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Unmanned AND Green

it looks like a big cartoon sperm.

I'm not sure how it will eliminate the need for overseas basing (see the Boeing Video) if it's only flying at 65,000 feet, has little to no apparent stealth properties, and is only capable of carrying a quarter ton payload (500 pounds sounds much less impressive than a quarter ton). It ain't out of reach, it can't defend itself, and it's not like people aren't going to notice this thing buzzing around on their scopes for 10 days at a time.

Neat toy, though.
 
scoolbubba said:
I'm not sure how it will eliminate the need for overseas basing (see the Boeing Video) if it's only flying at 65,000 feet, has little to no apparent stealth properties, and is only capable of carrying a quarter ton payload (500 pounds sounds much less impressive than a quarter ton). It ain't out of reach, it can't defend itself, and it's not like people aren't going to notice this thing buzzing around on their scopes for 10 days at a time.

Neat toy, though.
Click to expand...


That's exactly what I thought when I came across that part.
 
scoolbubba said:
it looks like a big cartoon sperm.

I'm not sure how it will eliminate the need for overseas basing (see the Boeing Video) if it's only flying at 65,000 feet, has little to no apparent stealth properties, and is only capable of carrying a quarter ton payload (500 pounds sounds much less impressive than a quarter ton). It ain't out of reach, it can't defend itself, and it's not like people aren't going to notice this thing buzzing around on their scopes for 10 days at a time.

Neat toy, though.
Click to expand...
You mean the stats of a technology demonstrator aren't all that impressive?

I'd say that it looks to have some potential. Its objective isn't in what it does but in what it does not need; it is designed to lighten the American footprint. If any future engagements are at all similar to Afghanistan, and even in Afghanistan ten years from now (because we will probably still be there), this could potentially eliminate political liabilities such as our footprint in Pakistan.


Incidentally, since its exhaust is water vapor, it is actually emitting a far stronger "greenhouse gas" than carbon dioxide. The real question is how much, because hydrocarbon combustion emits both carbon dioxide and dihydrogen monoxide.
 
Hydrogen power isn't really a "green" alternative because its just a form of energy storage, like a battery. The plants the produce hydrogen run off of local grids.
 
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