DataSquid2 t1_j6jhve1 wrote on January 30, 2023 at 7:48 PM

Reply to comment by chriswaco in Mass-market military drones have changed the way wars are fought by ChickenTeriyakiBoy1

I'm a bit surprised that this isn't happening already. We know drones are being used, but it sounds like it's at a smaller scale than I expected.

PleasantAdvertising t1_j6kpejt wrote on January 31, 2023 at 12:30 AM

Truthfully I think the world's militaries are doing a lot of drone development behind closed doors. Drones, lasers and railguns.

Omegalazarus t1_j6lx83p wrote on January 31, 2023 at 6:41 AM

I mean most first or second world militaries would just launch an artillery garage. That would come for about the same amount of destructive power. Consider that each missile in an MLRS (large truck sized) destroys a 250 meter square radius. Those were the stats from 20 years ago and that munition has since been replaced several times so you can imagine the destructive capability.

karateninjazombie t1_j6kyonc wrote on January 31, 2023 at 1:39 AM

They would if they could. It takes some serious production and procurement ramp up to have bazillions of drones to hand to use as loitering munitions.

DataSquid2 t1_j6l808h wrote on January 31, 2023 at 2:48 AM

I had though that production ramp-up is what militaries have been working on for a while.

I obviously don't follow the space since I said I was surprised, but with how long drone tech has been around now it feels like there has been enough time for that production ramp up.

Obviously I'm wrong, and I'm almost happy I am because when it is bazillions of kamikaze drones then war will be even more hellish.

Omegalazarus t1_j6lvs8g wrote on January 31, 2023 at 6:24 AM

I think it's because those type of drones aren't great for an advanced military. Kamikaze drones are a low speed, high interactivity, small payload delivery system. Each of those three criteria are not what you want. If you can avoid it.

DataSquid2 t1_j6m22y1 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 7:43 AM

That makes more sense to me. I didn't even consider a drone being low speed or having a small payload, but by military standards it totally is.

The thought of a swarm of kamikaze drones really is terror inducing though.

Omegalazarus t1_j6m83v2 wrote on January 31, 2023 at 9:08 AM

Yeah the terror aspect for sure. They did they on a movie years back. Someone tried to assassinate the president with suicide drones. It was a tense action scene.

mynaneisjustguy t1_j6odu7m wrote on January 31, 2023 at 7:30 PM

Drone swarms are already a thing I believe. Just not being deployed yet.