US to launch world's fastest ever plane.

#4
#4
I'm not so sure that really fits my definition of "plane" in any kind of common usage but it's certainly some impressive tech.
 
#5
#5
we're falling behind because we need foreign nationals to help develop these things
 
#7
#7
Just putting this out there, anyone can explain it for me.

But... if it requires a rocket to launch, wouldn't it be more econimcal to... say... use the rocket to deliver the payload, and not a secondary vehicle?

I understand that an intercontential ballistic missile would have to be larger, but... just seems easier than needing a rocket and a secondary vehicle, such as this little dart plane.
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#8
#8
fl0at said:
Just putting this out there, anyone can explain it for me.

But... if it requires a rocket to launch, wouldn't it be more econimcal to... say... use the rocket to deliver the payload, and not a secondary vehicle?

I understand that an intercontential ballistic missile would have to be larger, but... just seems easier than needing a rocket and a secondary vehicle, such as this little dart plane.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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This vehicle is being purposed for smaller precision bombs for multiple targets.

A rocket launched one would actually cost more money in the long run and it would be a one off shot.
 
#9
#9
fl0at said:
Just putting this out there, anyone can explain it for me.

But... if it requires a rocket to launch, wouldn't it be more econimcal to... say... use the rocket to deliver the payload, and not a secondary vehicle?

I understand that an intercontential ballistic missile would have to be larger, but... just seems easier than needing a rocket and a secondary vehicle, such as this little dart plane.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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I suppose it could be used more as a stand-off launch vehicle? A few of these could be toted around well outside any threat zone but, at the speeds they can attain, could deliver ordnance to target very quickly on very short notice.

Just what I came up with off the top of my head. I am curious as to how much payload something like that could carry.

Just testing if the frame can handle the temps involved is something. If so the idea could be expanded in other directions.
 
#13
#13
This also allows trajectory to be altered midcourse while ICBMs don't have nearly that ability. This is basically a steerable bullet.


This is also sneaky. Arms agreements, for ICBMs, require the target to be deductible from it's trajectory (hence the static trajectory and non-orbital weapons). This can deliver a bomb (at far faster speeds than an aircraft but with a dynamic trajectory unlike ICBMs).

Basically the US has the upper-hand in the Mildweather War.
 
#16
#16
MontereyVol said:
Also, certain nations can tell when we launch an ICBM while this option allows for some stealth.
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I'm a little confused. Are they just using a rocket for launch now, but won't in the future? Because, if it requires the rocket launch, those same nations could see that rocket launch and know or suspect we have launched this aircraft. Even with a rocket, though, the advantage would be that the launch trajectory would give little to no indication of the actual point of final attack.
 
#17
#17
BearCat204 said:
Will it carry a warhead or use kinetic like THAAD?
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Not disclosed. If it is disclosed I expect a high level of misinformation.

Again, folks, this is DARPA. Outside of it's existence (which I'm surprised DARPA even acknowledged) we won't know capabilities as those would undoubtedly fall under an SCI caveat.

So, basically, probably only 100 people would know it's actual capabilities.

TennTradition said:
I'm a little confused. Are they just using a rocket for launch now, but won't in the future? Because, if it requires the rocket launch, those same nations could see that rocket launch and know or suspect we have launched this aircraft. Even with a rocket, though, the advantage would be that the launch trajectory would give little to no indication of the actual point of final attack.
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I wouldn't be surprised if the public is told it's a rocket delivery while we're developing some type of linear motor for completely undetectable (at this point) delivery method.
 
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#18
#18
DC Vol said:
Microprocessors? Yes and no.

DARPA projects? In 99.5% of most cases... absolutely not.
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The original statement was obviously not in the context of specific funding agencies. And, while it may not have been DARPA, we only have to look to the nuclear bomb to see how foreign nationals assisted in defense-related technology of the utmost national importance. Some of the key players there gained citizenship early in the war, but others did not until after the bomb was almost developed or even after the war.
 
#19
#19
TennTradition said:
The original statement was obviously not in the context of specific funding agencies. And, while it may not have been DARPA, we only have to look to the nuclear bomb to see how foreign nationals assisted in defense-related technology of the utmost national importance. Some of the key players there gained citizenship early in the war, but others did not until after the bomb was almost developed or even after the war.
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There are extraneous cases made for folks like Einstein, Von Braun, etc.

Those are not common in the least, even then.

I would be very surprised if there is a single foreign national in DARPA (which has developed a bulk of advanced technology for the DoD). Information at the SCI level is exceedingly difficult to gain access to. There are folks that are denied that level due to too many checks being bounced. Being a foreign national is an almost instant disqualification.

You would not only have to be a PhD but the undisputed leader in your entire field in order to even be granted consideration. Even then, it's very tightly regulated.
 
#21
#21
DC Vol said:
There are extraneous cases made for folks like Einstein, Von Braun, etc.

Those are not common in the least, even then.

I would be very surprised if there is a single foreign national in DARPA (which has developed a bulk of advanced technology for the DoD). Information at the SCI level is exceedingly difficult to gain access to. There are folks that are denied that level due to too many checks being bounced. Being a foreign national is an almost instant disqualification.

You would not only have to be a PhD but the undisputed leader in your entire field in order to even be granted consideration. Even then, it's very tightly regulated.
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I agree that in defense-related research, the use of foreign nationals is growing small. At one time, it was more common, but relative to other areas of research, less frequent. With that said, the US has long-relied on taking the world's best and brightest (or giving those bright enough the freedom to do their thing) and made technological gains as a result. It isn't like reliance on foreign nationals is a new thing. Usually, the ones who make the biggest contributions go on to gain citizenship (as they then qualify as aliens of exceptional ability)...that may be less common now, not sure....some do want to go back "home" at some point.

If the person who originally posted the comment about falling behind was talking about defense technology, then my post is less accurate. However, I took it to imply falling behind in technology in general. I certainly didn't take the post to be about DARPA research.
 
#22
#22
TennTradition said:
I'm a little confused. Are they just using a rocket for launch now, but won't in the future? Because, if it requires the rocket launch, those same nations could see that rocket launch and know or suspect we have launched this aircraft. Even with a rocket, though, the advantage would be that the launch trajectory would give little to no indication of the actual point of final attack.
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DC Vol is correct in that most of this is guessing. But given the recent test flight off the coast of California of something eerily similar to this I would guess this thing can be launched from an airplane.
 
#24
#24
DC Vol said:
There are extraneous cases made for folks like Einstein, Von Braun, etc.

Those are not common in the least, even then.

I would be very surprised if there is a single foreign national in DARPA (which has developed a bulk of advanced technology for the DoD). Information at the SCI level is exceedingly difficult to gain access to. There are folks that are denied that level due to too many checks being bounced. Being a foreign national is an almost instant disqualification.

You would not only have to be a PhD but the undisputed leader in your entire field in order to even be granted consideration. Even then, it's very tightly regulated.
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DARPA does not operate on its own. Most if not all programs from DARPA are 'borrowed" technology from just about anyplace on earth. They even sponsor competitions that anyone can join.
 
#25
#25
MontereyVol said:
DC Vol is correct in that most of this is guessing. But given the recent test flight off the coast of California of something eerily similar to this I would guess this thing can be launched from an airplane.
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That was actually my original assumption when I made my first post. It just makes sense.
 
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