Britain wants its Empire back!

[unhappycamper]

The concept plane is due to begin flight trials in 2011


MoD lifts lid on unmanned combat plane prototype
By Daniel Emery
BBC Technology reporter
Page last updated at 14:24 GMT, Monday, 12 July 2010 15:24 UK

The Ministry of Defence has unveiled its prototype unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV).

Taranis is a concept design for a long-range strike plane that has taken over three million man hours to produce.

Defence Minister Gerald Howarth said it was a "truly trailblazing project" and featured "the best of our nation's advanced design and technology".

The aircraft is due to begin flight trials early next year.

Named after the Celtic god of thunder, Taranis is the first step in the development of unmanned strike aircraft, capable of penetrating enemy territory.

[Ozymanithrax]

1. No, this is just the natural evolution of combat vehicles from human...

to human interface. By removing human citizens from danger in combat it makes fighting wars so much easier for the population to accept. If no citizen humans are harmed, and no one must pay the price with the lives of their children, the nation doesn't give a damn about war.

It is not a good tool of empire because an empire must go out and occupy territory in some way. The only way to occupy territory is to have an 18 year old with an assault rifle stand on it. It has always been this way. The only real difference is the technology of the weapon carried by the 18 year old. For instance, Roman 18 year olds carried a scutum, several pila, a gladius, a pugio, and perhaps plumbatae.

[d_r]

2. looks like its based on dalek technology

[Igel]

6. Right. Torchwood. n/t

[lunatica]

3. It reminds me of the Star Trec episode

where two planets were at war with each other so they would pretend to send bombs and a certain number of the enemy would agree to die so the real horrors of war were never really experienced. Each side thought the other would declare real war if they stopped.

Eventually all these unmanned killing machines will be owned by every country. Then what?

[leveymg]

4. Just a British copy of the X-47B

[Blue_Tires]

5. i thought this would be a post about a SOCCER empire...

lolz

[truebrit71]

7. Not with the current crop of useless over-paid prima donnas it won't..

...they were a fucking embarrassment..