this sounds so stupid but it might work
this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2025
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Like torpedos used to do.
Mankind invents their own problems.... fantastic... 🙄
Next evolution, carrier drones. Larger fiber drones that carry smaller radio drones and can also act as a repeater when needed.
So basically we need a REALLY big wall
Multiphasic drones capable of passing through solid material are next!
Ghost drones?
We need a militarized Pac Man drone.
This kind of idea is between genius and stupid.
It's a cheap an easy solution to a lot of problem, and it sounds like the kind of proposal an intern would do
Sure, but a 20km attack radius in terms of something that can fly seems... Idk less than effective.
It would work for precision bombing nearby targets, but for long range strikes like Ukraine does, they need to be untethered.
But in those cases, i doubt they run remotely, rather they set a GPS destination and they use a combination of astral navigation and inertial navigation to hit their intended target, just like missiles.
Just much slower, smaller and lower flying missiles. Can't shoot what you can't see on radar.
They are generally tactical weapons, not strategic.
And here my civvy ass is goin "wait they're different?"
When talking about attack drones, historically that has described an unmanned bomber that has significant range and strike capability. These are a strategic asset, operated far back from the front and making big-picture attacks. They replace cruise missiles and manned bombers.
The war in Ukraine has led to the first major deployment of tactical drones. These are relatively short range and operated in the field. Some are simply hobby drones rigged up to be able to drop a grenade, while others are flown straight into a target and explode. This article is talking about the latter, which is basically a replacement for anti-tank missiles.
When compared against a missile you have to have line of sight to guide to the target, a 20km range is a huge step up.
It's neither, they're spare wire reels for older tow missiles which were wired for the same reason.
TIL thanks,
I heard about wired torpedo but didn't know it was also a thing for missiles
Yep, still used in combat too and chances are you've seen a video and just didn't know.
Anytime you see a video filmed from behind a missile and it keeps making smingly random swirling jinking movements it's likely to be a tow missile.
Curiously, the first wired torpedoes, you'd propel the torpedo forward by pulling on the wire that came out the back of it.
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Drone manufacturer: "We're having trouble with our drones getting jammed, any ideas?"
Intern: "I always use CAT6 for my pc"
Drone manufacturer: "You goddamn genius!"
Kids these days relying on wireless everything and don't realize the security and reliability of a wired connection.
This has been going on for a few months now. Why is this a "new threat" ?
There have even already been battlefield videos where you see tons of fibre optic in the air.
On the scale of human warfare, "a few months" is pretty new. Frankly, its fairly new on the timescale of the Ukraine war at this point.
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Wouldn't the fiber lead directly back to the pilot, though? You'd have to constantly be moving locations, otherwise they could just follow the wire.
Edit: I know, I know, the more I've thought about it--and despite them actually proving it's possible to do as mentioned in the article--it's just not very practical to do in many situations. As one commenter mentioned below, after seeing pictures of some trees, numerous drones create a web among trees/bushes/etc. So tracing lines when drones are launched from multiple locations would be extremely difficult and they could even set up ambushed at certain points if they saw enemy scouts doing it.
RR transmitters can be passively triangulated. Following the wire requires someone physically following the line back.
There are a lot of counter options and I'm sure they've thought of many. I can think of a couple with a few minutes of thought and it's not my life on the line.
If the line can be reeled out it can be reeled in.
They could use a smaller drone to send the end randomly elsewhere.
They could have the drone itself detach from the source and reel it towards itself before detonating.
This is not new tech. We have been using wires like this in the battlefield since the 70's. I was a TOW gunner and shot plenty of missiles that have a wire like this drone. Except, ya know it's a missile and it moves significantly faster. TOW stands for Tube launched Opitically Wire guided missile.
Ask away if you wanna know anything about em.
Would you rather have had wire drones over your TOWs?
Or just knee replacements
Already had the back replacement thank you very much lol
Edit: sorry to answer your question. Nope, ill take the missile. A drone coming at you is slow (in relation to a missile) and doesnt have a lot of explosives, other enemies will think they have a chance. You see a missile take someone out, I promise you, that you wont stick around to see it again.
Is that where the phrase "pink mist" comes from?
Yeah I probably wouldn't stick around either.
I'm guessing the wired break down quickly?
Naw, that shit was super strong. If you caught your boot and pulled it would slice clean into your boot. But it was fragile enough to be cut with scissors. A little thicker than a strand of hair.
Lol, I doubt it. I'm guessing 1,000-2,000 years.
What kind of comms do the wires allow? Sending guidance and simultaneously receiving video?
What was the physicality of wires back then (and do you know what they are today)? Would it feel like walking into a spider's web, or how sturdy were/are those wires?
How often would a write break, and would that mean total loss of control or is there some form of fall-back?
Curious minds want to know! Thank you.
People who play War Thunder want to know lol you can actually find cut outs that show the internals online. The TOW has been around for awhile.
But the wires were for X and Y navigation. Theres an IR beacon that flashes out the back of the missile. The camera sees the beacon and when you move the controls the missile will follow. Theres a Russian T90 tank that has a defense system that spoofs the beacon. Looks like headlights, called the Shtora-1 check it out.
Wire was made out of the thinnest, strongest metal I've ever seen. It would cut your boot if you snagged it and pulled, but it could be cut with scissors.
If you lost a wire the missile would go erratic and would lose control depending on which wire was lost. Really depened on what youre trying to shoot over if you broke a wire. Can't shoot over buildings.
My favorite fact though, it flys above the tank! Search YouTube for a slow mo and you'll see what i mean. Explodes from above.
Well, since we've got you:
What would be the minimum reasonable distance to use a TOW (with accompanying operator control) vs something unguided (either the TOW or otherwise)?
Ooo minimum? Dont recall that exactly but I do remember the mechanism that arms the missile is activated by G force. Missile has to fly for a bit before it arms.
Second part of your question is pretty loaded. Theres tons of unguided systems that have wildly different arming mechanisms.
Really what you care about is stand off distance. Can I hit my enemy with my missile before they can get into range to shoot me?
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