US Air Force To Build Supersonic Drones For Silent, Low-Cost Combat Training
Image via Exosonic
The US Air Force (USAF) will began working with supersonic aviation firm Exosonic to develop the first-ever supersonic combat drone that can be used in training.
Due to the lack of pilots and training personnel, the unmanned air vehicle (UAV) could soon be used as a “mock adversary” for fighter pilots to practice with during live exercises.
According to SlashGear, Exosonic touted its project as a way to train USAF pilots at a lower cost, and by using the devices, it will also prevent unnecessary wear and tear on existing aircraft.
The drones’ ability to act as pseudo enemies could also allow pilots to train on their own, instead of having to fill in as the “enemy” for one another’s training regimens.
On its own, the company is also working on a low-boom supersonic jet. Currently, supersonic aircraft are banned due to the loud noise it causes when breaking the sound barrier.
Once these low-boom aircraft—said to be softer than regular traffic—are developed, we’ll be able to opt for planes that travel way quicker, but without the ruckus.
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[via SlashGear, cover image via Exosonic]
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