Posted on 10/04/2013 8:21:10 AM PDT by Seizethecarp
A mystery drone has crashed into Sydney Harbour Bridge - just three days before Prince Harry arrives at the harbour to review an international navy fleet.
The prince is due to make an appearance tomorrow - alongside warships, galleons and tall ships from around the world - to help Australia celebrate its navy's centenary.
However, counter terrorism teams have been placed on high alert after the remote-controlled 'quad-copter' was discovered at the foot of one of the iconic bridge's pylons.
Officials have said they do not believe the drone - which crashed on Wednesday - is linked to the International Navy Fleet Review, which has already attracted thousands of spectators to Sydney Harbour and its foreshore.
No one has yet come forward to claim the aircraft, and an investigation has been launched by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
He said the incident involved 'a small remotely-piloted helicopter being operated as a model aircraft (which) has collided with one of the pylons'.
He added: 'It is early to draw any conclusions, but this would appear on the surface of it to be operating a machine in an area which would probably be inappropriate.
'Certainly, colliding with the bridge structure is something that shouldn't have happened.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Awareness that mini-drones can be used by terrorists increases. These are not RC hobby drones, but autonomous GPS assisted models that can be dangerous as kinetic weapons without any explosive payload (see my tagline).
RC quad copters are commonly used for filming. I know because I work for a company that not only uses one, they designed, built, and sell them.
They take serious training to fly and often crash. High Tech Corvette just crashed his quad. With stabilizer, control board, and camera, they run up to 15k.
Car bombs are cheaper, hence why they are used as the world wide terror weapon.
“Awareness that mini-drones can be used by terrorists increases. These are not RC hobby drones, but autonomous GPS assisted models that can be dangerous as kinetic weapons without any explosive payload (see my tagline).”
I’ve tried sounding this warning, but people poo-poo it. You could even us RC hobby planes to take out airliners. Many airports have roads at the end of their runways so you could visually pilot a remote right into an airplane engine. Half a pound of explosives would make a mess and might result in a crash. But if disruption (and publicity) is the object, all you have to do is shut down the airport.
Practice dry run?
“Car bombs are cheaper, hence why they are used as the world wide terror weapon.”
Airliner crashes are far more spectacular and can cripple an entire airline industry and industrial supply chain that relies on just-in-time parts deliveries.
Car bombs cannot reach “high value targets” as they are hardened against car attacks at all times.
Drones can be used against VIPs in numerous ways that have yet to be attempted or haven’t reached the news yet.
See:
“Rezwan Ferdaus could have attacked Obama’s Air Force One in a runway kill zone (RKZ) not unlike JFK’s Dealey Plaza”
In January of 2013 Retired Admiral, Dennis Blair, made the following speculation: ”I do fear that if al Qaeda can develop a drone, its first thought will be to use it to kill our president, and senior officials and senior officers. It is possible without a great deal of intelligence to do something with a drone you cannot do with a high-powered rifle or driving a car full of explosives and other ways terrorists now use to try killing senior officials.”
“He said the incident involved ‘a small remotely-piloted helicopter being operated as a model aircraft (which) has collided with one of the pylons’.”
The clear implication is that this was a model mini-copter, which could be a quadcopter or helicopter in the 3-foot size range common for models. The picture in the article shows such a quadcopter as an illustration.
Hezbollah is using drones over Israel. They didn’t develop them they’re getting them from Iran who probably bought them from China.
Incidentally, all present US doctrine relies on having 100% command of the skies. In the future there will be no such thing as drones will be so numerous and difficult to detect or jam that they will range freely over the rear areas. This makes the tanker trucks supplying tanks with fuel prime targets. A tank with no fuel is a 70 ton fixed gun with radio. I think this is one reason Rumsfeld wanted to get rid of the Abrams. That and it can’t be airlifted in quantity.
Not likely until after the next presidential election, and then only if the RATs lose. Why would they want to harm a key enabler?
“Hezbollah is using drones over Israel.”
Also Hamas...
“Israel says it knocked out Hamas drone program”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2960477/posts?page=1
Israel says it knocked out Hamas drone program (Iranian run, video of strike)
CBS/AP ^ | November 16, 2012 | Unattributed
Posted on Friday, November 16, 2012 8:47:32 PM by Seizethecarp
An Israeli Defense Force spokesman said Friday that a Hamas militant program to build and launch drone aircraft has been destroyed.
Speaking on Israeli television, an IDF spokesman said that for the past few months Israel has been monitoring Hamas’ attempt to build a drone fleet.
Black-and-white video released by the IDF shows a strike on a Hamas drone being tested at Khan Yunis in Gaza. In a Twitter message the IDF said the video shows “what that program once looked like.”
“Not likely until after the next presidential election, and then only if the RATs lose. Why would they want to harm a key enabler?”
IMO Barry has been enabling the Muslim Brotherhood, not al Qaeda. You will recall that Barry has been using drones to systematically whack any and all al Qaeda that can be found in AfPak, Yemen and elsewhere.
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