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You mean Northrop.Little side note...
Grumman plans to use the X-47 as the basis for its design to answer the 2018 bomber requirement. They plan on scaling it up and adding pilots, but essentially using the same systems and overall airframe.
Actually when the companies "merged" for the most part Grumman exists in name. Although there are still operations on LI and in Florida "Northrop-Grumman" is mainly a California company, with most of the programs and management between Palmdale and Hawthorne.According to the photo credit, you both are correct.
Northrop actually swallowed up Grumman, much in the same manner Boeing swallowed McDonnell DouglasOh, ok, but aren't they both listed as owning the Newport News Shipyard. I just thought it was a full on merger, my bad. Sorry.
Northrop-Grumman is a single entitiy these days so it doesn't really matter. Same as Lockheed Martin, or BAE-Boeing
sorry, I made that last one up for a laugh
Actually the mindset is changing with regards to UAVs at least in the USAF. These days many would be combat pilots are starting to embrace the importance and career benefits of UAVs. The USAFA just graduated its first 3 cadets who completed a UAV flight training program. Additionally, there is going to be a UAV pilot screening program set up for ROTC pilot candidates.I think you're right.
But it's not just the old brass, I've heard about a lot of current fighter pilots complaining about the UAVs to. Imagine going through all of the flight training, doing all of the hard work to fly a supersonic fighter jet, only to be stuck in a dark room flying a remote-controlled airplane.
But I suppose it make sense. Since the next generation of fighter pilots will have grown up spending all of their time playing video games, which isn't all that different from flying a UAV.
Actually the mindset is changing with regards to UAVs at least in the USAF. These days many would be combat pilots are starting to embrace the importance and career benefits of UAVs. The USAFA just graduated its first 3 cadets who completed a UAV flight training program. Additionally, there is going to be a UAV pilot screening program set up for ROTC pilot candidates.
I don't think UAVs will ever fully replace the manned fighter but will rather supplement the mission, taking the pilot out of harm's way. Many of the pilots I work with, including former fighter guys are taking UAVs with mixed feelings but for the most part many of them feel they will never be fully replaced.