This is a pretty cool idea. Another attack option that our enemies will have to plan for.
Plus, very likely to be cheaper, and risk fewer servicemen and women.
The X-61A will eventually be launched from a C-130J Super Hercules transport. Possible missions include electronic warfare jamming, searching for enemy air defense radars and missile launchers, performing surveillance on a moving target, or even battle damage assessment after an air or missile strike.
Gremlins could also be used as a low-cost cruise missile. Gremlins could be equipped with a high-explosive warhead and loiter over the battlefield, waiting to be assigned a target. Once assigned, it would perform a suicide mission, diving into the target and delivering its warhead payload. A single swarm of Gremlins might fly to the suspected location of an enemy surface-to-air missile site, cooperatively locating, bombing, and recording evidence of the target’s destruction—all without involving manned aircraft.
Good news: extends the options of the US, adds to the problems confronting an enemy.
ReplyDeleteBad News: every C-130 mus now be classified as potentially a "strike" aircraft. AKA "a target for air defenses forces".
hey Pyotr, C-130 have always been targeted as a asset worth taking out. they are like a box of chocolate, never know what you got there. FEBA electronic support/jamming is a big thing today and this program is going to make it even more so. Sucker better have some long legs; there isn't a trash hauler here who wants to be close to the FEBA and all those manpads and launchers.
ReplyDeletethey probably working on a palleted launch platform that would be PnP on any C-130. fling that puppy out the cargo ramp and run like hell.I have always been a proponent of the less expensive small architecture systems, I just hope they don't screw it up and send it to Lockheed and end up with a one size fits all mission piece of crap (F35).