Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

United States Air Force recently announced stealth UAV RQ-170 jet has been flying in Afghanistan use.

According to the U.S., “Aerospace Daily,” December 10, 2009 reported that the U.S. Air Force recently announced stealth UAV RQ-170 jet has been flying in Afghanistan, the use of the UAV and the Lockheed Martin Corporation Advanced Research Program (Advanced Development Programs) stealth UAV “Dark Star” and “smelly cat” relevant. RQ-170 no-tail flying wing, on the surface of the layout of a conformal sensors, communications equipment cabin buried in the center of the outer surface of the body (Aerospace Daily, December 7). A retired company director, said, “When Lockheed Martin because of the relationship between short range UAV is too small to give up the original design, the ‘dark star’ did not cancel the project The project has become a secret project.”

RQ-170 is the highest in the U.S. Air Force intelligence officer called the (Air Force) for large-scale long-range strike – as a primary surveillance needs to consider the issue after the announcement. Two things are related to the origin and prototype in the test phase of the UAV, the UAV as April 1, 2001 a U.S. Navy EP-3E electronic surveillance aircraft seizure events make up measures to carry out research. In that the damaged EP-3E aircraft landed in China, the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld held responsible for “sensitive reconnaissance operations” related to the confidentiality of all-day meeting attended. They discussed how to monitor, such as no loss of important countries like China military capabilities under the premise of avoiding classified equipment, documents or crew members suffered injury or are in dilemma. Their main choice is to carry out a new stealth unmanned reconnaissance project, and 12-24 aircraft of this type of UAV equipment.

General John Jumper by the Air Combat Command is responsible for the want to have a very low observability, high-altitude unmanned aircraft able to penetrate enemy air defense systems, flight after the 1000 sea miles to reach the target area circled 8 hours, then return to base . During the invasion of Iraq in 2003, a similar “Dark Star” derivative of the UAV is ready, some officials said the unmanned aerial vehicle prototype state have invested in operational use. The one air force officer said that “the concept of the UAV and ‘Dark Star’ has a stealth UAV and use the same aperture and the data link.” A naval officer said, “but it will be even greater, Although far from production, but the Air Force hopes to use in advance. “confidential UAV operational use U-2 pilots were so anxious, they noted that there are over Iraq in their rapid flight of aircraft where the flight route a few miles . The mystery aircraft did not fly with other people and unmanned surveillance unit coordination. How the United States to use its black and white world of unmanned aerial vehicles and remotely piloted aircraft to ensure that in the vast mountainous areas of Afghanistan, NATO forces on the small monitor has aroused great interest. Re-emergence of conflict in Afghanistan will largely ground war, accompanied by air power in support such as air fire support, fast shipping, and wide-area reconnaissance. The next 18 months will be critical test, 150,000 U.S. and allied soldiers will try to collapse of the Taliban and al Qaeda offensive ability in the operation of new technologies will be applied. Other things involving the U.S. Air Force major investments in advanced technology. Responsible for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula said, “We can not force did not allow us to distance delivery, to meet the threat of further response to the needs and can provide advantages over other countries of the platform circumstances into the future, we can not farther away from that ability. “For example, the platform can monitor class aircraft 50,000 feet or higher in the case of cruise altitude, the use of long-wave infrared sensor technologies such as can be observed More farther and clearer picture, but as RC-135S “Cobra Ball”, RC-135W “Rivet Joint” and the E-8C “Joint STARS” and manned aircraft are subject to an altitude below 30,000 feet – sometimes even lower. (China Aviation Industry Development Research Center of Xu Yun)