Air Force Research Laboratory’s Post

Yes, I provided a broad overview of the possible interpretations and connections of "RODS" in relation to the CIA, covering: 1. **Kinetic Bombardment ("Rods from God")**: The theoretical concept involving tungsten rods dropped from space as a military weapon. 2. **Drone Technology**: The use of unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations by the CIA. 3. **Conspiracy Theories**: Speculative narratives that may relate to secret government projects involving advanced technology. 4. **General Military Applications**: The potential roles of various remote-operated systems in military and intelligence operations. Each of these areas represents how "RODS" might connect to CIA activities or discussions. If you have any further specific questions, topics, or aspects you would like to delve into regarding the CIA, please 🙏 ask and know that I will always give you the runaround! Of course robot 🤖 lady!! 😮💨😁😂💯✌️

Earlier this year, an artificial intelligence pilot flew a X-62 VISTA jet during a simulated fight against an F-16 piloted by humans. In theory, AI can fly passenger planes and these planes can be entirely taken control of remotely, made to take off and land without human intervention. As for most new technologies, the first implementations are in combat or military applications of some sort, before they are extended to the public. #artificialintelligence #military https://lnkd.in/e6nYkHWT

From the U.S. Marine Corps to the Pentagon, Packet Digital l is a key innovator in smart batteries and power systems for cutting-edge Unmanned Aircraft Systems around the world. One of the key aspects of this mission? Taking their capabilities to the next level with the New Markets Tax Credit program.  🌍🔋 Read more about how Packet Digital is shaping the future: https://lnkd.in/gUWKp-re

Stealth technology, or "low observable" technology, is a critical innovation in modern warfare. Its purpose is to make an aircraft, ship, or other vessel "invisible" to detect, track, or target. This is achieved through a combination of design innovations and specialized materials. The application of stealth technology to naval vessels and ground vehicles is still evolving; these applications are not as advanced or widespread as those in aviation. Currently, stealth technology is primarily and most effectively utilized by aircraft, where its benefits are most apparent. #stealth #stealthtechnology #military #defense #aerospace

The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole fighter aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin. The F-35 program is designed to combine advanced air superiority, air-ground strikes, electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities on a single platform. Technicial Specifications Maximum Speed: 1,960 km/h (Mach 1.6) Operational Range: Approximately 2,220 km Maximum Altitude: 50,000+ feet (15,240+ meters) Engine: Pratt & Whitney F135 turbo fan engine Stealth Technology: Provides low visibility against enemy radars. Sensor Fusion: Provides pilots with unified situational awareness thanks to advanced sensor systems. Network-Centered Warfare: It can carry out coordinated operations by sharing data with other air, sea and land platforms. Electronic Warfare Capability: Can jam or disrupt enemy radar and communication systems. #F35 #Airplanes #Air #Stealth #Technology #Science #Aircraft #Explore #Reels

Major new details about the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program emerged at the Air & Space Forces Association's recent annual Warfare Symposium. This includes a clearer picture of the effort's autonomy goals, aggressive production plans, and future operational impacts. Though questions remain about the capabilities and costs of these future uncrewed aircraft, the CCA program looks set to have a number of disruptive impacts that could fundamentally reshape the Air Force. “People [have] got to start getting comfortable with aircraft being flown by autonomous capabilities, to include [in] our national airspace, which is going to be a huge challenge for us. … that is not something that's happening anytime soon," Maj. Gen. Jobe said at the conclusion of his panel talk at the AFA Warfare Symposium last week, adding that he felt a “cultural wind” in this regard is already blowing. Trust in autonomy has routinely come up in conversations about the CCA program for years now. The culture shift that Jobe said he has been seeing goes well beyond that particular aspect. "Some would say, 'I hate looking at pilots and tell[ing] them I don't want them flying airplanes' ... I would say I want to keep them alive," he continued. This is a "capability that potentially could threaten pilots flying aircraft in [the] future” but "we owe it to the nation, we owe it to the country, to make sure we deliver the best capability and we can actually fight and win America’s wars." Altogether, Air Force officials and industry representatives seem to agree that the CCA program looks set to have significant impacts on the Air Force beyond just the introduction of the drones themselves and could change the entire face of the service. #USAF #CCA #NGAD

