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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.

2 of 221 comments (clear)

  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: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.