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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsU.S. sending Switchblade drones to Ukraine in $800 million package
The inclusion of the tactical drones, which crash into their targets, represents a new phase of weaponry being sent to Ukraine by the U.S., which so far has shipped mostly anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons. An administration official confirmed McCauls account that the U.S. is sending the Switchblade.
The Switchblade is a small, light drone that can loiter in the air for up to 30 minutes before being directed to its target by an operator on the ground, dozens of miles away. The drone is launched from a tube, like a mortar shell. Its real-time GPS guidance allows a service member in the field to fly it until the moment it crashes and explodes into whatever the target might be.
https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/16/us-sends-switchblade-drones-to-ukraine-00017836
Budi
(15,325 posts)AeroVironment Switchblade
The AeroVironment Switchblade is a miniature-sized loitering munition drone developed by AeroVironment. It is designed as a "kamikaze drone", being able to crash into its target with an explosive warhead to destroy it. The Switchblade is small enough to be carried in a backpack and can be launched from a variety of ground, maritime, and air platforms. Two variants exist, the Switchblade 300 and the Switchblade 600.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/117814951
lapfog_1
(29,199 posts)may well spell the end of tank and armor vehicles in a land battle.
Anti-missile systems like the Navy Phalanx would be hard to adapt to a much smaller armor tank, not to mention there would be a literal weight issue given the amount of ammo they need.
Plus, one can attack with multiple drones or javelins simultaneously... making the anti-missile defense that much harder.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)was a wiser move than it was first considered to be.
lapfog_1
(29,199 posts)with thermal dissipation camo to blend into the environment (Predator was sooo many years ago now)... will just kill tank battalions.
PurgedVoter
(2,217 posts)Tanks are worth hitting. They are important to get rid of early on. They are also easy targets that can be destroyed for a fraction of the cost to build, buy, support or move.
For a while air support was able to make up for their extreme vulnerability, but now the only good use for them today is to park them and let kids climb on them. Sell a few to companies that will want them for making movies. Put the rest in parks.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)However, it must be in a combined arms environment. They and the lesser armored fighting vehicles cannot operate alone.
PurgedVoter
(2,217 posts)Hopefully we don't have a lot of events that will prove or disprove our arguments, but for the price of a tank divided by the amount of ammo you expect it to be able to fire before for it is disabled, that ammo could be wrapped in a drone body and delivered with fine precision.
Drones have already changed the face of warfare. The next generation of snipers will have VR goggles and be prepared to take out armor as they wait for someone to come into rifle range.
Budi
(15,325 posts)@TrentTelenko
UK Starstreak missiles are seriously nasty & small anti-aircraft missile w/three dart warheads.
Being laser beam riding, Russian flares are useless to decoy them.
They are much faster than a Stinger & all the operator has to do is keep the crosshair on the aircraft.
Link to tweet
UK Starstreak in action:
Auggie
(31,169 posts)bad-ass?
herding cats
(19,564 posts)When I read about them "badass" was my literal utterance.
Auggie
(31,169 posts)Wonder what other high-tech weapons our military has devised?
AntiFascist
(12,792 posts)Kaleva
(36,298 posts)Could also be used to attack RU artillery and rocket positions.
Budi
(15,325 posts)"China of you're listening!" H.e.l.p. 😫
The RU Oligarchs pilfered off the military budget to buy yachts rather than investing in fast expanding weapons technology..
Meanwhile, putin's pulling unwilling citizens off the street to fight a troop war against star wars.
FakeNoose
(32,638 posts)TheBlackAdder
(28,189 posts).
.
sky_masterson
(416 posts)But this is how you get a Terminator.
TomSlick
(11,098 posts)Are Ukrainians going to need to go to Poland for training? If so, for how long?
RussellCattle
(1,535 posts).....troops carrying World War One vintage bolt action rifles, you've got to believe that this whole exercise is ultimately going to show the much vaunted Russian army to be something of a toothless bear. This adding another whole level to Putin's miscalculation of his prospects for a quick victory.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,173 posts)But does anyone else have trepidation about this new generation of pilotless war drones?
Once this conflict winds down. The world will still have them. Less costly for poorer despot nations to afford than fighter jets. Less costly for lives lost...which helps politically. Not only about how easily these can be used against enemy soldiers but civilians as well. Both in foreign lands and on home soil. If a social rights protest gets too rowdy for instance.
Sgent
(5,857 posts)counter artillery weapons and anti-air(not Javalin's)? UKR is getting the shit pounded out of them by air and artillery, and although that can't win a war by itself it can seriously weaken someone over time. Russia is treating the siege of Kyiv no different than Grant did Vicksburg and using essentially the same weapons. When people run out of rats to eat they will surrender.
KS Toronado
(17,230 posts)We're only sending 100 of these, IMO we need to send at least a couple thousand, use them to take
out all their missile batteries way behind the lines. Then go after tanks.