The Hunter-Killer Arrives

Stand aside, Predator drone. Coming soon to a burned-out metropolis near you . . . the first stage of the dark reality we all came to know and love in the 80s.

Who couldn’t imagine themselves crouched behind the dark corner of a dilapidated urban shopping center, running at full-speed towards the converted El Camino Technical, blazing plasma rifle in hand?

The new Microdrone – as mentioned on thisislondon.co.uk – may not look like much, but the British, always eager to embrace the latest in Orwellian technology, seem to be in a head-long rush towards a dark vision of automated, hovering Big Brothers.

‘Flying saucer’ police spy camera takes to the skies

It looks more like the latest in saucepan technology than the future of crime fighting.

But police are confident that this miniature remote- controlled helicopter will be an invaluable weapon in the war against wrongdoers.

The Microdrone, measuring only 2ft between the tips of its eight rotor blades, was originally designed for military reconnaissance.

Planned targets will be everything from youths riding motorbikes in a park to clashes between rival football fans and armed sieges where it might be unsafe for officers to come too close.

The cost varies depending on the level of equipment – options include thermal imaging cameras to enable night-time filming and a loudspeaker so officers can shout instructions to those on the ground – but ranges from £10,000 to £15,000 per drone.

With its military background, police are confident it will prove yob-proof, and even if someone is skilful enough to take a successful pot-shot it can still limp home with half its rotors disabled.

More.

The British model is susceptible to phased plasma rifles (in the 40-watt range), Ithaca 37 shotguns, and tea time.

Cheerio!