I remember this aircraft. Lockheed came out with all this hype about how it wasn’t ignoring the unmanned aircraft market. It crashes a few months later and then not a word from Lockheed after that. I suspect that this program suffered the same fate as it’s predecessor, Darkstar.

It’s pretty simple the Predator B is the only platform available that could met time frame requirements of the RAF. Even when the Herti becomes available it’ll have to compete in the pretty crowded MALE weight class for UAVs.

I think I just saw this plane fly over in San Diego, California today. Can anyone else in this area confirm this?

The newest model RQ-4 (B, I believe) has longer wings and longer range than the model currently flying, thus erasing some of the disparity with the U-2.

The RQ-4B will have same range as the existing RQ-4A. The B model also has a lower maximum ceiling than the A from 65000ft to 60000ft. The main advantage of the B seems only to be its greater payload and greater electrical power(25KVA).

When it comes to controlled powered flight the Wright brothers were way ahead of any of their peers.

Why doesn’t Australia just bring back carriers? I mean if they’re so concerned about long range strike.

:rolleyes:

Here’s where I’d categorize/rate Jane’s:

A publisher that specializes in military materials and subject matters
in the same class as that of “Life Magazine” while CMF can be compared to that
of publications such as Popular Science and Mechanics Illustrated, etc.

In other words: Jane’s have a vast archive, but not very current….

:rolleyes:

I think you’re really giving CMF way too much credit. I like CMF for all of it’s pictures and whenever it has some content. But most of the time it’s just nationalistic chest beating.

There’s another sketch in the newest edition of Jane’s fighting ships. It looks like your first picture.