The Ukrainian military has a brand new weapon within the struggle in opposition to Russian invaders: Valve’s Steam Deck handheld.
As Vice report, Ukraine’s TPO Media not too long ago posted some movies and pictures of a brand new variation of the Sabre weapon system on its Fb web page. The Sabre, whose full identify is the Sabre Distant Weapon Station, was constructed from scratch by Ukraine again when Russia first invaded the Crimea, and paid for by a crowdfunding web site setup to assist fund Ukraine’s defence.
The Sabre is actually a sentry gun, a remote-controlled weapons platform that may be positioned the place wanted then operated from a distance, with out danger (or with diminished danger) to the person. Whereas initially conceived as a defence in opposition to UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Automobiles), it was shortly discovered {that a} real-life sentry gun was helpful in every kind of battlefield conditions the place a defensive place was required.
The primary version of the Sabre (seen within the video above) was managed with a joystick, and aimed utilizing a separate monitor system, however a 2023 replace is seeing the Sabre outfitted with one thing a bit extra trendy: a Steam Deck, which is ready to mix each the controls and the display on the one system.
Right here’s some footage of the newest mannequin in motion—which as you possibly can see has had different enhancements throughout the board, decreasing its dimension and streamlining its design—exhibiting how the person can sit protected in a close-by trench whereas the weapon fires:
This newest mannequin of the Sabre can fireplace a variety of several types of ammunition, and will be mounted both on the bottom or a automobile. TPO say the efficient vary of the Steam Deck’s hyperlink to the weapon is round 500 metres (1600 toes), and that along with the direct digital camera feed it additionally comes outfitted with a variety of additional sensors.