BritishArmy
Latest
Fire Shadow missile can remain aloft for six hours before obliterating a moving target (video)
If we were making a list of terrifying airborne war machines, this would probably rank near the top. You certainly won't want to be targeted by the Fire Shadow, but from the safety of a web browser, it's impossible not to marvel at the craft's versatility. Manufactured by French developer MBDA, the Fire Shadow missile is designed to strike a stationary or moving object on command. But unlike some other UAVs, this ingenious rig can remain airborne for up to six hours before it's assigned to destroy a large vehicle (and its occupants) from a nearly vertical angle of attack. Tipping the scale at less than 440 pounds (about 200 kilograms), it has a range of approximately 62 miles (100 kilometers) and is described by MBDA as being "low cost." The British Army is said to have taken delivery of the missile in March, and will begin testing in Sweden later this year, but you can see it action today in the demo video after the break.
British bots battle it out, Army-style
Robot designers are currently duking it out for the British army in hopes of nabbing the hearts (and pocketbooks) of the UK's fighting force. In a makeshift "wartime European village," scientists and researchers are putting their helper-droids to the test as Army officials look on and investigate how the automatons might serve alongside troops. Some of the robots being looked at include a "Moon buggy" which remotely patrols for enemies via thermal imaging and then sends the data back to a command center, a helicopter that can be maneuvered in tight urban spaces, and a RC car with what appears to be a pile of digicams mounted on top of it. The winners of the competition will be announced Monday, but you can hit the read link and see a video -- replete with annoying British television presenter -- of some contestants.[Thanks, Jack]
British Army recruits gamers to pilot dusty Apaches
According to the UK's Sunday Mirror, the British Army is actively seeking out veteran gamers for military service. Senior officers have descended upon schools, hoping to recruit an elite l33t team of Apache pilots. Headhunters are targeting teens as young as 17 with the promise of university scholarships (after service). A senior Army Air Corps source explained that the "new generation of computer-game playing youngsters glued to their PlayStations, Xboxes, and Game Boys" has already developed "some" of the skills necessary to fly an Apache. Interesting theory.GameSpot notes that the British Army is desperate to train a squadron of pilots capable of handling a fleet of 67 Apaches that were ordered back in 2002 (for more than $4.5 billion). The training program has been delayed for nearly three years, and most of the Apaches remain in storage.
