Gizmag: Military

U.S. Navy set to test first industry railgun prototype

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:40:03 -0600

Two years after BAE Systems was awarded a US$21 million contract from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop an advanced Electromagnetic (EM) Railgun for the U.S. Navy, the company has delivered the first industry-built prototype demonstrator to the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren. The prototype launcher is now being prepared for testing which is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. .. Continue Reading U.S. Navy set to test first industry railgun prototype

Section: Military

Tags: BAE Systems, Electromagnetic Railgun, ONR, Prototype, Weapons

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Future wars may be waged with mind-controlled weaponry, Royal Society warns

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:15:26 -0600

Neuroscience has ramifications for future warfare, and the scientific community must be more aware. So says a new report published by the Royal Society titled Neuroscience, conflict and security, which cites interest in neuroscience from the military community, and identifies particular technologies that may arise. Among them is the potential for "neural interface systems" (NIS) to bring about weapons controllable by the human mind, though the reports also discusses more benign military applications of neuroscience, such as fostering a revolution in prosthetic limbs... Continue Reading Future wars may be waged with mind-controlled weaponry, Royal Society warns

Section: Military

Tags: Brain Computer Interface, neuroscience, Royal Society, Weapons

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Rheinmetall tests new Active Defense System under live fire

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:53:07 -0600

Defense supplier Rheinmetall AG's newly developed Active Defense System (AMAP-ADS) is designed to provide an unmatched level of protection to land vehicles through the use of sophisticated threat detection, identification and nullification technology that takes just milliseconds to react. The system, which also minimizes collateral damage around the vehicle, was recently demonstrated under live fire for a group of potential customers who watched unprotected from a distance of 150m... Continue Reading Rheinmetall tests new Active Defense System under live fire

Section: Military

Tags: Military, Missile Defense

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Self-guided bullet could hit laser-marked targets from a mile away

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:44:51 -0600

A group of researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have built a prototype of a small-caliber bullet capable of steering itself towards a laser-marked target located approximately 2,000 meters (1.2 miles) away. The dart-like design has passed the initial testing stage, which included computer simulations as well as field-testing prototypes built from commercially available parts... Continue Reading Self-guided bullet could hit laser-marked targets from a mile away

Section: Military

Tags: Bullet, Sniper

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Next-generation Vehicle Protection Jammer protects against IEDs

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:54:41 -0600

Improvised Explosive Devices, or IEDs, are one of the largest sources of coalition casualties in Iraq. Many of these IEDs take the form of roadside bombs, which are hidden on or alongside a road, then detonated when a moving vehicle passes near them. While there is more than one way of causing these bombs to detonate, they are often set off by a hidden human observer, using a radio-control device. Forces using the new Vehicle Protection Jammer from EADS subsidiary Cassidian, however, should find themselves at a greatly-reduced risk of such attacks... Continue Reading Next-generation Vehicle Protection Jammer protects against IEDs

Section: Military

Tags: Bombs, EADS, Explosives, Military, Protection, Radio Control

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New inflatable tourniquet designed to reduce battlefield deaths

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:46:11 -0600

Insurgents are commonly taught to aim just below a soldier's body armor, which is where the abdominal area meets the legs. When a bullet hits this area it causes massive internal bleeding which often proves fatal in a matter of minutes. Two physicians specializing in emergency medicine have now developed a tool designed to treat rapid lethal war injuries. The device, which is known as the abdominal aortic tourniquet effectively slows bleeding and gives much needed time to stop the flow of blood which could save a soldier's life. .. Continue Reading New inflatable tourniquet designed to reduce battlefield deaths

Section: Military

Tags: Health, Law Enforcement, Medical, Military, Prototype

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US Navy developing app-summoned robotic helicopters for Marines

