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The end of an era?
Many of the grads from the academy see a drone slot as a career ender before it begins.
I wonder if there was a similar attitude in the navy when subs first came around. Or Army when helo's came on the scene.
Don't think so - its a matter of being in the "spotlight" and being able to move up professionally. Usually if you fly fighters or bombers you're and have seen combat you'll find yourself in staff colleges alot easier so I've been told.I wonder if there was a similar attitude in the navy when subs first came around. Or Army when helo's came on the scene.
"Oh I have slipped the surly bonds of my desk chair; And typed on keyboards' wireless wavelength; Back to my computer I stumble, with pizza in hand, and touch the face of Google."
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not the same ring to it..........
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Don't think so - its a matter of being in the "spotlight" and being able to move up professionally. Usually if you fly fighters or bombers you're and have seen combat you'll find yourself in staff colleges alot easier so I've been told.
But this might now be a change in things. I wouldn't doubt that sec' defense will make sure the drone operators move on up in the ranks.
The sec' defense doesn't sign pilot evals.......
You have to make Major or LtCol first - that's the problemBut he has a lot of influence on who becomes general.
Are the new drone operaters to be mainly enlisted or officers? I know that I'd be pretty PO'ed if I were an Academy grad being pushed into drone school...
It seems to me that the trend towards a UCAV-heavy air force is inevitable. The sheer cost of 5th gen a/c (Officials are saying that the first 500 F-35's are gonna cost $200 million a pop. Who knows how much it will actually be...) and the continuing advances in sensor and guidance technology is going to make a it very difficult to justify large traditional air forces, esp with no truly formidable adversaries on the immediate horizon.
JL
I agree that manned combat a/c are going to be absolutely necessary for the forseeable future. What should be a concern is the fact that the F-22/F-35 are both horrendously expensive, and in the case of the Raptor at least, very maintenance intensive. The F-35 doesn't impress me as having much bang for the buck, given its limited stealth, small payload, less than impressive range, and suspect A/A capabilities. I would be far from surprised if many of the non-US customers decide that the escalating costs are just too much, and start shopping around elsewhere. That's not gonna help the unit costs for the remaining customers. And whether or not those expensive-to-operate* jets will last for 50 yrs is not going to be the main concern for those who will have to pay for them NOW.
* see: F-22 Raptor plagued by stealth maintenance woes (2/20/09) -- www.GovernmentExecutive.com
JL