Outside Reading Article 3-5-10

WEBSITE:

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/x-45-ucav/
http://tech.military.com/equipment/view/88622/milstar-satellite-comm-system.html

REVIEW:

The new way of air to air combat has become so advanced that people won't even need to fly airplanes anymore. A new prototype for the U.S. Air Force is being currently being enhanced. The prototype is called X-45. The first prototype saw it's first test flight in May 2002. In February 2003, the program software for the automatic taxi ground system was completed. The X-45 is designed as a swept wing shape to make it more aerodynamic. As for defensive measure, the X-45 can be equipped with various weapons. Such weapons include precision guided munitions, 2,000 pound bombs, and other various weapon systems. The unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) ground control system was created by NASA. The X-45 uses a communications system called Milster Satellite communications link. This satellite system is resistant to nuclear warfare, also it's resistant to being jammed. It can be accessed through navy ships, piloted air vehicles, and land based communications. Currently there are 4 of these satellites in space right now, 3 more are to be deployed in space at a later time.

This new revolutionary airfare has given us a major technological advantage for the threats that are present in the 21st century. Who knows, maybe some day we'll be so advanced that we could have unmanned aerial flight squadrons, and maybe even have the planes refuel themselves without having any human contact what so ever.