Warfare has always lead to the biggest leaps forward in technology, which each Country constantly striving to have the most advanced and capable armaments to protect their interests at home and abroad. Seemingly drawing inspiration from science-fiction, the latest and greatest advancements in military hardware and future weaponry paint a scarily accurate and dangerous view of the world of warfare in coming years.
Join us on the battlefield as we take a trip across the globe to find the biggest, brightest and best weaponry and military hardware from recent years, as well as predictions of the future.
ADAPTIV camouflage
The enemy can’t shoot what they can’t see. That’s the goal of BAE Systems ADAPTIV camouflage; to mask a military vehicle’s infrared signature and shield them from detection by allowing them to blend in with its surroundings.
ADAPTIV camouflage on helicopters
This technology essentially renders thermal imaging systems obsolete and ensures friendly fighting vehicles are offered some protection from initial detection.
The same system can also be used to highlight allied vehicles to friendly forces and prevent blue-on-blue incidents.
ADAPTIV camouflage in action
The ADAPTIV camouflage is made up of a honey-comb like system that can be installed in modules on any vehicle and heated or cooled as necessary to match the surrounding environment.
The Swedish T Ghost is a camouflaged tank that uses BAE’s ADAPTIV camouflage to make it invisible to enemy thermal imaging systems.
The Ghost tank also uses a high-calibre 120mm compact main cannon with new technology designed to reduce recoil and lower overall vehicle weight.
The result is a nimble and powerful medium fighting tank. The bleeding edge technology on this tank, in theory, allows the users to strike first before the opposing forces even realise they’re there.
Magneto Hydrodynamic Explosive Munition (MAHEM)
The MAHEM weapons system by DARPA uses a magnetic flux generator to fire a projectile without the traditional use of chemical explosives creating a more efficient and precise launch system.
This projectile weapons system also uses molten metal to penetrate enemy armoured vehicles increasing lethality and effectiveness on the battlefield.
Taser Shockwave
The TASER Shockwave is a large-scale area denial system designed to help assist with riot control situations. Essentially a large modular system for firing numerous TASER X26 stun guns in a 20-degree arc with a 25-foot range. Not something you’d want to be anywhere near when it went off.
The TASER Shockwave is also capable of being daisy chained with multiple other units increasing area coverage and presenting an even bigger threat to violent rioters. A shocking piece of riot control weaponry for sure.
Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System
The Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System is a heavily armed bot designed to save lives and handle situations too dangerous to send real people into.
Why send men to do a job when a robot can do it just as well? While most of us live in fear of being replaced by robots, soldiers on the battlefield are probably grateful to see this tracked monster rock up alongside them.
The MAARS robot can be armed with a 400-round M240B machine gun, a grenade launcher or even used to drag injured soldiers out of danger. Capable of a top speed of just 7 mph, it’s just about fast enough to keep up with the troops and has the staying power too - with a battery system capable of running up to 12 hours. Luckily there’s no AI involved, so we’re not going to see the robot uprising just yet.
Black Knight ARCV
The Black Knight Unmanned Combat Vehicle is a prototype unmanned combat vehicle with the appearance of a small tank and the firepower to match.
Like the MAARS robot, the Black Knight Unmanned Combat Vehicle is designed to be sent into high-risk situations to avoid unnecessary danger to human troops. The current technology is not without limitations and issues with GPS, wireless communication and sensors still need to be worked out but apparently, it is a combat vehicle that shows plenty of promise.
A 30mm cannon and 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, combined with the ability to be deployed from a military transport aircraft make this a combat vehicle to be reckoned with.
Thunder Generator
A few years ago the Israeli Army, alongside PDT Agro was experimenting with a weapon known as the Thunder Generator.
This machine was designed to detonate an explosion in its barrel, then release that as a high-speed shockwave that could be used to deafen (temporarily) and push back people up to 100 feet away. Useful for a variety of situations no doubt.
