@@Nathan-ry3yu lol, who cares what the pay load is. It’s a multipurpose drone not a bomber, cameras are light. Radars are light. 500kg of machine gun rounds is enough to supplement a fighter or multipurpose aircraft.
@@Nathan-ry3yu That means if an F-35 has two loyal wingman drones with him, each can carry 4 GBU-39s. Or each can carry 2 500lb JDAMs, or they can carry 10 hellfire missiles a piece. They can also carry a couple of 160 malds. Lot's of ways to use these drones to enhance your capabilities.
@@Nathan-ry3yu You have no clue on it lol or does no one else unless you built it. Just recently released by Australian Pat Conroy on press interview was announcement of Block ii version being accelerated in to production and be in service with RAAF next year is a top secret never seen before version bigger and will carry more weapons.. so how do you even know what it can do lool.. Was interview 2 years ago by the RAAF commander heasd of Ghost bat programme who was asked if we could build bigger versions.. he smirked cheekily then said as he walked down BAA. Boeing Australia Aussie designers and engineers were already designing bigger drone designs. he even said the version we see was a test bed to test the AI and airframe if can stand real life conditions. Ghost bat will carry what a F35 will.
CCA with missile trucks like possibly F-36 Kingsnake I think would be a sight to see. Throw in drone drogue refueling, unlimited range with firepower and mass. Again beautiful done. The video thumbnail pic alone was eye catching.
F-36 kingsnake this so called F-16XL update non stealth aircraft will cost the same as a F-35A................cannot see the air force buying this redundant target of an aircraft.
@LeonAust I could see the "Kingsnake" as a replacement for aircraft like the F-5, Mirage F-1, MiG-21 and MiG-29. A lower cost combat aircraft for allies.
Hi Tim ......the current cost of a F-16V is 73 million and the current cost of an F-35A is 78 million...not much difference in price huge difference in capability. To modify an F-16 into a the 4.5 gen F-36 production would cost over 90 million each.@@timbaskett6299
I would say the supply chain being involved in every state protecting it from true budgetary oversight is still a controversial subject. However, as a piece of military hardware, it’s an excellent piece of gear. Probably overly complex for a “workhorse” war machine tho.
@@F-14D_Tomcat debatable I think, but not my problem to figure out. I would think that the base of your air force should be a reasonably cheap, reliable, maintainable workhorse capable of doing the majority of missions in low and medium threat environments efficiently. Not sure if f35 is that machine. We certainly need the f35 tech 4 in sufficient quantities. I understand that the price is highly competitive at this point, but I still worry about production rates and if the AF/Navy/Marines can really fill out their fleets effectively with it. Also it's maintenance hours will always prove a challenge to readiness rates. It's not just about combat performance.
Well it is controversial but thankfully it turned out to be (after many woes, problems and financial patches) the best multirole fighter jet in the world..
Plus as aircraft have become more capable they've been needed in far fewer numbers, lessening total costs not only in total purchase price but in maintenance, upkeep, and the cost of personnel to fly and maintain them.
Almost all the major F35 problems I’ve seen are from the F35b, the one with vertical take off. That was the F35b the US lost when it suddenly ejected its pilot.
2:53 ghost bat drones Australian made very strong defence with Exocet sm40 missiles long range brilliant masters in engineering stealthy defence's special 😊😅😮😢😊😅😮😢
That was an amazing video. Imagine if we also make those drones Arial drone carries on top of being able to carry missiles and bombs. The smaller drones could be like expendable drones to further overwhelm any defense system and take out targets that are riskier to approach without risking the more expensive drones. Also I wonder how close we may be to actually having these AI systems able to improvise in situations where there is a sudden change in the scenario that was not presented on the initial programming training of the drones? Looks like there will be a lot to consider yet it holds a good promise to the future of our air defense. Hope to see more and hope to see it in operation ahead of our advisories. Looking at the conflict in Ukraine has really been an eye opener to me on how drones can change the outcome of a battle even against a superior force. We need to step it up and this looks like a good start.
You got it ,robots inside robots inside robots inide... Applicable to ground forces as well, for example a unmanned APC dropping off a ATV size unmanned ground vehicle that in turn has its own quad copters or spider/ quadrupeds to go into buildings.
@@everypitchcounts4875 Australia MQ28 Ghost Bat that is featured in this video has drone swarm AI and will carry out missions in packs with this drone swarm capability. Everything he said in this is Australia future of military combat and why designed and built Ghost Bat.
Don't have to imagine and why Australia built MQ28A Ghost Bat drone to fly in packs with manned platforms or in drone swarms without manned platforms to be cheap and quick to replace.
Why Australia built the drone in this video MQ28A Ghost Bat is a force multiplier for our E7 Wedgetail and our P8 and F35 or will fly in drone swarms all by themsleves.
I do much prefer CCA to Loyal wingman as using loyal in the context of a drone does not sound right in the American military context as their the ones who should be dieing and not the manned/crewed crafts... How ever I do propose using Little Friends instead as they'll be serving the same purpose as USAAF long range bomber escorts did in WW2.
LM should consider developing an F-35D: take the C (for the better range and payload), ditch the carrier modifications (wingtips, hardened landing gear etc), add the new engine and add a second seat specifically for drone operations. If NGAD/FA-XX gets delayed, a CCA-specific F-35 variant might be an acceptable stopgap for a lot of F-35 operators, kind of a 5.5 gen. MQ-28 is due to enter service with the RAAF in 2024 or 2025, and Australia just held off on purchasing an additonal squadron of F-35s (for the right reasons, RAAF loves its Super Hornets and didnt want to retire them early). If a 6th gen capability isnt available in 2030, they'd be a potential customer for sure.
