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Posted: 10-11-2012 23:09 Post subject: Drone strikes

Couldn't find any existing topics so started a new one.
These are two artistic views of this sordid subject. They make me feel better how it must feel to be a target. Would it be comparable to London under the V1 and V2?

Under the Shadow of the Drone
http://booktwo.org/notebook/drone-shadows/

Dronestagram: The Drone’s-Eye View
http://booktwo.org/notebook/dronestagram-drones-eye-view/
http://instagram.com/dronestagram

Posted: 23-11-2012 14:37 Post subject:

I dont think a comparison to V1s or V2s is the same at all, they just dropped where they felt like it, not saying the people in the drones fireline would feel good about that drones ability to be very targeted in its delivery in any way...i dont condone war at any level..

but the drones are controlled by a human, so in many respects they are no different than a conventional manned aircraft with a chap with a finger on the button.

as to them being used by police, government agencies i can see there may be issues relating to what they can see and why....that will no doubt be one to discuss over time...but our freedom of speech, our ability to not be seen is dwindling all the time, we may just have to accept these as the ways things are now.

from a greater good aspect.. they are cheaper, they dont have a crew to get shot down...they use less fuel...they dont get shot down that easily...less cost...they are greener !!!

like i said, war is horrible and should never happen, espcially where we shouldnt be butting our noses in anyway....

Posted: 05-12-2012 14:40 Post subject:

Now drones are to be used by the police to gather intelligence if they get their way.

Posted: 05-12-2012 15:41 Post subject:

Whilst London borough of Lambeth is using phone `lie detector` tests to terrorise the poor off benefits. PrivateEye thoroughly debunked the Israeli company that makes them & so did Radio 4`s Face the Facts. Maybe they should just merge the war on terror and the war on drugs and rebrand as the war on us, who aren`t rich and powerful?

Posted: 04-02-2013 06:13 Post subject:

Now you can buy and fly your own Drone! I am sure Al Qaeda members are already ordering online... Rolling Eyes

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2135132,00.html

Posted: 04-02-2013 08:01 Post subject:

RC hobby websites will sell actual models of a Predator drone. If you want to scare the neighbours.

Posted: 04-02-2013 13:33 Post subject:

Mini helicopter drone for UK troops in Afghanistan
British soldiers in Afghanistan have become the first to use miniature surveillance helicopters in frontline operations.

The drones can fly around corners and obstacles to identify potential hidden dangers, the Ministry of Defence said.

The Norwegian-designed Black Hornet Nano features a tiny camera and relays video and still images to a handheld control terminal.

It measures about 10cm by 2.5cm (4in by 1in) and weighs 16g (0.6oz).

The MoD, which also operates more than 300 larger-sized unmanned air vehicles in Afghanistan, said the Black Hornet is carried easily on patrol and works in harsh environments and windy conditions.

They have been in use in Afghanistan since 2012, a spokeswoman confirmed.

Surrey-based Marlborough Communications has a £20m contract with the military to supply and maintain 160 of the drones, which were originally developed by Prox Dynamics for search and rescue operations.

Mini drones can be piloted directly or programmed to follow co-ordinates using GPS.

Powered by battery, the Black Hornet is reported to have a range of about half a mile (800m), a top speed of 22mph (35kph) and can fly for up to 30 minutes.

If the press are allowed to announce this, it makes you think that the rumours of "insect sized" drones, like the fly that Obama caught on TV might be true.

Posted: 30-04-2013 09:10 Post subject:

The Missile from Hell, viable but cancelled in 1964.

Project Pluto or SLAM, the Supersonic Low Altitude Missile was designed to deliver twenty-six nuclear bombs over Russia, while its own propulsion system spewed out radiation over the countryside.

"The heart of the Project Pluto missile was the nuclear-fueled ramjet. An unshielded nuclear reactor, code named TORY, was devised, built and successfully tested."

Jokes about Laying Waste the Country Start Here!

omg

Posted: 30-04-2013 11:09 Post subject:

Wow, that's a completely evil weapon. Shocked

Posted: 30-04-2013 12:54 Post subject:

Posted: 11-09-2013 07:41 Post subject:

Controversial military drones to fly over Cornwall?
1:10pm Tuesday 10th September 2013 in News .

Controversial military drones could soon fly over Cornwall after an announcement that the world’s first private facility for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) has been created through a partnership between West Wales Airport and Newquay Cornwall Airport.