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:44:30 -0600

We may be closer to the day when United States Marines will, within a matter of minutes, use a handheld app to summon robotic helicopters to deliver battlefield supplies. On Tuesday, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced its five-year, US$98 million Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility System (AACUS) program, with the specific aim of developing "sensors and control technologies for robotic vertical take-off and landing aircraft.".. Continue Reading US Navy developing app-summoned robotic helicopters for Marines

Section: Military

Tags: Helicopters, Marines, Robots, UAS, UAV

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Lockheed Martin's very clever (and deadly) Joint Air-to-Ground Missile closer to deployment

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:16:49 -0600

With the announcement of the successful testing of a sophisticated Pneumatic Cooling System (PCS) by Lockheed Martin and industry partner Marotta Controls in December, the highly versatile Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) weapons system is a step closer to deployment in the field. .. Continue Reading Lockheed Martin's very clever (and deadly) Joint Air-to-Ground Missile closer to deployment

Section: Military

Tags: Lockheed Martin, US Army, US Navy, Weapons

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New High-Density Reactive Material increases weapons explosive force

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:59:10 -0600

Last month U.S. Military, government and industry officials witnessed a demonstration of a new missile warhead casing material at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) in Dahlgren, Virginia. The material, known as High-Density Reactive Material (HDRM), is the result of collaboration between the Office of Naval Research (ONR), NSWC Dahlgren and NSWC Indian Head Divisioncan and can be employed within existing designs, but with added destructive power... Continue Reading New High-Density Reactive Material increases weapons explosive force

Section: Military

Tags: Kinetic Energy, Military, Missile Defense, Weapons

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UK police testing laser rifle to blind rioters

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:03:08 -0600

After riots this past summer left parts of the UK in shambles, it's no wonder that police in that part of the world are looking for new methods of crowd control. Since the usual methods for subduing rioters were seen as largely ineffective against their sheer numbers at the time, police have been looking into new tactics as well as non-lethal weapons to replace the standard tasers and tear gas. To that end, the next time someone tries to loot a store in England, they may find themselves literally struck blind thanks to a new riot laser currently being tested called the "SMU 100.".. Continue Reading UK police testing laser rifle to blind rioters

Section: Military

Tags: Laser, Non-lethal, Police, Security, Weapons

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"Holey" bullets claimed to go faster

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:49:52 -0600

Competition shooters like their bullets to fly as fast (and thus straight) as possible, and they try to keep recoil to a minimum. Italian ammunition-maker CompBullet produces a series of bullets of the same name, which are claimed to both go faster than normal ammo, and produce less recoil. The secret? The bullets have go-faster holes in them... Continue Reading "Holey" bullets claimed to go faster

Section: Military

Tags: Bullet, Firearms

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CICADA gliding UAV is designed to deploy sensors behind enemy lines

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:17:07 -0600

When soldiers want to gather intelligence in enemy territory, they often have to travel into that territory themselves, depositing acoustic, magnetic, chemical/biological or signals intelligence sensors by hand. Not only does this place the soldiers in harm's way, but the logistics of such missions can also end up being quite costly. That's why the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Vehicle Research Section created the CICADA unmanned air vehicle (UAV). The tiny sensor-equipped glider was successfully tested at Arizona's Yuma Proving Grounds on September 1st... Continue Reading CICADA gliding UAV is designed to deploy sensors behind enemy lines

Section: Military

Tags: Autonomous, Reconnaissance, UAV

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U.S. deploys the Switchblade Kamikaze Drone

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:40:19 -0600

The Switchblade is a new form of miniature unmanned aerial system (UAS) which is man-packable and offers a loitering, silent, almost invisible, over-the-horizon aerial presence for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance duties. It also carries a warhead, so if a target of opportunity presents itself, the Switchblade has imaging sensors capable of identifying, tracking and guiding itself right to that person before exploding - with the aim of causing minimal collateral damage. The UAS is currently being readied for initial deployment by U.S.Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. .. Continue Reading U.S. deploys the Switchblade Kamikaze Drone

Section: Military

Tags: AeroVironment, Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Switchblade, UAS, UAV

