[WentFullRetard]

Sorry, but when you dropped "The US gov is behind the private sector in computing software and hardware by over a decade (and has been for a while)" you lost all credibility. This is just completely inaccurate. Why even have classified programs if they're DECADES behind? Furthermore, I'd take a closer examination on who is funding the academics and reaping the benefits of the research. What an armchair comment.

[blaser-waffle]

Aye, there are a lot -- a LOT -- of well paid IT types around DC. Lots with clearances, and fancy pedigrees.

Isn't an accident NoVA, Southern MD, and the greater DC area are tech hubs.

Entirely a separate discussion from if the US DoD can handle drone swarms. They've spent the last 2 decades occupying two middle eastern countries and have been hemorrhaging money away in the process. That money could have gone towards civilian needs, but even if it didn't and the $$$ stayed with the military, the opportunity cost of going hard on counter-insurgency as a national strategy for 20 years is now clear.

[ddalex]

Wow. Not only DoD have drone swarms, they have been at the forefront of research, invented the concept of drone swarms, and have been testing them for at least 15 years. Search for DoD Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap 2005-2030

[lend000]

> This is just completely inaccurate. What an armchair comment

I assume you are actually fully in the armchair, and have no idea what you're talking about.

> Why even have classified programs if they're DECADES behind?

So your enemy doesn't know what you have. Same as it has always been? In areas where the private sector cannot profit outside selling to the military (e.g. missiles/radar), then obviously the government is ahead because nobody else is really working on them. But perhaps you've watched too many sci-fi movies. We don't have a SHIELD with flying aircraft carriers.