JUSTAS: the project to buy armed Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs

[Good2Golf]

This would seem to put them on pace with the Boeing Australia Loyal Wingman programme.

…surpass…

 

[Kirkhill]

…surpass…

The difference?

One group thinks the project is important and an opportunity? The other struggles with the threat to the existing order?

 

[Good2Golf]

I was referring to Baykar’s exponential rate of progress, that at current rates will likely sling past even the RAAF and MQ-28 progress.

 

[Kirkhill]

I was referring to Baykar’s exponential rate of progress, that at current rates will likely sling past even the RAAF and MQ-28 progress.

Me too...

Bayraktar is invested in getting these birds in the air. As are their partners supplying the engines - the Ukrainians.

The Ukrainians in particular are looking to solve a real world problem (killing aircraft of all types) in the very near term.

The Aussies and Americans are more invested in keeping the advantage they have held from exploiting earlier solutions - especially manned aircraft.

 

[Kirkhill]

To complicate things further

JUSTAS - MALE - Sky Guardian?
CMMA - P8?

Canadian Space Agency - Radarsat
PAL - Civil air patrol

Now the USARMY is investigating Contractor Owned Contractor Operated ISR service. Think of it like Federal Fleet Services and Asterix but supplying long range ISR from civilian Challenger 650s.

https://bit.ly/3VTIJc1

 

[dimsum]

To complicate things further

JUSTAS - MALE - Sky Guardian?
CMMA - P8?

Canadian Space Agency - Radarsat
PAL - Civil air patrol

Now the USARMY is investigating Contractor Owned Contractor Operated ISR service. Think of it like Federal Fleet Services and Asterix but supplying long range ISR from civilian Challenger 650s.

https://bit.ly/3VTIJc1

I skimmed that link and thought "this sounds like an ad". And sure enough, it totally is.

I'm not sure how it complicates anything though. The only change for the RCAF is the addition of RPAS - JUSTAS isn't a term used anymore.

 

[Kirkhill]

I skimmed that link and thought "this sounds like an ad". And sure enough, it totally is.

I'm not sure how it complicates anything though. The only change for the RCAF is the addition of RPAS - JUSTAS isn't a term used anymore.

It absolutely is an ad. I think it is a US Army work around.

The US Army wants to get into long range fires. It needs precision targeting capabilities. Those need aerial assets. That means the US Air Force because the USAF is unlikely to let the US Army get into 707/737 type ISR assets.

So this becomes an off the board capability that the Army can buy - just the way the Ukrainians are buying commercial imagery.



The Canadian overlap is to do with dollars and manpower. If the government doesn't want to be seen spending more than 2% of GDP, or increasing the CAF's manpower budget then civilian contracting is a way out for them. If all you are doing is observing and reporting, especially remotely, then you don't need to be on the CAF regular strength. Those positions can be reserved for people putting themselves in harms way.