KarlMarx
05-03-2011, 07:08 AM
All details of how the U.S. government found and killed Osama Bin Laden will likely never be known, but reports this morning indicate the squad of U.S. Navy SEALS which ran the attack had two helicopters and this drone, known as the "Beast of Kandahar."
The Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel (http://gizmodo.com/#!5419363/usaf-confirms-new-secret-stealth-plane) is a fighter-sized aircraft with a 65-foot wingspan whose existence has only been official since 2009, despite being used throughout the war in Afghanistan and spotted by aviation enthusiasts. Based in Nevada (http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=16001) and a Kandahar airfield — where its nickname as "the beast of Kandahar" derives — the RQ-170s main assignment has been reconnaissance and surveillance for ground troops....
remainder of article at....
http://jalopnik.com/#!5797643/the-secret-stealth-drone-that-helped-kill-bin-laden
Unmanned Airborne Vebicles (UAVs) or drones are playing an ever increasing role in combat, saving lives and providing much needed reconnaisance...
Also... another, not so well known role, supply troops in combat zones...
An unmanned helicopter designed to lift supplies and equipment to troops in Afghanistan is being developed for the US military.
The Kaman K-MAX helicopter has been adapted by defence company Lockheed Martin to fly without a pilot and can carry up to 6,000lbs of cargo - more than the aircraft's empty weight.
remainder of article at....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/11098977
Lockheed's competitors are also helping out in this area. I am posting the Lockheed ones because these are the ones I'm most familiar with...
The Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel (http://gizmodo.com/#!5419363/usaf-confirms-new-secret-stealth-plane) is a fighter-sized aircraft with a 65-foot wingspan whose existence has only been official since 2009, despite being used throughout the war in Afghanistan and spotted by aviation enthusiasts. Based in Nevada (http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=16001) and a Kandahar airfield — where its nickname as "the beast of Kandahar" derives — the RQ-170s main assignment has been reconnaissance and surveillance for ground troops....
remainder of article at....
http://jalopnik.com/#!5797643/the-secret-stealth-drone-that-helped-kill-bin-laden
Unmanned Airborne Vebicles (UAVs) or drones are playing an ever increasing role in combat, saving lives and providing much needed reconnaisance...
Also... another, not so well known role, supply troops in combat zones...
An unmanned helicopter designed to lift supplies and equipment to troops in Afghanistan is being developed for the US military.
The Kaman K-MAX helicopter has been adapted by defence company Lockheed Martin to fly without a pilot and can carry up to 6,000lbs of cargo - more than the aircraft's empty weight.
remainder of article at....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/11098977
Lockheed's competitors are also helping out in this area. I am posting the Lockheed ones because these are the ones I'm most familiar with...