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To: Gadsden1st; Travis McGee

Looks like the Benghazi CIA could have used one of these:

“US Army to fly Switchblade ‘kamikaze’ drones (airport defense against UAV attack?)”

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.b0b893fb04aee2445cb9d54b02462bd7.2f1&show_article=1

Weighing less than two kilos, the drone is small enough to fit into a soldier’s backpack and is launched from a tube, with wings quickly folding out as it soars into the air, according to manufacturer AeroVironment.
Powered by a small electric motor, the Switchblade transmits video in real time from overhead, allowing a soldier to identify an enemy, the company said in a press release last month.

“Upon confirming the target using the live video feed, the operator then sends a command to the air vehicle to arm it and lock its trajectory onto the target,” it said.
The drone then flies into the “target,” detonating a small explosive.

AeroVironment “Switchblade”
http://www.avinc.com/uas/small_uas/


60 posted on 11/04/2012 9:09:53 AM PST by Seizethecarp
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To: Travis McGee

This link works:

“U.S. Army orders its first batch of suicide drones”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44412133/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/t/us-army-orders-its-first-batch-suicide-drones/#.UHu7NlYzrqA

Soldiers who fly hand-launched drone scouts to spot enemies on the battlefield may soon get a deadly robotic device capable of also delivering a knockout blow. The U.S. Army has ordered its first batch of small suicide drones that are capable of launching from a small tube, loitering in the sky and then diving at a target upon command.

The backpack-size “Switchblade” drone and its launch tube give individual soldiers a new level of precise control over an explosive weapon. Rather than calling in supporting artillery fire or airstrikes, soldiers can simply launch the Switchblade from out of sight, confirm a target on a live video feed from the drone, and then command the robotic device to arm itself and fly into the target at high speed.

See also the link below, which I will put up as a thread:

http://thediplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2012/10/15/kamikaze-drones-a-poor-mans-cruise-missile/


63 posted on 11/04/2012 9:26:25 AM PST by Seizethecarp
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