It seems like the Navy (& Air Force) recognizes the limitations of F-35 C for their intended mission (and to also give the carrier some extra stand off distance). The new engine that could go into the F-35 A & C seems to be being developed for a larger aircraft that inherently has more range. Considering how far along the engine is, one can only wonder when the new airframe will be available. Seems like the F-35 B is the best Harrier replacement that money could buy but A & C have been compromised by the F-135 engine being designed around the “B”’s needs. It is not P & W’s fault as there was significant “Unforeseen Requirement Creep” for F-135 engine and they want/need a lot of money to do a major upgrade on that engine (which is their preferred path).
Those 28 FA-18Fs are an excellent lower operating cost higher payload complement to the RAAF's F-35 fleet. Even as a new procurement they would add more value to the RAAF's capabilities than additional F-35s.
@@bluecedar7914 Yeah, agreed. As a maritime strike platform alone they're a fantastic asset. Plus synergies with the Growlers: they definitely made the right call keeping and upgrading them over buying another squadron of F-35As. I'm thinking long term with a D model.
MQ28A Ghost Bat does not need a second pilot to control it and why built it as it is as a loyal wingman to Australia manned platforms. the AI does it all and can even perform missions on it's own and in drone swarms with other drones and is why called Ghost Bat after a Australian animal that hunts it's prey in packs using it's high sensors. exactly the capabilities of Ghost Bat drone. Some of you have no idea of it's capabilities.
@@nedkelly9688 Clearly it doesn't need a second pilot to control it minute by minute. But they will without question benefit from human interaction as it pertains to changing goals and instructions in a dynamic combat environment, especially if they are restricted and require man in the loop authority for kill shots. Yes, the F-35 pilot can provide that interaction for one, maybe two drones, but he also has to be able to focus on flying and fighting his own airframe, and the more tasks you ask him to do the worse he is going to be at each of those tasks. A second seat would allow the pilot to focus 100% on maximising his own airframe, while the backseater concentrates 100% on the loyal wingmen. This would likely result in better application of the drones and probably mean that significantly more drones could be assigned to a single manned airframe. It's clearly not essential to have a two seat airframe to make good use of the MQ-28 or RAAF wouldn't have built it given our fleet is mostly single seater. But I am certain that it can be used better by a dedicated drone manager than by a pilot also trying to keep his own aircraft intact.
The thing is, the F-35 already is quite cost effective. The price per piece (of the A variant) is lower than some 4th gen fighters whilst givin many times the capabilites
Me as a Canadian taxpayer broadly agreeing but sweating profusely at the thought of block 4 upgrade complications and maintenance issues@@vitsobotka6268
@@vitsobotka6268 "for the capabilities it gives you, its a fucking bargain" Irrelevant if operational cost is unaffordable - otherwise a 1000 F-22A would have been produced... But You shall learn that the hard way...
@@christophmahler the operational cost is hardly unaffordable... it fulfills the roles of several aircraft at once for basically a fraction of the cost of those types combined
I wonder what the Navy has planned for the drones. They are dealing with limited floating real estate. Could a smaller drone carrying aircraft carrier be on the drawing board?
And the movie “stealth” those were pretty foreword ideas that are actually in development already. Those planes were fairly close to what’s shown of our new fighters. Watch it if you haven’t already it’s a good movie.
I do not understand the argument the F35 is merely a costly emblem. It’s one of the best value for money Gen 4 multirole fighter on the market. It’s cheaper than most competitors that aren’t even in the same league or performance. The Loyal Wingman isn’t just for use with F35s (although like be well suited to work with it due to the F35s situational awareness ) but can be teamed with AWACs, P8 Poseidon, F18 super hornets and Growler variants, and many other combination of possibilities. It’s a force multiplier and can decrease risk to crewed aircraft in high threat scenarios.
I spoke to some employees and a marketing representative of the Kratos Drone program at the Miramar AirShow about the stealth capabilities and the future of the drones being used by the air force and they confirmed that the air force and navy, including the marines are buying these things in bulk and that the drones have stealth capabilities even though they may not look like it. Truly fascinating however my only grudge against these drones is they will most definitely replace MOST pilots and their jobs sadly.
Drones have unintuitively long ranges that wont be a problem. As for speed f-35's will be avoiding afterburner for stealth reasons whenever possible, so it makes them better suited to drone pairing then say- F-15's . And that's the CCA's , the advanced NGAD drones as featured in the vid will be large enough to put advanced engine tech and decent size fuel tanks but small enough to get the advantage of less weight and frontal drag area. as HKim pointed out they wont actually be that small picture something like a f-16 but shrunk down 20-30%
Australia built MQ28A Ghost Bat to be a loyal wingman to our F35 jets no they can't do mach 1 etc yet in this model but are designing new ones. Butmost of the time unless in combat they only travel at a cruise speed. you people need to realise stop watching Top Gun as air to air combat is not like old days of line of sight shooting and you will not be giving Russia the finger as get so close. Combat now is beyond visual range fire before even seen on radar as why we built stealth.
Kratos drones are more expensive and why Australia built Ghost Bat as will need to fly in the Pacific as is where Australian wars will be. Australian RAAF Commander head of Ghost Bat even said Kratos programme was more expensive drones not to be used as expendable cost effective drones where as Ghost Bat was specifically designed to be a expendable force multiplies cheap if need to send on suicide missions.
Thr video just said Ghost bats cost 20% of thr cost of F-35 , that's 20 million dollars. Kratos can make their Valkiry drones for just 2 million if making 50 per year and 1 million a drone if they have to make 100 per year. Seems like you can get 10 Valkeries for the price of 1 ghost bat.
