The sixth drone on display in the Smithsonian is another DARPA project, the X-45A J-UCAS (Joint Unmanned Combat Air System ), the first modern UAV designed specifically for combat operations. The museum says "modern" because it also offers the historical footnote of the U.S. military having developed by World War II unmanned aircraft that could be controlled by radio signals. A small item on the U.S. Navy Web site says that an "assault drone" called the TDR-1 was used to drop bombs on Japanese targets in the South Pacific.
This photo, from December 2002, shows the sixth flight of the first X-45A technology demonstrator, when the aircraft raised its landing gear for the first time, flying for 40 minutes and hitting an airspeed of 195 knots.
- Talkback
- Most Recent of 1 Talkback(s)
Very STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kush13@... | 05/03/08
|
What do you think?
More ZDNet Photo Galleries
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
-
- How to Drive Better Business Outcomes with Exceptional Web Experiences Download the eBook
- Driving Business Agility through SOA Connectivity & Integration Read the White Paper from IBM
- Linking Decisions and Information for Organizational Performance Read the Tom Davenport study
