CH-148 Cyclone Progress

[SeaKingTacco]

The Triton/Global Hawk family doesn’t employ dropped stores. The SeaGuardian version of the MQ-9, however, shows promise. It has long endurance, can carry an impressive amount of sonobouys, and acts as a rebroadcaster for sonobouy data. I don’t think anyone’s dropped a torpedo yet from a Reaper variant, but that capability might be coming soon.

Not if reaper doesn’t have a heated, internal weapons bay, will they carry and drop torpedos.

 

[Baz]

The Triton/Global Hawk family doesn’t employ dropped stores. The SeaGuardian version of the MQ-9, however, shows promise. It has long endurance, can carry an impressive amount of sonobouys, and acts as a rebroadcaster for sonobouy data. I don’t think anyone’s dropped a torpedo yet from a Reaper variant, but that capability might be coming soon.

Thanks, that was a misspeak on my part.

 

[Baz]

Not if reaper doesn’t have a heated, internal weapons bay, will they carry and drop torpedos.

What’s the range hit if they stay at a low enough altitude?

 

[SeaKingTacco]

What’s the range hit if they stay at a low enough altitude?

No idea. Can they stay safe, flying low in weather goo that might include icing conditions, instead of going over it?

 

[Baz]

So… (full disclaimer, I’ve not heard anybody say this):

Over in the F-35 thread there is speculation about a Lock-Mart / GOC announcement on 22 Sep. Given LM owns Sik, anybody want to create Cyclone rumours?

 

[Lumber]

What’s the range hit if they stay at a low enough altitude?

According to wiki, the Reaper weighs 4,901 lbs, has a max take off weight of 10,494 lbs, and can carry 4000 lbs of fuel, leaving 1594 lbs for payload if it is carrying max fuel (wiki also says it can carry up to 3800 lbs of payload, which would leave it with only 1793 lbs of fuel.)

A Mk-46 weight about 500lbs, so in theory it could carry two of them and still carry a full fuel load.

 

[Baz]

According to wiki, the Reaper weighs 4,901 lbs, has a max take off weight of 10,494 lbs, and can carry 4000 lbs of fuel, leaving 1594 lbs for payload if it is carrying max fuel (wiki also says it can carry up to 3800 lbs of payload, which would leave it with only 1793 lbs of fuel.)

A Mk-46 weight about 500lbs, so in theory it could carry two of them and still carry a full fuel load.

OK. But the concern SKT raised was internal storage and heaing for the weapon. So, the question is, how badly is the range affected if you carry the weapon externally and fly at a lower altitude?