Wow, these guys are getting innovative. The attack using a paraglider opens up all sorts of ideas and problems-both for the terrorist and for the defenders. I believe many paraglider kits can be used for tandem jumping, so they could conceivably haul a payload of equal weight. So that could be a payload of maybe 150 to 250 lbs? Maybe more, because I know some military parachutes that can carry up to 300 lbs, along with the parachutist. But we are talking about paragliders, and that is a little bit out of my lane.
Next would be the possibilities with that setup. You could insert one individual or you could insert several individuals into key attack positions, or you could just fly the things straight into the target and detonate. You could also swarm on to one target and just keep flying human bombs into it until the target is completely destroyed. Or you could do the Chechen ambush, and fly a bomber into the response teams (EMS and Tactical), after they come in to respond to the first attack.
As for how they could pull it off. I could see them towing a paraglider near the target using a car or motorcycle, and then they just fly in like that. Or they could take off from a nearby mountain. I guess they could also use a backpack fan, but that would be pretty damn noisy. They would have to cut the engine near the target or something.
So what is next? Using a birdman suit or just pushing suicide bombers out of planes and have them glide into a target, like some kind of human JDAM? Or how about these guys just paragliding over the target and dropping mortars on target? Or they could just be looking at using these for insertions, as another way to do a Mumbai Part 2 style attack.
What’s the counter to this is the question? Shotguns, mini-guns, trained eagles, or drone archers flying micro drones into these guys? lol Who knows, but it is definitely food for thought. –Matt
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Terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba ‘planning paraglider attacks’ in India
January 25, 2010
Rhys Blakely in Mumbai
Indian intelligence officials suspect that the terrorist group behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks is planning another audacious strike on the country — this time from the air, using suicide bombers flying paragliders.
U. K. Bansal, an Indian Home Ministry official, told reporters that the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba faction was thought to have acquired a number of the gliding parachutes.
“We have intelligence reports that LeT has purchased 50 paragliding kits from Europe with an intention to launch attacks on India,” he said.
No other details were given, but security levels have been hiked across the country ahead of tomorrow’s Republic Day celebrations, one of India’s biggest holidays.