Paragliding Military Drones Under Development

electric_mongoose writes "NewScientistTech has a story about paragliding military drones being developed by a US company called Atair Aerodynamics. These aircraft could be airdropped or ground launched and fly for over 48 hours carrying a 100 kilogram payload, including video surveillance equipment."

Comments

Surely this will be more use to guerrillas?

[Captain Kirk]

As an Irishman who lived under British helicopters for a time, I can see that this technology makes the flight and surveillance capabilities that once were restricted to states available to all.

Small irregular groups fighting state armies will use technology like this to balance their lack of cash and lack of supporters.

A simple example would be that an INLA unit instead of shooting a Member of Parliamnet could use a drone to track him and a second drone to dive bomb him with 100kg of C4.

The implication is that an organisation with little popular support and little capital could inflict heavy casualties on anyone it chooses. 100 kg is a LOT of C4. Even bank robbers could use this.

I have deliberately used an example from northern Ireland to avoid people with strong views on Iraq or Israel assuming that I want an off topic debate. Just think bout how this technology changes the balance of power that has traditionally shaped our thinking on policing and military defenses.

Re:Surely this will be more use to guerrillas?

[ImWithBrilliant]

Nothing that can't be done by a bush airplane, and these things cost as much if not more than a used single engine or kit plane.

I've seen the conceptual UAV project that the new hires at Dahlgren, Virginia worked on http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Successful_Test_Fl ights_Of_New_Armed_UAV.html

This technology needs a lot of maturation before any combat application including terror: it is very noisy, unstable at speed on the ground, and requires a lot of ground support personnel. Holds exciting promise to a well equipped military for something like convey escort, but it's too high tech for backwater armies.

Flying Monkeys

[Doomedsnowball]

Given the success of NASA in this area, I don't really see how anyone can compete with that braintrust and bankroll. Given the same requirements, I could likely build something similar to Atair's attempt in my garage. I'm very unimpressed. Plus, TFA seems like a weak PR attempt from a fringe, wannabe defense contractor.

Re:Red?

[arivanov]

This may be nitpicking, but the article is a bit misleading. The item described in it is not a classic paraglider. It is a powered ultralite parachute hang glider. Different cattle of fish altogether. It is not invisible, it is not silent and it has an IR signature larger than many planes. It is a perfect strela/stinger bait. The IR signature on it will allow a lock on from many km away and it is too slow and cumbersome to perform any evasive action.

It could also carry...

[CokoBWare]

• Leaflets
• Food and medical supplies
• A bomb
• Starbucks coffee for the boys
• Non-lethal weapons - like a sound generator
• A spy - like James Bond
• A mini-nuke
• Chemical weapons
• Leaflets
• A "laser" (think Austin Powers)
• Temporary Wi-Fi mesh hotspot
• Pornography for the troops for those long and lonely nights

There's more I'm sure...

Democratize Surveillance

[jlev]

I've worked on a similar project at MIT, with the goal of open sourcing the hardware and software to make this capability available to media, NGOs and other non-state actors. Something like this would be incredbily useful in Afghanistan or Darfur for making food or medical supply drops, or distributing leaflets. We conducted test flights on the US/Mexico border looking for evidence of anti-immigrant groups that are known to promulgate unlawful violence against political and economic refugees there. While much has been made of using UAVs for "border security," the systems may also be used to keep our homeland safe by observing and reporting illegal proto-fascist activities.

"Shoot me, I'm a big noisy parachute"

[writerjosh]

A lazy terrorist with a shoulder rocket launcher could take one of these out while on his lunch break. I don't see why DARPA is so excited about this. I'm sure it'll be as effective as those stealth hot-air balloons they used in the Revolutionary War.