Hornets and Killer Bees

[ORAC]

F-18s launch swarming mini-UAVs.

Imiagine swarms of these loitering over the battlefield......

Alert 5 » Watch 3 Super Hornets release 103 mini-drones - Military Aviation News

During a demonstration at China Lake in October 2016, three Super Hornets released 103 Perdix mini-uavs and the drones then later flew together as a swarm.

[Pontius Navigator]

103/3

Doesn't add up hang up?

[Just This Once...]

You forgot the 2 queens.

[thunderbird7]

They were on the BA plane flying above....

[Basil]

"Battery commander. Next shoot will be grapeshot."

[Martin the Martian]

Just play the Beastie Boys at them.

(see Star Trek Beyond for the ref).

[Lonewolf_50]

I am reminded of this killer bee activity.

[Lantern10]

^^ Not available in Australia.

[Lonewolf_50]

@Lantern10: it was the SNL skit from 1976 with John Belushi and Elliot Gould.

[ORAC]

Really interesting video. The technology is coming.

Alert 5 » Watch what happens when you pit two teams of 25 drones against each other - Military Aviation News

[A_Van]

Various Middle East mobs are already using this kind of "asymmetric warfare" targeting Patriot radars:


Suicide Drones Have Migrated To The Conflict In Yemen - The Drive


Indeed, a 50 bucks quadcop from a shop, or even the one printed using a 3D-printer and carrying 50 g of TNT can destroy the antenna....

[Basil]

Defence:
Shrapnel shell with prox fuze?
Substantial shotgun? (Prob less collateral damage)
Rocket launched net?
Custard hose?

[ORAC]

Sounds fine, but think replacement for cluster bombs. If a stand-off aircraft launches a JP-233 equivalent which contains a drone swarm which is designed to find their designated target then do a swarming "dance" around it as they close close from 360 degrees in a manner designed to defeat such weapons before a final plunge onto the target it would be difficult to defend against.

They could even react to the defences and try feints and several attacks - 360 degree, multiple line astern, simultaneous vertical and horizontal. The Terminator isn't far off.

[KenV]

Originally Posted by Basil

Defence:
Shrapnel shell with prox fuze?
Substantial shotgun? (Prob less collateral damage)
Rocket launched net?
Custard hose?

The cheapest and most effective defense is probably a jammer that disrupts the control signal.

[FakePilot]

Originally Posted by A_Van

Various Middle East mobs are already using this kind of "asymmetric warfare" targeting Patriot radars:


Suicide Drones Have Migrated To The Conflict In Yemen - The Drive


Indeed, a 50 bucks quadcop from a shop, or even the one printed using a 3D-printer and carrying 50 g of TNT can destroy the antenna....

Wait, isn't a suicide drone a fancy name for guided missile?

[racedo]

Missile launched that gives out a massive EMT burst over a short distance ends said swarm.

It is not just a military weapon it is an every terrorist weapon.