Currently, the flying sub only exists as a set of design objectives issued by DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). They want a craft that can arrive at a target via air, hang out for a while as surface boat, and disappear stealthily beneath the waves. According to the official request for proposals:

"By combining the beneficial characteristics and operating modes of each platform, DARPA hopes to develop a craft that will significantly enhance the United States tactical advantage in coastal insertion missions."

The proposed craft would hold eight soldiers plus all their gear and could support them as a floating surface craft for 72 hours. It would have a 1,000 mile aerial range and a 12 mile submerged range. It would more accurately be called a submersible aircraft, as an aircraft design can be pressurized and submerged far more easily than a heavy submarine could be made to fly.

Oddly enough, Military.com points out that this idea has been floating around for decades, but no one's ever even finished a prototype. Here's an artist's rendering of a design from the 1960s: Images by: DARPA/AP.

Flying Submarine or Submerging Seaplane? [Military.com]

In an interview with military blog Defense Tech, the Army's Director of Research and Laboratory Management, Dr. John Parmentola described the military versions of some of the most advanced technology in development right now. For example, using electrical signals from the brain to control a wheelchair or output words to a computer is the civilian way of doing things. The Army envisions soldiers in contant, silent communication with each other, with the ability to silently activate and control machines just by thinking about it. That's a sci-fi action movie script that pretty much writes itself.

The quantum ghost effect is a little tougher to explain. Basically, you've got photons that pass across a smoke-obscured battlefield and simultaneously are and are not reflected by the smoke. Special computers could see through the smoke by taking advantage of the quantum link between both versions of the photons. Call it "Schrödinger's Howitzer."

Regarding the ultra-realistic holographic soldiers, the military wants them to act the part of enemies for more effective training exercizes. They can't just look real, though. They want AI that makes them act real. Dr. Parmentola seemed a bit credulous about the current state of development, however, saying, "I actually interact with virtual humans in terms of asking them questions and they're responding." Yeah, I was fooled by a bot on IM once too.

But what's this about World of Warcraft? The Army thinks online games are a perfect testing ground for their nascent AIs. They specifically mentioned WoW and EVE Online as games they want to infiltrate, sending in their "virtual soldiers" to see if they can deceive the human players. I think Blizzard should open up a bot only server.

Army Working On Science's Outer Limits. [Defense Tech]

Silent Guardian is basically an antenna that can fire a targeted beam of "millimeter wave energy" up to about 250 yards. It creates a very painful burning sensation in the target by...well, cooking the subcutaneous layer of their skin, about 1/64 of an inch below the surface. The shallow penetration of the beam and some vaguely described safety overrides prevent it from killing or doing lasting harm, and as soon as you step (make that, run) away from the beam, the burning goes away.

Unfortunately, it seems that some of the people who participated in safety tests on the beam (including a journalist from Wired's Danger Room) have recently discovered that those tests were far from safe. Which begs the question: Is this really a nonlethal weapon?

If it turns out to be safe, the Silent Guardian could be used to protect checkpoints and base entrances, and for weekend cookouts. I'm thinking of ordering one to mount on the Apocalypsemobile, but only to keep me warm while racing on January 1st. Image by: DOD Buzz.

Marines fund non-lethal heat ray. [Defense Tech]

Aurora's Excalibur VTOL UAV is intended to have fully automated flight systems. It will know its mission and complete without remote operator control. One of those missions could be operating as a tactical strike platform, wielding Hellfire missiles, Viper Strike missiles, and the aforementioned APKWS. Technically, only the flight controls will be automated - an operator will be paying attention to target acquisition (and, one would imagine, target explosition). Still, seeing the words "robot" and "Hellfire" together is a little chilling.

On the bright side, it could also be sent in to recover wounded soldiers, airlifting them out of sticky situations without diverting the attention of a remote pilot. Small special ops teams (like, Delta Force) could even use Excaliburs for fast, light ingress and egress. It's amazing what you can do with hybrid turbine-electric propulsion these days. Small scale tests are planned for late this year. Image by: Aurora.

Firm Building Man-carrying VTOL Drone. [Military.com]

The French government provided the pope with an autonomous aerial detail that detects threats on the ground and can call on countermeasures:

Aviation Week reports that Eagle-1 SIDM autonomous surveillance platforms orbited on high above Lourdes, providing what is often profanely referred to in military circles as the "god's eye view" of the surrounding terrain - and the ability to call down terrifying hammerblows of destruction from the skies using laser target-designation systems. Batteries of Crotale air-defence missiles were also on standby in the event of any impious intrusion being mounted into the Supreme Pontiff's heavenly exclusion zone.

For land-based protection, sadly, Pope Benedict will still have to rely on his human bodyguards and bulletproof cell.

