat was the P-175, for example). They just kept the number 170 when they gave it an operational MDS designation, similar to the way the X-35 became the F-35 instead of using the next available F-number (which presumably would have been F-25 or some such). I also suspect that the P-170 was probably the UAV we know as the Desert Prowler, which first flew in December 2005. From a design standpoint, the RQ-170 bears a distinct family resemblance to the P-175 (which also first flew in 2005). It doesn't look anything like the DarkStar. The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in Palmdale has been working on a great many UAV projects over the past decade so we may see some other interesting things in the future.
In Reply to: Re: RQ-170 stealthy UAV posted by quellish on February 11, 2010 at 22:12:57 PST:
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