Ghost Bats are entirely different beasts twice as big as Kratos Valkyries and able to escort a F-35A from take off to complete a longe range mission and land with the F-35. Kratos cannot achieve this capability, but they can be used VTO just behind front lines. Valkyries would be useless in the very long ranges of the Pacific more suited to shorter ranges of a european style theatre. Ghost Bats have larger equipment bays in the nose and bomb bay for electronic and maybe future weapons.@@ryszardfalkowski7917
@@ryszardfalkowski7917 Lil man don't argue with me as this video does not know as much as i do about Ghost Bat drone. it was designed to be cheap so Australia can use it as a suicide drone if needed. the RAAF and that is Royal Australian Airforce .. Commander of RAAF who is head of Ghost Bat programme said it is cheaper then Kratos saying Kratos had a more expensive programe and would not use their valkyrie as a suicide style drone and even said that is their business model Australia purposely built this drone to be cheap and easily replaceable to be sent on risky missions that would save crewed more expensive platforms from being lost. The video with Australian RAAF Commander has the most info ever put out about Ghost Bat i have ever seen. these journalists know nothing really about it except what is public. The RAAF commander know it all.. Did you know Australian designers are already designing new bigger drones also. Did you know the AI in Ghost Bat is in a Quad copter Vtol drone for a loyal wingman for Australian Helicopters. also is a AI drone submersible using same AI as Ghost bat also lol. This channel know nothing really. Ghost Bat will have a price range of 3-4 million dollars each once released lol.
the amount of lethal and multi complex designs we are about to unleash on the world stage is gonna be so sweet 7 countries and their badass kill toys our enemies are so ducked lol qwack qwack little duckies like ducks on a pond boys like ducks on a pond
The F35s potential reminds me of Star Trek , I think you have also called the F35 " the hive mind ". It's like the Borg cube running around with all its borg drones . It goes without saying to China and Russia , " resistance is futile " . 😂 Keep up the great work Tog , and as usual , two enthusiastic thumbs up from this camp 👍👍
AND that machine learning is a panacea that is so simple to get right. We are still waiting for “Fool Self Driving” from you-know-who and will be for some time! But it is probably easier to it to work ok in a drone aircraft.
Compared to manned aircraft they’re most definitely cheaper I mean it’s pretty much the whole point of drones. Cheap, reliable, and dangerous force multipliers that can be used instead of wasting an expensive and costly trained fighter pilot
@@Mentaculus42 Australia has fool self driving already and it is in MQ28A Ghost Bat already it performs full missions on it's own using it's AI and has no joysticks for a human to fly it
@@nedkelly9688 The reference to “Fool Self Driving” is to tesla’s promised FSD system that has been sold for years but … “Maybe” machine learning for aircraft is more straightforward to implement since the “problem domain” doesn’t have have so many “corner-cases”. But to portray the “learning process” as simple as the video does is “quite humorous”. My comment was in no way a reference to any particular flying “prototype” BUT in reference to the “AI” terminology being a “PANACEA” that is easily to implement.
What is so funny it is Australian AI built drone and named after a Australian animal that hunts it's prey in packs using their high sensors and is what the drones AI is capable of doing.
@@nedkelly9688 more so the slang meaning for ghost bat that has been around for decades and ignored by the namers 😂🤣 Google slang meaning for ghost bat.
Where does this guy gets his numbers, prices, anything?? First of all the forthcoming B-21 Raider and the NGAD platform aren't gonna cost "over 100 million$". I mean technically he's right cause 700 million$ (the price of B-21) and 300 million$ (the projected cost of NGAD) are over 100 million, but come on.... Now given that he's prices of Raider and NGAD are way way off, it's not surprising that the price he gave for the CCAs is also way, way off.. CCAs will be made out of many different variants, with some being attritable and therefore cheap, but Secretary of Air Force Frank Kendall recently said that the price of CCAs will be around 100 million$.
"I mean technically he's right cause 700 million$ (the price of B-21) and 300 million$ (the projected cost of NGAD) are over 100 million, but come on...." Wondered the same, but the cost of the NGAD with 250 million USD minimum may not have been circulated widely at time of production, so '100 million plus' is a safe statement for both platform. In general, the operational costs are underestimated in such videos - otherwise well researched and structured - when one can expect that the 100 Raiders will never all be build for 700 million USD per unit, probably curbing production at 2/3 of the quota and hardly operating, any and NGAD recently put on 'pause'... Many will be surprised how e.g. the digitized T-7 Trainer and possibly further modernized F-16s will have to fulfill similar roles if the costs of the CCS can be brought down to attritable numbers - if upscaling is unattainable in a rapid manner, there is probably no ability for actual _conventional_ power competition...
Great video! These CCAs offer huge "bang for the buck", being very cost-effective. China is pumping out ships for its navy, but ships need crews and crews need a truckload of training. CCAs will be vastly cheaper than China's ships, need no pilots and have the very best "training" via software. The US is preparing for 21st Century warfare. China is still stuck in 20th Century mode. This century will be all about CCAs, drones and missiles. Jamming will be key too. You can have as many ships and aircraft as you like but they're expensive junk if your weapons are jammed, and one CCA jammer could cover a huge area of seaspace or airspace. Hmm....... I wonder if a powerful jammer could be effective against an ICBM's electronics? Maybe someone could comment on that?
"I wonder if a powerful jammer could be effective against an ICBM's electronics?" High altitude nuclear strike - engulfs the orbit in hard radiation that fries circuits.
Great power competition isn't about values, but interests. Britain under Cromwell and the Netherlands were Protestant powers, yet competed for control of colonial trade. Only when realism replaces deluded idealization can pragmatic decisions be made - like optimal military procurement that serves, not just personal or elite, but national interests.
