Military Transformers: 20 Innovative Defense Technologies
May 15, 2012 11:00 AM Department of Defense technologies under development, from brainy microchips to battlefield transformer vehicles, promise to make the U.S. military more nimble. Here's a visual tour of 20 breakthrough ideas.
Hitch A Ride
Impressive, isn't it? No, not the giant B-52 aircraft (a.k.a. Stratofortress), but the much smaller and faster X-51A Waverider attached to its wing. The X-51A is hydrocarbon-fueled experimental craft travels in the Mach 4.5 to 6.5 range. In a test flight last June, the X-51A was released at an altitude of 50,000 feet. In a reminder of the challenges of pushing the boundaries of science, it failed to reach full power. Future applications for hypersonic flight include space travel, reconnaissance, and commercial transportation.
Credit: Bob Ferguson/Boeing
RECOMMENDED READING:
Top 10 Open Government Websites
U.S. Military Robots Of The Future: Visual Tour
NASA's Next Mission: Deep Space
NASA's Blue Marble: 40 Years Of Earth Images
DOD Mobile App Eases Transition To Civilian Life
Army Aids Wounded Warriors With Mobile App
Army Eyes Monitoring Tools To Stop Wikileaks Repeat
10 Lessons From Leading Government CIOs
14 Cool Mobile Apps From Uncle Sam









