Can you not read what you quoted?
He used the word often. He wasn't making an absolute statement regarding satellites and cloud cover.
Warbirds Thread
- Thread starter PsihoKekec
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Can you not read what you quoted?
He used the word often. He wasn't making an absolute statement regarding satellites and cloud cover.
As Husky pointed out.
And SAR is still only a stop gap, it isn't perfect.
I have seen what SAR vs Imagery look like.
Agent23
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I am pretty sure the last relevant generations of recon aircraft flew so high that they were above most of the cloud cover.
And Gary Powers type situations are both expensive and very bad optics.
For tactical intel, glorified RC aircraft ran by python work fine.
Cheap, more deniable, no pilot to capture.
But a satellite?
Once you launch it, it can stay in orbits for years, maybe decades, with no maintenance.
Meanwhile an oversized, overpriced, hangar queen like the Blackbird needs lots of maintenance, fuel and well trained pilots.
There are a lot of variations.
We have other things in mind that can also work for that as well.
Blackbirds are overpriced, but tactical intel is more then air based.
Plus you can't fit sensors of note in small drones
Agent23
Ни шагу назад!
So build a bigger drone.
paulobrito
Well-known member
Already done
Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk - Wikipedia
Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton - Wikipedia
Consider that even though satellites and drones were widely used by then, both the CIA and the Air Force still felt manned strategic recon penetration was a critical enough role to justify not just the "maintenance, fuel, and well trained pilots", but the entire development and production of the A-12 and SR-71 aircraft.
Also consider that the modern argument is not that the penetration recon role isn't as high-value as it is high-risk, but that drone technology is now *good enough* to do that role with an unmanned or optionally manned design.
Agent23
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The guys chasing after bin Laden would different.
And the CIA iirc bad to go through the air force for it's aerial projects according to Ghost Wars - Wikipedia
The Lockheed A-12 was developed for the CIA with no Air Force involvement. The subsequent SR-71 came out of the USAF's desire for its own fighter, bomber, and recon derivatives of the A-12 after they found out about it.
Agent23
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I doubt the CIA ever had the necessary expertise to operate and design an aircraft.So air force input is inevitable, and the US air force loves it's huge, pricey toys.
And I am talking about actual recent history, like after the 1980s.
Ah yes, you "doubt" well-documented reality, with an absurd strawman thrown in to boot. Obviously, the CIA did not design the A-12 itself, Lockheed's famous Skunk Works did. But they did so on behalf of the CIA and the A-12 was operated entirely by the CIA. The USAF, far from being "inevitable", didn't even know about the program for years.
Agent23
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Are we discussing drones and the SR-71 or what came before it, and how the air force allegedly had no idea what was going in one of its own airbases, again?
You are the one posting irrelevant stuff that has nothing to do with what we are talking about, which is modern drones and satellites vs. overpriced recon aircraft.
Also, I cited my sources, what about yours?
Not that I care, tbh.
Poland Eyeing F-15EX Buy Amid Weapons Buying Spree
The F-15EX Eagle II would join a future Polish Air Force fighter fleet that includes F-16s, F-35s, and FA-50s.
www.thedrive.com
Poland is looking at getting F-15EX's as well, it seems.
Italian F-104 Starfighter.
Predates Star Wars by twenty years.
Unless I guess you take that long long time ago thing literally...
Predates Star Wars by twenty years.
Unless I guess you take that long long time ago thing literally...
We should choose Gripen,not worst then F15 and could land on roads.Poland Eyeing F-15EX Buy Amid Weapons Buying Spree
The F-15EX Eagle II would join a future Polish Air Force fighter fleet that includes F-16s, F-35s, and FA-50s.
Poland is looking at getting F-15EX's as well, it seems.
Also knewn as widowmaker.
Indeed.If we really fight Moscov in future,it would be in situation when USA do not help us/either becouse Democrats gave us to them again,or manage to destroy USA/
Which mean,that we would lost airfields and need planes capable of working from roads.
As you say - Gripen or F18,certainly not F15.
If you have good airfields- MAYBE.
But Moscov would attack us only IF USA agree to not help us/another FDR/,or cease to exist,and then our airfields would be destroyed.
Which mean,that we need plane capable of using roads.