MIT Perdix flies under F-16

The Washington Post is jumping up and down a bit about an air dropped platform. Its the Perdix from MIT

A change from high altitude balloon launches that were part of its design brief.

It joins the CICADA Close-In Covert Autonomous Disposable Aircraft which looks lots less complicated. The military obviously have something in mind for these small platforms. There is an acronym, of course for them.

TOBS, tactical off-board sensing

It would be a great way to deploy hundreds of microphones or networking devices across a battlefield. Adding another layer of information for aircraft circling out of harms way.

They look like they weigh less than 250g so no need to worry the FAA.

The ones that have gone quiet are small glide munitions, remember the trials of them back in 2011. Some interesting reading in here for folks looking for new ideas for platforms to sell.

This industry is full of jumping up and down about new stuff that has been around for years ;-)