U.S. Army orders its first batch of suicide drones (What CIA needed in Benghazi?)

MSNBC ^ | September 6, 2011 | Unattributed

[Seizethecarp]

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.

"The unique capabilities provided by the Switchblade agile munition for standoff engagement, accuracy and controlled effects make it an ideal weapon for today's fight and for U.S. military forces of the future," said Bill Nichols, deputy product director at the Army's Close Combat Weapons Systems project office.

Operators can even call off strikes at the last second after arming the Switchblade. That kind of control allows soldiers to retarget in case an enemy moves out of sight, or avoid collateral damage if a civilian wanders too close.

[bravo whiskey]

and MATADOR and MACE and REGULUS.

time to reread WAR IN 2020 by ralph peters.

[Chainmail]

Goofy little thing. Has a warhead slightly larger than a 40mm grenade. Might be annoying but not a real piece of combat power. Israeli Spike missile (fiber optic guided, 6,000m range, 10 pound warhead) or the old Merlin 81mm guided mortar round would be better choices, to just name two.

[darth]

If somebody can kluge this up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNPJMk2fgJU

Seriously, why did they not have a few claymores and an M-60?