War is a terrible reality of life. Technological development in the military industry is more advanced than in any other sector. If we put aside our personal feelings and attitude toward it and analyze it strictly from a technological perspective, there are some amazing, mind-blowing ideas.
Tension is increasing in hot spots, and military tech is getting more urgent. For example, the U.S. spent almost $80 billion to create armor and weapons. This new gear is innovative, and it results from the hard work of some of the best engineers and scientists in the world. Whether it works on the ground, in the air, in water, or even in space, military equipment is really pushing the limits.
Advanced Wireless Communication
Military uses special communication infrastructure that is often inadequate or unavailable in certain locations. All operations rely on communication, and it is necessary for every unit to be provided with data, voice, or video services. A secure wireless network reduces the time for installing equipment and cabling, which helps a lot. There are many new, advanced wireless communication solutions. The biggest advantages are flexibility, less size and weight, and faster set-up. Most designs consist of these four technologies:
- Multipoint microwave radios for linking line-of-sight enclaves
- Diffused infrared (IR) network devices for secure and short-range applications
- Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), for secure and nonsecure voice.
- IEEE 802.11- wireless local area networks for mobile users
Self-Steering Bullets
These bullets are packed with tiny sensors to change course in the middle of the air. So, if the shooter isn’t the best, he will easily hit all the targets. They can sometimes replace the rocket-propelled missiles, and they are much cheaper.
The United States Department of Defense has developed them, and the testing has been a success. Even beginners could hit a moving target. The experienced testers were also trying to dodge the shot, and the bullets still steered themselves towards the target.
Laser Cannon
This may sound like a Science-fiction to you, but this weapon is very close to getting made. The Navy is testing the system to protect them from attack boats and drones. It is expected they will have even larger laser weapons soon. The Army is also working on a program called HEL MD (High-Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator), which will be a truck-mounted laser. The benefit of lasers is that they need just diesel to power the generator, so the costs are minimal.
Unmanned Submarine Hunter
Ultra Quiet submarines that can come close to shore undetected are the project of many countries. This inspired DARPA’s (Defence Advanced Research Project Agency) new project, “Sea Hunter,” also known as ACTUV. It is equipped with radars and sonars and can hunt submarines for a long time without any crew on board, like a giant water-based drone. It was launched in 2016. and built by Vigor Industrial.
Every Ship and Aircraft Carrier
There are plenty of small, unmanned planes and drones that are being used on water. They are launched and retrieved on small decks. But can you imagine an aircraft that can land on its tail? Well, DARPA can, with their TERN program (Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node).
It is lifted into the air by two counter-rotating propellers and then switched to horizontal flight. In the air, it cruises for threats and sends images, videos, and radar data to the ship, only to return by reversing the process and safely landing.
Invisibility From a Squid
It is well known that camouflage can somewhat hide soldiers and equipment from human sight, but it’s pointless when it comes to infrared vision systems. But the experts at the University of California hope they can fix this problem in a very unusual way. They are using a protein found in squid. Yes, we said SQUID; it’s not a joke! They are hoping to make invisibility patches based on reflectin’s protein, used by squids to change the reflectivity of their skin and color.
Satellite Melter
Have you ever wondered how you would destroy an enemy satellite? If your answer is “by melting it,” you are thinking the same way as DARPA. They started developing a satellite designed to track and hunt other satellites and heat them enough to make them fall out of orbit and burn up while reentering the stratosphere.
Believe it or not – the launch is expected in 2021.
Some of this military tech sounds like it has been pulled from a sci-fi movie. Regardless of how interesting it is to read about, we can’t imagine this rapid development’s consequences. Some of the new technologies make the war even more terrible and scary, but others, such as unmanned vessels, submarines, etc., can save many lives. They make a “clean war” possible to some level. Avoiding casualties should be the top priority.
