Unmanned Aircraft Killer Proposed
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edited by Robert H. Williams
It is inevitable: develop a stronger shield and someone will invent a sharper
sword. Two British firms—QinetiQ and Sula Systems—are proposing
the fielding of a relatively low cost device to counter the proliferation of
unmanned aerial vehicles in the battlefield.
The tiny ground based air defense system is called Cougar, an attack UAV concept
that relies on a miniature turbojet to propel the monoplane airframe and an
uncooled long-wave seeker to guide the weapon to a midair collision with its
intended target. No explosive charge is needed, said a company spokesman.
A mid-course correction ensures that Cougar always attacks from astern, which
means a slower closing speed is needed.
Cougar is 1.2 meters long, with a 1.1-meter wingspan. With hinged wings, the
weapon is fired from a canister. The interceptor would do the job of missiles
costing more than six times as much as the estimated $40,000 price tag of the
Cougar.
The U.K. Ministry of Defense currently is evaluating the QuinetiQ-Sula Systems
proposal.