4 ms·
Its still the good old artisanal paradigm, we shove it in the pipeline, a subcontractor builds them for a few millions each to spec then we repeat that on failu
by Log_out_ 2y ago
Its still the good old artisanal paradigm, we shove it in the pipeline, a subcontractor builds them for a few millions each to spec then we repeat that on failure to perform.
Meanwhile other military only have "standards", you buy of the shelve components, add standardized interfaces and can iterrate and produce ridiculous fast. Drone does not fly or bombs otherwise? Change it, even automated build it, fly it, while darpa hasn't started reading reports on equipment failures.
- Eridrus 2y agoI don't think there are any off the shelf drones that would be useful in a long range setting, e.g. the naval settings described in the article.
- Log_out_ 2y agoGlue a off the shelf drone to a off the shelf missile as payload. It comes down to standards again. Replace slow to dev and produce expensive systems with frankensteined, good enough cheap systems. Stack several drones on top of some old outdated longrange system, have one float a starlink connections for the others. Still cheaper, faster in the field and similar effective compared to those artisanal systems.
- Eridrus 2y agoYou should try and name a specific off the shelf drone here that can carry a missile payload.
- halJordan 2y agoYou're misunderstanding darpa and its role in defense acquisition.
- Log_out_ 2y agoIts not only build the best system for the lowest price, but build the best system the others can not copy and deteriorate the glibal strategic situation.