Project Anubis - the killer micro drone

It appears the air-force has been working on a micro-drone and has now completed it.

The Air Force Research Laboratory set out in 2008 to build the ultimate assassination robot: a tiny, armed drone for U.S. special forces to employ in terminating “high-value targets.” The military won’t say exactly what happened to this Project Anubis, named after a jackal-headed god of the dead in Egyptian mythology. But military budget documents note that Air Force engineers were successful in “develop[ing] a Micro-Air Vehicle (MAV) with innovative seeker/tracking sensor algorithms that can engage maneuvering high-value targets.”

We have seen in recent years increased strikes by larger Predator and Reaper drones using Hellfire missiles against terrorist-leadership targets in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But these have three significant drawbacks

Of course, the "drawbacks" mentioned above of the Hellfire from a Predator are deaths of innocents that happen to be around when a missle designed to take out a tank goes boom.

This system could allow much more precise targeting.

This was the rationale for Project Anubis. Special Forces already make extensive use of the Wasp drone made by AeroVironment. This is the smallest drone in service, weighing less than a pound. It has an endurance of around 45 minutes, and line-of-sight control extends to 3 miles.

It might seem limited compared to larger craft, but the Wasp excels at close-in reconnaissance. Its quiet electric motor means it can get near to targets without their ever being aware of its presence.
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A tiny warhead, weighing a fraction of a pound, could mean extremely little collateral damage, compared to the 20-pound warhead on a Hellfire.

If the photo is correct it appears this thing is basically launched by a man with a slingshot. Its limited range and ease launch has me thinking this may see use mostly by special forces.

Thoughts?

Air Force Completes Killer Micro-Drone Project

[edit on 6-1-2010 by Frogs]