Recoilless Rifle Makes Armed Anti-Personnel UAV Possible

Tactical Aerospace Group (TAG) has announced a new recoilless technology development it intends to implement on its portable unmanned helicopters. TAG has signed a Joint Commercialization Agreement with Recoilless Technologies International (RTI) of Australia to develop a  recoilless weapons package for their aircraft as part of  ongoing UCAV weaponization programs. Initial efforts will be directed towards 7.62 mm armament with future attention towards other calibers, grenade launchers and other fire power that might be adapted or suitable for this aircraft.

This new enhancement will add additional capabilities to the current 2.75 inch missile project ultimately providing expeditionary and front line warfighters with a portable compact attack helicopter. Such a weapons package can provide a front-line, first strike capability, especially for engaging in urban environments which are the typical new battlefield settings.

"The concept is to keep the warfighter out of harms way and let the machines take all the risk"  said Peter Adler, Military Liaison for TAG. "No other existing weapon can deliver serious firepower this accurately and this close without putting a life at risk. The helicopter gives you the ability to approach at high rates of speed from any direction and deliver a contained lethal salvo into the specific target room, regardless of what floor it may be on or how well defended from ground approach. This is especially important as today’s conflicts require targeting very specific enemy personnel but at the same time minimizing any collateral damage to innocents or infrastructure."

According to TAG, surprise, speed and response time are critical in such an environment. It says verifiable intelligence must be acted on immediately before the enemy can disperse and blend with the indigenous population. The company says its systems are portable for transport by HMMWV or even man portable packs making them capable of rapid deployment by the very teams that would otherwise have to attack the position at great risk to themselves.

Adler said, "Combined with the swarming and multi-platform control systems being developed by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and other industry leaders, this is a step closer to developing networked WarBots that can take the place of human warfighters where appropriate."

The introduction of recoilless weapons will open a wide range of possibilities for deployment of light weaponized UAVs.

Mr. Richard Giza, RTI’s Chairman said, "RTI has the skills and capability to develop a recoilless ballistic armament system for TAG’s UAVs that will not only satisfy the capability requirements of "Detect First," but combine the much needed "Strike First" capability without placing valuable human resources in harm’s way or disrupting the flight pattern of the TAG rotary wing UAVs."

TAG also has plans to utilize various firing and launch systems for law enforcement applications. "We see it could be used to deliver non-lethal loads, fire flash bangs, launch throw phones, fire or deliver grapple hooks and probably dozens of other tasks we haven’t thought of yet" said Adler. "Again, the idea is to take out the deadly risk for the personnel involved in the assault and SWAT teams and provide a very quick and accurate delivery anywhere on site regardless of angle, location or elevation. No ground based robot can do that and definitely not with the speed and efficiency of the helicopter."

TAG says its designs allow future capabilities for various configurations to be deployed from the air, or from surface and underwater vessels to enhance the surveillance and strike ability of SEAL teams or other similar units.

"While there are many UAVs more than capable of surveillance duties" said Adler, "our  systems are designed to go in first, cause the damage and remove the maximum risk and peril from front line personnel, especially when going into confined space or the restrictive dimensions of street fighting. This is where we can save many lives."

FMI: www.tacticalaerospacegroup.com, www.rticl.com