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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Battle Droid Death Rate |
| 2004-08-13 |
| August 13, 2004: The 150 UGV (unmanned ground vehicles) sent to Iraq so far have suffered about a ten percent "death" rate. Over 70 percent of these losses were in combat, or, usually, while examining or disabling a roadside bomb. Others have been destroyed in accidents or because of component failure. Five different models are being used, and the performance of each is carefully monitored so that the new "standard model UGVs" being planned will avoid the flaws of the current ones. The new standard UGVs are expected to appear in two or three years. In the meantime, many other new models are being created, tested and sent off to combat. Some of the new ones carry weapons, which will be operated remotely by a soldier or marine. Bush Lied, Droids Died! |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #11 The what Arsenal 6070? |
| Posted by: The Revered Dr Reverend Bill 2004-08-13 7:46:30 PM |
| #10 10 percent should be about 7, but I think we need to know how many of those deaths occured arter major combat operations ceased. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-08-13 4:56:33 PM |
| #9 Sorry, that last one was mine. |
| Posted by: remote man 2004-08-13 4:48:20 PM |
| #8 Gizz, all the UGV's on the program were made by one company, Foster-Miller. Just different payloads. Great system. The focus is on the payload with the light/medium machine gun. The footage was shot at Picatinny Arsenal. Lots of reasons these units have problems in the field, but most are do to the tough environmental conditions. If they are destroyed in battle and a soldier is saved, then they have proven their worth. I'm in this stuff up to my ears. |
| Posted by: Anonymous6070 2004-08-13 4:47:39 PM |
| #7 Good idea, RC. Tell Rummy. |
| Posted by: GK 2004-08-13 3:55:55 PM |
| #6 Good idea, RC. Tell Rummy. |
| Posted by: GK 2004-08-13 3:55:48 PM |
| #5 Anyone else think they should draft some people from "Robot Wars" to help design some of these things? The Mythbusters guys were so good they got banned from the show; maybe they could help the military out... |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-08-13 3:13:50 PM |
| #4 I saw a program on cable where they had 3 new battle droids lined up on a range, all shooting at once. One shot 40mm Grenades, one rockets and the other one had a Light Machine Gun. Other models on the program sported a .50 Cal. The target area on the range looked sort of like a cave entrance and it got completely hammered. Had to laugh. |
| Posted by: GizzardPuke 2004-08-13 2:16:59 PM |
| #3 bet they get attached to thier droids - mine would be called Hector or maybe maximillion |
| Posted by: Shep UK 2004-08-13 2:07:15 PM |
| #2 "Accidents"??? I can't believe that is an acceptable reason for a death of any kind. And any kind of "component failure" sounds like the fault of the evil corporations who didn't train these programmers correctly. Someone has to be held accountable for these needless deaths! These droids never asked for this! |
| Posted by: Anonymous6065 2004-08-13 2:07:01 PM |
| #1 Sounds like a low number, but remember, for every lost UGV there is a mourning programmer. They are so, so young and inexperienced in the bloody methods of combat. But they were made for it and many will pay the ultimate price of being made on the Americakkan assembly line of death. Hows that sports fans? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-08-13 1:36:48 PM |