Nuclear-Powered Drones: Here they come!

[GTaudiophile]

Hello Skynet! And you think the project has been halted...NOT!

US draws up plans for nuclear drones:
Technology is designed to increase flying time 'from days to months', along with power available for weapons systems

American scientists have drawn up plans for a new generation of nuclear-powered drones capable of flying over remote regions of the world for months on end without refuelling.

The blueprints for the new drones, which have been developed by Sandia National Laboratories – the US government's principal nuclear research and development agency – and defence contractor Northrop Grumman, were designed to increase flying time "from days to months" while making more power available for operating equipment, according to a project summary published by Sandia.

Continued...

 

[QuantumPion]

Just some FUD from the guardian.

Sandia confirmed that the project had been completed: "Sandia is often asked to look at a wide range of solutions to the toughest technical challenges. The research on this topic was highly theoretical and very conceptual. The work only resulted in a preliminary feasibility study and no hardware was ever built or tested. The project has ended."

 

[DaWhim]

hah, how long will it take google to take this up to enhance their google map?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

well, that crock of shit out-does the daily fail.

 

[IronWing]

Nuclear-powered Druids would be way cooler.

 

[manimal]

Nuclear-powered Druids would be way cooler.

I would go with a dual wield nuclear dot build

 

[marvdmartian]

Pretty sure the weight addition for any nuclear power plant would equal out to the longevity of the system. In other words, no real advantage (thus a big reason why the military never made nuclear powered airplanes).