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Defending Against Drones

theodp writes "The US has not had to truly think about its air defense since the Cold War. But as America embraces the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, Newsweek says it's time to consider how our greatest new weapon may come back to bite us. Smaller UAVs' cool, battery-powered engines make them difficult to hit with conventional heat-seeking missiles. And while Patriot missiles can take out UAVs, at $3 million apiece such protection carries a steep price tag, especially if we have to deal with $500 DIY drones."

13 of 368 comments (clear)

  1. Hey... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    what about bullets? They have been in the market for quite long already.

  2. Re:Defense? by TheLink · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, those USD500 drones aren't gonna fly across the pacific, atlantic or artic oceans anytime soon.

    Still cheap drones might be useful for attackers already in the USA. I wonder how many patriot (or similar) banks are deployed in the USA.

    But if people are willing to die, it's going to be hard to stop them if they're not too stupid. The drone then is the human+payload+vehicle.

    Maybe they should just spend a few millions getting those young angry guys laid... That should de-drone a few of them. A "bird" in each arm might be worth 72 houris in wherever-land. :).

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  3. Let's get this out of the way by dkleinsc · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't understand: Drones are easy to take down. A couple of dragoons or zealots should do the trick nicely, or maybe a few marines instead. Heck, you can go at em with SCVs and have a fighting chance.

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  4. Re:Defense? by Dachannien · · Score: 3, Funny

    The best defense is a good offense. You know who said that? Mel, the cook on "Alice".

      - Ed Gruberman

  5. Re:Arm your citizens... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1, Funny

    I would think small arms would be particularly effective, since such a cheap drone would likely fly low and slow...

    Low and slow are both relative. If people start shooting at drones, drones will start shooting at people; having the advantage of high ground (barring space, the sky is the ultimate high ground) and size means that the drones will win. Drones will start dropping bundles of dronelets soon enough, as well. You have no hope of shooting down swarms of explosive drones the size of your hand.

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    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  6. Re:Arm your citizens... by Beer_Smurf · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mandatory drug deprivation would save more lives, currently lost to drugs.

  7. Re:Arm your citizens... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mandatory retard killing would have taken out you and the parent post

  8. Re:Defense? by smallfries · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sigh, just another attempt to turn some simple engineering problem into politics.

    I happen to have some experience in this area and I can say for certain that if there are no creeps on the floor, any wave of drones is easy to kill. I would start by erecting a line of towers with simple pellet guns, upgrading the weak points to snipers as necessary. Squirt towers will provide a layer of depth to your defence, but ideally you want a fully upgraded bash tower to take out ground creeps quickly enough that your guns can focus on the drones.

    If you'll excuse me, I feel the need for just one more try...

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  9. Re:Defense? by Rogerborg · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did you forget? September 11th was a declaration of war on us. We were forced to retaliate. There's a comprehensive 10 second video explanation here.

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  10. Tinfoil hats for all citizens . . . by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 3, Funny

    Tinfoil hats should protect everyone from falling bullets. At least according to what I read here about these wonderful inventions.

    Probably.

    You might want a set of tinfoil shoulder pads as well.

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  11. Re:Arm your citizens... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Maybe the American colonies should have had gun control before they got out of hand and lost a bunch of lives.

  12. Re:Defense? by Migraineman · · Score: 2, Funny

    Boot to the head!

  13. Begun, the drone wars have. by buravirgil · · Score: 2, Funny

    --Winston Churchill.

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