U.S. Navy moves forward with testing sophisticated unmanned helicopters

[unhappycamper]

Last edited Sun Apr 6, 2014, 08:24 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/05/u-s-navy-moves-forward-with-testing-sophisticated-unmanned-helicopters/



U.S. Navy moves forward with testing sophisticated unmanned helicopters
By Reuters
Saturday, April 5, 2014 14:54 EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The helicopter kicked up a cloud of freshly fallen snow that partly obscured the ground below, but despite the poor visibility, it gently touched down in a landing that was unremarkable except for the fact no one was at the controls.

The helicopter, filmed during testing by the Naval Research Laboratory, was piloted by a 100-pound (45-kg) sensor and software package that officials said can turn any rotary-winged aircraft into a virtually autonomous drone able to fly with minimal input from the Marine Corps troops it was designed to serve.

Rear Admiral Matthew Klunder, chief of Naval Research, said the sensor and software pack is “truly leap-ahead technology” that will let a Marine with no flight experience issue landing instructions to a cargo helicopter via tablet computer after just a few minutes of training.

Klunder, who will preview the technology for industry and military leaders at a conference in Washington on Tuesday, said the aim of the project was to give troops a simple tool for battlefield resupply, reducing the casualties inherent in using ground convoys to deliver food, water and weapons.

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wikipedia sez:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_Scout

Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout

MQ-8 Fire Scout
Role UAV helicopter
Manufacturer Northrop Grumman
First flight 2002
Primary user United States Navy
Unit cost $18.2 million in FY 2013 (flyaway cost)[1]
Developed from Schweizer 330 and 333
Developed into Sikorsky S-434

FWIW, wikipedia is notoriously low on the cost of military hardware. If I were a betting man, I'm guessing these things cost somewhere between $30 ~ $40 million dollars.

For comparison purposes, an Iowa-class battleship such as USS Missouri, cost $100 million dollars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa-class_battleship



Class overview
Name: Iowa-class battleship
Builders: New York Naval Shipyard
(BB-61 & BB-63)
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
(BB-62, BB-64, & BB-65)
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
(BB-66)
Operators: United States Navy
Preceded by: South Dakota-class battleship
Succeeded by: Montana-class battleship (planned)
Cost: US$100 million per ship
In commission: 1943–58, 1968–69, 1982–92
Planned: 6
Completed: 4
Cancelled: 2
Retired: 4
Preserved: 4

...

The best WW II fighter is arguably the P-51 Mustang; it came in at $50,000 delivered.
The 'best' current fighter is the F-22 Raptor; it came in at $418,000,000 delivered.

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You could buy five Iowa-class battleships for the cost of a single Littoral Combat Ship.
You could buy 2 1/2 Iowa-class battleships for the cost of a single F-35.
You could buy 22 Iowa-class battleships for the cost of a single B-2 bomber..