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TIL that CBP is flying a $30 million drone around the airspace over my town today
Posted on 8/13/26 at 1:21 pm
Posted on 8/13/26 at 1:21 pm
We are an international port, so CBP being here makes sense.
Where I lose it is learning that these things cost $30-34 million.
We have an aircraft manufacturer in town that makes a lot of personal aircraft. Their jets run about $4 million, and these are generally considered pretty nice planes (and subject to all the legal and regulatory issues of GA).
Now, I get that remote and/or autonomous operation adds cost, but how in the hell does something with no weapons, no passengers, and no aesthetics cost that much?
Where I lose it is learning that these things cost $30-34 million.
We have an aircraft manufacturer in town that makes a lot of personal aircraft. Their jets run about $4 million, and these are generally considered pretty nice planes (and subject to all the legal and regulatory issues of GA).
Now, I get that remote and/or autonomous operation adds cost, but how in the hell does something with no weapons, no passengers, and no aesthetics cost that much?
7
Posted on 8/13/26 at 2:32 pm to Ag Zwin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARGUS-IS
Argus Drones are wild.
Argus Drones are wild.
quote:
As ARGUS floats overhead for months at a time, it dragnet tracks every moving person and vehicle and chronographs their movements, allowing forensic investigators to rewind the footage and watch the activities of anyone they select within the footage
Posted on 8/13/26 at 2:46 pm to Ag Zwin
What is a CBP?
Posted on 8/13/26 at 3:04 pm to Ag Zwin
quote:
Where I lose it is learning that these things cost $30-34 million.
Why? They're not small, and covered in sensors.
The MQ-9 that CBP uses (along with other drones) can carry four Hellfires.
Posted on 8/13/26 at 3:08 pm to Motorboat
quote:
What is a CBP?
Customs Border Patrol
Posted on 8/13/26 at 3:09 pm to Motorboat
Border Patrol (or as some on here call it Boarder Patrol)
Posted on 8/13/26 at 3:11 pm to Ag Zwin
Dayum.
I think the A-10s I worked on were only $10M.
I think the A-10s I worked on were only $10M.
Posted on 8/14/26 at 11:11 am to LemmyLives
quote:
Why? They're not small, and covered in sensors.
I realize these are not things you pick up at Best Buy, and that there is some technology on them.
Still, that’s a hell of a lot of money when there is nothing cutting edge about the performance and there is no pilot in the seat.
I’ve got two in uniform that see the costs of a lot of stuff they use. I thought I had some idea of the bloat and excessive costs before and I would roll my eyes. Now, it just makes me angry.
This post was edited on 8/14/26 at 11:12 am
Posted on 8/14/26 at 11:17 am to Ag Zwin
quote:
Now, I get that remote and/or autonomous operation adds cost, but how in the hell does something with no weapons, no passengers, and no aesthetics cost that much?
Sensors, comms, and military contracts
Posted on 8/14/26 at 11:28 am to Ag Zwin
quote:
but how in the hell does something with no weapons, no passengers, and no aesthetics cost that much?
Seems like the obvious answer is the tech being used.
Why would anyone think the aircraft itself is the only reason it is flying? It has to do something special to justify the flight.
Posted on 8/14/26 at 11:33 am to Ag Zwin
quote:
We are an international port, so CBP being here makes sense.
Again! Another post with an acronym that not commonly known and you don’t bother to say what it is in the body of the post.
Posted on 8/14/26 at 11:48 am to LemmyLives
Posted on 8/14/26 at 12:18 pm to UptownJoeBrown
quote:
Another post with an acronym that not commonly known and you don’t bother to say what it is in the body of the post.
“CBP” has been thrown around A LOT in all the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) hysteria of the last 18 months.
I get that people use TLA’s way too much sometimes, but it’s not like this is some obscure, niche topic.
This post was edited on 8/14/26 at 12:21 pm
Posted on 8/14/26 at 12:23 pm to LemmyLives
quote:
Where I lose it is learning that these things cost $30-34 million.
Why? They're not small, and covered in sensors.
They arent that expensive. Thats just what companies do that plan to sell to our stupid fricking military
Posted on 8/14/26 at 12:46 pm to UptownJoeBrown
quote:
Again! Another post with an acronym that not commonly known and you don’t bother to say what it is in the body of the post.
TIT
(This Is True.)
Posted on 8/14/26 at 1:07 pm to Ag Zwin
I see we have some MIC investors in this thread.
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