US military is developing SILENT motorcycles: Stealthy electric bikes will let fighters sneak up on

[Lord ZeN]

• Silent Hawk is a hybrid engine bike for use in reconnaissance missions

• For normal operations, the bike would use diesel, gasoline or jet fuel

• Close to enemy lines, the bike would run almost silently on electricity

• Logos Technologies says it Silent Hawk could travel over difficult terrain on its hybrid engine over a sustained period at 55 miles per hour (88km/h)

• Testing the first operational prototype is expected in 18 months when more specifications will be revealed

Silent Hawk is a hybrid engine bike for use in reconnaissance missions. The idea is that for normal operations, the bike would use diesel, gasoline or jet fuel. But when it gets closer to the enemy, it would run almost silently on electricity


An elite group of special forces silently race across enemy lines on stealth motorcycles that fighters would
never suspect were coming.

That's the scenario the US military is hoping for with its development of the 'Silent Hawk' – a hybrid engine dirt bike for use in reconnaissance missions.

The idea is that for normal operations, the bike would use diesel, gasoline or jet fuel. But when it gets closer to the enemy, it would run almost silently on electricity.

According to its makers, Virginia-based Logos Technologies, the bike's louder mode would be slightly louder than the average vacuum cleaner, reaching up to 75 decibels.

The company also says it Silent Hawk could travel over difficult terrain on its hybrid engine over a sustained period at 55 miles per hour (88km/h).

Silent Hawk is based on Alta Motors' electric racing bike, the RedShift MX (pictured). It uses Alta's chassis, while the hybrid engine is being developed by Logos


The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) began the motorcycle project last year, and has now granted its makers an award to develop it further.

Logos says it now plan 'to proceed with an aggressive Phase II program plan, with the goal of developing and testing the first operational prototype in only 18 months.'

Silent Hawk is based on Alta Motors' electric racing bike, the RedShift MX. It uses Alta's chassis, while the hybrid engine is being developed by Logos.

The U.S. Special Operations Command previously tried to use an all-electric Zero MMX bike for the same purpose, but the battery only lasted two hours.

It's not just commandos will soon be receiving steal motorbikes. In August, it was announced that police forces could use the bikes to approach criminals undetected.

The bike, designed by Zero Motorcycles in northern California, has a top speed of up to 98 mph (158 km/h), allowing police to chase criminals down if the stealth approach fails.

 

[Itachi]

@Lord Aizen Nice post but this is a stupid project because drones will be able to pick up this baby miles before it even has a chance to come near the enemy lines, let alone base. In times of war, there are going to be mines laid and drones flying ahead with several cameras. Today, there are drones that can see this bike even before this bike sees the drone. If not drones than thermal cameras(did I say that right?) will be able to pick these bikes up easily.

 

[Itachi]

@Lord Zen , why change your name??? I liked that name.

Did your Zanpakuto got broken or something?

If so, just visit the Soul King's Palace and get it fixed.

 

[Lord ZeN]

@Lord Aizen Nice post but this is a stupid project because drones will be able to pick up this baby miles before it even has a chance to come near the enemy lines, let alone base. In times of war, there are going to be mines laid and drones flying ahead with several cameras. Today, there are drones that can see this bike even before this bike sees the drone. If not drones than thermal cameras(did I say that right?) will be able to pick these bikes up easily.

One thing i like about the American military research is that they do research & development in every field which may or may be useful to US military. Many different fields in Engineering like Operation research ,Finite Element method & brilliant technologies like Internet were solely developed for American military needs. American military research single handily brought advancement in automobile , nuclear , aviation , electronics & semiconductor sectors.
This bike can be surely piked up by drones & thermal cameras if US is in a confrontation with any advanced military.
But we all know that American military requirement are manifold.& they operate against armed militants , terrorists controlling huge tracts of land & rag- tag armed forces. In these cases this bike might come in handy ( but we cannot be sure about it). The U.S. Special Operations Command tried to use similar type of bike which was not effective. They believe this would be an improvement to it or least be used for Policing or export purpose.

@Itachi I think Lord Zen is way cooler name mate.

 

[Penguin]

@Lord Aizen Nice post but this is a stupid project because drones will be able to pick up this baby miles before it even has a chance to come near the enemy lines, let alone base. In times of war, there are going to be mines laid and drones flying ahead with several cameras. Today, there are drones that can see this bike even before this bike sees the drone. If not drones than thermal cameras(did I say that right?) will be able to pick these bikes up easily.

Well, ...
... not always, not everywhere.
... mines exist today (and have existed a long long time) and that doesn't preclude the use of vehicles.

 

[gambit]

I love it every time anyone say any US military related research project is stupid. I wish more and more people would believe it. Fortunately for US, there are always enough such people in high places of foreign governments who advises their leaders on how stupid Americans are.

 

[DrSomnath999]

i wanna buy this bike for myselfs

whats it's price man!!

CHEERS

 

[root]

I love it every time anyone say any US military related research project is stupid. I wish more and more people would believe it. Fortunately for US, there are always enough such people in high places of foreign governments who advises their leaders on how stupid Americans are.

No one on earth can beat US military and weapons superiority.I watch future weapons discovery channel program and i am amazed with by the advanced weapons technology that US has.