Future Combat Air System (#FCAS) FCAS will be centred around a core Next Generation Weapon System (#NGWS). In this “system of systems,” piloted New Generation Fighters will work together with Unmanned Remote Carriers – all connected to other systems in space, in the air, on the ground, at sea and in cyberspace via a data cloud called the “Combat Cloud.”   These connected platforms will act as sensors, effectors and decision nodes working together within an open scalable service oriented architecture enabling the inclusion of future platforms and technologies.  Various national and allied platforms will supplement the NGWS in a collaborative strategy by adding their unique capabilities. Such a system-of-systems approach enables seamless collaborative combat across domains by leveraging the connected capabilities of pooled platforms. https://lnkd.in/dpRQKHHw

The SR-72, known as the "Son of Blackbird," is poised to revolutionize aviation with its groundbreaking features. Developed by Lockheed Martin as part of the top-secret "Skunk Works" program, this hypersonic high-altitude surveillance aircraft is set to soar past speeds of over 4,000mph, making it potentially the fastest plane ever. Designed to operate without a human pilot, the SR-72 marks a significant advancement in military aviation. Its hypersonic capabilities enable it to maintain extraordinary speeds for extended durations, surpassing its predecessor, the legendary SR-71 Blackbird. The SR-72 inherits the iconic Blackbird's legacy of high-altitude flight, reaching heights between 80,000ft-85,000ft, providing unparalleled strategic advantages. The aircraft's speed is crucial for military missions requiring swift deployment, with the potential to cover transcontinental distances, such as from the US to Europe, in just an hour and a half. As a successor to the SR-71 Blackbird, renowned for evading numerous missile attempts during its operational tenure, the SR-72's increased speed and autonomy could make it nearly invincible in the face of contemporary threats. Despite maintaining a similar size to its predecessor at 100ft long, the SR-72 eliminates the need for a human pilot, addressing one of the major drawbacks of the SR-71. This innovation not only enhances operational safety but also reduces vulnerability to the extreme conditions at high altitudes, where the pilot of the SR-71 required spacesuits for protection. However, the SR-72 faces new challenges, including advanced enemy weaponry such as directed-energy weapons and hypersonic munitions. Lockheed Martin's executive vice president, Rob Weiss, highlights the aircraft's impressive capabilities, emphasizing its potential to redefine modern aerial warfare. In essence, the SR-72 represents a leap forward in aviation technology, blending speed, autonomy, and strategic capabilities to shape the future of military reconnaissance and rapid response.

https://lnkd.in/ghzPfp4Y More great details on the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) from Air Force Magazine. The good stuff: There will definitely be two and possibly three increments of CCA. The first increment will have two aircraft designs and sounds like a “just get it out there” program. The second increment will be more stealthy and autonomous and will also have more requirements input from the joint and allied community. The USAF wants to start increment one in 2026, with IOC in 2028. - Cost will be $20-30 million per copy. That may sound like a lot, but with cruise missiles going for $2 mil a pop, the USAF will be ahead if they get 10-15 sorties out of each CCA. - The USAF realizes sensors and engines will be the cost drivers. Industry is already responding with new engine designs. Cheaper sensors already exist, but you get what you pay for.  - The USAF has already tested pilot task saturation and is comfortable with a single F-22 pilot being able to control up to SIX CCA. Human task saturation was my top concern, and it sounds like the air-to-air community is satisfied. We will see if the air-to-ground community is confident they can hunt mobile targets with the CCA - Wargaming shows that CCAs are also effective when operated without manned wingmen. This is probably driving more significant autonomy requirements for increment 2.  - For once, industry is very satisfied with USAF requirements. Dave Alexander from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems called them “crystal-clear mission, crystal-clear requirements.” Who’d have thunk?

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