Arms trade: West's military advantage is being eroded, IISS warns
...Britain is trying to stay ahead of the curve by developing the Zephyr high-altitude “pseudo-satellite”, a solar-powered surveillance drone operating at the edge of space, while the US is developing “swarming UAVs” combining cheap structures with sophisticated electronics, the survey notes.
The Pentagon is looking to the private sector for help, setting up a “Defence Information Unit-Experimental” to help it “leverage best lessons from Silicon Valley on issues like big data, analytics, autonomy and robotics”, says the IISS.
These technologies are seen as having uses “across the full spectrum of conflict, able as much … to trawl social media posts by a terrorist group … or produce systems to better enable concepts like prompt global strike”.
Prompt global strike, or PGS, would deliver a precision-guided conventional weapon anywhere in the world within an hour. It has been condemned by Russia and criticised by some independent analysts because of the potential danger of mistaking the missile for a nuclear weapon...
/... http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/09/wests-military-advantage-is-being-eroded-survey-warns
= new reply since forum marked as read
Kick in to the DU tip jar?
This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.
As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.