Tanker Attack

[El OchoCinco]

Sorry overestimated... cost $130 million.

For 1 frickin drone.

How stupid is DoD as a consumer haha. No wonder DoD contractors in my area D.C. make a killing.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/us-navy-drone-shot-down-iranian-missile-cost

 

[Snarkhund]

Seriously? That does sound awfully high for a device that apparently can't defend itself or elude missiles. I fear we have built a military that is useful only for bullying small third world countries. Our brass could be in for a rude awakening if they faced a sophisticated foe. We depend heavily on WW II-style naval power. How long would those ships last in a war against Russia or china? Five minutes?

You have to think of it as a communications/surveillance satellite. You couldn't get a satellite built, launched and parked over the region for $150M these days. Its a big ship with the wingspan of a 737.

The most important aspect is that it is unmanned. Not long ago it would have been Navy people in a P3 or maybe USAF in an AWACS loitering in international airspace and facing Iranian missiles. Had that been a manned aircraft we would almost certainly be attacking Iran right now. The fact that no US personnel have been harmed or killed is a great thing and gives us the option to sit tight and not start blowing stuff up... yet.

 

[Cuddles]

You have to think of it as a communications/surveillance satellite. You couldn't get a satellite built, launched and parked over the region for $150M these days. Its a big ship with the wingspan of a 737.

The most important aspect is that it is unmanned. Not long ago it would have been Navy people in a P3 or maybe USAF in an AWACS loitering in international airspace and facing Iranian missiles. Had that been a manned aircraft we would almost certainly be attacking Iran right now. The fact that no US personnel have been harmed or killed is a great thing and gives us the option to sit tight and not start blowing stuff up... yet.

Or, the fact is unnamed gives the warmongers the excuse they need to fly over restricted air space and provoke conflict

 

[El OchoCinco]

You have to think of it as a communications/surveillance satellite. You couldn't get a satellite built, launched and parked over the region for $150M these days. Its a big ship with the wingspan of a 737.

A Boeing 737 costs about $80 million. That is the price tag which means it costs less to make.

The U.S. got ripped off by a contractor who knew the government throws money out the window. It is an unmanned aircraft with a camera. It takes off like a model airplane

 

[RedDuke]

A Boeing 737 costs about $80 million. That is the price tag which means it costs less to make.

The U.S. got ripped off by a contractor who knew the government throws money out the window. It is an unmanned aircraft with a camera. It takes off like a model airplane

They pay $400 for a hammer. 130mil for a drone is actually cheap.

 

[AAAintheBeltway]

This thread is encouraging to me because it shows the left and right actually are in agreement on important issues, eg no more pointless wars, reining in the military industrial complex,e tc.

There is a fair amount of agreement as well on economic issues. Tucker Carlson, who has come to represent the populist/nationalist wing of the republican party, commented favorably on one of Elizabeth Warren's economic speeches. He read her comments without saying who they were from to illustrate how much common ground exists between the populist right and the far left.

 

[vanzandt]

A Boeing 737 costs about $80 million. That is the price tag which means it costs less to make.

The U.S. got ripped off by a contractor who knew the government throws money out the window. It is an unmanned aircraft with a camera. It takes off like a model airplane

Last year Boeing sold 6 787's(-9's)... the loaded Dreamliner.... to Hawaiian Airlines for like $110K each.
Or at least they offered to as I recall. $130K for that thing is ridiculous.

 

[AAAintheBeltway]

When SkyNet becomes fully operational, it will prevent incidents like this.

The entire episode once again illustrates why President Trump urgently needs the Orbital Space Cannon(OSC).

Advanced Chinese OSC.

 

[Snarkhund]

A Boeing 737 costs about $80 million. That is the price tag which means it costs less to make.

LOL a 737 is a hollow tube full of seats. Pack it up with military-grade comm gear and other stuff and see what it costs.

 

[El OchoCinco]

Hollow tube filled with seats? Do you realize how muhc technology goes in the navigation and control systems as well climate contro/pressurization? add in 285 entertainment systems

A drone is a remote controlled camera. It would have been cheaper to fly a manned plane up there than $130 million dollars for one of those things.

No matter how you slice it, DoD is getting reamed big time.