Boeing's unmanned Phantom Ray makes dramatic video debut, set to take off this December
By Vlad Savov 
posted May 14th 2010 3:51AM
posted May 14th 2010 3:51AM
Boeing Unveils Unmanned Phantom Ray Demonstrator
ST. LOUIS, May 10, 2010 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today unveiled the fighter-sized Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system, a test bed for advanced technologies.
"We are on a fast track, and first flight is in sight," said Darryl Davis, president of Boeing Phantom Works. "Phantom Ray is on schedule to fly in December, about two years after this project began. This is a tremendous accomplishment for Boeing and the Phantom Ray team."
Phantom Ray is scheduled to begin taxi tests this summer. The first flight in December will be followed by up to nine additional flights over approximately six months. Phantom Ray is designed to support potential missions that may include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air defenses; electronic attack; strike; and autonomous aerial refueling.
"The initial flights will take Phantom Ray through its paces for the flight test profile. Beyond that, the missions and systems tested will be determined by future warfighter needs," said Craig Brown, Phantom Ray program manager for Boeing.
Phantom Ray, which evolved from the X-45C program, is one of several programs in the Phantom Works division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Phantom Works uses rapid prototyping initiatives to design, develop and build advanced aircraft and then demonstrate their capabilities.
Key Phantom Ray suppliers include General Electric-Aviation (propulsion and power distribution), Honeywell (brake system), Woodward-HRT (flight control actuation system), Crane Hydro-Aire (brake controls) and Heroux-Devtek (landing gear).
For a feature story on today's Phantom Ray ceremony in St. Louis, visit http://bit.ly/99AvLS.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.
It looks like the border drones from Babylon AD
Great, more tax money spent on blowing things up.
@IkariWorrier
Did you watch the video, dumbass?
This was entirely financed internally by boeing, there is no tax money being used for this project.
@DoctarPeppar So they're just going to give them to the military for free?
Idiot.
razor is back
But can it run Flash?
Great now we can blow up the towell heads without ever leaving the couch...pretty cool!
This is garbage. My iPhone is way better than this.
FFS, Boeing, how many times does the Macross series have to go over this: the Ghost fighter is just going to go rogue and kill our best pilots. Whether in deep space, or here on Earth, if it's not taken over by a mad AI virtual idol it'll be coopted by some alien entity. Just say no to Ghost!
wonder if it runs on XP
Droppin' bombs on your moms.
Some call Sarah Conner and tell her Skynet is operational! "I'll be back!"
Our War, who lives in our harts
hallowed be thy Government,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in Corporations.
Give us this day our daily taxpayer money
And forgive us our weaknesses ,
as we don't forgive those poor nations
who (corporate media lies that they) trespass against us.
And lead us into profit,
but deliver us from justice.
For us is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
I wonder how this stacks up against the RQ-170.
BAS president Daryl Davis said this about the two planes:
"If I looked at Phantom Ray compared to some of the pictures I've seen, we're a much cleaner airplane and I would -- well, I'll stop right there."
Cool looking aircraft. Too bad it's built by the most dishonest, corrupt, and underhanded company in the world.
Technology happens. I really hope people don't expect us to keep flying around in last centuries fighters (like my beloved F-16). If that's the case then put your analog 4:3 box tv back on the shelf and forget about that 16:9 OLED....
@rickscv Well it's not exactly about refusing the progress of technology. It really is a debate about the disconnection that occurs with unmanned warfare. When will it come to unmanned surface warfare?
A drone tank gets a glitch or gremlin and starts to randomly fire rounds at various elevations and azimuths. A lot of damage before you can take down a tank unless you happen to have a old tech manned tank ready to go that can end it before anyone on our side gets killed.
Is the idea good? Hell yeah, I don't like to get shot at. But there is always the back of the brain thought that one of these things is going to get hacked and then we're all F'd.
When the Pentagon decides not to buy it, they have to remember that they own zero defenses against it.
Is there an app for that?
when you can engage in surveillance & combat operations without any risk to your personnel it becomes euthanasia(the good death) & genocide not warfare .. what an oxymoron for a name that is ..
9/11 was just an excuse for the ruling class to develop defense systems and private armies for the class warfare they know is coming as the corporate capitalist lie begins to crumble under it's dead weight ..
sufi poem:
fortune boost the the dumb and downs those of merit
the balance sinks with gravity
the living drowned
and leave the dead to float
In 1983 there was a movie with Gregory Hines and Chevy Chase. This is strangely similar to the movie Deal of the Century. Wonder when the onboard computer will gain self awareness and decide the best way to end war is just to kill all mankind.
Do we have a good enough pilot to take down a drone that doesn't feel the effects of g forces?
This video sounds sooooo "pre-Fallout propaganda"-ish...
Well... Skynet is getting closer & closer day after day...
EMPs are also getting closer to be a main part of any army's arsenal as well, in return :-)