The China Academy of Electronics and Information Technology (CAEIT) has released a scary new video that is bound to give you uneasy dreams. The clip shows a swarm of explosive drones being released from the back of a truck and from helicopters and the South China Morning Postsays they are meant to attack targets.
The video also shows the drones being directed remotely from a tablet-like device. A People’s Liberation Army insider who requested anonymity told the South China Morning Post that the truck wascommissioned as part of the government’s military-civilian fusion strategy.
Meanwhile, The Times reported that the drones are being made to target troops, tanks, and other armored vehicles. This is not the first time CAEIT carries out such tests.
Back in November of 2017, the research institute undertook what is believed to be the largest of such experiments. It featured 200 of the small fixed-wing aircraft.
The South China Morning Post says the unmanned aircraft seems similar to the CH-901, China’s first tactical attack drone that measures 3.9 feet (1.2 meters) long and weighs 20lbs (9kg). Don’t let its small size fool you though. The drone can travel at a speed of 93 miles per hour (150km/h).
It can also fly in the air for 120 minutes before detonating. Pretty scary stuff! None of the media outlets mentioned what the new drones were for and if other countries should be worried. However, these types of drone swarms can be very dangerous as they can overwhelm air defense systems.
Originally published at Interesting engineering