US Sword robots make Iraq first remote controlled battlefield in the world

US forces have deployed robots equipped with automatic weapons in Iraq, making it the first combat zone in the world to witness battlefield use of machines capable of waging war by remote control.

London, Aug 6 : US forces have deployed robots equipped with automatic weapons in Iraq, making it the first combat zone in the world to witness battlefield use of machines capable of waging war by remote control.

Costing just over 100,000 pounds per unit, the 'Sword' robots - modified versions of track wheeled bomb disposal devices used around the world - come equipped with automatic weapons.

The robots are armed with M240 machine guns or .50 calibre rifles. Soldiers operate the robots with a specially modified laptop, complete with joystick controls and a 'kill button' that terminates its functions if it goes awry.

Commanders have said the robots will prove valuable in situations, which involve a high risk of ambush or booby trap-style explosion, like a raid on suspected enemy compounds.

"Anytime you utilise technology to take a US service member out of harm's way, it is worth every penny. These armed robots can be used as a force multiplier to augment an already significant force in the battle space," said John Saitta, a consultant on the project.

A US division of British defence company QinetiQ has admitted that the 3rd Infantry Division, based south of Baghdad, has purchased three Talon Sword robots for operations in Iraq.

The Telegraph quoted Defence News as saying that the US military has 80 remote controlled armoured robots on order but funding constraints has delayed delivery of all but a fraction of that number.

ANI