Boeing Unveils Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle

from the no-pilot-and-the-bombardier-telecommutes dept.
Jay Dugger writes "This week's Aviation Week magazine describes an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle developed for US Department of Defense." (You can also view Boeing's press release.) "While placing machines in harm's way instead of humans serves the public interest, a post-2010 deployment target makes me wonder whether such weapons designed now will prove competitive in that era. If not, how can modern military institutions adapt?" The article says, "Two or three [of the craft] could be directed by a single, stealthy, manned aircraft whose pilot would provide authority for weapons release at the end of the UCAV's largely autonomous flight."