 

[Itachi]

Well, ...
... not always, not everywhere.
... mines exist today (and have existed a long long time) and that doesn't preclude the use of vehicles.

Okay, let's forget about mines for a second or IED's, both of which are heavily used in Afghanistan, where another fourm member said this vehicle would be most probably deployed. What about cameras or drones? What about human surveillance?

Any soldier with a good enough binocular, along with night vision/heat vision thingy (don't know the proper name) would be able to spot this kilometers away. I support this development but I don't see enough pros to support its implementation. If you do, please elaborate.

 

[Penguin]

Okay, let's forget about mines for a second or IED's, both of which are heavily used in Afghanistan, where another fourm member said this vehicle would be most probably deployed. What about cameras or drones? What about human surveillance?

Any soldier with a good enough binocular, along with night vision/heat vision thingy (don't know the proper name) would be able to spot this kilometers away. I support this development but I don't see enough pros to support its implementation. If you do, please elaborate.

What about it. Why exclude usefull equipment just because there may be some countermeasures available? See the history of tanks, manned aircraft etc.

 

[Itachi]

What about it. Why exclude usefull equipment just because there may be some countermeasures available? See the history of tanks, manned aircraft etc.

Please fully counter my response. As for this vehicle, is there even a history of armies sending in people on motorcycles and deactivating nuclear power plants or whatever this vehicle will be used for?

From the picture, it looks more of a economic vehicle than a military vehicle. How will the rider defend him/herself?? With a handgun? I don't see that you can attach a sidecar or a machine gun to it, that would take out the stealth and the speed factor out of it greatly. If there is a history of these vehicles, please post them.

 

[chhota bheem]

common guys US has something in mind thats why they are looking for it,if nothing else,it can be used for a long ride.

 

[Itachi]

common guys US has something in mind thats why they are looking for it,if nothing else,it can be used for a long ride.

lol I know that there is something else to this story but can't really nab it, so if anyone else has something meaningful to add, please do so. What are your opinion on this chhota bheem?

 

[Oldman1]

Please fully counter my response. As for this vehicle, is there even a history of armies sending in people on motorcycles and deactivating nuclear power plants or whatever this vehicle will be used for?

From the picture, it looks more of a economic vehicle than a military vehicle. How will the rider defend him/herself?? With a handgun? I don't see that you can attach a sidecar or a machine gun to it, that would take out the stealth and the speed factor out of it greatly. If there is a history of these vehicles, please post them.

Why do you think for example the Taliban ride bikes? Easy to travel and covers through most terrain. Would the enemy know who is riding the bike unless they caught them in the act prior to riding a bike? A tank is easily identified and destroyed from the air. Many people ride bikes.

 

[Penguin]

Please fully counter my response. As for this vehicle, is there even a history of armies sending in people on motorcycles and deactivating nuclear power plants or whatever this vehicle will be used for?

From the picture, it looks more of a economic vehicle than a military vehicle. How will the rider defend him/herself?? With a handgun? I don't see that you can attach a sidecar or a machine gun to it, that would take out the stealth and the speed factor out of it greatly. If there is a history of these vehicles, please post them.

Despite deploying tens of thousands of them in the two world wars, the motorcycle would never again see widespread use in the military after 1945. Advances in communication technology made the use of motorcycles to relay messages obsolete, and the types of terrains our armed forces have fought in since WWII, along with the risk involved to the individual soldier, has resulted in them having very reduced role.
Motorcycles did see limited action in Vietnam, used by Army Cavalry and Marine Recon units to scout territory and lead convoys, and had a similar role in Desert Storm
...
But while the two-wheeled war machine will never again see five-digit production numbers, there has been a resurgence of the motorcycles use in military operations during the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns. The US military has recently been contracting some remarkable military motorcycles for use in special operations, such as the near-silent, blacked out electric Zero MMX, the innovative all-wheel drive Christini AWD 450, along with the trusted Hayes M1030, that gets 100mpg on diesel and runs on six other types of fuel. (Check out our full feature on Special Forces Motorcycles! > Special Forces Motorcycles - BikeBandit.com)

MARSOC Marines using dirtbikes to pursue Taliban in Afghanistan, 2012

History of Military Motorcycles - BikeBandit.com

the MMX was purpose built to military specs, including a specialized dash with toggle switches for all controls, keyless start, modular, removable power packs, total blackout mode, and can operate submerged in up to a meter of water. Besides being silent, the electric motor delivers almost 100% of its torque on demand – 68 ft/lbs to be exact, along with 54 hp – and uses regenerative braking and rolloff to recover power

Special Forces Motorcycles - BikeBandit.com

It was really a case of fighting fire with fire. Taliban have been riding mopeds and motorcycles to attack U.S. forces since the beginning of the war in 2001, said Golembesky. "They know the most practical, low stress, low impact way to get around the battlefield and maneuver."

Marine dirt bike 'gangs' of Afghanistan - CNN.com

Advantage of electric over a regular motorbike:
silent
(very) low thermal signature
> better suited for low visibility / nighttime ops (esp when operator is using NVG)

US Rangers have been doing the same much longer than Marsoc.

.... WHO SAYS YOU HAVE TO FIGHT WHILE RIDING THE BIKE?