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2009-03-16 Home Front: WoT

New Gunship Could Get Fresh Start In 2010

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Posted by tu3031 2009-03-16 11:57|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1740 views ] Top

1 upgrade....?
Windows-based computer system......?

Sounds mutually exclusive.

Posted by AlmostAnonymous5839">AlmostAnonymous5839 2009-03-16 12:06|| 2009-03-16 12:06|| Front Page Top

2 Why not use the C-17 as a base?

Posted by Frozen Al 2009-03-16 12:13|| 2009-03-16 12:13|| Front Page Top

3 #2 Why not use the C-17 as a base? Posted by Frozen Al 2009-03-16 12:13

Too fast, too expensive to operate in a loiter role. The AC-130 can slow to 150Kt, and its turn ratio is much tighter than a C-17. The price of the C-17 may also play a part in the choice. Like the A-10, there's still a role for "low-&-slow" in the military community. The AC-130 also operates best at about 20,000 feet, while the C-17 is most efficient above 35,000 feet.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2009-03-16 12:35|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2009-03-16 12:35|| Front Page Top

4 New+Weapon+Obama= It'll never be even considered.

Posted by Redneck Jim">Redneck Jim 2009-03-16 13:33|| 2009-03-16 13:33|| Front Page Top

5 One requirement likely to emerge is to operate the gunship safely in an urban environment such as Baghdad.

Safety is everything when operating a gunship in an urban area.

Posted by Shipman 2009-03-16 13:52|| www.cybernations.net]">[www.cybernations.net] 2009-03-16 13:52|| Front Page Top

6 Yeah - we wouldn't want it to go and kill anyone....

Posted by CrazyFool 2009-03-16 13:55|| 2009-03-16 13:55|| Front Page Top

7 ... had previously hoped to base a future gunship on the to-be-designed 2018 bomber, which would provide a huge leap in capability with the addition of low-observable attributes.

Not that I'm any expert, but I thought one important attribute of a gunship is that everyone knows it's there. Stealth, shmealth, you want the bad guys whispering, "Cheez, Spooky is here!" and heading for the hills. So basing the new gunship on a stealth bomber, besides being frightfully expensive, is the wrong idea.

Posted by Steve White 2009-03-16 13:58|| 2009-03-16 13:58|| Front Page Top

8 Why not make it a UAV balloon?

Posted by Bright Pebbles the flatulent 2009-03-16 16:23|| 2009-03-16 16:23|| Front Page Top

9 The AC-130 rocks. Why replace it? Just build more of the same! And a Windows-based fire-control system??? Gag!

Posted by Scooter McGruder 2009-03-16 18:04|| 2009-03-16 18:04|| Front Page Top

10 The future is unmanned vehicles. Inherently a lot smaller and a lot more 'disposable'.

Posted by phil_b 2009-03-16 19:36|| 2009-03-16 19:36|| Front Page Top

11 Hey, what's going on up there? Why did you stop firing, we're getting clobbered down here!

Sorry, we had to reboot the weapons system.

Posted by Vespasian Sloting1841 2009-03-16 20:19|| 2009-03-16 20:19|| Front Page Top

12 What's old is new again. Seems like SoC really wants this with a 30mm cannon.

Posted by ed 2009-03-16 20:39|| 2009-03-16 20:39|| Front Page Top

13 Or a plane that can take some punishment

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2009-03-16 20:55|| 2009-03-16 20:55|| Front Page Top

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