China Fleet in danger: MQ-25 steingray drones are armed with inconspicuous AGM-158c missiles

UAV-filling room will be used by the US Navy for intelligence, as well as to attack Chinese ships in a possible conflict. Boeing has demonstrated the MQ-25 Styingray drone model armed with a pair of inconspicuous anti-ship missiles Lockheed Martin AGM-158C (Lrasm). Although the MQ-25 is not yet ready to play its main role in the air in the air, the US Navy is already thinking about how to expand its capabilities, The War Zone writes.

The MQ-25 platform is considered for a wider range of tasks, including strokes. However, the Navy is currently focused on using the MQ-25 as a tanker to help expand the range of military aircraft. In addition, the Navy identified for drone secondary tasks for intelligence, observation and reconnaissance. For this purpose, UAVs will be equipped with modular electro -optical sensory systems. Giving MQ-255 the opportunity to launch LRASM and perhaps other weapons would be an important new achievement.

Super Hornet is currently the only airplane that is capable of using LRASM. The LRASM AGM-158C-1 version, which is now in service, has a maximum range of 320 km to 480 km. In the future, AGM-158C-2 should expand the rocket range to about 965 km. LRASM uses an on -board GPS inertial navigation system, as well as an infrared image sensor at the final flight stage that chooses the optimal place to defeat the target.

The rocket has many other complex functions, such as data transmission channel and the high -autonomous ability to plan the route in combination with electronic support functions that allow it to avoid threats and better identify goals. In general, LRASM will play a key role in the future of a large -scale maritime conflict with China.

In this scenario, the US military will have to resist the Naval Fleet of the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China, which continues to increase its overwill fleet. Obviously, the more platforms will be able to deliver LRASM in such a scenario, the higher the chances of the US military for success. The presence of missiles on board the Dron MQ-25 will help. Moreover, this UAV has unique opportunities as LRASM shooter.

The drone has a hybrid structure-a aircraft and a tactical aircraft, which allows it to be used for tasks that go beyond the dressing and intelligence. It is inconspicuous for radars and has the highest radius of action among all potential drones. If you do not use it for refueling, it can consume all the fuel for itself to fly as far as possible and run Lrasm missiles, covering the fighters.

Using an advanced MQ-25 communication complex, operators will be able to transmit target data for LRASM before launching, or missiles can be programmed to search for certain goals in certain geographical areas before the MQ-25 is launched. In general, the use of drones is much cheaper and safer than manned planes. So the use of Dron MQ-25 as a shock UAV makes sense.