• andrew_bidlaw
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    511 hours ago

    And isn’t starlink receiver a backpack-sized thing? Most drones wouldn’t be able to carry it at all, and if they could, it’s more viable to carry grenades instead. Internet-enabled drones are of a very narrow usage for missions where everything else doesn’t make it, e.g. long-distance attacks you mentioned. I guess Cessna drones were controlled via it too.

    • @[email protected]
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      211 hours ago

      it’s quite big, expensive, and not readily sourced, so when it’s used, it’s better that it’s really worth it. i don’t think cessnas need starlink, it would be worth it if it’s needed, but i think they might be using inertial + gnss. i heard that some drones had russian sim cards recovered so apparently sometimes gsm is used too. internet connection increases microwave signature greatly, and i’m not sure when it’s worth it, other than in cases where video feed is transmitted back and drones are guided manually, but that’s sea drones only. cessnas targeting refineries can work fine with gnss (+ maybe some crude tercom?) because refinery won’t run away

      • andrew_bidlaw
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        210 hours ago

        Thanks for updating me on that. Now I’m stupidly giggling at a thought of a Metal Gear-like walking oil refinery dodging rockets and planes.