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Usaf Cancels Global Hawk, Extends U2 To 2023?

LimaNiner From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 391 posts, RR: 0
Posted (1 year 4 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 5521 times:

Breaking rumors about the Air Force cancelling the Global Hawk program, and extending the service life of the U2 until 2023:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...p-globalhawk-idUSTRE80N2EM20120124

17 replies: All unread, jump to last

mffoda From United States of America, joined Apr 2010, 908 posts, RR: 0
Reply 1, posted (1 year 4 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 5463 times:

Not unexpected... For the USAF its makes sense because they have a cheaper alternative (U-2).

On the other hand, it will still be a viable option for other countries that have no space based or high altitude substitute...

harder than woodpecker lips...

L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29352 posts, RR: 62
Reply 2, posted (1 year 4 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 5449 times:

Well the U2 won't be susceptable to Iranian jamming

One had to wonder if that loss plays into this

OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.

Arniepie From Belgium, joined Aug 2005, 1265 posts, RR: 1
Reply 3, posted (1 year 4 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 5444 times:

Could this be the result of the drone fiasco which happened over or nearby Iran whereby it seemed
that an adversary force was able to take over control fairly easy of what was believed to be an unhackable remote
command link ?

Maybe UAV and UCAV drones are not just yet mature and secure enough to replace the human in the cockpit
just yet.

[edit post]

NoUFO From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 7798 posts, RR: 13
Reply 4, posted (1 year 4 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 5410 times:

Could this pose a threat to the Euro Hawk project? After all Northrop Grumman is of course involved,and the system pretty much bases on the Global Hawk.

I support the right to arm bears

tugger From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 4633 posts, RR: 7
Reply 5, posted (1 year 4 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 5387 times:

Quoting NoUFO (Reply 4):
Could this pose a threat to the Euro Hawk project? After all Northrop Grumman is of course involved,and the system pretty much bases on the Global Hawk.

Not that I can tell. It of course adds pressure to the program but should not "pose a threat". Global Hawk production and development continues across the other orders for it (including Euro Hawk of course).

This is just one order, though at 55 (reduced from 77) units it is/was a very big order, and while it will have an impact it needs to be noted that the AF has mentioned instead utilizing the BAAMS (US Navy) version of the Global Hawk instead and leveraging savings by havign an essentially combined order rather than a separate but similar plane.

Tugg

I don’t know that I am unafraid to be myself, but it is hard to be somebody else. -W. Shatner

bennett123 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 6363 posts, RR: 1
Reply 6, posted (1 year 4 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 4827 times:

Question is firstly, how many are still flying/flyable. and secondly how many will be in 2023, I understand that 77 were built.

http://wiki.scramble.nl/index.php/Lockheed_U-2

tugger From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 4633 posts, RR: 7
Reply 7, posted (1 year 4 months 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 4790 times:

OK, I think I now better understand what is happening:

What actually happened is the USAF cancelled the last 10 of the "Block 30" Global Hawk's that were to be purchased during the 2013 budget year.

The Air Force originally ordered 77 units, reduced that to 55 and is now reducing it further. That should mean they will still have 45 Global Hawks delivered/on order.

AND the Air Force is instead requesting to buy the "Block 40" Global Hawk's. How many and when I don't know.

Tugg

I don’t know that I am unafraid to be myself, but it is hard to be somebody else. -W. Shatner

bikerthai From United States of America, joined Apr 2010, 1601 posts, RR: 4
Reply 8, posted (1 year 4 months 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 4771 times:

Quoting L-188 (Reply 2):
Well the U2 won't be susceptable to Iranian jamming

One had to wonder if that loss plays into this

LOL, but the U2 is susceptable to SAM's. Maybe Iran's air defense in 2012 is not as good as Russian Air defense in 1960, but do you want to risk that?

Quoting tugger (Reply 7):

AND the Air Force is instead requesting to buy the "Block 40" Global Hawk's. How many and when I don't know.

Business as usual, let's move on . . .

Intelligent seeks knowledge. Enlightened seeks wisdom.

Spacepope From Vatican City, joined Dec 1999, 2739 posts, RR: 1
Reply 9, posted (1 year 4 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 4697 times:

Quoting bikerthai (Reply 8):
LOL, but the U2 is susceptable to SAM's. Maybe Iran's air defense in 2012 is not as good as Russian Air defense in 1960, but do you want to risk that?

