Originally Posted by
ORAC
The ScanEagle weights 20Kg, the MQ-25 weighs around 20,000Kg……
The structure of the MQ-25 is designed to use a catapult, not JATO (which are highly volatile and is one reason they stopped be used in stored in land, let alone at sea) and their use would also need extensive and expensive software changes and trials.
On a similar basis a barrier arrestor system would almost undoubtedly be more complex and heavier than a cable - and of course the MQ-25 is alread6 fitted with a hook and has the software to land using it and is internally stressed to do so.
One way or another, if they are really needed, sticking with the method it’s designed to use would undoubtedly be cheaper in the long run.
Again, the RFI doesn't name the MQ-25 but yes, any ScanEagle type solution would need to be upscaled for a future large UAV to fly of the QE/PoW.
The RFI is for the MoD to see what potential solutions there might be, the only point I was making is that it might not be traditional cats and traps, which in turn might not require too much structural mods to the carriers.