Now it's drones with assault rifles attached

Drone warfare has taken one giant step forward with the development of a system that can carry and fire assault or sniper rifles as it hovers over a target. A robot weapon called Smash Dragon designed by an Israeli company can be mounted on different forms of unmanned aerial platforms and turned into a devastatingly accurate system that fires as it flies. The most sophisticated armed drones deployed in wars so far have been capable of launching guided missiles and bombs. The most advanced is the American Reaper which was used extensively in Afghanistan. However, the new unmanned platform armed with a rifle, unveiled by the company Smart Shooter, provides the potential for having a robot infantryman flying overhead and launching attacks with a fire control system that remains steady however fast the drone is going. In live firing tests, special stabilising equipment on the drone enabled he Smash Dragon weapon to hit static and moving targets with deadly precision. The trigger for the assault or sniper rifle carried by the drone is fired remotely from a ground station by an operator sitting in front of a monitor. Michal Mor, chief executive of Smart Shooter, said the rifle-armed drone could be controlled “from a distance”. The Israel-based company has developed an ultra-light drone platform to carry the guns. “When it comes to drones, platform weight is a critical factor as it impacts mission endurance and cost,” Mor said. The Pentagon is expected to be a customer for the Smash Dragon. Last year the US defence department contracted the Israeli company to design a smart sight for rifles used by special operations troops. It will be based on the company’s Smash 2000 optics system which helps soldiers spot a threat and then calculate the best time to fire even if the target is moving.