DWG
ACCESS: Top Secret
That article is odd as for something that starts off saying they have a few new details it ends up reading like a press release with the level of detail.
They're called Aviation Leak and Space Mythology for a reason!
That article is odd as for something that starts off saying they have a few new details it ends up reading like a press release with the level of detail.
I thought one of it tasks might be as a support vehicle for the B-21 especially as they are both made by NG & I assume part of the so called global strike.I figured it was a support aircraft, similar to the F-117's brother and that the penetrating ISR UAV belonged to a different deep black program that hasn't been acknowledged yet.
I thought one of it tasks might be as a support vehicle for the B-21 especially as they are both made by NG & I assume part of the so called global strike.
Aviation Week's Check 6 podcast: A Stealth Surprise: RQ-180 Goes Operational
Nearly years after Aviation Week confirmed the existence of the stealthy RQ-180, new reporting suggests the Northrop Grumman high-altitude unmanned aircraft system has a new home base in California and has been ready to fly operational missions since at least 2017. Aviation Week editors Guy Norris, Steve Trimble, and Graham Warwick discuss the details of the latest story, along with some of the implications the reporting poses for the acquisition and operational communities.
You said it (but I was thinking it). It's a pity they didn't ask me to update my artwork from 2013 to the latest intel. I enjoyed working on that one.* sigh *
Artwork FAIL.
I am not that enthusiastic about the RQ-180 since they say its purpose is for reconnaissance but I hope a 5 ton payload UAV version be it the X-47C is in development as the article states.
Well, I would hope if we have a large stealthy (who says its unmanned?) rq180 that it would have some ability to also attack as well as perform surveillance. A few years ago some retired general was on the news channels saying that the US had the means of attacking stealthily NK missiles on their launch pads but he could not go into details. It sounded lime a tacit admission the US had some kind of stealthy attack platform or stealthy missile. 10 tons is a lot but its not inconceivable if we have a stealthy surveillance platform that it might have a weapons bay. Otherwise we wasted a lot of money on those ucav drones that publicly went no place. I would hope my tax dollars went someplace to replace the f117 mission with something else. The f35 is great, but its not in the same league as a dedicated VLO attack plane.
Why do people assume the rq180, if it is real, is unmanned? Might it not be optionally manned?
Why do people assume the rq180, if it is real, is unmanned? Might it not be optionally manned?
Probably can't afford your rates, and got a cheap deal on fiverr.You said it (but I was thinking it). It's a pity they didn't ask me to update my artwork from 2013 to the latest intel. I enjoyed working on that one.* sigh *
Artwork FAIL.
That's what I mean. Remember the F-19? The entire F was designed to throw everyone off of it being an A-117. Who says the official designation is RQ-anything. The RQ180 is speculation unless anyone can point to anything official. It could RQ201 for anyone knows.Why do people assume the rq180, if it is real, is unmanned? Might it not be optionally manned?
Because if it was manned, it would probably not have an RQ designation.
You said it (but I was thinking it). It's a pity they didn't ask me to update my artwork from 2013 to the latest intel. I enjoyed working on that one.* sigh *
Artwork FAIL.
It's not an A-117, it's called the F-117.That's what I mean. Remember the F-19? The entire F was designed to throw everyone off of it being an A-117. Who says the official designation is RQ-anything. The RQ180 is speculation unless anyone can point to anything official. It could RQ201 for anyone knows.Why do people assume the rq180, if it is real, is unmanned? Might it not be optionally manned?
Because if it was manned, it would probably not have an RQ designation.
The powerpoint is still on a server somewhere I'm sure.What its implied role is may be a misinformation campaign.
I'd like to know how that high-speed/high-altitude reconnaissance drone is coming along.
But you do know it never flew anything other than attack missions. I don't think it was ever employed as a fighter is the point.It's not an A-117, it's called the F-117.That's what I mean. Remember the F-19? The entire F was designed to throw everyone off of it being an A-117. Who says the official designation is RQ-anything. The RQ180 is speculation unless anyone can point to anything official. It could RQ201 for anyone knows.Why do people assume the rq180, if it is real, is unmanned? Might it not be optionally manned?
Because if it was manned, it would probably not have an RQ designation.
What its implied role is may be a misinformation campaign.
It should be noted the secret code name was shared with Northrop Grumman’s public search to find an engineering base for the B-21 program around that time.
What its implied role is may be a misinformation campaign.
Or just disinformation in its entirety. Here's the clue:
It should be noted the secret code name was shared with Northrop Grumman’s public search to find an engineering base for the B-21 program around that time.
A project code name for a unacknowledged special access program would never be shared with another project
(at the same company mine you) of lower classification for fear that misrouting to the latter would compromise the former.
reading entirely too much into it and wildly over extrapolating a conclusion
This report summarizes DoD industrial capabilities-related guidance, assessments, and actions initiated during FY2016 and as they existed at the close of that year. It is important to note that the status of some of the programs described herein has changed in the intervening time.
Includes Previous Major Programs not Currently in Production.
Likely an error?The *tiniest* of official mentions....: The RQ-180 is listed under NG in a table (page 32) of 'Prime Contractors for Major Aircraft Acquisition Programs' in the OUSD's FY2016 Annual Industrial Capabilities Report to Congress.
This report summarizes DoD industrial capabilities-related guidance, assessments, and actions initiated during FY2016 and as they existed at the close of that year. It is important to note that the status of some of the programs described herein has changed in the intervening time.
Includes Previous Major Programs not Currently in Production.
Only appears in 2016
Interestingly the RQ-170 is marked as 'not in production' in 2017.
