If this isn’t proof that modern warfare is evolving, then nothing is.
While America is light-years ahead with its drone technology used for wiping out high value targets on their controversial ‘kill lists’, it doesn’t have the monopoly on automated weapons.
It appears that rebel forces in Syria have also moved into weapons automation with a deadly machine gun that is operated by Playstation controller.
A video has emerged online purporting to show Syrian rebels operating the robotic machine gun in war-ravaged Aleppo.
Rebels fighters are filmed discussing the Sham R3 weapon, which is fitted with a camera and operated remotely using the computer games controller by someone in front of a TV screen.
Fighters operating the robot gun can scan the horizon for enemy troops safely from behind a screen.
The camera features a powerful 43x zoom lens and it was showing firing at a target some 2,600ft away, according to The Sun.
The footage of the weapon was circulated by the Aleppo News Network which reports on groups being bombarded by Russian airstrikes.
While it’s unclear which banner this rebel group is fighting for, The Sun says the video suggests the automated machine guns have been used to stop Assad regime troops from attacking rebel-held territories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGH_OYWpV4Q
The weapon and its capability marks a sea-change in the development and use of new weapons in the Syrian conflict.
It doesn’t appear to be the first automated weapon used during the civil war, with Kurdish YPG forces reportedly using remote-controlled sniper rifles while ISIS have been deploying drones laded with explosives.
Rebel forces fighting in the Free Syrian Army also created a homemade tank with a remote-controlled machine gun on the top.
The fighters created the armoured vehicle by welding scrap metal to an old pick up truck and sticking a .50 calibre machine gun on it.