Launched in London, the National Aeronautical Centre (NAC) will enable the development, testing, evaluation, training and demonstration of drones.
The centre is open to civilian and military contractors and will deliver services and accommodation for all sizes of drones in production and development over the next 20 years, with the NAC website saying that with "one of the longest fully instrumented runways in the UK at 3,000 metres and access to 8,000 sq km of segregated airspace Newquay can play host to the largest of unmanned systems".

Adding that with the Aerohub being England's only aerospace focused Enterprise Zone Newquay offers aviation and aerospace companies a "unique operating environment".
Backed by Cornwall and Scily Isles Development Agency, it supplies a wide range of services including ground accommodation and project financing.

Drones are controversial, both from a public privacy stand point and for their role in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians, including children, in Pakistan and other countries.

Ray Mann, Head of the NAC, said: “The launch of the NAC is a further step towards developing a UK based UAS capability that can operate in a competitive global market place. Confidence surrounding UAS continues to grow and we can’t afford to be left behind.”

“This is an opportunity for the UK to lead the way – Together, West Wales Airport and Newquay Cornwall Airport are committed to being at the forefront of developments in this sector and we hope our vision will deliver rewards. We need to ensure that some current perceptions of civilian use of UAS don’t hinder the UK’s ability to capitalise on this exciting opportunity for economic growth.”

Al Titterington, Managing Director of Newquay Cornwall Airport said: “The global aerospace market is forecast to be worth four trillion dollars (US) by 2030, yet the UK is currently forecast to see just 10% of this investment. The UK aerospace industry has a major opportunity in the UAS market but first it must develop, demonstrate and prove that systems and sub-systems can contribute to ensuring safe and reliable operations, whilst being properly regulated.”
“The creation of the NAC has given the UK a world unique, national asset, where the development of new aerospace technologies, in the form of UAS, is now being undertaken. We are excited about announcing this launch in partnership with West Wales Airport.”

Richard Deakin, Chief Executive Officer of NATS, said: “NATS has been controlling UAS’ for 40 years. We hold some of the world’s most respected experts in unmanned flight management and have been instrumental in developing and validating the procedures for unmanned flights in UK airspace.
“The NAC is a fundamental facility for growth in this industry and NATS is delighted to be involved in this launch as well as in future projects and commercial opportunities.”

The value of the UAS market has been forecast to be £30 billion per year by 2020 in the military sector alone.

http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/10665411.Controversial_military_drones_to_fly_over_Cornwall_/?ref=mr

Posted: 25-09-2013 07:40 Post subject:

Empty F-16 jet tested by Boeing and US Air Force
By Leo Kelion, Technology reporter

Boeing has revealed that it has retrofitted retired fighter jets to turn them into drones.
It said that one of the Lockheed Martin F-16 made a first flight with an empty cockpit last week.
Two US Air Force pilots controlled the plane from the ground as it flew from a Florida base to the Gulf of Mexico.
Boeing suggested that the innovation could ultimately be used to help train pilots, providing an adversary they could practise firing on.

The jet - which had previously sat mothballed at an Arizona site for 15 years - flew at an altitude of 40,000ft (12.2km) and a speed of Mach 1.47 (1,119mph/1,800km/h).
It carried out a series of manoeuvres including a barrel roll and a "split S" - a move in which the aircraft turns upside down before making a half loop so that it flies the right-way-up in the opposite direction. This can be used in combat to evade missile lock-ons.

Boeing said the unmanned F16 was followed by two chase planes to ensure it stayed in sight, and also contained equipment that would have allowed it to self-destruct if necessary.
The firm added that the flight attained 7Gs of acceleration but was capable of carrying out manoeuvres at 9Gs - something that might cause physical problems for a pilot.
"It flew great, everything worked great, [it] made a beautiful landing - probably one of the best landings I've ever seen," said Paul Cejas, the project's chief engineer.

Lt Col Ryan Inman, Commander of the US Air Force's 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, also had praise for how the test had gone.
"It was a little different to see it without anyone in it, but it was a great flight all the way around," he said.

Boeing said that it had a total of six modified F-16s, which have been renamed QF-16s, and that the US military now planned to use some of them in live fire tests.

However, a spokesman for the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots warned of the temptation to use them in warfare.
"I'm very concerned these could be used to target people on the ground," said Prof Noel Sharkey.
"I'm particularly worried about the high speed at which they can travel because they might not be able to distinguish their targets very clearly.
"There is every reason to believe that these so-called 'targets' could become a test bed for drone warfare, moving us closer and closer to automated killing."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24231077