Skyblade IV – Fully Autonomous Tactical UAV
..The UAVsÂ’ small size and low signature help them remain longer in the air, while also allowing them to be less detectable. This makes UAVs useful for carrying out missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance, damage-assessment, search and rescue, as well as maritime and coastal patrol over wider areas, with no risk to pilot life.
The UAV, Skyblade IV, can perform its mission continuously for up to 12 hours or more, carrying a maximum paylod of 50kg....
Weighing less than 8 kg, the robust and modular Skyblade II is able to fly at an altitude of more than 3,000 ft. It is a joint project with ST AerospaceDSO AR 2005 page 17
DSO is now working with Singapore Technologies on the full-scale development of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle called SkyBlade IV. When completed at the end of this year(2006), it will enable the SAF to tap on unmanned aerial vehicles for a variety of operational missions such as surveillance and reconnaissance.
I concur...maybe the UAV classification for this 'UAV' is to act as a disguise for its real purpose as a cruise missile.Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:Hmm... It almost seems to me, that with a little jury rigging, this thing could be turned into a cruise missile.
its an evolution uh..Originally posted by d3athy:i doubt sg UAV can be fitted with any kinds of armments , its simply doesnt have enuff payload for missiles or anything , unless they came up with a new design for UAV .
Well, one can merely extend its usage and designing a larger version to carry a larger payload...Originally posted by Alvin.Yeoh:How much damage would 50Kg of explosives do?
That looks seriously like a mini cruise missile of sorts.
yup....current predator is hugeOriginally posted by wonderamazement:Predator can hold and deploy Hellfire missiles right?
I remember seeing it at the previous Asian Aerospace... Was almost the size of a F16!Originally posted by Rockhound:yup....current predator is huge
There are however limits on how small things can get.Originally posted by d3athy:predator is huge , considering having pay loads of helfire missile to strike . If our UAV are to modify or come out with new design , imagine how big it gona get and the cost of maintaining it , just to fit it with firepower. Just wait till nano tech is out and stable ... everything is gona be small