And the RQ-4 isn't?

The last of the famous international playboys

L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29352 posts, RR: 62
Reply 10, posted (1 year 4 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 4624 times:

Quoting bikerthai (Reply 8):

LOL, but the U2 is susceptable to SAM's. Maybe Iran's air defense in 2012 is not as good as Russian Air defense in 1960, but do you want to risk that?

Yeah, that's why they don't do overflights generally anymore, just stand-off from "safe" airspace

BTW: Word on the street is the soviets shot down three of their own migs in the process of shooting down Powers

OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.

bikerthai From United States of America, joined Apr 2010, 1601 posts, RR: 4
Reply 11, posted (1 year 4 months 16 hours ago) and read 4488 times:

Quoting Spacepope (Reply 9):

And the RQ-4 isn't?

Not the point. Losing a secret air craft is politically less damaging than losing a pilot (or worst, having a pilot captured and paraded in front of media).

Quoting L-188 (Reply 10):
Yeah, that's why they don't do overflights generally anymore, just stand-off from "safe" airspace

But for the interiors, you would have to rely on satellites then.

Quoting L-188 (Reply 10):
BTW: Word on the street is the soviets shot down three of their own migs in the process of shooting down Powers

Didn't know about that. Guess the cost was worth the prize for them.

bt

Intelligent seeks knowledge. Enlightened seeks wisdom.

sovietjet From Bulgaria, joined Mar 2003, 2339 posts, RR: 14
Reply 12, posted (1 year 4 months 14 hours ago) and read 4441 times:

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Quoting L-188 (Reply 10):
BTW: Word on the street is the soviets shot down three of their own migs in the process of shooting down Powers

Incorrect. Only one was shot down, a MiG-19

rc135x From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 161 posts, RR: 2
Reply 13, posted (1 year 4 months 11 hours ago) and read 4351 times:

Quoting L-188 (Reply 10):
BTW: Word on the street is the soviets shot down three of their own migs in the process of shooting down Powers

The MiG-19 pilot is reported as Sergey Safronov.

KC-135A, A(RT), D, E, E(RT), Q, R, EC-135A, C, G, L, RC-135S, U, V, W, X, TC-135S, W

ThePointblank From Canada, joined Jan 2009, 1069 posts, RR: 0
Reply 14, posted (1 year 3 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 3928 times:

Quoting Arniepie (Reply 3):
Could this be the result of the drone fiasco which happened over or nearby Iran whereby it seemed
that an adversary force was able to take over control fairly easy of what was believed to be an unhackable remote
command link ?

No. The Global Hawk program has been in trouble for a very long time prior to this. This is a program that is not considered a priority for the USAF, especially with the major issues they are facing with it.

Gyreaux130J From United States of America, joined Jun 2011, 126 posts, RR: 0
Reply 15, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 3706 times:

Later Global Chicken

(more flying for REAL pilots)!!!
What's the word on the block 40's?

[Edited 2012-01-29 00:58:09]

[Edited 2012-01-29 00:58:56]

When all else fails, fly Martin Baker!

tugger From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 4633 posts, RR: 7
Reply 16, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 3582 times:

Quoting Gyreaux130J (Reply 15):
Later Global Chicken (more flying for REAL pilots)!!!

Sorry, that's not happening. At least not in the USA.

UAV's are not coming, they are here and their use is expanding not shrinking. Many "pilots" of the future will be flying while sitting on the ground.

Tugg

Edited to add quotes around pilots as I know some here take huge issue with including drone pilots as pilots.

[Edited 2012-01-29 14:04:56]

I don’t know that I am unafraid to be myself, but it is hard to be somebody else. -W. Shatner

Gyreaux130J From United States of America, joined Jun 2011, 126 posts, RR: 0
Reply 17, posted (1 year 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 3447 times:

Quoting tugger (Reply 16):
UAV's are not coming, they are here and their use is expanding not shrinking

I'm aware... just happy to see UAV's take a hit

Quoting tugger (Reply 16):
Edited to add quotes around pilots as I know some here take huge issue with including drone pilots as pilots.

Those "pilots" are winged Air Force officers... to hell with what people here take issue with. Anonymous geeks on A.net have no right to judge Air Force UAV pilots(They're already eating a shit sandwich, they don't need internet criticism).

[Edited 2012-01-30 00:39:43]

[Edited 2012-01-30 01:20:14]

When all else fails, fly Martin Baker!

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