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USAF takes delivery of the GBU-57A/B Penetrator - now there's nowhere to hide

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:34:42 -0600

Military technology has created some fearsome weapons, such as the 5,000 lb GBU-28 Deep Throat bunker buster, 15,000 lb BLU-82 Daisycutter, 15,650 lb Russian ATBIP (Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power), 22,000 lb Grand Slam earthquake bomb, and the 22,600 lb GBU-43 MOAB (Massive Ordnance Air Blast), but if you were hiding under 50 meters of hardened concrete, none of them were going to bother you. Not any more! The U.S. Air Force has just taken delivery of the first GBU-57A/B (Massive Ordnance Penetrator). It weighs 30,000 lb and will penetrate 200 ft of hardened concrete BEFORE it goes off. If you are reading this from an underground nuclear facility in Iran or North Korea, might we suggest some extended sick leave is (or soon will be) in order... Continue Reading USAF takes delivery of the GBU-57A/B Penetrator - now there's nowhere to hide

Section: Military

Tags: Aircraft, Bombs, Kinetic Energy, Military, Weapons

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Ballistic Clipboard holds papers, stops bullets

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:04:50 -0600

Although police officers in most countries are issued bulletproof vests, they don’t necessarily wear them at all times – would you want to heave one of those things around for an entire shift? What they do often carry, however, are clipboards. Taking the “every little bit helps” approach, Ohio’s IMPACT Armor Technologies has put two and two together, and come up with something that should actually offer some protection – a Ballistic Clipboard... Continue Reading Ballistic Clipboard holds papers, stops bullets

Section: Military

Tags: Bullet, Crime, Law Enforcement, Police, Safety

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New method may lead to improved detection of nuclear materials

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:44:07 -0500

Scientists at Northwestern University, Illinois, have outlined a new method for detecting electromagnetic radiation at the high energy end of the spectrum. The work could lead to the development of a small, hand held device able to detect this "hard radiation" and has implications for the detection of radioactive materials which could potentially be employed in terrorist weapons, such as nuclear bombs or radiological dispersion devices, as well as materials employed in clandestine nuclear programs. .. Continue Reading New method may lead to improved detection of nuclear materials

Section: Military

Tags: Bombs, Detection, Medical Imaging, Northwestern University, Nuclear, Radiation, US Department of Energy, Weapons

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BAE Systems to provide new helmet display for F-35 pilots

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:39:14 -0500

When it enters service, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter will lay claim to the title of the most advanced warplane in the world. Its pilots will have the most advanced helmets as well ... and there's more to it than protecting the pilot's head against knocks. Unfortunately, the gap between designing the helmet and building it has proven wider than originally thought and issues such as poor image quality are so severe that the F35's testing program faces serious delays, so F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin brought in BAE Systems to provide a substitute... Continue Reading BAE Systems to provide new helmet display for F-35 pilots

Section: Military

Tags: BAE Systems, F35-Fighter, Imaging, Lockheed Martin, Night Vision, Optical

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MIT-developed radar sees through concrete walls up to eight inches thick

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:00:00 -0500

A group of MIT researchers has developed a radar that provides a video of what is happening behind a concrete wall. Just like any other radar, the device emits radio waves that bounce off objects and analyzes the return signal. Dr. Gregory Charvat and his colleagues from MIT's Lincoln Laboratory estimate that penetrating an 8-inch thick concrete wall is possible from a maximum distance of approximately 60 feet (18,3 m). The 99.9975 percent of the signal that returns to the radar after bouncing off the wall is disregarded. The remaining part that made it through the wall and back is amplified and used to generate a real-time, 10.8 frames per second visualization of the targets on the other side... Continue Reading MIT-developed radar sees through concrete walls up to eight inches thick

Section: Military

Tags: MIT, Radar

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Instant fortresses modified for instant demolition

