Are fighter pilots going to become obsolete?

[Barnacle_Bill]

This is neat.
http://www.airforce-technology.com:80/projects/x47/

 

[nlain]

Re: Are fighter pilots going to become obsolete?

For a while fighter pilots will still be around, they may move from the cockpit to a computer console. That is a neat little craft.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Are fighter pilots going to become obsolete?

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Fighter pilots will still be around. But I believe they will move from the cockpit to a computer console and be able to carry out the mission of several fighters simultaniously by one pilot from that one console in the very near future. The History channel (I think) had a show not too long ago about this
actually in motion. But it was one pilot and one plane. They said the games kids play on computers is going to be the actual training that will be used.

 

[JB]

Re: Are fighter pilots going to become obsolete?

We will always need and have warriors. It doesn't matter much how they go to war, they will be there.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Are fighter pilots going to become obsolete?

A joystick operator is not a fighter pilot. No, they will not be needed in the future. It was already stated that the F-35 will be the last manned fighter jet built in the US. There will be RC aircraft that have men and women flying them, but flying a plane with a joystick isn't really pilotage. Someone operating an unmanned airplane 9000 miles away from the safety of their homeland doesn't garner much respect from me. That's not a true warrior, IMHO.

 

[JB]

Re: Are fighter pilots going to become obsolete?

I agree that operating a vehicle remotely is not being a warrior. That is not what I meant, WITF.

A warrior goes in harm's way on our behalf. My point is that it matters not whether the warrior is operating a fast aircraft or carrying a spear.

 

[angus63]

Re: Are fighter pilots going to become obsolete?

I worked the Pegasus and Global Hawk programs starting back in 2001 for several prime contractors as a subcontractor designing and manufacturing system components. It was very challenging designing components that needed to withstand 3X the g-force and vibe testing requirements of manned platforms. The manueverability of these craft is a big part of their defense. They are capable of moves that would crush a human. A decade from now they will be common.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Are fighter pilots going to become obsolete?

As neat as the concept is (I'm still trying to imagine an unmanned aircraft landing on an aircraft carrier), I seriously doubt if the program will get off the ground a second time. The president and Defense Secretary Gates are already looking at the defense budget to find areas to cut to help mitigate the national deficit. This may be a likely candidate for the chopping block.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Are fighter pilots going to become obsolete?

I do not think an unmanned plane would have a problem landing on an aircraft carried with all the data collected from an F-18.

I would imagine that a future squadron would have a mix of drones and pilots.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Are fighter pilots going to become obsolete?

Soon we can have video overlays on our joystick operated planes which replace innocent people dying with the latest terrorist profile, uploaded directly to the media along with a cool war slogan we can all whistle to. This stuff is so disheartening to me. To have television programs which glorify the automation of killing is tragic. Notice these planes are not designed to defend airspace, just to take out specified land targets.. offensive automation.

If America spent the 'defense' budget on Americans for just one year.. that would be something to respect.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Are fighter pilots going to become obsolete?

Soon we can have video overlays on our joystick operated planes which replace innocent people dying with the latest terrorist profile, uploaded directly to the media along with a cool war slogan we can all whistle to. This stuff is so disheartening to me. To have television programs which glorify the automation of killing is tragic. Notice these planes are not designed to defend airspace, just to take out specified land targets.. offensive automation.

If America spent the 'defense' budget on Americans for just one year.. that would be something to respect.

I disagree. I think these device can defend air space.

 

[angus63]

Re: Are fighter pilots going to become obsolete?

Soon we can have video overlays on our joystick operated planes which replace innocent people dying with the latest terrorist profile, uploaded directly to the media along with a cool war slogan we can all whistle to. This stuff is so disheartening to me. To have television programs which glorify the automation of killing is tragic. Notice these planes are not designed to defend airspace, just to take out specified land targets.. offensive automation.

If America spent the 'defense' budget on Americans for just one year.. that would be something to respect.

Lowkee..I disagree with all of the points you raised:

1) Previous, current, and future craft all have cockpit video capability, so these new craft do not affect media capabilities.
2) This thread and these craft have nothing to do with current or future TV programming.
3) These craft are designed to fly. Their capabilities and missions are purposely multifaceted. Your comment regarding "offensive automation" reflects ignorance to the roles of these new platforms.
4) The defense budget IS being spent for you and all Americans. It's alarming and unfortunate that all Americans don't appreciate it.​

Since political threads are shunned, please let's keep it out of this thread so members can continue to discuss the advancement of unmanned aircraft technology without moderators locking it up. Thanks!!!​