UAVs over USA?

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAV) have been providing invaluable reconnaissance, helping to detect, track & target ground threats from stationary to mobile, day or night, along with other noble missions to better serve & protect our forces in Afghanistan & Iraq. Our domestic Dept. of Homeland Security has secured $10 million for the use of UAVs in border security this year, with it's Customs and Border Protection division testing UAVs along the Mexican border, their permanent use for border surveillance being under consideration. Department of Homeland Security also plans to test the UAVs along the Canadian border and in Puerto Rico.

www.epic.org...

I have no problem with UAVs being used to help fight the war on terrorism overseas or even hovering directly above our national border(s)/coastlines and ports to help with their fortification, but with all the top notch surveillance and weaponry these vehicles are equipped with, I hope there are laws in place to prevent them from EVER being used above US cities or anywhere else WITHIN the borders of the continental US. Spy satellites are one thing, but these babies provide for much more close & candid encounters that could clearly violate our right to privacy.

[edit on 25-8-2005 by Vajrayana]

There clarity is likely rivaled by spy sats. but these can be over the same area for over a day in needed. I dont really see your thinking. If your paranoid about being watched, or that big brother getting a little so close...your right. But unfortunatly, the average person doesn't care, All they (the gov) has to say is...Its to prevent terrorism and everyone "okays" it.

Example: The Patriot Act.

But you should be more worried about the camera's on the ground...there everywhere, pretty much if your in a public space...you are in the view of a camera.

and as for our borders, they need to be beefed up 10 fold. While UAS' are are better then manned helicopter patrols, I'm a big supporter on the technology that actually makes sense...like Airships. Airships could be up for weeks, or months, they costs way less, and are much less costy for maintainence as well.

even if armed UAV's were being used over major US cities...you probably wouldn't hear nor see them. The government wouldn't tell you either way, there is pretty much nothing we can do..The govt. is pretty good at keeping these types of things secretive.

BlueAngel:

[edit on 25-8-2005 by BlueAngel]

Originally posted by BlueAngel
even if armed UAV's were being used over major US cities...you probably wouldn't hear nor see them. The government wouldn't tell you either way, there is pretty much nothing we can do..The govt. is pretty good at keeping these types of things secretive.
[edit on 25-8-2005 by BlueAngel]

Theres no purpose for that. I dont think theres UAS' above our cities, and especially not armed ones.

Although true, you probably wouldn't notice them, but they would get attention, the news media would report it, its not like the USAF owns the sky, your local airport radar guy would know what every craft is.

why not armed ones...would help for a plane hi-jacking...though highly unlikely...im stretching it here...your probly right murciealgo

BlueAngel

BlueAngel
though highly unlikely

Highly Unlikely Indeed.....Being that an Unmanned Fighter doesn't even exist.

I'm sure that in the near future there will be many unmanned fighters

BlueAngel

Originally posted by BlueAngel
I'm sure that in the near future there will be many unmanned fighters

BlueAngel

no, theres not even one on the drawing boards, and since we have the F/A-22 theres no need to even start thinking about that till at least 10 years down the road. But I wouldn't expect to see an unmanned fighter till 2025.

no, theres not even one on the drawing boards,

That we know of.

and since we have the F/A-22 theres no need to even start thinking about that till at least 10 years down the road. But I wouldn't expect to see an unmanned fighter till 2025.

That’s why any unmanned fighter that the USAF is working on will likely remain under raps. If congress gets whiff that we have UAV’s that are as stealthy as the Raptor yet 5x cheaper they would bury the Raptor.

A friend of mine who works for the French intelligence services told me that there were French UAVs that were spying on the US. As they were stealth , the US couldn't detect them

Originally posted by ludo182
A friend of mine who works for the French intelligence services told me that there were French UAVs that were spying on the US. As they were stealth , the US couldn't detect them

It doesn't seem to bright of your friend to tell you that (if true). Talk about major security breach right there. But this seems highly unlikely. Why would the French spy on the US with UAV's? (or UAS' as they are called now ) There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of logic in that. Those French UAV's would have to be very stealthy if they were flying over the US. They would also have to be very long range too, if they were flying from France to the US, which would then kind of make them a bit large would it not?

Anyway it doesn't make sence that the French would spy on the US. But if for some reason they are. I'm sure the US Gov't would like to thank you for bringing it to there attention. Good job.

Originally posted by jra

Originally posted by ludo182
A friend of mine who works for the French intelligence services told me that there were French UAVs that were spying on the US. As they were stealth , the US couldn't detect them

It doesn't seem to bright of your friend to tell you that (if true). Talk about major security breach right there. But this seems highly unlikely. Why would the French spy on the US with UAV's? (or UAS' as they are called now

) There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of logic in that. Those French UAV's would have to be very stealthy if they were flying over the US. They would also have to be very long range too, if they were flying from France to the US, which would then kind of make them a bit large would it not?

