As points of comparison, Ynetnews points out that the well-known Stinger MANPADS goes for up to a cool $480,000, and that even the U.S. Air Force's CAMP low-cost missile program is currently targeting half a million per launch. While these are literally military-grade units with high reliability, and Khojayev's just-launched prototype has no effectiveness track record, at $96, it is roughly 5,000 times cheaper to make.
Some may see this latest development as predictable in the grand scheme of things. The effectiveness of improvised explosives in Middle Eastern war theaters and the ingenuity of Ukrainian drone engineers have adeptly proven that necessity is the mother of invention. Couple that with 3D printers being ever more capable of producing strong, weapons-grade parts, and it's clearly displayed that the proverbial "three guys in a shed" can be far more effective than the military procurement machine.
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Bruno Ferreira is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware. He has decades of experience with PC hardware and assorted sundries, alongside a career as a developer. He's obsessed with detail and has a tendency to ramble on the topics he loves. When not doing that, he's usually playing games, or at live music shows and festivals. ","collapsible":{"enabled":true,"maxHeight":250,"readMoreText":"Read more","readLessText":"Read less"}}), "https://slice.vanilla.futurecdn.net/13-4-18/js/authorBio.js"); } else { console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); } Bruno Ferreira Social Links Navigation Contributor Bruno Ferreira is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware. He has decades of experience with PC hardware and assorted sundries, alongside a career as a developer. He's obsessed with detail and has a tendency to ramble on the topics he loves. When not doing that, he's usually playing games, or at live music shows and festivals.
Findecanor I don't feel comfortable with seeing the word "democratization" be used to describe that is has become easier to build a weapon. The democratisation that I want to read happen is that a society has become more democratic so that people have got less inclined to build their own weapons. Reply
edzieba Might work in an uncontested environment, as an unguided rocket, if your target is so obliging to stand still and there is no wind. Unfortunately, if you need AA then you're operating in a contested environment by default, so there goes your WiFi and GPS to EW. Now you're stuck with trying to find a cheap microbolometer array for tracking, building (or building your own SARH array), and either implementing a jamming-resistant wireless link, moving all guidance on-board, or buying an expensive fibre spool. Oh, and you'll need to do some actual ProNav homing. Reply
Rand0m_Guy Cool toy, I want one, but I see 2 issues for this being practical. #1 needs to put a tungsten core or something in the head to simulate a payload. #2 the engine is massively underpowered. You need to at a bare minimum get 10x more burn/thrust out of that motor, and double that once carrying a payload (warhead) for practical use. The added weight of a payload and additional power of a bigger motor will result in higher stresses. Id be curious to see if the 3d material continues to hold up. This is why a stinger cost $400K. Reply
PEnns Comparing this to a Stinger MANAPD? Really??? I doubt this could even hit (forget damage) the neighbor's intrusive civilian, $200 drone! A shotgun has a better chance. Reply
KitsuneKas Y'all, chill out. What this guy has made is essentially a toy. It's a model rocket with guidance, that's it. It's no more a weapon than a hobby drone is. Your car is more deadly. I mean it's made of PLA. It'll deform if it gets too much sun. Reply
Rudybird This is obviously a toy, but it is exactly articles like this that cause fear in people and our legislators and is exactly the reason some states are making laws to spy on our 3d printers through firmware updates and backround checks to own a 3d printers. You are reading this article because you are interested in 3d printing and technology and you should be concerned! Stop producing articles like this. When someone really does make a REAL rocket launcher, then write about it, not when people make stuff like this. This article is a disservice to the community. Shame on you Toms! Reply
FITCamaro As Crunchlabs found out, it's illegal to make and distribute the technology for guided missiles. Yes, this is a toy. But what if someone put an explosive in it with an impact trigger? Then it's not. Reply
USAFRet KitsuneKas said: Y'all, chill out. What this guy has made is essentially a toy. It's a model rocket with guidance, that's it. It's no more a weapon than a hobby drone is. Your car is more deadly. I mean it's made of PLA. It'll deform if it gets too much sun. And from a hobby quadrotor, you can have a remote control drop mechanism to release anything you want. Up to the flyable payload of your little flying robot. Of course, dropping explosives violates any number of FAA regulations. Reply
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/tech-hobbyist-makes-shoulder-mounted-guided-missile-prototype-with-usd96-in-parts-and-a-3d-printer-diy-manpads-includes-wi-fi-guidance-ballistics-calculations-optional-camera-for-tracking#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com/subscription
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.