ArmsHeldOut
Sparring with Supes
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'Batman Wings' Developed for Covert Army Missions
By Martin Croucher
Epoch Times London Staff Jun 01, 2006
According to the developers, German firm ESG, these "Batman" wings can enable paratroopers to glide up to 25 miles (40km) after being dropped from a height of over 30,000 ft (9.1km). (Image courtesy ESG)Military scientists are putting the finishing touches to a Batman-style set of 'wings' that could enable troops to glide undetected into enemy territory.
According to a statement by the developers of the new technology, German firm ESG, the wings can enable paratroopers to glide up to 25 miles after being dropped from a height of over 30,000 ft.
"Parachutists can penetrate into areas that are difficult to reach without their transport planes having to fly into a danger zone," a spokesperson for ESG explained.
This will be augmented when new technology is developed to attach small turbo rockets to the wings, which would mean that soldiers would not need to be dropped from such a height in order to achieve the desired range.
"Tracing this almost 100% silent parachute system using air or ground-based radar systems is extremely difficult," the statement read. ESG argue that the new 'mono-wing' will operate largely unaffected by wind conditions.
Being guided by a tracking system and technology for stabilising body weight, the specialist parachute will prevent individuals from being blown off course to a certain extent.
The wings were unveiled last week, and being currently tested, are expected to be in use by German special forces by next year.
The new technology is said to be a development of 'ram-air' parachutes already in use by German military since 2003, as well as the SAS. Ramair parachutes trap air between two fabric surfaces to create inflatable and malleable airfoil shapes.
However a recently retired SAS veteran told The Sunday Times that he was sceptical of the mono-wing.
"High altitude, high opening (Haho) jumps may keep the plane out of harm's way but they are very difficult for the jumper," he told the newspaper.
"His parachute opens almost immediately and he has to control it for a very long time. He is buffeted by winds, he's very cold, he's breathing oxygen and he has to navigate and communicate with the rest of his team.
"I can't think of an operational Haho we've done, and I don't even think we've done an operational Halo (high altitude, low opening) since Oman in 1970."
The Sunday Times reported that the Ministry of Defence refused to comment directly on the mono-wing but hinted that it had expressed an interest:
"We continually look to improve the capability of our armed forces and in doing so we keep a close eye on technological developments all over the world," an MoD spokesperson said.
By Martin Croucher
Epoch Times London Staff Jun 01, 2006
According to the developers, German firm ESG, these "Batman" wings can enable paratroopers to glide up to 25 miles (40km) after being dropped from a height of over 30,000 ft (9.1km). (Image courtesy ESG)Military scientists are putting the finishing touches to a Batman-style set of 'wings' that could enable troops to glide undetected into enemy territory.
According to a statement by the developers of the new technology, German firm ESG, the wings can enable paratroopers to glide up to 25 miles after being dropped from a height of over 30,000 ft.
"Parachutists can penetrate into areas that are difficult to reach without their transport planes having to fly into a danger zone," a spokesperson for ESG explained.
This will be augmented when new technology is developed to attach small turbo rockets to the wings, which would mean that soldiers would not need to be dropped from such a height in order to achieve the desired range.
"Tracing this almost 100% silent parachute system using air or ground-based radar systems is extremely difficult," the statement read. ESG argue that the new 'mono-wing' will operate largely unaffected by wind conditions.
Being guided by a tracking system and technology for stabilising body weight, the specialist parachute will prevent individuals from being blown off course to a certain extent.
The wings were unveiled last week, and being currently tested, are expected to be in use by German special forces by next year.
The new technology is said to be a development of 'ram-air' parachutes already in use by German military since 2003, as well as the SAS. Ramair parachutes trap air between two fabric surfaces to create inflatable and malleable airfoil shapes.
However a recently retired SAS veteran told The Sunday Times that he was sceptical of the mono-wing.
"High altitude, high opening (Haho) jumps may keep the plane out of harm's way but they are very difficult for the jumper," he told the newspaper.
"His parachute opens almost immediately and he has to control it for a very long time. He is buffeted by winds, he's very cold, he's breathing oxygen and he has to navigate and communicate with the rest of his team.
"I can't think of an operational Haho we've done, and I don't even think we've done an operational Halo (high altitude, low opening) since Oman in 1970."
The Sunday Times reported that the Ministry of Defence refused to comment directly on the mono-wing but hinted that it had expressed an interest:
"We continually look to improve the capability of our armed forces and in doing so we keep a close eye on technological developments all over the world," an MoD spokesperson said.
