Poland’s Reaper drone buy a ‘nine figure liability’ – coming from a veteran US pilot who said big expensive drones are now obsolete because of the war in Ukraine
Poland’s Reaper drone buy a ‘nine figure liability’ – coming from a veteran US pilot who said big expensive drones are now obsolete because of the war in Ukraine
Remember Baryaktars? Barely. Yeah, this war has shown that cheap almost toy-like drones are exponentially more cost-efficient than large expensive ones.
Rubber_Knee on
What if you need to monitor a very, very large area of the ocean, or the high arctic?
A situation where you need something that can fly continuesly for 24+ hours.
Small cheap drones are pretty useless for that.
What then?
GuyD427 on
I’d say it’s a stretch as far as surveillance goes. And a hellfire missile is way more potent than an FPV drone hit. But the cost equations can’t be ignored.
keveazy on
Oh damn looks likecthe AC130 Gunship is deemed obsolete then.
babbagoo on
Additionally I’d be worried the US is listening in and giving its gathered data to the Russians.
amitym on
They are different platforms. A heavy fixed-wing drone is for mobile standoff strike, not tactical screening and engagement. If you’re slow-flying a Reaper around at treetop level like it’s an FPV, you’re the one who’s the liability, not the drone.
6 Comments
Remember Baryaktars? Barely. Yeah, this war has shown that cheap almost toy-like drones are exponentially more cost-efficient than large expensive ones.
What if you need to monitor a very, very large area of the ocean, or the high arctic?
A situation where you need something that can fly continuesly for 24+ hours.
Small cheap drones are pretty useless for that.
What then?
I’d say it’s a stretch as far as surveillance goes. And a hellfire missile is way more potent than an FPV drone hit. But the cost equations can’t be ignored.
Oh damn looks likecthe AC130 Gunship is deemed obsolete then.
Additionally I’d be worried the US is listening in and giving its gathered data to the Russians.
They are different platforms. A heavy fixed-wing drone is for mobile standoff strike, not tactical screening and engagement. If you’re slow-flying a Reaper around at treetop level like it’s an FPV, you’re the one who’s the liability, not the drone.