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From: jwm@stdb.jhuapl.edu (Jim Meritt)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: NASP Recon. Drones
Message-ID: <4518@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu>
Date: 18 Jan 90 19:50:42 GMT
References: <5430@omepd.UUCP> <480ea6a7.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM>
Sender: news@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu
Reply-To: jwm@aplvax.UUCP (Jim Meritt)
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Organization: JHU-Applied Physics Laboratory
Lines: 36

In article <480ea6a7.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM> rehrauer@apollo.HP.COM (Steve Rehrauer) writes:
}In article <5430@omepd.UUCP> larry@omews10.intel.com (Larry Smith) writes:
}>The following summarizes an article which appeared in Defense Week;
}>Jan. 8, 1990; Pg 1.
}>
}>There is a secret $3 million Air Force study going on to study the 
}>design for a unmanned hypersonic drone that can fly to any continent 
}>in under an hour to perform recon. or strikes.
}>
}[ stuff deleted ]
}>
}>Some sources say that such a drone could be built for as little
}>as 150 million, and be rolled out by the end of 1991.
}
}Right.  Translate from mil-contractor speak and we get "each costs $150M,
}after an unspecified expenditure on R&D for the program."  Why do we need
}this albatross?  What does it buy that present or improved satellite recon
}couldn't?  (No, I didn't ignore the "strike capability"; I chose to
}disbelieve the final product would have it.  Budget constraints in mid-
}stream, don'tcha know...)

First, you cannot sneak a satellite anywhere.  Their paths are VERY well
known.  

Second, have you thought what a vessel going at 14,000 mph with fuel tanks
with a lot of hydrogen in them would do?  Why bother with a warhead?
(most of the damage to Naval ships hit by cruise missiles recently has been
due to the fuel burning up, not the puny warhead)

note:  a bullet has NO warhead.


Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not necessarily
represent those opinions of this or any other organization.  The facts,
however, simply are and do not "belong" to anyone.
jwm@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu  - or - jwm@aplvax.uucp  - or - meritt%aplvm.BITNET