Doesn't and can't work like that.
RPAS (was JUSTAS): the project to buy armed Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs
- Thread starter Jammer
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Doesn't and can't work like that.
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I can think of several government procurement projects that were well underway and then shot in a dark parking lot like a raccoon at Borden.
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FJAG
Army.ca Legend
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That's a particular biproduct of a system that lives off of taxpayer money. In private industry, for the most part, the rule is to cut your losses rather than throwing good money after bad.
No. That's one of the constraints.
And sometimes you just accept it as part of your role. As an example, CAF Space is on a growth path to be larger than the Canadian Space Agency by 2035, with a project portfolio that's more than $20B. Forget the CAF. We don't have enough Space professionals in the country for that kind of growth. So we have no choice but to grow the talent at the same time. And you have to accept that a young Captain or Corporal needs the time to learn and you're not getting full work productivity out of them. You have to accept that they don't have the experience and will make mistakes. Just plan for that.
The same is true for all kinds of projects. The whole department is short on engineers and procurement officers. So, just like the CAF, recruit and train and accept that your project will have HR as red on the risk matrix all the way through.
And it doesn't. Billions extra doesn't mean March madness at major capital projects. What ends up happening is that timelines move up. Everybody got asked how much they can shift left. And anybody who can gets priority.
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Another problem for GAA.
taskandpurpose.com
aviationweek.com
Cost of the GAA MQ-9 Reaper - ca 30 MUSD apiece
Cost of the Bayraktar TB2 - ca 2-5 MUSD
Mirrors the CCA discussion
Cost of the GAA YFQ-42A Dark Merlin - ca 30 MUSD apiece
Cost of the Kratos MQ-58 Valkyrie - 3-5 MUSD
Another problem?
Production Rates
MQ-9 - 48 per year
TB-2 - 250-300 per year currently heading for 500
YFQ-42A - currently GAA produces 100 aircraft of all types at its facility including the 48 MQ-9s
MQ-58A - Kratos has stated it has the capacity to produce 200 to 500 aircraft a year at existing facilities.
....
Add that to their vision of an uncrewed 1950s STOL aircraft for CAS/CUAS and GAA needs a rethink.
The Iran war took a toll on the Air Force's Reaper fleet
The Air Force's MQ-9 Reaper fleet has taken a hit over the last few years, with drones being downed in combat and during training mishaps.
taskandpurpose.com
USAF Opens Search For Attritable ISR Aircraft | Aviation Week Network
The U.S. Air Force is now looking at options for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance uncrewed aircraft in the “attritable” cost category.
aviationweek.com
Cost of the GAA MQ-9 Reaper - ca 30 MUSD apiece
Cost of the Bayraktar TB2 - ca 2-5 MUSD
Mirrors the CCA discussion
Cost of the GAA YFQ-42A Dark Merlin - ca 30 MUSD apiece
Cost of the Kratos MQ-58 Valkyrie - 3-5 MUSD
Another problem?
Production Rates
MQ-9 - 48 per year
TB-2 - 250-300 per year currently heading for 500
YFQ-42A - currently GAA produces 100 aircraft of all types at its facility including the 48 MQ-9s
MQ-58A - Kratos has stated it has the capacity to produce 200 to 500 aircraft a year at existing facilities.
....
Add that to their vision of an uncrewed 1950s STOL aircraft for CAS/CUAS and GAA needs a rethink.
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MQ-9B SeaGuardian teaming up with the P-8 Poseidons.
www.twz.com
MQ-9B SeaGuardian Ready For Teaming With P-8 Poseidon
Branded Content: General Atomics has developed the MQ-9B as an all-round maritime patrol drone and a companion to the P-8.
www.twz.com
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The USAF's MQ-9B Reaper replacement - The Multi-Mission Aircraft (A cheaper Reaper)
"The Air Force has largely declined a push to replace the MQ-9A with the more capable, and more expensive, MQ-9B. The service is targeting a $10 million-per-copy price tag for the MMA."
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"Meink says the service wants to field MMA in increments, pressing for iron on the ramp quickly while bringing on additional capabilities. The service is requiring an open systems architecture approach to allow for easier modifications.
"“I think it’s important to note that the first 20 of these, and the second 20, and then next, 20 and the next 20—there will be evolution, and that was designed in the architecture to allow that to happen, so I expect to see continued involvement of those systems,”"
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A cheaper Reaper in a continuous improvement program - possibly adding sensors like sonobuoy dispensers and AESA radar pods.
aviationweek.com
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How will this impact the Canadian RPAS project?
www.canada.ca
"The Air Force has largely declined a push to replace the MQ-9A with the more capable, and more expensive, MQ-9B. The service is targeting a $10 million-per-copy price tag for the MMA."
....
"Meink says the service wants to field MMA in increments, pressing for iron on the ramp quickly while bringing on additional capabilities. The service is requiring an open systems architecture approach to allow for easier modifications.
"“I think it’s important to note that the first 20 of these, and the second 20, and then next, 20 and the next 20—there will be evolution, and that was designed in the architecture to allow that to happen, so I expect to see continued involvement of those systems,”"
....
A cheaper Reaper in a continuous improvement program - possibly adding sensors like sonobuoy dispensers and AESA radar pods.
USAF Secretary Lays Out Aggressive Goals For Autonomous Aircraft | Aviation Week
The U.S. Air Force has set a goal to field 1,000 new autonomous aircraft by 2032 along with tens of thousands of low-cost, long-range munitions.
aviationweek.com
....
How will this impact the Canadian RPAS project?
Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) - Canada.ca
This project will acquire a medium altitude and armed Remotely Piloted Aircraft System along with associated equipment, weapons, infrastructure and in-service sustainment capability that will support up to three concurrent lines of operation, domestic or international. This project supports...
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Considering the loss rates of the current generation, i can see why they want to go cheaper.
The entire RPAS project is so f'd. They asked for too many things from one platform. That's why it's so late.
It's silly. We should have split our domestic surveillance requirements from our theatre level strike requirements. The Sky Guardian will always struggle with the Arctic. And now it becomes overpriced as a support asset for the army and navy.
I kinda wish they started over. But that would be the second or third reboot.
It's silly. We should have split our domestic surveillance requirements from our theatre level strike requirements. The Sky Guardian will always struggle with the Arctic. And now it becomes overpriced as a support asset for the army and navy.
I kinda wish they started over. But that would be the second or third reboot.
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We need to get it delivered and get it operating and then iterate. We are so far behind in this field that we have to start someplace.
Any word on the Coast Guard acquired Drone from Germany. It has caused some confused excitement in the skys near Greenwood.
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Nope.
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That someplace could be reducing the spec and buying the first thing that is available and starting to use it.
