US Could use Weaponized Robots, 'Hypersubs' to Storm Beaches

By Prei Dy / 1493586294
The US Navy has been testing weaponized robots as first line of defense for beach invasion.

The US military could soon deploy a fleet of cutting-edge military technology such as amphibious tanks and robots with machine guns to "storm the beaches."

The Navy and Marine Corps have reportedly been conducting discreet tests on around 50 weaponized robots at Camp Pendleton, at the Ship-to-Shore Maneuver Exploration and Experimentation Advanced Naval Technology Exercise 2017, in California.

According to Fox News, the exercises aim to investigate if the robots could go from the Naval ship to shorelines where they could dock. Marine officers have also been putting the machines through a series of realistic military scenarios.

According to the US Marines, using drones and weaponized robots as first line of attack while storming beaches could help "save lives."

"The unmanned ground vehicle and the operated weapons extend the capability [saving human life] out to 2,000 meters so we can be in a protective position seeing what's going on in the battlefield and be engaging with the enemy," a US Marine official told the Fox News.

Such new advances include machine-gun toting robots that could charge up the beaches as advance assaults and speedboats that could transform into a stealthy submarine to hide from threats.

The US Navy is pinning its hope on the Multi-Utility Tactical Transport (MUTT) robot, a ground machine equipped with a machine gun. It could drive during beach invasion and use tracks to easily drive on sea, sand, and even slopes, the Daily Mail reported. Aside from a machine gun, MUTT could also be outfitted to carry other weapons like mortars and can also be loaded with gear to transport across dangerous areas.

Moreover, a 'Hypersub' speedboat, dubbed as The Fathom, is also gaining attention as it could transform into a submarine. It uses two 480-hp Yanmar 6LY3-ETP diesel engine, with a cruising speed of 61 km/hr. It could easily evade detection and could withstand any pressure changes.