Re: Well now...
But this has been depicted in those procedural crime shows where an explosive device was strapped to a drone and used to assassinate someone. Not too far fetched.
Not far fetched at all. So this weekend, Israel attacked a site in Syria, where Iranians were allegedly about to launch 'killer drones'. And also flew drone bombs into Beirut, one of which apparently failed to detonate so acted as a bit of technology transfer. Much like Iranian claims of capturing US/Israeli drones. Then there was an ISIL attack on a Russian airbase in Syria using drones armed with mortar bombs.
So it's a very real threat, and also an asymmetric one. So Israel has it's Iron Dome system to counter hostile missiles & drones, but means firing a 90kg, $50,000 missile at a <$5,000 drone. Plus risks of failed intercepts meaning the interceptor could end up doing more damage than the drone. For Israel, that's a little less risky given the launch trajectory is generally in the direction of the enemy. Gets a little more embarassing for say, Syria, which had one of it's interceptors fall on Cyprus. So nations are looking at alternatives like laser defences, eg Israel's Iron Beam.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
