The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched a £41million programme to develop a flying armoured vehicle that can carry four servicemen or women.
For front-line troops in Afghanistan, the revolutionary flying vehicle could soon be a reality with a prototype of the Transformer promised as early as 2015.
Military chiefs believe the army truck, complete with rotor blades and wings, could transform the fortunes of soldiers fighting the Taliban.
The American-made vehicle can transform into a helicopter at the touch of a button, allowing it to fly above hazards such as roadside bombs.
This has its obvious advantages. It would allow troops to manoeuvre past lethal roadside bombs, improve resupply operations to remote patrol bases and insert elite Special Forces into Taliban strongholds.
The vehicle features automatic controls so it could be driven by non-pilots, which increases its flexibility.
The armoured Transformer would be able to travel 280 miles by land or in the air. It could take-off and land vertically - like the Royal Navy's Harrier jump jets - to increase access to rugged terrain.
DARPA spokesman said: “We are seeking to combine the advantages of ground vehicles and helicopters into a single vehicle equipped with flexibility of movement.
“The concept is to provide options to avoid traditional and asymmetrical threats while avoiding road obstructions.
“With this type technology, transportation will no longer be restricted to trafficable terrain that tends to make movement predictable.”
For more top news stories, please read our articles US Army Unveil Futuristic XM25 Rifles, RIM develops Blackberry Empathy concept phone and Facebook and Twitter designs for Adidas Superstar shoe
For front-line troops in Afghanistan, the revolutionary flying vehicle could soon be a reality with a prototype of the Transformer promised as early as 2015.
Military chiefs believe the army truck, complete with rotor blades and wings, could transform the fortunes of soldiers fighting the Taliban.
The American-made vehicle can transform into a helicopter at the touch of a button, allowing it to fly above hazards such as roadside bombs.
This has its obvious advantages. It would allow troops to manoeuvre past lethal roadside bombs, improve resupply operations to remote patrol bases and insert elite Special Forces into Taliban strongholds.
The vehicle features automatic controls so it could be driven by non-pilots, which increases its flexibility.
The armoured Transformer would be able to travel 280 miles by land or in the air. It could take-off and land vertically - like the Royal Navy's Harrier jump jets - to increase access to rugged terrain.
DARPA spokesman said: “We are seeking to combine the advantages of ground vehicles and helicopters into a single vehicle equipped with flexibility of movement.
“The concept is to provide options to avoid traditional and asymmetrical threats while avoiding road obstructions.
“With this type technology, transportation will no longer be restricted to trafficable terrain that tends to make movement predictable.”
For more top news stories, please read our articles US Army Unveil Futuristic XM25 Rifles, RIM develops Blackberry Empathy concept phone and Facebook and Twitter designs for Adidas Superstar shoe