Pope watched over by flying robots during Lourdes visit [The Register]

Dotcom millionaire Ben Way launched Weapons Against Robots (WAR) Defence to combat the potential threats posed by artificial intelligence through the creation of anti-robot weaponry, detection and monitoring of robots, and use of anti-robot viruses. Way believes that, as AI is increasingly used in warfare and defense, it is prudent to ready countermeasures in the event, not only of an enemy's use of robotics, but that an intelligence's programming goes awry:

"The use of robotics in the military is on the up and, although the decision to take human life is currently still taken by another human, before long such decisions will be made up complex mathematical and logical rules programmed within a robot."

"Potentially the consequences of a computer crashing could be devastating. Hence, robotic defence is not just necessary for tackling combatants, but potentially for making sure we have control over our own weaponry."

But are such measures really necessary? Computer scientist Noel Sharkey, who has, in the past, written about the dangers of deploying autonomous combat robots, believes that Way's efforts are a much-needed safeguard against the destruction of human life by artificial intelligence:

"This is the first real response that I have seen to the predicted rise in the use of autonomous military robots and it testifies to the dangerous slippery slope that we seem to be inevitably sliding down."

"Ben Way has certainly picked up on the magnitude of the impending threat or autonomous robot weapons to humanitarian war but it seems even more worrying that such steps are having to be taken.

Way made his fortune as a teenager developing search technology. More recently, he started corporate venture company Rainmakers, mentoring network Horsesmouth, and print over Internet protocol service ViaPost.

War Against Robots: the new entrepreneurial frontier [Telegraph]
Weapons Against Robots Defence Company

SSC (also known as Natick, for the Massachusetts town where it's headquartered) is currently testing suits built by Sarcos and Raytheon, but they have some issues to resolve before the are deployable. The biggest problems, literally, are the power sources. They're too large and heavy, and don't last long enough.

The other issue is safety. The primary function of these suits will be to help soldiers lift heavy objects, such as missiles or crates full of supplies. Giving one person the ability to do the work of five is awesome, until a hydraulic line blows out. Imagine having a 1,000 pound crate of MREs land in your lap. Exo-suits in the field are definitely going to require redundancy. But the fact that the military has identified the areas that need improvement and is working on the development is a good sign. This isn't pie-in-the-sky technology any more. Image by: gadgetguide.

Exoskeleton Update. [Defense Tech]

Back in April, we told you about the old record setter, a Global Hawk that flew for more than 30 hours. The Global Hawk still holds the "official" record because QinetiQ, the company that produced the Zephyr, didn't invite the Federation Aeronautique Internationale to the test. Apparently, they're more interested in Department of Defense contracts than earning the FAI seal of approval.

Official or not, the Zephyr's achievement is astonishing. It stayed in the air, operated by autopilot or remotely via satellite, for 82 hours and 37 minutes. It managed such a feat of endurance by combining an ultralight carbon-fiber airframe with highly efficient solar panels and batteries. The solar arrays cover virtually every wing surface, yet are no thicker than paper. During the day, they provide enough power for the Zephyr to fly, plus enough extra to charge the batteries. The lithium-sulfur batteries hold enough juice to keep the Zephyr flying through the night. Ultimately, aircraft based on the Zephyr will be fitted with surveillance equipment and flown at high altitudes to keep a perpetual, unblinking watch over whatever the DoD deems worthy of the attention. Image by: QinetiQ.

QinetiQ's Zephyr UAV flies for three and a half days to set unofficial world record for longest duration unmanned flight. [QineticQ]

Once each year, the Office of Naval Research holds a conference where they explain what they're currently working on. This year, the ONR detailed several weapons systems that seem like they were lifted straight out of your favorite military sci-fi novel.

Solid state fiber lasers could be mounted in "pods" on aircraft, able to deliver 100 kW blasts. Free Electron Lasers will begin development in 2010, and will hopefully have the ability to take out incoming ordinance or even small attack (or suicide) boats. The lasers don't stop there - helicopters could be equipped with laser terrain finding gear to help them land in "brownout" conditions.

Lasers not sexy enough? How about directed microwave weapons? I've been dreaming of one of these for years, to take out the thumping audio systems of cars that drive past my house. The Navy would rather use them to fry the electronics in enemy equipment.

The ultimate naval weapon might be the hyper-velocity railgun. It could propel projectiles up to 230 miles with killer accuracy at speeds close to Mach 7. The Navy holds a world record for "highest electromagnetic muzzle energy launch of a projectile" using such a weapon. I have no idea what that means, but I know I wouldn't want to get hit by one. These megaguns aren't without their flaws, though. That kind of muzzle velocity tends to destroy the barrel of the gun, and each firing draws something like three million amps. Image by: U.S. Navy.

Navy Wants Lots of Lasers [Defense Tech]

XM-25 (pictured) - This grenade launcher has two things going for it: a laser range finder and shrapnel grenades with computer chips in them. What does this mean for soldiers? Imagine a bunch of aliens taking cover around a corner. Measure and set the range for just past the corner, fire a grenade, and watch as it completely negates their cover. This is basically a weapon you can't hide from.

