The department of defense is also expanding their research and updating its equipment in the areas of automation and transportation. Check out these projects the military currently has in the works with the future of fighting in mind:
Faster, Quieter, Safer Helicopters – For safety’s sake, special operators and medical evacuation units are in need of faster helicopters. The copters currently in use are prone to accidents during takeoff and landing which leads some to believe tilt-rotor crafts are the answer. Emilio Dalmasso, senior vice president of commercial business at AugustaWestland said, “In 50 years, a lot of aviation will be this kind of machine. One that has the capacity to take off and land like a helicopter but then fly as an airplane.” Plans for the future of helicopters include:
- A six-engine aircraft, called Hexplane, that would be able to fly higher than 35,000 feet at about 350 knots
- Using two main counter-rotating blades and a tail propeller for extra push
- A double-rotor concept but with no blades at the tail to reduce noise with a special coating to avoid detection
- Studying how blades can change shape during flight
- A product that would use radar to allow pilots to see through dust, fog and smoke
Ultra-Light, Super-Survivable Dune Buggies – because of the changing face of combat the Department of Defense has deemed it a necessity to find a better way to travel through difficult terrain besides large bulky utility vehicles. They are developing mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) trucks to meet the needs of the battlefield in the future. These small units will be able to operate covertly with off-road capabilities, tight-cornered maneuverability, speed and durability that can withstand a roadside blast. Lt. Gen. Donald C. Wurster, former commander of Air Force Special Operations Command explains it, “When it comes to vehicles, it doesn’t do any good to buy a vehicle that fits in the airplane, but doesn’t do what the team needs. If we buy a vehicle that the team needs, it needs to go on the aircraft.”
Unmanned Mini-Submarines; High-Speed, Bulletproof Power Boats – National defense depends on the security of the water as well as the land and air so technology is shifting in aquatic vehicles. Large subs are costly and limited. By equipping them with small unmanned underwater systems submarines can safely scout and attack. These will be particularly useful in locating hostile crafts, removing mines or debris and detecting damage after earthquakes and explosions.
On the surface, the U.S. Navy has dominated open-ocean warfare but is advancing technology to expand into tighter terrain. The boats of the future are faster, more agile, and stealthy so they can move close to shore and access inner harbors. They are exploring different designs and materials to find the right combination in order to meet the Navy’s changing needs. Capt. Paul McElroy, commander of Marine Expeditionary Security Group Two feels strongly about it saying, “Our enemies are watching and learning, and will strike again. We owe it to our sailors, marines, coast guardsmen to have the best protection possible.”
Robots That Think for Themselves – Think of it as The Drone Wars. Machines that can make decisions on their own are used for surveillance and in the fight against improvised explosive devices. Science fiction is becoming science fact as the military studies ways to automate existing technology shifting the man to machine ratio in combat. It may sound like the start of The Terminator but it’s really more like the concept behind a Roomba. “The next challenge is to build fully autonomous systems that can interoperate with humans in a very social environment — conversationally,” said Zachary Lemnios, assistant secretary of defense for research and engineering.
Be creative and leave a comment about what kind of teched out vehicle the military should make next.
By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a multimedia developer with experience in web, film, photography and animation as well as traditional fine arts like painting and sculpting. In addition to writing for Nexxt, she is co-founder of design and promotion company. Heather’s spare time consists of making puppets, teaching Sunday School, building Legos and doing science experiments with her children.
Check back for the final installment in this series of articles, Technologies the Military Needs for Future Fighting Part 3: Energy conservation and production.
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