Anyway it doesn't make sence that the French would spy on the US. But if for some reason they are. I'm sure the US Gov't would like to thank you for bringing it to there attention. Good job.

Son, your ego's writing checks your body can't cash

Originally posted by ludo182
A friend of mine who works for the French intelligence services told me that there were French UAVs that were spying on the US. As they were stealth , the US couldn't detect them

I agree with jra, thats highly unlikely.

If France has Airbases in Canada and Mexico the US would know. And if they are flying these stealth UAS' from France they would have to be very efficient, or be solar powered (like helios), or it would be a stealthy airship. Either way I'm 99.99999999999999% sure you and your 'friend' are wrong. Since there would be absolutely no reason for it. Since Europe and the US are allies...albiet ties with france are sketchy, and some people here dont really like them, but virtually no one here is thinking of going to war with France.

Originally posted by Murcielago

Originally posted by ludo182
A friend of mine who works for the French intelligence services told me that there were French UAVs that were spying on the US. As they were stealth , the US couldn't detect them

I agree with jra, thats highly unlikely.

If France has Airbases in Canada and Mexico the US would know. And if they are flying these stealth UAS' from France they would have to be very efficient, or be solar powered (like helios), or it would be a stealthy airship. Either way I'm 99.99999999999999% sure you and your 'friend' are wrong. Since there would be absolutely no reason for it. Since Europe and the US are allies...albiet ties with france are sketchy, and some people here dont really like them, but virtually no one here is thinking of going to war with France.

i was just kidding.

Yes we are allies but the US always considers its allies as "beyond" them. No way the US would trust France on a sensitive subject.

Waging a war against france would be ridiculous lol, let's assume the US would attack France and that no nuclear weapons would be used : US would win but suffer terrible losses, aircarriers would be destroyed, you would lose a lot of F22... more than 200 000 soldiers dead...

You know Murcielago you should probably take your own signatures advice. Your friend needs to be fired and right NOW for telling you anything. How do you know that everything you state is fact. You come off stating everything as fact in this UAV and every other forum : they don't have them, they don't need them, they don't use them. Where are the facts to back that up. Unless your the president of Skunkworks I would watch stating your opinion as fact.

By the way Murcielago, I meant no disrespect, I was just suggesting that you back up your statements a wee bit better, that is all. Thanks

X-45

X-47

RQ-1

Just 4 operational UCAVs I've found, the first two are still in the development stage, but are meant to drop bombs and fire missiles.

A variant of the Predator has been armed with 2 Sidewinders in battles in the Middle East, so there's an operational UCAV for ya.

Now I know what you mean by "fighters", like UCAVs the size of F/A-22 Raptors and such, but if a UAV is to be a fighter, then it is considered a UCAV, and there are a wide range of those that are being developed. UCAVs also tend to be significantly smaller than Manned fighters, and here is why, because the Manned fighters require space for Pilot safety features and the cockpit, so the Airframe is made bigger, but for UCAVs, a smaller fuselog, means better performance.

Shattered OUT...

Originally posted by 12 12 2012
You know Murcielago you should probably take your own signatures advice. Your friend needs to be fired and right NOW for telling you anything.

What the hell are you talking about?

I think your confusing what I said with what ludo182 said.

and ShatteredSkies, Those arn't fighters...all of there munitions are for ground targets. I dont judge a fighter by its size. I judge it by its role.

Originally posted by Murcielago

Originally posted by 12 12 2012
You know Murcielago you should probably take your own signatures advice. Your friend needs to be fired and right NOW for telling you anything.

What the hell are you talking about?

I think your confusing what I said with what ludo182 said.

and ShatteredSkies, Those arn't fighters...all of there munitions are for ground targets. I dont judge a fighter by its size.

I judge it by its role.

Last time I checked, Sidewinders attack air targets too.

And even if the UAV has the role of air superiority, it's still a UCAV, and UCAVs exist.

Shattered OUT...

Originally posted by ShatteredSkies

Originally posted by Murcielago

Originally posted by 12 12 2012
You know Murcielago you should probably take your own signatures advice. Your friend needs to be fired and right NOW for telling you anything.

What the hell are you talking about?

I think your confusing what I said with what ludo182 said.

and ShatteredSkies, Those arn't fighters...all of there munitions are for ground targets. I dont judge a fighter by its size.

I judge it by its role.

Last time I checked, Sidewinders attack air targets too.

And even if the UAV has the role of air superiority, it's still a UCAV, and UCAVs exist.

Shattered OUT...

yes they are...but as far as i'm aware none of those UAS' that you pointed out have that capability.

I of course, wouldn't say that UCAVs dont exist...that just foolish. But as I said, none that I know of can shoot down another aircraft.