California-to-Australia: U.S. Spy Plane Without a Pilot Faces a Key Test

CANBERRA The United States will attempt to fly a sophisticated robot airplane from California to Australia on Saturday, testing a new technology that one day could revolutionize land, sea and coastal surveillance from the air.

The flight will be made in the aftermath of the collision between a manned U.S. spy plane and a Chinese jet fighter and the international incident that it touched off, including the detention of 24 members of the American military.

The new technology holds the promise of making manned reconnaissance flights obsolete, eliminating the threat of the loss or capture of people onboard.

"This is a major leap forward in surveillance," said Roger Lough, a senior official of the Australian Defense Science and Technology Organization.

If the Global Hawk plane completes the flight, which is expected to take about 22 hours, it will be the first unmanned aerial vehicle to fly across the Pacific - an advance that will underscore the potential of drones for performing a wide array of long-range, high-altitude military missions, including reconnaissance and intelligence

http://www.iht.com/articles/17585.htm

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001

Answers

Wonder if there is some way to ensure self-destruction in the event of capture. Not that capture over water would be too likely, but would we want to take the chance?

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001

Intercepts BY George I. Seffers 04/23/2001 Pocket Glider

The Navy needs contractors to build prototypes of Dragon Eye, a 4- pound reconnaissance plane described as "low-priced, hip-pocket aerial reconnaissance for the troops."

The Naval Research Laboratory has built and demonstrated a model of the robotic airborne sensor system. It is equipped with a video eye and designed to be carried by Marine Corps scouts in backpacks. It can be assembled and launched in less than five minutes and comes with a portable control station. Although considered expendable, it will come when called and has the radar signature of a bird.

The new motto for Marine Corps scouts: A bird in the backpack makes you better in the bush.

Drones and robotics, and cyborg enhancements to battlefield troops seems to be high on our military agenda....

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001

Brooks.. Looks like the already have the self destruct part covered,albiet unintentionally

One crashed in March 2000 in California when an abort signal from another drone being tested more than 150 miles (250 kilometers) away accidentally triggered its flight-termination system.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001

Carl.. I liked that fly powered one..That was hilarious!!

cheers

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001

Global Hawk Makes First Pilot-Less Flight Across Pacific and there's a thumbnail pic.

-- Anonymous, April 23, 2001