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:06:34 -0500

The manufacturer of a quick-assemble system for constructing military fortifications in the field has found a simple solution to the problem of how to deny these fortifications to the enemy once friendly forces have withdrawn. By making a simple modification to the systems design, the dismantling of the fortresses becomes literally as simple as pulling out a pin... Continue Reading Instant fortresses modified for instant demolition

Section: Military

Tags: Combat, Logistics, Military, Soldiers

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New laser tech could detect roadside bombs

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:58:41 -0500

Approximately sixty percent of coalition soldier deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan are due to improvised explosive devices (IEDs), placed along the roads. Because these bombs are often planted in public areas, it is important to detect them in a way that doesn’t harm the surrounding infrastructure, or unnecessarily require civilians to evacuate nearby buildings. Researchers from Michigan State University believe that a laser-based system that they developed could fit the bill... Continue Reading New laser tech could detect roadside bombs

Section: Military

Tags: Bombs, Explosives, Laser, Michigan State University, Military

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Oshkosh L-ATV put forward as Humvee replacement

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:26:45 -0500

Much as Hummer-owners may like to speak of their vehicles' military pedigree, the fact is that the U.S. Army now wants to replace its Humvees with vehicles that are better suited for use in war zones, particularly when it comes to protecting occupants. One potential Humvee-replacement has just been announced by Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Defense - the Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle or L-ATV. .. Continue Reading Oshkosh L-ATV put forward as Humvee replacement

Section: Military

Tags: Combat, Hummer, Hybrid, Off-road, Oshkosh

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BAE's ADAPTIV technology renders vehicles invisible to infrared

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:52:05 -0500

Infrared imaging is used for a range of military applications - such as target acquisition, night vision, homing and tracking - which means that any vehicle with some kind of infrared “invisibility cloak” would hold significant advantages on the battlefield. BAE Systems has tested just such a technology that not only allows vehicles to blend into their surroundings, but can also let it mimic other vehicles or natural objects... Continue Reading BAE's ADAPTIV technology renders vehicles invisible to infrared

Section: Military

Tags: BAE Systems, Infrared, Invisibility, Military, Stealth

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Lockheed Martin’s SMSS autonomous vehicle headed for Afghanistan

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 01:14:27 -0500

As a result of winning the Project Workhorse Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) competition sponsored by the U.S. Army, four Lockheed Martin Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) vehicles will be sent to Afghanistan as part of a three-month Military Utility Assessment (MUA). The 11-foot-long (3.3 m) SMSS, which can carry more than half-a-ton of a squad’s equipment on rugged terrain, will be the largest autonomous ground vehicle ever to be deployed with infantry... Continue Reading Lockheed Martin’s SMSS autonomous vehicle headed for Afghanistan

Section: Military

Tags: Autonomous Vehicle, Lockheed Martin, Military, US Army

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Long Distance Tele-Operation system for remote control of unmanned ground vehicles

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:40:38 -0500

The U.S. military is currently able to operate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in far away countries from the U.S., while ground robotic systems such as the TALON can be remotely operated at distances of up to 1,000 m (3,280 ft). Now U.S. Army engineers have provided unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) with the long distance tele-operation capabilities of a UAS to allow them to be controlled from anywhere in the world and keep soldiers even further out of harm’s way... Continue Reading Long Distance Tele-Operation system for remote control of unmanned ground vehicles

Section: Military

Tags: Military, Robotics, Tele-operation, Unmanned, US Army

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'Blackfish' robotic jet-ski to bolster port security

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 20:16:03 -0500

Currently being developed by defense contractor QinetiQ in collaboration with the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR), "Blackfish" is a robotic jet-ski designed specifically to patrol harbors and search for underwater intruders. The remote-controlled craft carries an array of sensors that allow it to "see" under water and can travel at speeds of 40 mph (64 km/h) as well as tracking at lower speeds than conventional jet-skis... Continue Reading 'Blackfish' robotic jet-ski to bolster port security

Section: Military

Tags: Jetski, Military, ONR, QinetiQ, Remote Control, Robot, Robotics, Underwater

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