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February 04, 2021

The Latest Military Tech (That We Know About)



The art of war has changed dramatically since it all started. The primary impetus for these changes have, of course, been technology. If there is one thing that hasn't changed about war, however, is its ultimate objective: to keep the full strength of your forces and their extent away from the prying eyes of the enemy. A military's most important secrets need to remain unknown except to those who are charged with carrying out the mission.



This is why the U.S. Government doesn't divulge much information about its tactics and tools except to those who are sworn to carry their mission out. In rare instances, however, the existence of some weapons do find their way out into general awareness. From little boosters that make a helicopter ride less perilous to the latest for a automatic knives guide, what follows are just a few of the latest.

Sound Cannons

During the Fergusson, Missouri, riots in 2014, a new weapon was tested with great success. It was a sound cannon capable of sending voice commands over a distance of 5.5 miles. Further, the device, called  a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) inflicts grievous bodily pain on anyone who is within 330 feet (100 meters) of the device's sound path. Manufacturers prefer to call their product a device rather than a weapon, but anyone who has endured the effects of an LRAD is well aware of the difference between the truth and the spin.

Stabilization Thrusters

For anyone who has ever been rescued by a military helicopter, it's common knowledge that anything resembling discomfort or dizziness is a small price to pay for your life being saved. Unfortunately, another downside to helicopter rescues is the spinning of the litter when the air from the rotors interacts with the basket. The traditional method of stabilizing the liter is with the use of a tagaline, which is run from the litter to someone below on the ground. When the cover below is thick, however, it can serve as a deterrent to the rescue.

With the new system, battery-powered units are placed at each end of the litter that can determine whether it is spinning or not. More than 100 times per second, each thruster detects any type of motion. If it is spinning, the thrusters activate to slow or stop the motion, and stabilizing the ride.

Automatic Knives

For anyone who has ever found themselves in combat, there is probably no more secure feeling than knowing you have a trusty knife at hand. In the past, the military issued its own with varying results. In the past few years civilian manufacturers have enter the fray with a vengeance, introducing a large number of excellent quality knives, whether they are intended for combat or not.

Parachute Harness for Military Dogs

Military working dogs and their handlers and a close-knit team when it comes to combat. One of the biggest problems with them, however, is getting them on the ground in one piece, and together. This problem has been solved at least in part by a manufacturer in Europe who has created a pack designed to keep a dog secure and close to his master.

Initial reports from handlers show that they are impressed with the technology. Dogs have not expressed an opinion.



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