Recoilless Rifle Makes Armed Anti-Personnel UAV Possible
Tactical Aerospace Group (TAG) has
announced a new recoilless technology development it intends to
implement on its portable unmanned helicopters. TAG has signed a
Joint Commercialization Agreement with Recoilless Technologies
International (RTI) of Australia to develop a recoilless
weapons package for their aircraft as part of ongoing UCAV
weaponization programs. Initial efforts will be directed towards
7.62 mm armament with future attention towards other calibers,
grenade launchers and other fire power that might be adapted or
suitable for this aircraft.
This new enhancement will add additional capabilities to the
current 2.75 inch missile project ultimately providing
expeditionary and front line warfighters with a portable compact
attack helicopter. Such a weapons package can provide a front-line,
first strike capability, especially for engaging in urban
environments which are the typical new battlefield settings.
"The concept is to keep the warfighter out of harms way and let
the machines take all the risk" said Peter Adler, Military
Liaison for TAG. "No other existing weapon can deliver serious
firepower this accurately and this close without putting a life at
risk. The helicopter gives you the ability to approach at high
rates of speed from any direction and deliver a contained lethal
salvo into the specific target room, regardless of what floor it
may be on or how well defended from ground approach. This is
especially important as today’s conflicts require targeting
very specific enemy personnel but at the same time minimizing any
collateral damage to innocents or infrastructure."
According to TAG, surprise, speed and response time are critical
in such an environment. It says verifiable intelligence must be
acted on immediately before the enemy can disperse and blend with
the indigenous population. The company says its systems are
portable for transport by HMMWV or even man portable packs making
them capable of rapid deployment by the very teams that would
otherwise have to attack the position at great risk to
themselves.
Adler said, "Combined with the swarming and multi-platform
control systems being developed by Lockheed Martin, Northrop
Grumman and other industry leaders, this is a step closer to
developing networked WarBots that can take the place of human
warfighters where appropriate."
The introduction of recoilless weapons will open a wide range of
possibilities for deployment of light weaponized UAVs.
Mr. Richard Giza, RTI’s Chairman said, "RTI has the skills
and capability to develop a recoilless ballistic armament system
for TAG’s UAVs that will not only satisfy the capability
requirements of "Detect First," but combine the much needed "Strike
First" capability without placing valuable human resources in
harm’s way or disrupting the flight pattern of the TAG rotary
wing UAVs."
TAG also has plans to utilize various firing and launch systems
for law enforcement applications. "We see it could be used to
deliver non-lethal loads, fire flash bangs, launch throw phones,
fire or deliver grapple hooks and probably dozens of other tasks we
haven’t thought of yet" said Adler. "Again, the idea is to
take out the deadly risk for the personnel involved in the assault
and SWAT teams and provide a very quick and accurate delivery
anywhere on site regardless of angle, location or elevation. No
ground based robot can do that and definitely not with the speed
and efficiency of the helicopter."
TAG says its designs allow future capabilities for various
configurations to be deployed from the air, or from surface and
underwater vessels to enhance the surveillance and strike ability
of SEAL teams or other similar units.
"While there are many UAVs more than capable of surveillance
duties" said Adler, "our systems are designed to go in first,
cause the damage and remove the maximum risk and peril from front
line personnel, especially when going into confined space or the
restrictive dimensions of street fighting. This is where we can
save many lives."