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The press release talks mostly about sensors and software integration. It also mentions end-effector systems, Andruil's Anvil system[0], and Rheinmetall's "hig

The press release talks mostly about sensors and software integration. It also mentions end-effector systems, Andruil's Anvil system[0], and Rheinmetall's "high-power guns", which I guess refers to Skynex[1]. The public demo videos[2] for Skynex aren't particularly impressive, they shoot down some high flying stationary drones. Skynex is a huge 35mm cannon, that seems expensive and overkill for the C-sUAS role. I'm surprised we aren't seeing smaller automated anti drone turrets, that can be deployed close to fighting positions, shooting either a small airburst grenade, like the 20mm round from the OICW program[3], or some kind of flak/shotgun round. [0]: https://www.anduril.com/hardware/anvil/ https://www.anduril.com/hardware/anvil/ [1]: https://www.rheinmetall.com/en/products/air-defence/air-defence-systems/networked-air-defence-skynex https://www.rheinmetall.com/en/products/air-defence/air-defe... [2]: https://youtu.be/2uL3dLFHZ_o?t=67 https://youtu.be/2uL3dLFHZ_o?t=67 [3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objective_Individual_Combat_Weapon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Objective_Individual_Combat_We...

dralley 2y ago
The electronics are the expensive part of the round (one would assume), and even moreso when you need to squeeze it into a smaller round. I doubt that having a slightly larger round (which also provides more range and might require less rounds to kill the target) is considered much of a problem.
- TomatoCo 2y ago
  Basically, any impact with a drone will disable it. The trick is actually hitting it. So you either need volume of fire (which implies a buttload of small rounds), precision (which might imply lower mechanical or sensor reliability) or proximity detonation. If you're going for the latter and are optimizing for cost you don't (necessarily) want the smallest round possible.
- WatchDog 2y ago
  The reason I'd like to see a smaller system, isn't primarily due to cost, but so that the system could be deployed closer to where it's needed, and in volume. The Skynex 35 mm cannon is massive, requires a truck to transport, and presumably needs a generator to power. If you could develop a small man-portable battery/solar powered turret, that fires small-arm caliber rounds, you could put them right next to a foxhole, to shoot down incoming drones. I don't think the electronics should be expensive(by military standards), they have already been developed, it's basically just a timed fuze, that is programed by the gun as it fires.
idontwantthis 2y ago
If you have 100s of small drones coming at you from all directions you would need to start hitting them as far as possible which is going to require a large round.
- Arrath 2y ago
  A larger round also has more body material to fragment upon explosion, if indeed they are proximity airburst rounds. Which ideally means a higher PK as well as longer ranger.
  - jstmm 2y ago
    what does PK mean?
    - aerostable_slug 2y ago
      Probability of kill
- WatchDog 2y ago
  A large system like the Skyshield, is vulnerable to artillery, you can't really deploy it near trenches and fox holes. FPV drones can fly low, at tree level, it's not going to have line of sight to be able to shoot them down. If you had a smaller man-portable cheap short-range system, you could deploy it along side your entrenched troops.
  - antoniojtorres 2y ago
    I don’t think this system would be positioned within artillery range, that seems negligent as it’s stationary. It seems like this system would be deployed protecting bases and other high value targets, at least according to their promo materials.

dralley 2y ago

The electronics are the expensive part of the round (one would assume), and even moreso when you need to squeeze it into a smaller round. I doubt that having a slightly larger round (which also provides more range and might require less rounds to kill the target) is considered much of a problem.

TomatoCo 2y ago
Basically, any impact with a drone will disable it. The trick is actually hitting it. So you either need volume of fire (which implies a buttload of small rounds), precision (which might imply lower mechanical or sensor reliability) or proximity detonation. If you're going for the latter and are optimizing for cost you don't (necessarily) want the smallest round possible.
WatchDog 2y ago
The reason I'd like to see a smaller system, isn't primarily due to cost, but so that the system could be deployed closer to where it's needed, and in volume. The Skynex 35 mm cannon is massive, requires a truck to transport, and presumably needs a generator to power. If you could develop a small man-portable battery/solar powered turret, that fires small-arm caliber rounds, you could put them right next to a foxhole, to shoot down incoming drones. I don't think the electronics should be expensive(by military standards), they have already been developed, it's basically just a timed fuze, that is programed by the gun as it fires.

idontwantthis 2y ago

If you have 100s of small drones coming at you from all directions you would need to start hitting them as far as possible which is going to require a large round.

Arrath 2y ago
A larger round also has more body material to fragment upon explosion, if indeed they are proximity airburst rounds. Which ideally means a higher PK as well as longer ranger.
- jstmm 2y ago
  what does PK mean?
  - aerostable_slug 2y ago
    Probability of kill
WatchDog 2y ago
A large system like the Skyshield, is vulnerable to artillery, you can't really deploy it near trenches and fox holes. FPV drones can fly low, at tree level, it's not going to have line of sight to be able to shoot them down. If you had a smaller man-portable cheap short-range system, you could deploy it along side your entrenched troops.
- antoniojtorres 2y ago
  I don’t think this system would be positioned within artillery range, that seems negligent as it’s stationary. It seems like this system would be deployed protecting bases and other high value targets, at least according to their promo materials.