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Robots Go To War

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the somebody-forgot-the-first-law dept.

JKT writes: "According to The Times (of London): Predators, which can operate for 40 hours at a time ... can hover at up to 25,000ft, taking photographs in all types of weather, and at night with the use of infrared cameras ... For the first time in any operation, the Predators, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in San Diego, are also armed with Hellfire anti-tank missiles ... if a Predator spots a potential target, the ground operator can launch a Hellfire missile attack immediately." The article covers all the various pre-attack surveillance mechanisms, including special forces units of various countries. Interesting stuff, especially because it appears that one of those recon drones has already been shot down.

4 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. Two Lost Over Iraq... by CrusadeR · · Score: 4, Informative
    Two Predator UAV's were lost over Iraq in just the past month:

    http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010911/ts/iraq_u sa_plane_dc_4.html

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A457 0-2001Aug27.html

    FAS has some more info on the bird here.

    --
    :wq
  2. More info by bihoy · · Score: 4, Informative

    Actually the range of the predator is limited more by the 1998 INF treaty than by their actual range.
    The treaty limits them to 5000 Km. I have not seen any info on their actually range which is no dount classified information.

    There is a nice write up (and picture) on this rather funky looking bird in this article.

  3. Re:People will soon not be needed! by AaronStJ · · Score: 3, Informative

    Doesn't it seem that people will be replaced by many robots commanded by a few people in a hidden bunker somewhere. That is where it's going.

    Just remember: in the future, wars will be fought be tiny robots. Your job will be to build and mantain those robots.

    --
    Stupid like a fox!
  4. I don't think so... by krystal_blade · · Score: 3, Informative
    I have a feeling this is just a media blitz.


    The Predator UAV is a very light self powered sailplane that saw it's first extensive use over Bosnia/Herzegovina. The aircraft, without any major modifications, usually stayed aloft for around 8 hours at a time.


    The camera package installed with the package is top of the line, capable of multiple different uses. It is also very heavy though.


    Two things really point against this being viable. 1 is the weight of a weapons rack, and missiles versus the aircrafts dimensions/capabilities. Given the Predator was built for a heavier load than it already has, it may be possible to add more items (AKA a heavier camera.) But, to add a complete new system, wiring, pylons, weapons... Call it a hunch, but it's going to severely hamper the planes abilities, duration, and Durability. (Have you seen the 6 foot landing gear on the plane? Imagine landing something like that with even MORE weight attatched.


    The second thing is the planes construction. It was designed to be replaceable, but not as a suicide bomber. It's small size is great for security... you can't shoot at what you can't see... And it's construction minimalized the use of metal so as to provide a very small radar cross section. Adding large hunks of metal on an airplane will force it to fly slower, and lower, making it 1. Audible. 2. Visible. and 3. Picked out on Radar.


    krystal_blade

    --
    It will be easy to motivate our fellow man; there is hardly anything people treasure more than not being annihilated.