this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2026
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124
Tech hobbyist makes shoulder-mounted guided missile prototype with $96 in parts and a 3D printer — DIY MANPADS includes Wi-Fi guidance, ballistics calculations, optional camera for tracking (www.tomshardware.com)
submitted 2 hours ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 12 points 50 minutes ago* (last edited 49 minutes ago) (1 children)

Notably absent... the explosives.

But sure, if you are wondering how folks out in Yemen or Gaza managed to retaliate against their oppressors for so long, this is a textbook example of how and why. What's being proposed is collection of technology we've had since at least the 1960s that's slowly made its way into civilian circulation.

Also...

Khojayev's just-launched prototype has no effectiveness track record

I mean, we're seeing what "just-launched prototypes with no effective track record" have accomplished on the Ukraine-Russia front-lines and it's a decidedly mixed bag.

I think a harder question to answer is "Who would be interested in putting one of these into practical use?" And that gets to the real value-add of a Stinger MANPAD. Namely, the humans willing and practiced enough to use it.

Also - and again, this cannot be overstated - the model above has no explosives installed. Idk how confident I'd be around one of these things if it was actually armed.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 1 points 57 seconds ago* (last edited 48 seconds ago)

Atomize* some propelant, boom, explosive.

* english choose the dumbest word for "zerstäuben".

[–] slackj_87@lemmy.world 60 points 1 hour ago (6 children)

Great... can't wait for politicians to use this as a way to pass "common sense" legislation banning 3D printers.

[–] HertzDentalBar@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 13 minutes ago

And just like age verification it's useless because one can build a 3d printer out of an old VCR and a hot glue gun.

[–] Janx@piefed.social 16 points 1 hour ago

Aren't they already doing that due to their hysteria over "ghost" guns?

[–] village604@adultswim.fan 17 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

They can try, but the parts that make up a printer are used in tons of other applications. It isn't hard to build one from scratch.

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 3 points 28 minutes ago

reprap goes brrrr

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 1 points 12 minutes ago

LOL. Like they "ban" some guns?.

Printers are not hard to assemble from parts.

[–] Dettweiler42@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 hour ago

They're already trying that in New York and California, unfortunately. "Any 3D printer capable of printing parts for firearms" was the verbage, from what I recall.

[–] Samskara@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

You don’t need to ban 3D printers. Restrictions and licensing requirements for making, using, owning rockets and guidance software are enough.

[–] chocrates@piefed.world 2 points 36 minutes ago (1 children)

His guidance is just wifi cameras talking to it. Not sure it even is using gps.

To ban stuff like this you have to ban a lot of useful tech

[–] Samskara@sh.itjust.works 1 points 30 minutes ago

GPS is mentioned.

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

This already would fall under an FFL for legal citizens anyway. As is the nature of the internet though, this open design will be preserved and available for those who seek it.

[–] Samskara@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 hour ago

Yes. I am actually surprised we haven’t seen a major terrorist attack in a western country using remote controlled or autonomous drones for example. The technology has been available for years now.

3D printed home made guns like the FGC-9 and Urutau have been around for a while now, but remain marginal in gun crime.

As you say, the cat is out the bag and on the internet forever. However homemade guns and instructions on how to make them have been around for decades.

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 24 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

It's uhh, for home defense

[–] cRazi_man@europe.pub 15 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

Home offence is the best defense.

[–] backalleycoyote@lemmy.today 1 points 8 minutes ago

Imagine spending thousands of dollars stockpiling assault rifles and ammo for your revolution only to have your entire milita wiped out when some nerd with a $100 homemade missile blows-up the UHaul you all piled in the back of.

[–] Mister_Hangman@lemmy.world 1 points 25 minutes ago

Bite the hand that kills your neighbor.

[–] IphtashuFitz@lemmy.world 4 points 56 minutes ago

Clearly it’s just a big-ass gun that shoots 5000 caliber rounds. So it’s protected by the 2nd Amendment.

[–] mbirth@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 hour ago

"Do you have natural freckles or did you use that shoulder-mounted guided missile prototype again?"

[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 2 points 26 minutes ago

I wish I had this much free time :(

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 1 points 17 minutes ago

This bud is going to get a visit from the MIC.

[–] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 11 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Ground private jets

[–] shittydwarf@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (2 children)

That's one way to reduce billionaire CO2 emissions

[–] einkorn@feddit.org 2 points 48 minutes ago

In case you haven't done so already I suggest reading The Ministry for the Future.

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 hour ago

Probably would be the only way lol.

"You ain't flying over this town ever again."

[–] Slovene85@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

reads the title What the heck is Colin Furze up to now?

It's not him though.

[–] Yttra@lemmy.world 1 points 52 minutes ago

It really does feel like a random Colin video drop haha

[–] ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 19 minutes ago

What kind of PLA is he using that's only 17USD for 1.5kg?

[–] testfactor@lemmy.world 7 points 1 hour ago

I wish the video actually had him using it to hit a drone or something. As is, it only shows one actual launch, and it didn't look all that impressive. His motors didn't seem to have enough umph to let the missile stabilize properly.

[–] DupaCycki@lemmy.world 15 points 1 hour ago

Uh-oh...

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 9 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

Neat. I wonder if there is anything you can use as a warhead without it becoming a destructive device. Chalk rounds?

I'm also curious to know the rocket velocity compared to actual MANPADS. I'll have to watch the videos later because I'm also curious about whether they're independent or require the launching laptop to stay connected.

[–] Samskara@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 hour ago

Velocity and range are also my main questions, as well as tracking quality and speed. The video doesn’t demonstrate it hitting a flying target.

Common MANPADS like Stinger, Strela, etc. use infrared tracking. The seekers are high performance and fast but need complex supercooling with gas. Using a MANPADS you only have seconds, to arm, aim and track, then fire the missile against a fast moving target before it‘s out of range. These can hit low flying supersonic jets.

Still this project is very impressive and hints at the possibility to build cheap low end MANPADS that can target slow moving strike and observation drones, maybe helicopters.

It’s another indicator, that mass produced cheap precision weapons are a major trend in warfare.

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Potentially could be used for things like spreading flame-retardent powder for putting out a wildfire or similar with more precision. Would also remove the risk of a human life in firefighting so areas might be cleared quicker.

[–] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 hour ago

That's fucking nuts.

I have a lot of thoughts, but all I can really say is that's fucking nuts.

[–] tidderuuf@lemmy.world 6 points 1 hour ago

This civil war 3d printer gonna go brrtrrrtrrtt.

[–] chocrates@piefed.world 1 points 35 minutes ago

I love that we have democratized makers such that this stuff can be built. I wish it didn't "have" to be used to kill each other.

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 1 hour ago

"This is it, Luigi."

[–] orbituary@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Ukraine needs this.

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

While yes, I agree there is one issue: If Ukraine can have it, everyone will get it.
Which (in this case) is not so good

[–] Truscape@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

To a degree this is inevitable, though. Pipe bombs and general IEDs have existed for much longer than this creation, and we've long passed the point where the average individual can easily create reliable firearms and ammunition within their own home (FOSSCAD).

This is just the logical conclusion of those who wish to design a more refined and precise IED.

[–] cheese_greater@lemmy.world 4 points 2 hours ago

dafuq?!

[–] devolution@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago

Rrruhh ohhhh Shaggy.

[–] Luci@lemmy.ca 0 points 57 minutes ago

Those anti trans protestors are about to find out what happens when you mix glitter and 3d printing

I wouldn’t

(I will)