Say Hello to the RQ-180

It can finally be revealed. The first three open source articles disclosing some pieces of the speculated black program puzzle of Northrop. This perhaps explains the billion dollar rumblings in 2008, a new hangar at the TFWC discovered in 2007 and the defection of engineers across the USAF Plant 42 runway from Lockheed to Northrop as early as 2004.

Bill Sweetman (a Minnesota convert), Peter Merlin and Tyler Rogoway appear to have picked up on the nearing disclosure of this effort, based on their various discussions. I've always thought the cranked kite planform selection was a clever way to adjust the station line of your aerodynamic center. This one ain't your mama's Blue Devil I.

Secret New UAS Shows Stealth, Efficiency Advances

Where Does RQ-180 Fit In Stealthy UAS History?

Unmasking the RQ-180

reply to post by TAGBOARD


WOW.

Gee I bet the Iranians would love to catch that bad boy ...

reply to post by TAGBOARD


Nice! Does anyone know if this is the one that crashed a little while back in NM?

Or perhaps this is what's coming over from Area 51 to Nellis?

reply to post by Stealthbomber


I don't know.

reply to post by Stealthbomber


A few will know.

But if it is...

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Do I win a cookie?

Well hello RQ-180, aren't you the sexy bird.

If you are the sexy new eye piece, I wonder what your predecessors look like. I'd imagine you are at least a few generations old.

reply to post by TAGBOARD


If they released this project is because they already started working in something even more advanced, wonder about their next step.

About damn time.

reply to post by AlphaHawk


Just read your post in here, to your post in the linked thread. What a catch

reply to post by the2ofusr1


Our government from the top is good at flying our top secret technology to other countries (Iran) so they can catch them on purpose.

No grounds for impeachment either.

Now, if I can just get an actual photo of it instead of a rendering.

reply to post by Zaphod58


NM?

reply to post by Sammamishman


Could be.

why silver? or bare? no hi tech paint on this one .......... just asking

reply to post by corblimeyguvnor


At the altitudes it flies at, it doesn't matter much. You won't see it from the ground without knowing it's there to begin with.

PRS395
reply to post by the2ofusr1

 

Our government from the top is good at flying our top secret technology to other countries (Iran) so they can catch them on purpose.

No grounds for impeachment either.

Right. We should just fly spy aircraft over the US.

Zaphod58
reply to post by corblimeyguvnor

 

At the altitudes it flies at, it doesn't matter much. You won't see it from the ground without knowing it's there to begin with.

Without RAM coating, it will be seen. Iran isn't a bunch of cave dwellers.

reply to post by gariac


And color has nothing to do with RAM coating. You can have RAM coating of any color. The point I was going for, which you ignored, was that the COLOR doesn't matter at the altitudes this flies at. Who said anything about RAM anywhere?

Zaphod58
reply to post by gariac

 

And color has nothing to do with RAM coating. You can have RAM coating of any color. The point I was going for, which you ignored, was that the COLOR doesn't matter at the altitudes this flies at. Who said anything about RAM anywhere?

One sees with radar.