taranis jet - stealth bomber for the uk!

[loltolhurst]

wow didnt know we were so advanced here! cant help thinking it looks like a giant penguin from the front though!

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/34276/mod-unveils-...

[BigS]

Hmmm, it needs an oscillating red light on the front like a Cylon

[bob1179]

BigS said:

Hmmm, it needs an oscillating red light on the front like a Cylon

And lasers.

It also needs lasers.

[CraigW]

looks very different to the us stealth planes doesnt it

[Eric Mc]

What - not like this one?



Or this one?

[CraigW]

[CraigW]

not dissimilar?

[Eric Mc]

That's the point I was making. It follows the flying wing/blended body approach to stealth - as demonstrated over the past 30 years by aircraft such as the B-2.

The alternative approach is having a faceted surface, as used in the F-117 and to some extent, the SR-71/A-11 family.

Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 14th July 11:47

[CraigW]

ah ok, sorry, misunderstood you.

[Eric Mc]

Flying wings and blended wings have been around for a very long time. During WW2 it was realised that a low radar cross section was an unexpected benefit from these types of shapes - although that was not the primary reason they were flown and tested back then. There were quite a few flying wing designs instigated in the 1930s and 40s - noteably by Horten in Germany, Northrop in the US and Armstrong Whitworth in the UK.

The big problem back then was maintaining stability across the various flight regimes. The concept didn't really become practical until computerised active flight control systems were advanced enough to give the flying wing the stability it lacked.

[MrTom]

The ITN video on the OP's link claimed this could be be a replacement for the tornado if all went to plan, is it possible?

Does the level of autonomy exist where it could identify ground targets and destroy them like a tornado and pilots would?

[Eric Mc]

Not yet.

[grumbledoak]

MrTom said:

Does the level of autonomy exist where it could identify ground targets and destroy them like a tornado and pilots would?

No. We're a long way from that. In trust terms, more than just targetting and firing.

Remember this guy?

Edited by grumbledoak on Wednesday 14th July 12:59

[shakotan]

loltolhurst said:

cant help thinking it looks like a giant penguin from the front though!

You're not wrong!

[Eric Mc]

And this



looks a lot like this



I wonder is Nick Park and Aardman Animation is really a cover for some secret stealth and hi-tech weapons systems laboratory?

[loltolhurst]

shakotan said:

loltolhurst said:

cant help thinking it looks like a giant penguin from the front though!

You're not wrong!

brilliant morphing!

[Sam_68]

The link given by the OP said:

It's a stealth aircraft that can fly

Nice to know we can still manage the essentials, at least?

Edited by Sam_68 on Wednesday 14th July 17:56

[The real Apache]

Eric Mc said:

The alternative approach is having a faceted surface, as used in the F-117 and to some extent, the SR-71/A-11 family.

The faceted design of the F117 was due to the lack of computing power available at the time to compute compound curves, it's unlikely to be seen on anything new

[Eric Mc]

I know - although we are seeing some faceting on ships.

[The real Apache]

Eric Mc said:

I know - although we are seeing some faceting on ships.

yeah, maybe more practical considerations for that though