http://defensetech.org/2007/05/25/the-whirly-wonder/ The Future of the Military, Law Enforcement and National Security Fri, 25 May 2012 19:08:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://defensetech.org/2007/05/25/the-whirly-wonder/#comment-161660 Sven Ortmann Tue, 29 May 2007 20:06:50 +0000 http://deftech.usmilblog.com/?p=2537#comment-161660 @Winstuun: Nic. Let's remember that a conventional manned helicopter easily does these missions AND is capable of rescuing/ferrying people. @Big D: Tell me a single mission that really requires hovering over sea that's better done with a drone than with a manned helicopter. Dropping sonars for ASW and SAR missions are better done with manned platforms. AEW doesn't require to hover as many non-VTOL AEW aircraft prove. SAR/GMTI radars the same. Maritime observation radars the same. And so on. As long as it's a helicopter. its blades will rotate as during flight. That means there's little difference from the stealth point of view whether the helicopter moves or hovers. Btw, hovering for close-to-ground radar observation liek the Apaches are supposed to do with their longbow radar is to date impossible or at least utterly stupid with an unmanned platform. @Winstuun:
Nic. Let’s remember that a conventional manned helicopter easily does these missions AND is capable of rescuing/ferrying people.
@Big D:
Tell me a single mission that really requires hovering over sea that’s better done with a drone than with a manned helicopter. Dropping sonars for ASW and SAR missions are better done with manned platforms.
AEW doesn’t require to hover as many non-VTOL AEW aircraft prove. SAR/GMTI radars the same. Maritime observation radars the same.
And so on.
As long as it’s a helicopter. its blades will rotate as during flight. That means there’s little difference from the stealth point of view whether the helicopter moves or hovers.
Btw, hovering for close-to-ground radar observation liek the Apaches are supposed to do with their longbow radar is to date impossible or at least utterly stupid with an unmanned platform.

]]> http://defensetech.org/2007/05/25/the-whirly-wonder/#comment-161659 Winstuun Tue, 29 May 2007 10:08:34 +0000 http://deftech.usmilblog.com/?p=2537#comment-161659 From looking at Northrop Grummans Website I would say that the Mission is: Surface Warfare, Anti-submarine warfare, Mine interdiction. Fire Scout is a Tactical ISR platform, Intel gathering, threat detection, beyond line of sight targeting and comms relay. The Navy plans on using Fire Scout as a mission package on the Litoral Combat Ship. More info can be found at http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2007/05/the-fire-scout-vtuav-program-by-land-and-by-sea-updated/index.php From looking at Northrop Grummans Website I would say that the Mission is: Surface Warfare, Anti-submarine warfare, Mine interdiction. Fire Scout is a Tactical ISR platform, Intel gathering, threat detection, beyond line of sight targeting and comms relay. The Navy plans on using Fire Scout as a mission package on the Litoral Combat Ship.
More info can be found at http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2007/05/the-fire-scout-vtuav-program-by-land-and-by-sea-updated/index.php

]]> http://defensetech.org/2007/05/25/the-whirly-wonder/#comment-161658 Big D Sun, 27 May 2007 01:30:26 +0000 http://deftech.usmilblog.com/?p=2537#comment-161658 Long-duration recon with hover capability. It's the only thing that can really do that. Sometimes, you just need to park in the sky and sit there. Long-duration recon with hover capability. It’s the only thing that can really do that. Sometimes, you just need to park in the sky and sit there.

]]> http://defensetech.org/2007/05/25/the-whirly-wonder/#comment-161657 Greg Fri, 25 May 2007 22:24:08 +0000 http://deftech.usmilblog.com/?p=2537#comment-161657 Like any other UAV, its mission is mostly reconn right now, but it could be used for resupply. You can send it into "hot" areas without risking a pilot. The Navy will probably be using it in support of the Marine Corp. Like any other UAV, its mission is mostly reconn right now, but it could be used for resupply. You can send it into “hot” areas without risking a pilot. The Navy will probably be using it in support of the Marine Corp.

]]> http://defensetech.org/2007/05/25/the-whirly-wonder/#comment-161656 Brad Fri, 25 May 2007 18:16:31 +0000 http://deftech.usmilblog.com/?p=2537#comment-161656 Perhaps the Fire Scout was more of a proof of concept for UAV-helicopters (and for landing on a carrier)? I wouldn't normally suggest such a thing, but like the rest of us, I can't seem to find a logical mission that the Predator or Global Hawk isn't better suited for. Although - is the Fire Scout one of the earlier carrier-based UAVs? Maybe that is it's niche? Perhaps the Fire Scout was more of a proof of concept for UAV-helicopters (and for landing on a carrier)? I wouldn’t normally suggest such a thing, but like the rest of us, I can’t seem to find a logical mission that the Predator or Global Hawk isn’t better suited for.
Although — is the Fire Scout one of the earlier carrier-based UAVs? Maybe that is it’s niche?

]]> http://defensetech.org/2007/05/25/the-whirly-wonder/#comment-30190 Foreign.Boy Fri, 25 May 2007 17:07:20 +0000 http://deftech.usmilblog.com/?p=2537#comment-30190 I was thinking the same thing? What's a small chopper going to do for the navy? I think the navy is doing the army a favour. I was thinking the same thing?
What’s a small chopper going to do for the navy?
I think the navy is doing the army a favour.

]]> http://defensetech.org/2007/05/25/the-whirly-wonder/#comment-30189 Sven Ortmann Fri, 25 May 2007 16:20:24 +0000 http://deftech.usmilblog.com/?p=2537#comment-30189 What's the mission of this platform? What’s the mission of this platform?

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