Iran's claims of satellite-controlled machinegun leave experts scratching heads


James Reinl
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Experts in automated weapons systems have cast doubt on Iranian claims that one of its top nuclear scientists was assassinated last month by an unmanned, satellite-controlled machinegun.

Iran has blamed Israel for the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the country’s top nuclear planner.

A senior military chief said the hit involved a “satellite-controlled smart system”, Iranian media reported.

Experts in automated arms systems said that while some technology for a robotic weapon exist, they were most likely not used in the attack on Fakhrizadeh.

"This is a dangerous development but I recommend caution before declaring it a fully autonomous weapon," Mary Wareham, co-ordinator of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, told The National.

“There are a lot of unanswered questions about how the weapon system functioned.”

Ms Wareham, who also advocates against automated arms for Human Rights Watch, said the idea of a satellite-controlled machinegun “does not make much sense”.

Arthur Holland, a weapons expert at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research think tank, said that only some of the technology necessary for such an automated hit was available.

Remotely firing a weapon through a satellite connection was largely credible but using artificial intelligence and facial-recognition systems and then firing with extreme accuracy was far-fetched, Mr Holland said.

"Just because individual technologies mentioned here exist doesn't mean that they can all function together as a single seamless system, especially not in an uncontrolled real-world environment like this," he said on Twitter.

Other experts reacted cautiously to Iran's claims, saying remote military weapons systems are typically too large to mount on civilian vehicles and bulky systems would be difficult to smuggle into Iran.

On Sunday, Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, the deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, told the country's semi-official Tasnim news agency that Fakhrizadeh was killed with a satellite-controlled machinegun using artificial intelligence.

The nuclear scientist was driving on a motorway outside Tehran along with 11 guards on November 27 when a machinegun mounted on a Nissan pick-up truck aimed at his vehicle and fired 13 rounds, Adm Fadavi said.

The machinegun was "controlled online" by satellite and used an "advanced camera and artificial intelligence" to carry out the assassination, he told the Mehr news agency.

It is unclear who was behind the killing but Iranian media said that weapons "made in Israel" were found at the scene.

This week, President Hassan Rouhani accused Israel of carrying out the hit on America's behalf.

Tehran has yet to provide any pictures of the equipment reportedly found at the ambush site.

Western and Israeli governments have long held the belief that Fakhrizadeh was the mastermind behind a secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme.

Tehran insists it only pursues peaceful use of nuclear technology.

Various accounts of the scientist's death surfaced after the attack, with Iran's Defence Ministry initially saying Fakhrizadeh was caught in a firefight.

The conflicting accounts may be caused by Iranian attempts to brush away an embarrassing security breach on its own soil.

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Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

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Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

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Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:

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  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.

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Angelo Mathews (c), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Janith Perera, Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan and Wanidu Hasaranga

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Tickets to the MWTC range from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 from within the UAE or 971 4 366 2289 from outside the country and all Virgin Megastores. Fans looking to attend all three days of the MWTC can avail of a special 20 percent discount on ticket prices.

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
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Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma

When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

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About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.