WASHINGTON: A miniature "kamikaze" drone designed to quietly hover in the sky before dive-bombing and slamming into a human target will soon be part of the United States army's arsenal, officials say.
Dubbed the "Switchblade," the robotic aircraft represents the latest attempt by the US to refine how it takes out suspected militants.
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.
The California-based firm also said the drone can be called off at the last moment, even after a kill mission has been ordered. That feature provides troops with "a level of control not available in other weapon systems," it said.
The United States currently uses larger Predator and Reaper drones to hunt down suspected militants in Pakistan and elsewhere.
The robotic planes fire powerful Hellfire missiles and drop heavy bombs that can cause civilian casualties and extensive damage, which has fueled popular anger with the United States in Pakistan.
In the war in Afghanistan, US and coalition troops fighting the Taliban can call in artillery fire or air strikes from fighter jets and attack helicopters. But the heavy firepower has been blamed by Afghan leaders for claiming the lives of innocent civilians and strained US relations with Kabul.
The Switchblade, however, is touted as a way to avoid killing bystanders.
"Flying quietly at high speed the Switchblade delivers its onboard explosive payload with precision while minimizing collateral damage," the company said.
The US Army in June approved a $4.9 million contract for AeroVironment to supply the new drones as soon as possible. Officials have not said how many Switchblade drones were ordered or when the robotic weapons would make into the hands of US forces.
Human rights groups have raised concerns that the use of drones by the CIA has allowed the conduct of a secret assassination campaign abroad without public scrutiny and little oversight by lawmakers in Congress.
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Kool finally Like India.. Americans will use Harop and Harpy..
the Israeli make the best UCAVS ever.. cost effective and precise .. truly sexy weapons
Americans will one day wonder why they used to send billions of tons of military equipment, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers, when the same objectives could have been achieved with a few thousand Switchblades packed into a a couple of B-52 and flown over to the enemy territory. In future they could even be just dropped behind enemy lines from the aircraft, just like paratroopers in WW2.. And then the Tech guys could play with the gizmos while sipping Lattes sitting safely in bases in Oregan and Iowa. No American casualties to worry about, while the Taliban militants are wondering what's in the air: birds, locusts or rogue kite flyers? Even their suicide vests would be rather counter productive againest there pint sized drones,, while the IEDs and rocket launcher would just as useless. Best bet would be to throw their collective headgear into the air and duck! Onto their bikes, cross the border and stick to being indoors in Abbotabad and watch their fellow anchors spewing anti Americanism on TV. Much safer, with their four wives and twenty would be warriors! Tactical retreat, while waiting for the birds with little stones in their mouthes to descend from the heavens to crush these infidel toys4Us.
This is the idea I was suggesting in an earlier comment sections of collateral damage of drone..Atleast some body in US army is thinking..