The F-117 Nighthawk and the B-2 Spirit are 21 years old and 15 years old respectively. If we already know about the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning, HTV-3X Blackswift, imagine what we don't know about: TR-3B etc. The fleet of aircraft we saw in Iraq is obsolete: Russian Engineers Admit Using F-117 Wreckage for Tests.
Russian engineers have been testing the remains of a downed U.S. Air Force F-117 stealth fighter. Serb forces shot down the F-117 in 1999 during the Kosovo air campaign.
Russia Using F-117 Wreckage for Anti-Stealth
Senior Russian aerospace officials admitted that the F-117 was being used to test new anti-stealth technology and advanced missiles designed to shoot down U.S. aircraft. Russian researchers are testing components of a new air defense system against the F-117 remains.
The Russian anti-stealth tests include radio frequency seekers from surface-to-air missiles and proximity fuses for missile warheads.
In addition, a small number of Russian tactical aircraft have been modified with low-observable stealth technology in order to conduct airborne tests against the new air defense systems.
Russian missile makers Antey Industrial Corp. and the Almaz Central Design Bureau are using the F-117 and modified Russian-made stealth aircraft to test components for the next generation of Russian Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs).
Technology always wins the war, incidentally it has always been technology deployed by a military force. However, if technology were to turn on us, well, we wouldn't stand a chance.
ReplyDeleteTed Talks: PW Singer on military robots and the future of war
ReplyDeleteRadio Seti: Robots Call the Shots
Wow. Singer is eloquent. Powerful indeed.
ReplyDeleteJoy, B., Why the Future Doesn't Need Us, Wired, Issue 8.04, Apr 2000
ReplyDeleteMy main stance on the issue is that inventions that enhance humanity are good, but that inventions that replace humanity are bad. However, that will all change some day in the distant future when we evolve beyond the need for an organic body, perhaps we will exist as minds in a robot's body in the future, or perhaps as we merge with intelligent computer minds and robotics, and with nanotech, etc. The future is something to be embraced, as supply and demand allows more people to embrace the biotechnical enhancements that technology will allow for us, as we as humanity decide the path our future will take.
ReplyDeleteSinger must be a Star Wars fan. His first book is about the militarization of the Trade Federation. His second book is about Younglings. And his third book about the Droid Army. I predict his fourth book will be about the ethics of a Clone Army...=)
ReplyDelete