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Drones don't go on bombing runs during an invasion or as a precursor to large troop movements. Drones can't really support ground troops well due to limited am

Drones don't go on bombing runs during an invasion or as a precursor to large troop movements. Drones can't really support ground troops well due to limited ammo (although they can provide eyes in the sky support for long periods of time). Also, the air superiority that these aircraft enable, allows the use of drones, and other ground advantages. So yes, while air-to-air dog fighting is rare (although posturing certainly isn't), it's only one use for these planes.

Crito 12y ago
I don't understand why drones must inherently have limited ammunition or bomb payloads. Just make the same big beefy airplane you were going to, but instead of having a human fly it by wire, have a computer fly it by wire. Outfit it with more sensors if necessary, but I suspect modern fighter jets are pretty well decked out in that department already. The only thing I can think of is creative solutions to incoming missiles, but if that really is something that computers cannot currently do, I doubt that will remain the case for long.
- sliverstorm 12y ago
  I speculate that drones have limited capacity because drones are purposefully made small. Why? Because smaller means harder to see and shoot down- useful for a drone. They are more disposable than a pilot, but that doesn't mean they are cheap.
  - commandar 12y ago
    Not all drones are small. I had the chance to get a glimpse of an RQ-4 Global Hawk being refurbished for a museum recently. The thing's practically a full size plane. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ve69jkhqxtpppv0/IMG_0608.JPG https://www.dropbox.com/s/ve69jkhqxtpppv0/IMG_0608.JPG That's with the 130ft wings removed.
- TeMPOraL 12y ago
  Isn't it the case that older fighter jets are retro-fitted with remote controls and used as drones for target practice?
  - greedo 12y ago
    Yes, and you used the correct term for them: targets.

Crito 12y ago

I don't understand why drones must inherently have limited ammunition or bomb payloads. Just make the same big beefy airplane you were going to, but instead of having a human fly it by wire, have a computer fly it by wire. Outfit it with more sensors if necessary, but I suspect modern fighter jets are pretty well decked out in that department already. The only thing I can think of is creative solutions to incoming missiles, but if that really is something that computers cannot currently do, I doubt that will remain the case for long.

sliverstorm 12y ago
I speculate that drones have limited capacity because drones are purposefully made small. Why? Because smaller means harder to see and shoot down- useful for a drone. They are more disposable than a pilot, but that doesn't mean they are cheap.
- commandar 12y ago
  Not all drones are small. I had the chance to get a glimpse of an RQ-4 Global Hawk being refurbished for a museum recently. The thing's practically a full size plane. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ve69jkhqxtpppv0/IMG_0608.JPG https://www.dropbox.com/s/ve69jkhqxtpppv0/IMG_0608.JPG That's with the 130ft wings removed.
TeMPOraL 12y ago
Isn't it the case that older fighter jets are retro-fitted with remote controls and used as drones for target practice?
- greedo 12y ago
  Yes, and you used the correct term for them: targets.