US Developing Nuclear Drones
The Sandia-Northrop Grumman team looked at numerous different power systems for large- and medium-sized drones before settling on a nuclear solution. Northrop Grumman is known to have patented a drone equipped with a helium-cooled nuclear reactor as long ago as 1986, and has previously worked on nuclear projects with the US air force research laboratory. Designs for nuclear-powered aircraft are known to go back as far as the 1950s.The research team found that the nuclear drones were able to provide far more surveillance time and intelligence information per mission compared to other technologies, and also to reduce the considerable costs of support systems – eliminating the need, for example, for forward bases and fuel supplies in remote and possibly hostile areas.A halt has been called to the work for now, due to worries that public opinion will not accept the idea of such a potentially hazardous technology, with the inherent dangers of either a crash – in effect turning the drone into a so-called dirty bomb – or of its nuclear propulsion system falling into the hands of terrorists or unfriendly powers. FULL ARTICLE HERE
The article doesn't say they they are developing - it clearly states they are 'planning for', dork.
ReplyDeleteAnd the difference between planning and developing is.....You are the kind of guy I suspect of loving the smell of white phosphorous in the morning, Dave.
DeleteIf there is a patent on it, then most likely it has already been developed.
ReplyDeleteSo stick a fork in it, before you start the dork calling.
Some people believe in the theory of "strategic nuclear warfare".
ReplyDeleteWho ever hits the button first, has already lost.