Strikestar UCAV (1996)In April 1996, the U.S. Air Force commissioned a study titled "Air Force 2025" that examined the strategies, tactics and technologies the service would need to operate effectively in the first quarter of the 21st century. One of its recommendations was the development of an unmanned, long-range, long-endurance Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), dubbed the "Strikestar," for long-range bombing missions. A larger version of the Darkstar UCAV already in development (see photo below), the Strikestar would be powered by two jet engines instead of its predecessor's single powerplant, have a wingspan of of 105 feet and could carry a variety of ordinance or surveillance equipment.
The Strikestar platform offered numerous advantages. It could cruise at altitudes up to 80,000 feet, making it virtually invulnerable to current SAM technology. Its 70-hour operating time meant it could hit targets virtually anywhere in the world. And because the craft would be operated by remote control, no lives would be risked in combat, and pilot fatigue would never be a problem.
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