The Shadowhawk is a remote controlled mini-helicopter that can record footage as easily as it can shoot a stun baton.
Vanguard Defense, who spent three years developing this buzzing robot, packed a lot into the copter’s seven-foot, 50-lb frame. The Shadowhawk comes in five different varieties and can be outfitted with a turbine or piston engine, CCD TV optics, infrared and thermal cameras, laser pointers, illuminators and range finders. Law enforcement has the option of adding 37 mm or 40mm grenade launchers, or if they feel adventurous, a 12 gauge shotgun.
The Shadowhawk would be able to patrol the land or the sea for up to 2.5 hours at a time at speeds of up to 70 mph. You might think a gust of wind would knock the mini-copter out of the air, but it’s capable of withstanding gusts of up to 50mph. Through out it all, the camera keeps rolling.
Vanguard has already been awarded a multi-million dollar deal to use the robo-copters for anti-piracy missions in Africa, but its hopes for the little tasering robot soar much higher. It envisions the Shadowhawk helping out in everything from tactical night ops to arms trafficking surveillance, from oil rig inspections to perimeter security. Chief Deputy Randy McDaniel of Montgomery County Texas says he can’t wait to use it for SWAT callouts and narcotics raids.
Source: Wired Danger Room
I’ve seen these UAVs operate firsthand and I got to tell you they are lethal! What the article does not disclose are some of the options we have seen on board which included a precision guided munitions package. Don’t know if they are affiliated with the larger firms (i.e. Boeing, Raytheon, etc) but I’m guessing they must have some relationship because no small company breaks into the market as quick as they have without significant backing and influence.
Cheers!