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ISIS Is Using Exploding Consumer Drones To Kill Enemy Fighters (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the enemy-in-the-sky dept.

According to The New York Times, the Islamic State is using small consumer drones rigged with explosions to fight Kurdish forces in Iraq. As a result, American commanders in Iraq have issued a warning to forces fighting ISIS to treat any type of small flying aircraft as potential explosive devices. The Verge reports: The small, commercially available drone was shot down in Northern Iraq and taken back to an outpost, the Times writes. But during disassembly, the drone exploded, killing the two fighters. Le Monde reports that two members of French forces were also injured by the explosion. The technique used by ISIS in the attack may have been a simple one -- ultimately only combining two widely available pieces of tech -- but videos available online have purportedly shown other recent instances of drones used as explosives, suggesting the move may be one we see more of in the future.

8 of 221 comments (clear)

  1. Would not fly in Ukraine by mi · · Score: 3, Informative

    When Ukrainian forces try to use consumer-grade drones in their fight against Russian invaders, the devices are often intercepted by Russia's sophisticated radio-electronic warfare units. They are good enough to fool even American military equipment on occasion.

    Had Russia really been fighting ISIS in Syria, they would've sent the same technology (and personnel) there.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
  2. Re:I think there was a comic villain who did this by No+Longer+an+AC · · Score: 3, Informative

    I think the first time I saw this in action was in The Dead Pool (the Dirty Harry movie, not Deadpool).

    It was just an RC car with explosives, but the only difference here is that the "drones" are capable of flight.

    I'm sure it's been done in other works of fiction as well.

  3. It was done in WW2 by perpenso · · Score: 3, Informative

    I think the first time I saw this in action was in The Dead Pool (the Dirty Harry movie, not Deadpool). It was just an RC car with explosives, but the only difference here is that the "drones" are capable of flight. I'm sure it's been done in other works of fiction as well.

    It was done in real life during WW2. The drones were four engine B24 or B17 bombers packed with high explosives and crashed into high value targets. Pilots would fly the aircraft for takeoff, bail out, and the drone would be radio controlled with the help of primitive TVs from another aircraft.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    1. Re: It was done in WW2 by bestweasel · · Score: 5, Informative

      One of them was the most world-changing drone so far.

      ... the project was dangerous, expensive and unsuccessful. Of 14 missions flown, none resulted in the successful destruction of a target. Many aircraft lost control and crashed or were shot down by flak, and many pilots were killed. However, a handful of aircraft scored near misses. One notable pilot death was that of Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., the elder brother of future US President John F. Kennedy.

    2. Re:It was done in WW2 by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 4, Informative

      It was done in real life during WW2. The drones were four engine B24 or B17 bombers packed with high explosives and crashed into high value targets.

      Joe Kennedy (JFK's and RFK's older brother) was killed while piloting one of these planes when it prematurely detonated. Joe was considered the high achiever of the family, and his father (also named Joe) intended his son to pursue a political career after the war. It was only after Joe's death than Joe Senior put his effort, influence, and fortune behind John instead.

    3. Re:It was done in WW2 by BlueStrat · · Score: 3, Informative

      I think the first time I saw this in action was in The Dead Pool (the Dirty Harry movie, not Deadpool). It was just an RC car with explosives, but the only difference here is that the "drones" are capable of flight. I'm sure it's been done in other works of fiction as well.

      It was done in real life during WW2. The drones were four engine B24 or B17 bombers packed with high explosives and crashed into high value targets. Pilots would fly the aircraft for takeoff, bail out, and the drone would be radio controlled with the help of primitive TVs from another aircraft.

      The Germans had remote controlled weapons in WW2, the 'Mistel' being the most famous. It was intended mainly as an anti-ship weapon to be used against Allied shipping mainly in the English Channel and North Sea.

      The Mistel weapons that actually saw deployment and use consisted of either the Focke-Wulf FW-190 A-8 or F-8 model or Bf-109 F-4 model single-engine fighter (stripped of weapons and loaded with control equipment) attached by explosive bolts atop a twin-engine Junkers Ju-88 A-4 or G-1 model bomber modified for control-by-wire and loaded with a specially-designed, shaped-charge warhead weighing close to two tons.

      Control inputs to the released Ju-88 by the pilot in the fighter aircraft were transmitted by a set of very thin and long wires. The weapon proved not to be very effective as accuracy was an issue. The pilot must simultaneously fly his own aircraft (usually under heavy AAA fire) and guide the Ju-88 visually from his aircraft while staying within the range the control wires allow, which would be an extremely difficult task even for a seasoned pilot who is not under fire.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      The Germans also used the 'Goliath' wire-controlled mobile mine on a set of small tracks in both electric and gasoline-powered versions.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      I have to wonder if this story is being put out there as a part of government-directed PR/propaganda groundwork as a prelude to passing far more strict US consumer drone regulations in the near future.

      Strat

      --
      Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
  4. Re:Only surprise is that it has taken so long by quenda · · Score: 4, Informative

    Its economics. A consumer drone costs $1000, compared to RPG grenades which were selling for $100, but now $500 according to the CSM:

    http://www.csmonitor.com/World...

    As the war drags on, and munitions prices rise, alternatives become more attractive.

    how could you even shoot it down? And in a city, would you even be able to try shooting it down?

    Shotgun. And seriously? Afraid of disturbing the peace in Aleppo?

  5. Re:Not going to be very effective by perpenso · · Score: 5, Informative

    We have read about drones being taken out by shotguns but they have a lot less spread than you think, and the more the spread the quicker they lose effect.

    I'm quite familiar with the spread from skeet shooting. The fast part too, but not the changing course part. However actual hunters seem to manage that at thirty-something yards, and its not like the military is lacking in guys who have shot a large bird or two.

    FWIW, during WW2 the gunners for the bomber crews started their training by shooting skeet. However in round two of training they shot skeet while standing in the beds of moving trucks, shooting at a moving target while in motion themselves.

    I would not be surprised if designing the right load is more of a problem than training a sufficient number of soldiers.