The Joint Strike Fighter project; F-35 Lightning II, has already proven itself as a beacon of military efficiency and power! The fact that it was designed to incorporate future developments of wingman drones, only highlights the superior capability of the platform. At the time of writing, at least 975 F-35´s are operating out of 42 bases around the world, with 17 NATO member countries operating or taking delivery of their F-35 fleet, including all three branches of the US military. With a unit price of 80-120 mm USD, this is the most cost effective contribution to NATO air supremacy, and power projection, in history. The incorporation of a VTOL F-35 B to the JSF program, was in all intention, to spread the R&D cost of this complex platform over a larger program, and reduce future maintenance, and particularly avionics upgrade costs, through shared parts and avionics. Had it been developed as 3 individual programs i.e. A/B/C, the R&D, production, maintenance and upgrade costs, would have vastly surpassed that of the JSF program, and the VTOL variant, would most likely never have been produced. The JSF program is an immense success!
The US Navy really needs this to give the F-35 C the mission range to be useful in the Eastern Pacific. No matter how advanced the avionics and weapons capabilities are on an aircraft platform if you have a compromised F-135 engine (due to Marine F-35 B Vertical takeoff version) that hurts the range, the aircraft that can’t make it to the fight is not useful. I far as I know the Navy is working on getting the MQ-25A Stingray deployed but the date has been pushed to 2026 Following Manufacturing Delays. The F-35 C really needs a stealthy aerial refueling tanker to prop up the limitations of the F-135 engine. Until a new (or upgraded) engine is finalized (which appears to be in the works) the stealthy tanker is very important & even afterwards it is very important to be able to operate in the Chinese area.
Essentially instead of upgrading our already world leading aircraft, we tried (failing) to create a jack of all trades. No we have to find a way to justify all the wasted money and RND.
Putins tanks vehicles and army are being killed by Walmart drones US gov over here booting up skynet... Seriously tho this is some cool as shit..and kinda scary at the same time lol
❤❤❤ the US should have all seen eye. Command and control Satellite constellation with cloud penetrating radar, laser link communication global surveillance command and control communication for AI drone swarm aircraft ships or autonomous ships underwater drone swarm too.
Did you say "over 100 million dollars each" ?? Are chocolate bars still a nickel in your world? Get real buddy...250mill each plus 100billion plus in dev. Costs. I'm wondering if you have any clue about this stuff now.
Within a year someone will make these drones fall out of the sky with a push of a button. It would probably be an well known American traitor. We know these type already. Wealthy men.
So these drones are suppose to cost 25% of the cost of an F-35? Thats 20 million a drone , which is BS , Kratos was going to make them for $2 million per drone if only producing 50 per year , but that the price would go down to $1 millon if they had to produce 100 per year. 20 million lmao 😂 someones going to get filthy rich with these overpriced wingmen.
The military needs to realize, they ain’t Southwest Airlines. Can’t do everything well and win. Look at football, there is a reason the kicker only kicks.
The F-35 was worth every penny, and attrition ready drones will make it even better
Got to see the RAAF MQ-28 Ghost Bat here in Australia at an airshow. Looks awesome!
They only have a Max payload of 500kg.. waist of money
@@Nathan-ry3yu lol, who cares what the pay load is. It’s a multipurpose drone not a bomber, cameras are light. Radars are light. 500kg of machine gun rounds is enough to supplement a fighter or multipurpose aircraft.
@@Nathan-ry3yu That means if an F-35 has two loyal wingman drones with him, each can carry 4 GBU-39s. Or each can carry 2 500lb JDAMs, or they can carry 10 hellfire missiles a piece. They can also carry a couple of 160 malds. Lot's of ways to use these drones to enhance your capabilities.
@@Nathan-ry3yu how do you know that? can you provide a source?
@@Nathan-ry3yu You have no clue on it lol or does no one else unless you built it.
Just recently released by Australian Pat Conroy on press interview was announcement of Block ii version being accelerated in to production and be in service with RAAF next year is a top secret never seen before version bigger and will carry more weapons.. so how do you even know what it can do lool..
Was interview 2 years ago by the RAAF commander heasd of Ghost bat programme who was asked if we could build bigger versions.. he smirked cheekily then said as he walked down BAA. Boeing Australia Aussie designers and engineers were already designing bigger drone designs. he even said the version we see was a test bed to test the AI and airframe if can stand real life conditions.
Ghost bat will carry what a F35 will.
CCA with missile trucks like possibly F-36 Kingsnake I think would be a sight to see. Throw in drone drogue refueling, unlimited range with firepower and mass.
Again beautiful done. The video thumbnail pic alone was eye catching.
F-36 kingsnake this so called F-16XL update non stealth aircraft will cost the same as a F-35A................cannot see the air force buying this redundant target of an aircraft.
@LeonAust I could see the "Kingsnake" as a replacement for aircraft like the F-5, Mirage F-1, MiG-21 and MiG-29. A lower cost combat aircraft for allies.
Hi Tim ......the current cost of a F-16V is 73 million and the current cost of an F-35A is 78 million...not much difference in price huge difference in capability.
To modify an F-16 into a the 4.5 gen F-36 production would cost over 90 million each.@@timbaskett6299
F15EX would be way better as a missile truck, plus you can a much bigger radar in an Eagle
F-35 is Not controversial!! It's so much cheaper than F-22 and very effective 👍
I would say the supply chain being involved in every state protecting it from true budgetary oversight is still a controversial subject.
However, as a piece of military hardware, it’s an excellent piece of gear. Probably overly complex for a “workhorse” war machine tho.
@@ashvandal5697if you have enough of it, complex isnt a bad thing
@@F-14D_Tomcat debatable I think, but not my problem to figure out. I would think that the base of your air force should be a reasonably cheap, reliable, maintainable workhorse capable of doing the majority of missions in low and medium threat environments efficiently. Not sure if f35 is that machine.
We certainly need the f35 tech 4 in sufficient quantities. I understand that the price is highly competitive at this point, but I still worry about production rates and if the AF/Navy/Marines can really fill out their fleets effectively with it. Also it's maintenance hours will always prove a challenge to readiness rates.
It's not just about combat performance.
Well it is controversial but thankfully it turned out to be (after many woes, problems and financial patches) the best multirole fighter jet in the world..
Max payload is 500kg. It is a waist of money.
Awesome content. Please keep up the good work
Another great video! My son loves your channel too 👍
You would be shocked how exspensive some jets from the past were when adjusted for inflation.
Combat Support Drone!
Plus as aircraft have become more capable they've been needed in far fewer numbers, lessening total costs not only in total purchase price but in maintenance, upkeep, and the cost of personnel to fly and maintain them.
No I wouldn’t be. 😂
Yep. The F-14 was a LOT pricier than the F-35.
@@ronjon7942 That is false.
Very useful, highly advanced, "little friends". Showing my advanced years now. Excellent video. Many thanks.
Momma Duck and Baby Ducks. except in reverse with the baby ducks in the front.
Almost all the major F35 problems I’ve seen are from the F35b, the one with vertical take off.
That was the F35b the US lost when it suddenly ejected its pilot.
2:53 ghost bat drones Australian made very strong defence with Exocet sm40 missiles long range brilliant masters in engineering stealthy defence's special 😊😅😮😢😊😅😮😢
The wingman with laser guided missiles Lazer guidance and Lazer defence on the front of drones well dune very strong support for everyone in Australia
Great video.
SKYNET INTENSIFIES
That was an amazing video. Imagine if we also make those drones Arial drone carries on top of being able to carry missiles and bombs. The smaller drones could be like expendable drones to further overwhelm any defense system and take out targets that are riskier to approach without risking the more expensive drones. Also I wonder how close we may be to actually having these AI systems able to improvise in situations where there is a sudden change in the scenario that was not presented on the initial programming training of the drones? Looks like there will be a lot to consider yet it holds a good promise to the future of our air defense. Hope to see more and hope to see it in operation ahead of our advisories. Looking at the conflict in Ukraine has really been an eye opener to me on how drones can change the outcome of a battle even against a superior force. We need to step it up and this looks like a good start.
Perdix micro drone swarm
You got it ,robots inside robots inside robots inide... Applicable to ground forces as well, for example a unmanned APC dropping off a ATV size unmanned ground vehicle that in turn has its own quad copters or spider/ quadrupeds to go into buildings.
@@everypitchcounts4875 Australia MQ28 Ghost Bat that is featured in this video has drone swarm AI and will carry out missions in packs with this drone swarm capability. Everything he said in this is Australia future of military combat and why designed and built Ghost Bat.
The Manhattan Project was the most expensive wasn't it?
No. As a matter of fact, the B-29 development cost more than the Manhattan Project.
Now imagine having Ghost Bat, Valkyrie, Fury and Darkhorse as a squad of loyal wingman.
"Wingmen in the air; wingmen on the town. New comedy series, coming 2024."
Don't have to imagine and why Australia built MQ28A Ghost Bat drone to fly in packs with manned platforms or in drone swarms without manned platforms to be cheap and quick to replace.
Ghost Bat out ranges the small Valkyrie thus more suited to the Pacific.@@nedkelly9688
Imagine 1 manned fighter and have 10 drone aircrafts around the fighter with different missions or responsibilities.
Why Australia built the drone in this video MQ28A Ghost Bat is a force multiplier for our E7 Wedgetail and our P8 and F35 or will fly in drone swarms all by themsleves.
I do much prefer CCA to Loyal wingman as using loyal in the context of a drone does not sound right in the American military context as their the ones who should be dieing and not the manned/crewed crafts... How ever I do propose using Little Friends instead as they'll be serving the same purpose as USAAF long range bomber escorts did in WW2.
"Loyal wingman" seems more a marketing to sanitise it since there is considerable unnecessary public fear over 'rogue AI weapons'.
LM should consider developing an F-35D: take the C (for the better range and payload), ditch the carrier modifications (wingtips, hardened landing gear etc), add the new engine and add a second seat specifically for drone operations. If NGAD/FA-XX gets delayed, a CCA-specific F-35 variant might be an acceptable stopgap for a lot of F-35 operators, kind of a 5.5 gen.
MQ-28 is due to enter service with the RAAF in 2024 or 2025, and Australia just held off on purchasing an additonal squadron of F-35s (for the right reasons, RAAF loves its Super Hornets and didnt want to retire them early). If a 6th gen capability isnt available in 2030, they'd be a potential customer for sure.
It seems like the Navy (& Air Force) recognizes the limitations of F-35 C for their intended mission (and to also give the carrier some extra stand off distance). The new engine that could go into the F-35 A & C seems to be being developed for a larger aircraft that inherently has more range. Considering how far along the engine is, one can only wonder when the new airframe will be available. Seems like the F-35 B is the best Harrier replacement that money could buy but A & C have been compromised by the F-135 engine being designed around the “B”’s needs. It is not P & W’s fault as there was significant “Unforeseen Requirement Creep” for F-135 engine and they want/need a lot of money to do a major upgrade on that engine (which is their preferred path).
Those 28 FA-18Fs are an excellent lower operating cost higher payload complement to the RAAF's F-35 fleet. Even as a new procurement they would add more value to the RAAF's capabilities than additional F-35s.
@@bluecedar7914 Yeah, agreed. As a maritime strike platform alone they're a fantastic asset. Plus synergies with the Growlers: they definitely made the right call keeping and upgrading them over buying another squadron of F-35As. I'm thinking long term with a D model.
MQ28A Ghost Bat does not need a second pilot to control it and why built it as it is as a loyal wingman to Australia manned platforms. the AI does it all and can even perform missions on it's own and in drone swarms with other drones and is why called Ghost Bat after a Australian animal that hunts it's prey in packs using it's high sensors. exactly the capabilities of Ghost Bat drone.
Some of you have no idea of it's capabilities.
@@nedkelly9688 Clearly it doesn't need a second pilot to control it minute by minute. But they will without question benefit from human interaction as it pertains to changing goals and instructions in a dynamic combat environment, especially if they are restricted and require man in the loop authority for kill shots. Yes, the F-35 pilot can provide that interaction for one, maybe two drones, but he also has to be able to focus on flying and fighting his own airframe, and the more tasks you ask him to do the worse he is going to be at each of those tasks.
A second seat would allow the pilot to focus 100% on maximising his own airframe, while the backseater concentrates 100% on the loyal wingmen. This would likely result in better application of the drones and probably mean that significantly more drones could be assigned to a single manned airframe.
It's clearly not essential to have a two seat airframe to make good use of the MQ-28 or RAAF wouldn't have built it given our fleet is mostly single seater. But I am certain that it can be used better by a dedicated drone manager than by a pilot also trying to keep his own aircraft intact.
The thing is, the F-35 already is quite cost effective. The price per piece (of the A variant) is lower than some 4th gen fighters whilst givin many times the capabilites
Now consider upkeep costs.
@@uku4171 still, for the capabilities it gives you, its a fucking bargain
Me as a Canadian taxpayer broadly agreeing but sweating profusely at the thought of block 4 upgrade complications and maintenance issues@@vitsobotka6268
@@vitsobotka6268
"for the capabilities it gives you, its a fucking bargain"
Irrelevant if operational cost is unaffordable - otherwise a 1000 F-22A would have been produced...
But You shall learn that the hard way...
@@christophmahler the operational cost is hardly unaffordable... it fulfills the roles of several aircraft at once for basically a fraction of the cost of those types combined
I wonder what the Navy has planned for the drones. They are dealing with limited floating real estate. Could a smaller drone carrying aircraft carrier be on the drawing board?
The prophetic movies of the Terminator kind are looking to be correct.
And the movie “stealth” those were pretty foreword ideas that are actually in development already. Those planes were fairly close to what’s shown of our new fighters. Watch it if you haven’t already it’s a good movie.
F-35 crude ............you got to be kidding.
I do not understand the argument the F35 is merely a costly emblem. It’s one of the best value for money Gen 4 multirole fighter on the market. It’s cheaper than most competitors that aren’t even in the same league or performance. The Loyal Wingman isn’t just for use with F35s (although like be well suited to work with it due to the F35s situational awareness ) but can be teamed with AWACs, P8 Poseidon, F18 super hornets and Growler variants, and many other combination of possibilities. It’s a force multiplier and can decrease risk to crewed aircraft in high threat scenarios.
The ghost bat only has a maximum payload of 500kg. Its a waist of money
They are not intended to be a bomb truck.
@@Hroethbertthan it's useless then
This makes me want to rewatch the movie Stealth. lol
Stealth, great movie and profetic as well.
Laf, so the target price is 1/4 of an F-35…we’ll see how that stacks up over time. I’m predicting 1/2-3/4 :)
I spoke to some employees and a marketing representative of the Kratos Drone program at the Miramar AirShow about the stealth capabilities and the future of the drones being used by the air force and they confirmed that the air force and navy, including the marines are buying these things in bulk and that the drones have stealth capabilities even though they may not look like it. Truly fascinating however my only grudge against these drones is they will most definitely replace MOST pilots and their jobs sadly.
My only concern is drone range and speed, can they keep up with f35?
It wouldn't be like the Reapers. It would be AI drones that would be normal planes (smaller though).
Drones have unintuitively long ranges that wont be a problem. As for speed f-35's will be avoiding afterburner for stealth reasons whenever possible, so it makes them better suited to drone pairing then say- F-15's . And that's the CCA's , the advanced NGAD drones as featured in the vid will be large enough to put advanced engine tech and decent size fuel tanks but small enough to get the advantage of less weight and frontal drag area. as HKim pointed out they wont actually be that small picture something like a f-16 but shrunk down 20-30%
Australia built MQ28A Ghost Bat to be a loyal wingman to our F35 jets no they can't do mach 1 etc yet in this model but are designing new ones.
Butmost of the time unless in combat they only travel at a cruise speed. you people need to realise stop watching Top Gun as air to air combat is not like old days of line of sight shooting and you will not be giving Russia the finger as get so close.
Combat now is beyond visual range fire before even seen on radar as why we built stealth.
hmm this whole drone thing is giving me ace combat 7 vibes with how they were using data from the ace pilot too train the drones
How would you know how Australia trained it's MQ28A Ghost Bat drone. you have no clue on it and is facts.
Once Skynet becomes self-aware...
Q* already is, or so they say.
As Musk says, just dont give it a simulated limbic system
...or getting hacked - which is more likely.
Kratos is a little short ranged for the Pacific for my liking, while a Ghost Bat can escort with the F-35A to the target and back.
Kratos drones are more expensive and why Australia built Ghost Bat as will need to fly in the Pacific as is where Australian wars will be.
Australian RAAF Commander head of Ghost Bat even said Kratos programme was more expensive drones not to be used as expendable cost effective drones where as Ghost Bat was specifically designed to be a expendable force multiplies cheap if need to send on suicide missions.
Thr video just said Ghost bats cost 20% of thr cost of F-35 , that's 20 million dollars. Kratos can make their Valkiry drones for just 2 million if making 50 per year and 1 million a drone if they have to make 100 per year. Seems like you can get 10 Valkeries for the price of 1 ghost bat.
Ghost Bats are entirely different beasts twice as big as Kratos Valkyries and able to escort a F-35A from take off to complete a longe range mission and land with the F-35.
Kratos cannot achieve this capability, but they can be used VTO just behind front lines.
Valkyries would be useless in the very long ranges of the Pacific more suited to shorter ranges of a european style theatre.
Ghost Bats have larger equipment bays in the nose and bomb bay for electronic and maybe future weapons.@@ryszardfalkowski7917
@@ryszardfalkowski7917 Lil man don't argue with me as this video does not know as much as i do about Ghost Bat drone. it was designed to be cheap so Australia can use it as a suicide drone if needed. the RAAF and that is Royal Australian Airforce .. Commander of RAAF who is head of Ghost Bat programme said it is cheaper then Kratos saying Kratos had a more expensive programe and would not use their valkyrie as a suicide style drone and even said that is their business model
Australia purposely built this drone to be cheap and easily replaceable to be sent on risky missions that would save crewed more expensive platforms from being lost.
The video with Australian RAAF Commander has the most info ever put out about Ghost Bat i have ever seen. these journalists know nothing really about it except what is public. The RAAF commander know it all.. Did you know Australian designers are already designing new bigger drones also.
Did you know the AI in Ghost Bat is in a Quad copter Vtol drone for a loyal wingman for Australian Helicopters. also is a AI drone submersible using same AI as Ghost bat also lol.
This channel know nothing really.
Ghost Bat will have a price range of 3-4 million dollars each once released lol.
F-35As need airbases - which will all be in range of ballistic missile strikes - far beyond the combat range of F-35s...
Mosaic warfare and ocean of things by DARPA. Drones using Betavoltaic, Biomimetic and Neuromorphic computing chips.
Someone should call these things "Gradius Options" for reasons.
the amount of lethal and multi complex designs we are about to unleash on the world stage is gonna be so sweet 7 countries and their badass kill toys our enemies are so ducked lol qwack qwack little duckies like ducks on a pond boys like ducks on a pond
Go the RAAF Ghost Bat !!
It only has maximum payload of 500kg it's a waist of money
@@Nathan-ry3yu its a test bed !!!
The F35s potential reminds me of Star Trek , I think you have also called the F35 " the hive mind ". It's like the Borg cube running around with all its borg drones . It goes without saying to China and Russia , " resistance is futile " . 😂 Keep up the great work Tog , and as usual , two enthusiastic thumbs up from this camp 👍👍
Thank you Viper, much appreciated and agreed! 👊
All the benefits of drones that you claim, _remain to be seen._ Especially the low cost you claim.
AND that machine learning is a panacea that is so simple to get right. We are still waiting for “Fool Self Driving” from you-know-who and will be for some time! But it is probably easier to it to work ok in a drone aircraft.
Compared to manned aircraft they’re most definitely cheaper I mean it’s pretty much the whole point of drones. Cheap, reliable, and dangerous force multipliers that can be used instead of wasting an expensive and costly trained fighter pilot
Australia MQ28A Ghost Bat was designed to be 3-4 million a piece and now only takes us 1 month to build 1. you and USA have no clue about it lol.
@@Mentaculus42 Australia has fool self driving already and it is in MQ28A Ghost Bat already it performs full missions on it's own using it's AI and has no joysticks for a human to fly it
@@nedkelly9688
The reference to “Fool Self Driving” is to tesla’s promised FSD system that has been sold for years but … “Maybe” machine learning for aircraft is more straightforward to implement since the “problem domain” doesn’t have have so many “corner-cases”. But to portray the “learning process” as simple as the video does is “quite humorous”. My comment was in no way a reference to any particular flying “prototype” BUT in reference to the “AI” terminology being a “PANACEA” that is easily to implement.
The Ghost Bat! 🤣😂😂😂😂😂🤣
What is so funny it is Australian AI built drone and named after a Australian animal that hunts it's prey in packs using their high sensors and is what the drones AI is capable of doing.
@@nedkelly9688 more so the slang meaning for ghost bat that has been around for decades and ignored by the namers 😂🤣 Google slang meaning for ghost bat.
Man, Ace Combat 7 called it, didn't it?
Haha, just read the other comment👇
Where does this guy gets his numbers, prices, anything?? First of all the forthcoming B-21 Raider and the NGAD platform aren't gonna cost "over 100 million$". I mean technically he's right cause 700 million$ (the price of B-21) and 300 million$ (the projected cost of NGAD) are over 100 million, but come on....
Now given that he's prices of Raider and NGAD are way way off, it's not surprising that the price he gave for the CCAs is also way, way off.. CCAs will be made out of many different variants, with some being attritable and therefore cheap, but Secretary of Air Force Frank Kendall recently said that the price of CCAs will be around 100 million$.
"I mean technically he's right cause 700 million$ (the price of B-21) and 300 million$ (the projected cost of NGAD) are over 100 million, but come on...."
Wondered the same, but the cost of the NGAD with 250 million USD minimum may not have been circulated widely at time of production, so '100 million plus' is a safe statement for both platform.
In general, the operational costs are underestimated in such videos - otherwise well researched and structured - when one can expect that the 100 Raiders will never all be build for 700 million USD per unit, probably curbing production at 2/3 of the quota and hardly operating, any and NGAD recently put on 'pause'...
