Robot gun turns on its operators - kills 9 February 3, 2008
Posted by Al in : weapons , trackbackAutomated and unmanned weapons are the future of the battlefield, but it might increase the risk of friendly fire incidents if this story is anything to go by. A small battery of personnel were manning (although peopling might be better as half of them were women) a firing position made up of 5 automated guns. These Oerlikon AA guns are supposed to track and shoot down incoming aircraft, and possibly missiles, and they fire 500g 35mm explosive shells - which would make short work of any flesh and blood as they are designed to pierce light armour and then explode.
On this occasion a malfunction caused one of the guns to empty its 500 rounds of ammunition in a random manner all around it, including directly into the soldiers working around it. 9 soldiers were killed and 11 injured.
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