I have worried for some time about the possibility that consumer-grade drones could be used not to deliver weapons but as weapons. With even cheap drones coming with GPS navigation and autopilot capabilities, a swarm of explosive-laden drones programmed to converge on a single point in a kamikaze-style attack could prove a potent weapon.
Now, it seems like at least one military has tested something very similar. DFRLab reports:
On September 14, the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) announced the successful test of the new “Sokil†UAV system. The Sokil reconnaissance and attack system uses one reconnaissance drone and three attack UAVs, and can carry high-explosive, blast fragmentation, or thermobaric munitions.
[…]
Videos of test show a drone with a kamikaze-like attack, exploding upon guided impact with the target. The test was conducted at a military range in Honcharivske, Chernihivska Oblast, and despite strong winds, was successful.
via “UAVs Over Ukraine – DFRLab – Medium,” Medium (September 20, 2017 at 09:26PM)