Professor Givenoff
Unnecessary, if we want to inspect a Russian drone, we can just buy one. Much more cost effective.
http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=267.0
The problem with stealing tech instead of developing your own is that when a paradigm shift comes along, you are left on the outside looking in. The Russians and the Chi-coms will have to wait until the technology is mature then try and steal it.
That won’t be very effective in some areas, since something like stealth consists of hundreds of interlocking technologies that have to be stolen individually.
The bottleneck for UAV’s is the engine technology. That in turn depends on manufacturing a small, powerful, jet engine.
The Euros are close behind the USA in that field and the Sov….er, Russians are trying to steal or buy the tech from them. What they are doing in the meantime is equipping small, commuter size aircraft with remote controls. Very easy to detect and shoot down.
Getting as far as it did is a reflection on the C&C link. It took a while for somebody with stars to get up off their fat arse and make a decision.
Iran could shoot down some of our UAV’s and the might have already done so. It is harder for them because they don’t have very good radar coverage. A shortage of both technicians and equipment. Not to mention most of their fighter jets are down and they have few pilots.
