BobSlob said:
I never said its not capable of finding it... and anything the "mighty" CP140 is capable of carrying could easily be adapted to any larger UAV. A torp that requires nothing more than a release point isn't exactly outside the realm of UAVs.
Getting that 'release point' isn't such an easy thing to do. It's not "oh I think there is a sub there, drop the weapon and let's see what happens".
BobSlob said:
Cost of airplanes are going up, and there's really only two real competitors at this time to replace the Aurora (which isnt being replaced any time soon). Spare parts aren't something we have a luxury of.
This the road the RAF went down, and is now trying to do a 3-point turn and reverse their direction on. Note the original article, the RPA is being looked at as a add-on not the main platform. It seems even the vendor doesn't believe it can provide the total solution for the RAF. :2c:
The role of the MPA, which as Dimsum pointed out is now LRP, is changing has changed. There's nothing we're doing TODAY in real-world ops that couldnt be done better and more efficient with a UAV. Sensors, UAVs have us beat. Endurance and Range, beat. Weaponized? Beat.
I am not familiar with your experience, or what you'd base a statement like this on but I have to respectfully say you are
very, very incorrect. Even in a '140, the BEST sensor on certain tasks is a body in the window with a pair of standard army-issued binos (during daylight).
I am talking about the Reaper here, and I've spent some time talking with Reaper folks on their own turf, in their GCS and their ramp and talking caps and lims. I've worked the same airspace as them.
Sure the Aurora is fun to do fishing patrols with
DISAGREE. And you just confirmed you've never flown on the SGOD before >
BTW, outside of OP IMPACT the 140 is doing 'more than FISHPATs'. I don't mean this to sound like an arse, but I don't think you know what jobs are being done as much as you think you do. You say "we" a lot when talking about the LRP community, but if you were embedded in the 'crew room' knowledge of our community, I think you'd have a much different opinion.