South African firm starts to sell assault hover drones
South African technology firm Desert Wolf has shown off a remote controlled octacopter drone which is equipped to control unruly crowds. The name of the remote controlled assault device, first unveiled at a trade show in London earlier in the week, is the ‘Skunk Riot Control Copter’. The idea behind the machine is to control sticky situations – without endangering security staff.
The Skunk Riot Control Copter doing its thing
The Skunk can be equipped with a varied payload depending upon how angry the mob is outside your secure compound. Buyers can kit out the drone with the following munitions:
- Paint ball rounds
- Pepper bullets
- Solid plastic bullets
- Bright strobe lights
- Blinding laser beams
The Skunk octacopter has quite a large capacity for ammunition as its current hopper system, for example, has a capacity of 4,000 bullets. Examples of the firepower on offer include “4 high-capacity paint ball barrels firing at up to 20 bullets per second each, with 80 Pepper bullets per second stopping any crowd in its tracks”. Furthermore these projectiles are fired with “real stopping power” thanks to the High Pressure Carbon Fibre Air system that is equipped.
Diagram of the Skunk Riot Control Copter
Other specs of the ‘Skunk Riot Control Copter’ include a lifting capacity of 45Kg. This is facilitated by the eight electric motors spinning their 16-inch propellers. We are told that a single user can control several Skunk octacopters in formation. An interesting variation of the Skunk is available which is equipped with a tranquiliser dart gun and telescopic sight and thermal imaging tech. This version of the octacopter, called the ‘Mozzy Wildlife Darting Copter’, is intended for large game veterinarians rather than kidnapping or assassinations etc.
A BBC report on the Skunk quotes an international trade official who is horrified by the “disturbing and repugnant development,” represented by this octacopter. Backing up his fears it appears that the first orders have come in for 25 Skunk Riot Control Copters to be delivered to a mining operative. It is feared the drones will be used to quell legitimate protests and demonstrations.
