Drones, the Air Littoral, and the Looming Irrelevance of the USAF

[Kirkhill]

Nothing is ever totally obsolete.

 

[Kirkhill]

Interesting application for an FPV - fixing.

Russian section takes cover in a house. FPV hovers in the yard behind a couple of trees. Russians fail to neutralize the FPV. House is cleared by a Ukrainian section with zero casualties. Russians frozen into inaction by the continuing threat of the FPV.

 

[Kirkhill]

Teledyne FLIR's 'new' Rogue 1 loitering munition has been under SOCOM contract for two years - Breaking Defense

A SOCOM spokesperson told Breaking Defense, “Our next step is to purchase limited quantities of the Rogue 1 for further test and evaluation in support of a fielding decision and follow-on Low-Rate Initial Production in late calendar year 2025.”

breakingdefense.com

On April 11, the US Marine Corps awarded development contracts to Anduril Industries, Aerovironment and Teledyne FLIR Defense for a mix of VTOL and fixed wing LMS as part of the Organic Precision Fires—Light program. Selected solutions include the Rogue 1, Aerovironment’s Switchblade 300 Block 20, and an undisclosed VTOL solution from Anduril.

And related ....

Army leader dismisses House proposal for drone branch creation - Breaking Defense

“Operating and defending against the drone threat is something that will be experienced by, you know, all formations at multiple echelons,” said Army Undersecretary Gabe Camarillo.

breakingdefense.com

Drones, apparently, are everybodies' job.

 

[KevinB]

Rogue 1 was demonstrated during ISOF this year. Has some nice features, but it’s pretty much a SOF budget item only at this point…
$100k/pop

I’d rather suicide drones be in the sub 5k range.