From: Adam <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the field.near
the bridge">

Don Hills wrote:
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/15/watchkeeper_numbers_revealed/
>
Yup.

A proving system for the next gen of killer bots e.g.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2830641&C=europe

"The demonstrator for a European combat drone, Neuron, has entered the
definition phase of the technology program, the DŽClŽCgation GŽCnŽCrale
pour lƒ ™Armement, Franceƒ ™s defense procurement agency, said in a June 12
statement.
The 19-month definition stage is intended to freeze the design and
determine the systems and interfaces for the technology demonstrator for a
combat UAV. The Neuron program is budgeted at 130 million euros ($173.5
million).
Feasibility studies conducted by industry over the last 15 months allowed
the launch of the definition phase, said the DGA, the lead agency for the
project.
French company Dassault Aviation is the prime contractor. Other companies
working on the feasibility phase were Italyƒ ™s Alenia Aeronautica, Swedenƒ
™s Saab, Spainƒ ™s EADS CASA, Greeceƒ ™s Hellenic Aerospace Industries,
Switzerlandƒ ™s RUAG Aerospace and Franceƒ ™s Thales. The feasibility
studies covered areas including stealth, flight control without fins, open
modular avionics and development of internal weapon bays. On completion of
the definition phase, the program enters development and assembly of the
aircraft, which is due to fly in the first half of 2011. Flight tests,
expected to last about 18 months, will take place in France, Sweden and
Italy.
The DGA on June 12 informed representatives of the procurement agencies of
Greece, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland sitting on the Neuron programƒ ™s
strategic board that the technology program has entered the definition
phase.
Work so far has allowed significant breakthroughs in the precise definition
of the combat UAVƒ ™s external shape, manufacturing of stealth materials,
avionics architecture and choice of an off-the-shelf fighter engine, the
DGA said. The advances will help reduce risk in the program, which uses
cutting-edge technology, it added."


Invisible killer bots.

I will be so humored to see the neuron vs F22 stats following a Red Flag in
2012 or so.




Adam

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