Tuesday, April 3, 2012

U.S. Developed, But Shelved, Nuclear-Powered Drones

An RQ-4 Global Hawk gets prepared for a mission while deployed Nov. 23, 2010, at an air base in Southwest Asia. (Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andy M. Kin)

Report: U.S. Developed, But Shelved, Nuclear-Powered Drones -- CBS

Drones have become the favorite weapon system of the Obama administration, currently in use in several countries around the world by both intelligence services and the military. Be it for spying or killing, drones keep pilots safe thousands of miles away as they spend sometimes days in the air. Now imagine if drones could spend months in the air.

Just as nuclear energy is used to keep submarines and ships at sea for months on end, plans have been drawn up to give drones a similar capability in the skies, the Guardian reports. Sandia National Laboratories and Northrup Grumman developed blueprints that would not just give drones an incredible extended range, but also more power for onboard surveillance, communications, and weapons.

Despite years of development, the project has been shelved for now, according to Wired's Danger Room blog.

Read more ....

Previous Post:
Nuclear Powered Drones On The Horizon?

More News On The U.S. Research On Having Nuclear Powered Drones

US researches idea of using nuclear-powered drones -- Stars and Stripes
Nuclear UAV drones could fly for months at a time -- Giz mag
Pentagon wants nuclear powered drones

 -- TG Daily
Faster, higher, deadlier: US plans nuclear drones -- RT
New Generation Of US Nuclear-Powered Drones Would Be Able To Fly For Months Without Refueling -- Business Insider
Is the U.S. preparing to send NUCLEAR drones to patrol the skies? -- Daily Mail

No comments: