What famous UFO sighting does this thing resemble?
I am not sure which one you are thinking about.
Probably not at all. Also, I find it funny that they are calling it a spy plane. Here is a little comparison to illustrate my point.
UCAV Max Take Off Weight = 36,500 lbs
F-16 Fighting Falcon = 42,300 lbs
UCAV Empty Weight = unknown but probably a great deal lighter.
F-16 Empty Weight = 18,900 lb
UCAV wingspan = 50'
F-16 wingspan = 32' 8"
UCAV Length = 36'
F-16 Length = 49' 5"
UCAV Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F404-GE-102D (The same engine used to power the A-4 Skyhawk. The F404 family is the workhorse of the modern fighter powering things like the F-117A, Saab JAS 39 Gripen, and the F/A-18 Hornet)
F-16 Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F110-GE-100
UCAV Thrust: 17,700 lbf
F-16 non-afterburner Thrust: 17,155 lbf
This means that the F-16 can carry 23,400 lbs of gas and munitions. The UCAV doesn't have the weight or drag associated with a pilot compartment filled with human interfacable avionics, environmental controls, ejection seat and associated wiring and electronics. This probably accounts for a bunch of weight reduction. So you have a lighter aircraft with a greater thrust to weight ratio, lower drag coefficient, longer range, and greater payload to weight ratio. All of that and they say its a spy aircraft or a platform for frequency jamming. Bullshit. This is an unmanned, stealth bomber. If you take a detailed look at the performance specs it is obvious. Not to mention that the Global Hawk and spy satellites with the ability to differentiate font faces on a news paper from space already fill this role. What they need and want is a relatively low cost and upgradable platform for stealthy bombing incursions. I see this as an announcement to China and North Korea. Look at this weapon we are ready to deploy(or already have).
I am glad to see this platform exists though. If you loose 3 or 4 of them you don't loose the experience of a pilot and crew. They are all safely back at the command center. Plus this should allow the aircraft to be more maneuverable and carry heavier payloads. All in all it should maximize soldier safety and, to be a bit morbid, provide a greater and more accurate kill ratio. Basically, these things represent another notch in the Air Superiority belt.