Many will be surprised how e.g. the digitized T-7 Trainer and possibly further modernized F-16s will have to fulfill similar roles if the costs of the CCS can be brought down to attritable numbers - if upscaling is unattainable in a rapid manner, there is probably no ability for actual _conventional_ power competition...
Or the data from Digital Combat Simulator DCS could possibly be used to train a drone that's my theory 🤔 quite possibly
Who know but Australia did it with MQ28A Ghost Bat drone already.
Great video!
These CCAs offer huge "bang for the buck", being very cost-effective.
China is pumping out ships for its navy, but ships need crews and crews need a truckload of training.
CCAs will be vastly cheaper than China's ships, need no pilots and have the very best "training" via software.
The US is preparing for 21st Century warfare. China is still stuck in 20th Century mode.
This century will be all about CCAs, drones and missiles.
Jamming will be key too. You can have as many ships and aircraft as you like but they're expensive junk if your weapons are jammed, and one CCA jammer could cover a huge area of seaspace or airspace.
Hmm....... I wonder if a powerful jammer could be effective against an ICBM's electronics?
Maybe someone could comment on that?
"I wonder if a powerful jammer could be effective against an ICBM's electronics?"
High altitude nuclear strike - engulfs the orbit in hard radiation that fries circuits.
Great power competition isn't about values, but interests.
Britain under Cromwell and the Netherlands were Protestant powers, yet competed for control of colonial trade.
Only when realism replaces deluded idealization can pragmatic decisions be made - like optimal military procurement that serves, not just personal or elite, but national interests.
The Joint Strike Fighter project; F-35 Lightning II, has already proven itself as a beacon of military efficiency and power! The fact that it was designed to incorporate future developments of wingman drones, only highlights the superior capability of the platform. At the time of writing, at least 975 F-35´s are operating out of 42 bases around the world, with 17 NATO member countries operating or taking delivery of their F-35 fleet, including all three branches of the US military. With a unit price of 80-120 mm USD, this is the most cost effective contribution to NATO air supremacy, and power projection, in history. The incorporation of a VTOL F-35 B to the JSF program, was in all intention, to spread the R&D cost of this complex platform over a larger program, and reduce future maintenance, and particularly avionics upgrade costs, through shared parts and avionics. Had it been developed as 3 individual programs i.e. A/B/C, the R&D, production, maintenance and upgrade costs, would have vastly surpassed that of the JSF program, and the VTOL variant, would most likely never have been produced. The JSF program is an immense success!
It was a meant only for a replacement for the F-16A/B/C, F/A-18A/B/C/D and AV8A-B GR series Harriers yes very successful.
50 percent mission capability, meaning toward even a single mission of it's set...
The US Navy really needs this to give the F-35 C the mission range to be useful in the Eastern Pacific. No matter how advanced the avionics and weapons capabilities are on an aircraft platform if you have a compromised F-135 engine (due to Marine F-35 B Vertical takeoff version) that hurts the range, the aircraft that can’t make it to the fight is not useful.
I far as I know the Navy is working on getting the MQ-25A Stingray deployed but the date has been pushed to 2026 Following Manufacturing Delays. The F-35 C really needs a stealthy aerial refueling tanker to prop up the limitations of the F-135 engine. Until a new (or upgraded) engine is finalized (which appears to be in the works) the stealthy tanker is very important & even afterwards it is very important to be able to operate in the Chinese area.
"Cost overruns"
Bro, its the US
It wouldnt be a modern us fighter without bring 3x ovebudget and 8 years late, yet being the best jet possible
"3x ovebudget and 8 years late, yet being the best jet possible"
You mean like Nazi Germany - the power that lost the actual war ?...
.........baby Sky Net
Cost effective? 400m for three Australia just paid.
But it's really not the most expensive. Take the F 15 and all sustainment and crew money spent over its whole operational history -
Essentially instead of upgrading our already world leading aircraft, we tried (failing) to create a jack of all trades. No we have to find a way to justify all the wasted money and RND.
Calling your new technology Vista hasn't worked out historically.
What are you saying f-35 is already very effective and was meant to fly alongside drones since the beginning. This is clickbait
Putins tanks vehicles and army are being killed by Walmart drones US gov over here booting up skynet...
Seriously tho this is some cool as shit..and kinda scary at the same time lol
❤❤❤ the US should have all seen eye. Command and control
Satellite constellation with cloud penetrating radar, laser link communication global surveillance command and control communication for AI drone swarm aircraft ships or autonomous ships underwater drone swarm too.
Did you say "over 100 million dollars each" ?? Are chocolate bars still a nickel in your world? Get real buddy...250mill each plus 100billion plus in dev. Costs. I'm wondering if you have any clue about this stuff now.
Nice visuals but your narrative is seriously flawed, peppered, with in accurate descriptions and distortions of the truth.
"your narrative is seriously flawed, peppered, with in accurate descriptions and distortions of the truth."
Naming examples would help to improve...
your word choices are a bit off
Within a year someone will make these drones fall out of the sky with a push of a button. It would probably be an well known American traitor. We know these type already. Wealthy men.
Not as easy as you think and MQ28A Ghost Bat is Australian with Australian AI and USA does not have it's source code.
So these drones are suppose to cost 25% of the cost of an F-35?
Thats 20 million a drone , which is BS , Kratos was going to make them for $2 million per drone if only producing 50 per year , but that the price would go down to $1 millon if they had to produce 100 per year.
20 million lmao 😂 someones going to get filthy rich with these overpriced wingmen.
The military needs to realize, they ain’t Southwest Airlines. Can’t do everything well and win. Look at football, there is a reason the kicker only kicks.
Absolutely see my comment above. Coach, quarterback, position players and playbook. All necessary to win a game (battle).