3 ms·

Why would you need an experimental drone to do that when you can use satellite photos?

mysterydip 5y ago
Don't satellites only occupy a given area once or twice a day (if not geosynchronous)? If you know the pattern you can hide assets before it gets in view. A drone can do surveillance at any time.
gpm 5y ago
You want to test your ability to get physical payloads in place, e.g. in the future the drone could carry a bomb or something else clever (listening devices? Dropping gallium on aluminum airplanes? Etc) You want low angle shots? You're not well funded enough to get good satellite photos?
- SketchySeaBeast 5y ago
  > Dropping gallium on aluminum airplanes? Is there anything that building a delivery mechanism to carry and then drop gallium onto a plane does that an actual gun wouldn't?
  - gpm 5y ago
    Befuddle the public with scary sounding words? Hypothetically it might act as a more subtle form of sabotage, the goal being to bring down a plane in the air. It might also be harder to cleanup/patch than a bullet hole if detected. I don't think it's a serious threat though and is really acting as a stand in for "fancy forms of sabotage".
  - VectorLock 5y ago
    Less visible bullet hole more structurally compromised Al.
  - bobthepanda 5y ago
    It doesn‘t need a clear vantage point with straight-line access to the target.
  - raziel2701 5y ago
    It's stealthier and quieter.
- _1100 5y ago
  All three of your points make sense, but for me the last point really resonates. No need for a space program, or going through someone that does. Just acquire drone > use drone.
Spooky23 5y ago
Satellites are tracked and interesting activities are scheduled to happen when the satellite is not overhead. Also, a drone could have radio receivers to collect short range comms.
marssaxman 5y ago
US spy satellites have a maximum resolution of 5-10 cm. A drone close to the ground can do better. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanocallaghan/2019/09/01/trump-accidentally-revealed-the-amazing-resolution-of-u-s-spy-satellites/?sh=34a0c8f03d89 https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanocallaghan/2019/09/01/t...]

Don't satellites only occupy a given area once or twice a day (if not geosynchronous)? If you know the pattern you can hide assets before it gets in view. A drone can do surveillance at any time.

gpm 5y ago

You want to test your ability to get physical payloads in place, e.g. in the future the drone could carry a bomb or something else clever (listening devices? Dropping gallium on aluminum airplanes? Etc) You want low angle shots? You're not well funded enough to get good satellite photos?

SketchySeaBeast 5y ago
> Dropping gallium on aluminum airplanes? Is there anything that building a delivery mechanism to carry and then drop gallium onto a plane does that an actual gun wouldn't?
- gpm 5y ago
  Befuddle the public with scary sounding words? Hypothetically it might act as a more subtle form of sabotage, the goal being to bring down a plane in the air. It might also be harder to cleanup/patch than a bullet hole if detected. I don't think it's a serious threat though and is really acting as a stand in for "fancy forms of sabotage".
- VectorLock 5y ago
  Less visible bullet hole more structurally compromised Al.
- bobthepanda 5y ago
  It doesn‘t need a clear vantage point with straight-line access to the target.
- raziel2701 5y ago
  It's stealthier and quieter.
_1100 5y ago
All three of your points make sense, but for me the last point really resonates. No need for a space program, or going through someone that does. Just acquire drone > use drone.

Spooky23 5y ago

Satellites are tracked and interesting activities are scheduled to happen when the satellite is not overhead. Also, a drone could have radio receivers to collect short range comms.

marssaxman 5y ago

US spy satellites have a maximum resolution of 5-10 cm. A drone close to the ground can do better. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanocallaghan/2019/09/01/trump-accidentally-revealed-the-amazing-resolution-of-u-s-spy-satellites/?sh=34a0c8f03d89 https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanocallaghan/2019/09/01/t...]