Message posted by Brian L on December 08, 2012 at 20:12:10 PST:

Interesting article from Bill Sweetman in the latest Aviation Week:

Sweetman believes that:

1) Northrop Grumman is now testing a new classified SEAD drone, likely a larger relative of the X-47, optimized for persistent SEAD over target areas with Small Diameter Bombs and, most importantly, an AESA radar optimized for electronic warfare against air defences.

Sweetman writes: "The new UAV is a joint development with the CIA, like the RQ-170, and is being managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office".

2) new long-range manned bomber:

Sweetman writes: "In the last few weeks, an industry executive has told Aviation Week that Lockheed Martin is building a “Next Generation Bomber” (not LRS-B) at Palmdale, Calif., using some “repackaging of equipment from earlier programs.” It is possible that the project represents a restart of a program originally launched with fiscal 2008 money—the first clean-sheet budget to follow the 2006 QDR, with its support for the 2018 bomber—and suspended by Gates in 2009. If so, however, it is purely a demonstrator for now, because its design would not reflect changes in the requirement since 2008."

In Reply to: HELP ON GROOM RD posted by wheresjanet on December 08, 2012 at 20:03:47 PST:

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