not when that low vis is due to cloud, fog or rain - pretty standard searching conditions for UKSAR. IR sensors need thermal contrast to see differences is radiated energy - if what you are looking for is effectively the same temperature as the background you won't see it. Water vapour massively attenuates thermal contrast. You must have been briefed on thermal crossover in Afghan.
Yes, and as a pilot using sensors in temperate environments. It’s still better (edit: in many situations) than the eyeball in skoshie conditions.
you miss my point - this is being touted as an asset for searching large areas of Sea - range and endurance become very important.
There are UAVs with endurance and range that far exceed anything a helicopter can achieve without AAR.
Remind me just how much sea Afghanistan has again????? Just because the technology works against ground targets in Afghan doesn't make it a must have for UKSAR.
Is UK SAR restricted to maritime only? Look how many call outs there have been in the ginners weather the UK has had recently. Tools in the toolbox again.
People who want to argue the validity of this system in UKSAR need at least to have tried searching over land and sea, day and night and in poor weather beforehand.
Searching to kill is not the same game as searching to rescue.
It’s not. But that doesn’t mean capabilities can’t be brought across from other disciplines. As a Find asset, UAVs are a force multiplier and will only get better. Of course there will be bumps and chicanes along the way, that’s the nature of R&D. Acceptance is key as they tell you on SERE.