The UK acquired four Beechcraft King Air 350ERs in 2007 that were supposed to be coming into service... now...

Interesting that the optical sensor in the turret of the Manta is about the same size and shape as that fitted to the DA42MPP - link

Maybe it is the same kit?

That Helicrew address does indeed appear to be DO Systems address. Helicrew's registered office is at Twickenham, according to their website. Same DOS telephone number as well. And they would've gotten away with it if it hadn't been for those pesky kids and that darn dog of theirs.

What does Mantis do that REAPER does not? - Given MQ-9 is doing it NOW (or so the MoD web sites will have you believe), and not in a plastic airshow mock-up or Power Point Presentation of a wind tunnel model. ....and what language will it communicate woth other aircraft / command and control / supported agencies etc,,....?


...are the Brits a little behind here or are they so novel that they are streets ahead...?

What will Mantis do that Reaper isn't doing now?

It may do nothing at all, as this is all still a matter of study contracts, and not production orders.

Whatever it does, it will do it WITHOUT spending dollars, without worsening the balance of payments deficit, and while simultaneously supporting UK industry as it breaks into what may be a vital sector. Every penny spent will generate UK tax revenue, and will support UK jobs.

Of course no military programme should be undertaken in lieu of industrial aid, but if a programme can benefit UK plc as a side effect that's great, surely?

It will do it with twin engines - which may or may not improve the loss rate.

It will do it with a brand new configuration, and not as the stretch of an ageing existing design.

D-IFF Ident Said:

Zeppellins, dirigibles, airships - that's what you want. Stay up for days, and you can hang a gondola underneath, add a galley, toilet, bunks, sofa and tv. Relatively cheap as chips too; do I get 25 quid?

I'm sure that this was tongue in cheek but why not...for some roles.

Whatever happened to Airship Industries? Their Airship 500 would be ideal in a environment where there wasn't a high speed requirement.

No idea what happened to Airship Industries, but there was a report that the Zeppelin is back from Cardington, albeit for civilian flights. £5,000 for a flight seems mighty expensive though.

BBC NEWS | England | Zeppelin rises in the East

Decoy or Target
 

I think the DA42 would make a lovely target or decoy. Relatively low radar signature unable to transmit much data more than 30nm. Forget the satcom link to get the bandwidth you would need a real aircraft. Its a nice NATO toy in a tactical environment, but forget the rest. Its also too difficult to maintain. Not to be used by real soldiers.:\

p32r,

So, what do you think of UAVs then? Because I don't see that any of your argument that you apply to the DA42 could not equally be applied to the various families of UAVs in development or service.

Maybe it was a slightly tongue in cheek remark but a few years back I remember the Army testing an airship in Ulster for what I assume was 'sneaky beaky' type stuff.:suspect:

Oh, a black Omega. Haven't seen one of those for years...

UAV's
 

You either have the "cheap" Israeli type which has the most tactical operational use with a VHF link or you go the full UAV which has the satcom link and is about the same price as a cheap fighter. (Mind you, you can pick up a cheap new fighter these days for about $5m. I was thinking of the full capable type $20m+) The comms link is always the problem and where you want to send the signal in real time. Complex systems are okay, but they need a complex support network, complex budget (=large) and can fall down quickly. You still can't beat the guy on the ground:ok: My comment was more on the surveillance roll of the DA42. Great toy:ugh: They seem to be pushing them as cheap solutions for those countries not allowed to buy high tech solutions.............................:oh: Maybe they just want to find out what it is like ........... :eek:

...apart from Predator / Reaper you mean, which both have all the necessary satcom / bandwidth to send data right around the globe?

If the aircraft/UAV is large enough it is not be an issue generally. The restricting factors are power and weight sufficient to give you realtime broadband rates in X-Band or even Ku-Band. Antenna size is an issue if the platform is too small. The solution as I mentioned is a well established UAU for local use and then the big expensive one for long range stand off. Something the size of the DA42 or similar size already has to power cameras, recorders then the transmission gear. Its probably at best very very close to the limits. Its best to remove the pilot as they are a waste of valueable real estate plus also a liability if they come down on the wrong side of the line. Hence in answer the Israeli type UAV is good for the tactic solution and leave the long range big ones to those countries who can afford them. ;)

raf-buys-spy-planes-monitor-enemies-sky
 

does that mean that it will spend most of it's time over Westminster?

Photo
 

In case anyone's interested, I spied G-DOSA on a secret mission of at least 5 minutes duration outbound from Old Sarum inbound to Boscombe Down last week.

Note the lack of mods to the airframe as yet and lack of Military serial; the British Military fin flash gives a clue as to its purpose though.

http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/55/755/...7QFjwiz_th.jpg

It departed an hour or so later on a somewhat longer mission to the West.

...and another photo
 

G-DOSA now sports 'Royal Air Force' titles, as seen here today at Old Sarum.

http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/55/755/...7gJxQGV_th.jpg

You'd need to be an old school Photo-interpreter to read it though!!:)

Any chance of a bigger piccie?

RAF buys spy planes to monitor enemies from the sky

A touch of the tautologies there; where else would a 'plane' operate but in the sky?

Bigger photo
 

how about this.... old sarum 015a pictures from clouds & sky photos on webshots

http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/40...600x600Q85.jpg

larger pictures
 

XV277 if you click on the picture in Janet Spongthrush's first post, it will take you to larger pictures.