At the recent AUSA-2023 annual conference, a striking high-tech complex was unveiled live, which made everyone present rethink the possibilities of the future battlefield. This is nothing else, but a unique light quadcopter presented by the German company Siegsauer, the novelty of which is equipped with a traditional P365 pistol, a combination that allows a perfect fusion between air and ground tactics.
It's not just as simple as fixing a pistol to a drone. Siegsauer carefully designed a special gun mount that made it possible to mount a standard P365 pistol on top of the drone without any alterations. The key to this design was the incorporation of a shot compensator, which was located on the slide rail of the pistol and was designed to reduce possible excursions when firing.
Of course, the combination of a pistol and a drone alone will not complete the task, and the operator needs to direct the drone and pistol through precise remote control. When receiving the command to fire, a special mechanism pulls the trigger of the pistol with the assistance of a servo motor. Through laser sights and cameras on the aircraft, such systems are able to precisely aim at targets. Surprisingly, despite the presence of recoil of the pistol, with this design, its impact on the aircraft was minimized.
This innovation by Siegsauer not only shows technological advances in weapons and UAVs, but also reveals new requirements for size and portability. UAVs equipped with heavy weapons do exist on the market, but they are usually large and bulky, and are better suited to open battlefield environments. And this combination of a quadcopter and a pistol from Sigsauer, due to its compact design, is not only portable, but also has unique advantages in terms of concealment.
This system can be valuable in specific tactical situations, such as hostage rescues, counterterrorism operations, or dense urban environments. Imagine a small drone capable of shuttling through tight spaces, entering areas that are inaccessible to people safely, and delivering precision strikes on targets from unexpected angles. However, the potential dangers of such technology cannot be ignored, especially in countries where civilian weapons are widely circulated. In fact, by purchasing a simple control gun mount, almost anyone can combine a commercial pistol and a drone into one lethal system.
Nevertheless, the emergence of this new technology has aroused widespread interest. Siegsauer even pointed out that they had already received inquiries from potential customers during the project development phase. This is not surprising, considering the flexibility of the combination of UAVs and light weapons and their practicality in special situations.
In the context of the modern battlefield, UAVs are becoming an indispensable element, and their combination with various weapon systems undoubtedly increases the flexibility and accuracy of tactical execution. However, we must also recognize that with any technological advancement comes new challenges and risks. The combination of UAVs and small arms is not only a victory for technology, but also a new test of tactical planning and security measures.