Predator w/ Sniper Rifle

On 15 May 2004 21:18:29 GMT, (Dav1936531) wrote:

I am seeing all kinds of pics comming out of Iraq of the jihadis mulling around
in the streets carrying RPG's and AK's.

I was just wondering if it would be possible to make a Predator drone with a
.50 caliber sniper rifle in it to pick these guys off. Say, put a magazine with
50 or 100 rounds onboard, loiter the drone over bad guy areas, spot them with
the Predator's optical systems, and zap them. Human snipers using the .50 have
kill shots from over 1 mile away.

Two reasons this won't work

1. The loiters at high altitude, and even if it could be stable enough
at that distance (it can't), the rounds would tumble in flight after
running out of energy.

2. See 1.

Peter Kemp

In article ,
Peter Kemp wrote:

On 15 May 2004 21:18:29 GMT, (Dav1936531) wrote:

I am seeing all kinds of pics comming out of Iraq of the jihadis
mulling around in the streets carrying RPG's and AK's.

I was just wondering if it would be possible to make a Predator
drone with a .50 caliber sniper rifle in it to pick these guys off.
Say, put a magazine with 50 or 100 rounds onboard, loiter the drone
over bad guy areas, spot them with the Predator's optical systems,
and zap them. Human snipers using the .50 have kill shots from over
1 mile away.

Two reasons this won't work

1. The loiters at high altitude, and even if it could be stable enough
at that distance (it can't), the rounds would tumble in flight after
running out of energy.

2. See 1.

On the other hand, guided, cheap micromissiles might work. A pound or
so each, with a strong IR emitter in the tail for tracking, dropped from
20,000 feet and steered by radio.

Wouldn't even need to be powered, just fin-stabilized and pointy. If
you want to get really mean, put a shotgun-type charge in the front and
have it fire off a hundred feet or so feet the ground to cover a couple
of square meters.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

On Sat, 15 May 2004 23:54:17 GMT, Chad Irby wrote:

In article ,
Peter Kemp wrote:

On 15 May 2004 21:18:29 GMT, (Dav1936531) wrote:

I am seeing all kinds of pics comming out of Iraq of the jihadis
mulling around in the streets carrying RPG's and AK's.

I was just wondering if it would be possible to make a Predator
drone with a .50 caliber sniper rifle in it to pick these guys off.
Say, put a magazine with 50 or 100 rounds onboard, loiter the drone
over bad guy areas, spot them with the Predator's optical systems,
and zap them. Human snipers using the .50 have kill shots from over
1 mile away.

Two reasons this won't work

1. The loiters at high altitude, and even if it could be stable enough
at that distance (it can't), the rounds would tumble in flight after
running out of energy.

2. See 1.

On the other hand, guided, cheap micromissiles might work. A pound or
so each, with a strong IR emitter in the tail for tracking, dropped from
20,000 feet and steered by radio.

Wouldn't even need to be powered, just fin-stabilized and pointy. If
you want to get really mean, put a shotgun-type charge in the front and
have it fire off a hundred feet or so feet the ground to cover a couple
of square meters.

VIPER STRIKE does this job nicely (or will once it reaches Iraq) -
Laser guided submunition dropped by a Hunter UAV - don't know what the
warhead size is, but it's probably better for low collateral damage
than a 500lb JDAM dropped in a marketplace.

Peter Kemp

VIPER STRIKE does this job nicely (or will once it reaches Iraq) -
Laser guided submunition dropped by a Hunter UAV -

What are the economics of this? How much does such a rig cost, as
against the cost of offering paradise to the next jihadist?

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

On Sun, 16 May 2004 06:21:16 -0400, Cub Driver
wrote:


VIPER STRIKE does this job nicely (or will once it reaches Iraq) -
Laser guided submunition dropped by a Hunter UAV -

What are the economics of this? How much does such a rig cost, as
against the cost of offering paradise to the next jihadist?

I'm not sure what you mean - what has the next jihadist got to do with
it?


Peter Kemp

What are the economics of this? How much does such a rig cost, as
against the cost of offering paradise to the next jihadist?

I'm not sure what you mean - what has the next jihadist got to do with
it?

Well, if we spend $100,000,000 on an aerial sniper rifle, and Osama
gets his snipers for free, how long can we keep it up?

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! blog www.vivabush.org

On Mon, 17 May 2004 05:43:27 -0400, Cub Driver
wrote:


What are the economics of this? How much does such a rig cost, as
against the cost of offering paradise to the next jihadist?

I'm not sure what you mean - what has the next jihadist got to do with
it?

Well, if we spend $100,000,000 on an aerial sniper rifle, and Osama
gets his snipers for free, how long can we keep it up?

Ah, got you know, wasn't sure what you meant.

In response - unless every UAV mission gets shot down, then you only
pay a buck or so for ammo for every ex-jihadi, plus the O&M of the UAV
(which you're paying anyway).