Likely an error?The *tiniest* of official mentions....: The RQ-180 is listed under NG in a table (page 32) of 'Prime Contractors for Major Aircraft Acquisition Programs' in the OUSD's FY2016 Annual Industrial Capabilities Report to Congress.
This report summarizes DoD industrial capabilities-related guidance, assessments, and actions initiated during FY2016 and as they existed at the close of that year. It is important to note that the status of some of the programs described herein has changed in the intervening time.
Includes Previous Major Programs not Currently in Production.
Only appears in 2016
Interestingly the RQ-170 is marked as 'not in production' in 2017.
Likely an error?The *tiniest* of official mentions....: The RQ-180 is listed under NG in a table (page 32) of 'Prime Contractors for Major Aircraft Acquisition Programs' in the OUSD's FY2016 Annual Industrial Capabilities Report to Congress.
This report summarizes DoD industrial capabilities-related guidance, assessments, and actions initiated during FY2016 and as they existed at the close of that year. It is important to note that the status of some of the programs described herein has changed in the intervening time.
Includes Previous Major Programs not Currently in Production.
Only appears in 2016
Interestingly the RQ-170 is marked as 'not in production' in 2017.
Or production had already ended by then.
Sorry I meant the error was the inclusion of the RQ-180 in the document?Likely an error?The *tiniest* of official mentions....: The RQ-180 is listed under NG in a table (page 32) of 'Prime Contractors for Major Aircraft Acquisition Programs' in the OUSD's FY2016 Annual Industrial Capabilities Report to Congress.
This report summarizes DoD industrial capabilities-related guidance, assessments, and actions initiated during FY2016 and as they existed at the close of that year. It is important to note that the status of some of the programs described herein has changed in the intervening time.
Includes Previous Major Programs not Currently in Production.
Only appears in 2016
Interestingly the RQ-170 is marked as 'not in production' in 2017.
Or production had already ended by then.
Most likely having ended some years before, yes.
I have this probably silly belief it will be unveiled with the B-21. As it sounds like one of its roles will be to support the B-21.A year on and nobody but nobody has seen anything like the RQ-180 at Beale.
And apparently DLA didn't get the message since they are ordering less JPTS over
the next five years. Which makes absolutely no sense unless there isn't another type
using it which is the only reason to base the RQ-180 at Beale in the first place.
I have this probably silly belief it will be unveiled with the B-21. As it sounds like one of its roles will be to support the B-21.A year on and nobody but nobody has seen anything like the RQ-180 at Beale.
And apparently DLA didn't get the message since they are ordering less JPTS over
the next five years. Which makes absolutely no sense unless there isn't another type
using it which is the only reason to base the RQ-180 at Beale in the first place.
The *tiniest* of official mentions....: The RQ-180 is listed under NG in a table (page 32) of 'Prime Contractors for Major Aircraft Acquisition Programs' in the OUSD's FY2016 Annual Industrial Capabilities Report to Congress.
Interestingly the RQ-170 is marked as 'not in production' in 2017.
The *tiniest* of official mentions....: The RQ-180 is listed under NG in a table (page 32) of 'Prime Contractors for Major Aircraft Acquisition Programs' in the OUSD's FY2016 Annual Industrial Capabilities Report to Congress.
Interestingly the RQ-170 is marked as 'not in production' in 2017.
It's possible that the report authors are just repeating what they read in Aviation Week and the information isn't really "official".
Last RQ-170 was produced in (IIRC) 2010. In the document I don't see it marked as not in production, I just see that the tables include systems not currently in production ("Includes Major Programs not Currently in Production")
I have not yet found any evidence that suggests an RQ-180 (as described by Aviation Week) exists. On the other hand there was a lot of evidence for the RQ-170 before it was photographed / revealed. *shrug*
The *tiniest* of official mentions....: The RQ-180 is listed under NG in a table (page 32) of 'Prime Contractors for Major Aircraft Acquisition Programs' in the OUSD's FY2016 Annual Industrial Capabilities Report to Congress.
Interestingly the RQ-170 is marked as 'not in production' in 2017.
It's possible that the report authors are just repeating what they read in Aviation Week and the information isn't really "official".
Last RQ-170 was produced in (IIRC) 2010. In the document I don't see it marked as not in production, I just see that the tables include systems not currently in production ("Includes Major Programs not Currently in Production")
I have not yet found any evidence that suggests an RQ-180 (as described by Aviation Week) exists. On the other hand there was a lot of evidence for the RQ-170 before it was photographed / revealed. *shrug*
The *tiniest* of official mentions....: The RQ-180 is listed under NG in a table (page 32) of 'Prime Contractors for Major Aircraft Acquisition Programs' in the OUSD's FY2016 Annual Industrial Capabilities Report to Congress.
Interestingly the RQ-170 is marked as 'not in production' in 2017.
It's possible that the report authors are just repeating what they read in Aviation Week and the information isn't really "official".
Last RQ-170 was produced in (IIRC) 2010. In the document I don't see it marked as not in production, I just see that the tables include systems not currently in production ("Includes Major Programs not Currently in Production")
I have not yet found any evidence that suggests an RQ-180 (as described by Aviation Week) exists. On the other hand there was a lot of evidence for the RQ-170 before it was photographed / revealed. *shrug*
That’s a pretty ludicrous supposition to make about an official document. You really are stretching credibility trying to prove the RQ-180 doesn’t exist. It’s also hardly the first time it’s existence has been alluded you in an official way if you look back in the this thread.
So Quellish is skeptical because he thinks this guy made it up. Tirpak told me it was used in a sidebar conversation where Tirpack referred to it as RQ-180 and the Lt General responded to several inquiries while being careful to not call it the RQ-180. So RQ-180 may not be the real name, but who in the hell is going to call it "The platform generally referred to as RQ-180".