For the first time in human history, an unmanned machine has engaged and destroyed another unmanned machine in real honest to God combat. It happened a week ago in Iraq, when a MQ-9 Reaper killed a remote controlled vehicle that was carrying a bomb. Sounds harmless enough. Now stop and think. I know, doesn’t look good at all does it? Hunker down in your robot-proof bomb shelters if you’ve got one.

The MQ-9 was operated by the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron and it destroyed the RC vehicle via a laser-guided 500-pound GBU-12 bomb in southeast Iraq. Can full scale robo battles be coming? Count on it. One day we may even choose to fight “honorable” and “Humane” wars using only robots.

Soon after they’ll come for us meat-bags and it will be time to face what we have created. Running like hell and crying in a corner is always an option and I’ve got new shoes.

[Aviation Week]