Corner Shot Launcher - This Israeli/German weapon is also intended to eliminate the advantage of cover by allowing a soldier to peer around a corner with a video camera and then fire a grenade or smaller round using the collapsible firing post that can bend up to 90 degrees.

SCAR-Light - This rifle could be the replacement for the M-16, which was first introduced in 1964. It's basically a light, accurate, reliable gun with quick change barrels for different environments and easily replaceable parts. Sometimes simpler is better, although what's with the super creepy name?

FMG9 Folding Machine Gun - I'm not sure the world really needs a submachine gun that folds into a brick small enough to fit in a large pocket, and switches instantly from "brick" to "blazing instrument of death" with the push of a button. Can we uninvent this, please?

SAR 21 - This weapon is distinguished by the fact that the Singapore military has been using it for years. It's powerful and accurate, has integrated laser sights, is compact for fighting in tight quarters and is designed with a limited "straight back" recoil that doesn't affect accuracy. You have to wonder if the main reason the U.S. isn't using it is because it's made in Singapore.

So, no ray guns, which is kind of disappointing, and a lot of money and brainpower is being spent on developing efficient killing tools, which is also pretty disappointing, since we all know none of these will probably ever be used against alien invaders or zombies. Image by ATK.

Top 5 High-Tech Guns for Next-Gen Infantry. [Popular Mechanics]

Today's military robots don't walk on two legs or look remotely human - they mostly look like miniature radio-controlled tanks. There's always a human somewhere with a laptop and a joystick controlling all of the robot's action. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are experimenting with the use of a controller from a Nintendo Wii to manipulate the bots. This gives the soldiers more freedom of movement and situational awareness than if they're staring into a laptop computer. While advances in robot technology will probably result in more radical robot designs and allow for the military's goal of a 30-percent robotic force, there will always be human involvement in the control process. Researcher Bill Smart had this to say about our future robot army:

"It's a chain of command thing. You don't want to give autonomy to a weapons delivery system. You don't want the robot to make the wrong decision."

Image by: Getty Images.

Military use of robots increases. [Washington University in St. Louis via EurekAlert]

The goal for Blackswift is to be able to take off from a conventional runway, hit Mach 6 and possibly leave the atmosphere, accomplish its mission, then come back down and land on its own. It's also part of DARPA's Prompt Global Strike initiative ("If your missile isn't there in 60 minutes or less, it's free!"). The Blackswift propulsion system is a hybrid that mixes a fairly conventional turbojet for low-altitude, low speed flight with a ram/scramjet for hypersonic speeds. Above Mach 4, the ramjet takes over, slamming air through the jet at supersonic speeds without the use of a compressor or fan blade.

If everything goes well, Blackswift could provide a basic platform for the development of further military space vehicles. Which is simultaneously really neat and pretty terrifying. Image by: Wired.

Boeing Joins Lockheed on Blackswift. [Military.com]
Blackswift Swoops in for $750 million. [Wired]

Skynet 5 is the latest iteration of a global communications system deployed by the British Armed Forces. The final satellite in the system was launched this week, and will allow high-bandwidth telecommunications between British forces located anywhere in the world. In addition to voice communications, it will allow data transfer and the remote control of robot airplanes, one of which is called "The Reaper." One of the manufacturers was quoted by BBC News as saying:

So, computers can talk directly to computers.

Are you terrified yet? It gets better. The system is actually privately owned and developed - the British Armed Forces are only promised a portion of the bandwidth as part of the contract. The one reassuring aspect is that the company is not called Cyberdyne.
Seriously, what the hell? Is it British humor to name something like this Skynet, or bureaucratic idiocy? Might as well get to work on the self-awareness chip and the "really angry at humans" algorithm. Image by: BBC News.

Final Skynet satellite launched. [BBC News]

Boeing calls it the Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL). It fires from a belly-mounted rotating turret mounted to a modified C-130H cargo plane. On May 13, the chemical laser was tested on the ground. Soon, they'll advance to actual air-to-ground testing against fake targets. No actual test data or specifications for the laser (or the damage it can do) have been released.

The problem with laser weapons is that they are heavy and bulky. Until they get a lot lighter, there's not much chance that a bomber squadron is going to replace a bunch of payload with one of these things, unless it's for public relations. Not that it isn't nice to see the military developing super advanced weapons so they kill fewer people. No word if the lasers will be Cobra Blue or G.I. Joe Red. Original Image by: U.S. Navy.

Laser Blaster Gunship Closer to Flight Test. [Defense Tech]

Pilots flying the next generation of jet fighters will use futuristic, Star Wars-style helmets, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.

The headgear being developed for the new, American-built F35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will display navigation and targeting information on the inside of the pilot's visor... The advanced helmet mounted display is reminiscent of systems used by Luke Skywalker and pilots of enemy imperial TIE fighters in the first Star Wars film Episode IV: A New Hope, released in 1977.