To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand their key strengths

Re:To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand ... by mLuby on Tuesday June 08, 2021 @02:31PM (#27439011)

> But all those shells that don't hit the target land someplace.

Just don't miss! It's only a few hundred meters out.

Oh CWIS are only ship-mounted? I thought it was a general term. I like PDC better anyway. #TheExpanse

Nice video—are those all tracers though?

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Re:To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand ... by sbierwagen on Tuesday June 08, 2021 @05:15PM (#27440924)

The land-based version of CIWS is called Centurion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS#Centurion_C-RAM

C-RAM shells are supposed to self-destruct, but EOD guys will tell you that fuzes do not have a 100% operational rate. Another problem is cost and magazine size:

>The Block 1A and newer (pneumatic driven) CIWS mounts fire at a rate of 4,500 rounds per minute with a 1,550-round magazine.

>Shells fired by the Phalanx cost around $30 each and the gun typically fires 100 or more when engaging a target.[14]

So it's about three grand to zap one drone, and you get 15 shootdowns before a human needs to shovel more ammo into the turret. That would make it vulnerable to a saturation attack. A hundred drones carrying grenades that home in on the CIWS radar would be tough to counter.

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Re:To protect against weaponized drones, we must understand ... by ericd on Tuesday June 08, 2021 @04:55PM (#27440669)

> Nice video—are those all tracers though?

Well, it's video game footage (ARMA 3, according to the title).

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