These high-tech animals are equipped almost as well as the soldiers they serve with.
As you may have heard, the Navy SEAL raid that took out Osama bin Laden included a four-legged soldier - aptly described as "the nation's most courageous dog" by the NY Times.
Such a revelation has sparked tremendous interest in the use of war dogs, while also shedding light on the technology these canines use to assist SEAL teams on missions. Dogs for this line of work (the military uses Labrador Retrievers, Belgian Malinois, and German Shepherds) require a significant investment (an estimated $50,000), so it's in the best interests of the owners to equip their canine comrades with the best in safety and high-tech surveillance.
Below is a short list of the most common tools used to turn man's best friend into a modern peacekeeping/assault soldier.
Training, Training, Training
According to ABC, military working dogs are enrolled in a 60-90 day training program where they learn how to detect explosives and drugs. Some can even sniff the enemy from up to 2 miles away. Dogs are also taught how to defend their handlers in the event of an attack.
Titanium Teeth
The most important thing to note on this topic is that the Navy SEAL's and other enforcement agencies are not just ripping out a dog's teeth for the sake of creating a terrifying looking war machine. There was a general misconception yesterday on the web that titanium teeth were preferable to the real thing - but as Wired points out, they're more of a backup solution when injury strikes.
War dogs, police dogs, etc. are all trained to bite - but many times, those bites can lead to broken teeth. Replacing injured teeth with titanium (at a cost between $600-$2,000/tooth) is one way to help a dog to continue its service.
Generally, the canines (the four longest and most noticeable teeth) are the most common injured teeth replaced so that the animal can again grip and tear through material (including body armor) without injuring itself. However, as one canine training specialist pointed out to Wired, titanium fangs are not as stable as a regular tooth and are "much more likely to come out during a biting."
In terms of visuals, however, many agree that the false fangs do enhance the "oh my God" fear factor.
Tactical Body Armor
Yes, even dogs get body armor - since nobody wants "Chomper" getting stabbed or shot in the line of duty. The adjustable, lightweight suits protect the vital organs and come in an array of models depending on the dog's line of duty (ie; the "Assault Vest" defeats a combination of ballistic and ice pick threats.) And oh yes, there's plenty of colors to choose from.
Last year, the Navy SEALs purchased four waterproof "Canine Tactical Assault Suits" from Canadian firm K9 Storm for a reported $86,000. According to CNN, the company makes $5 million a year selling custom armor for dogs in the "U.S. Army, Navy, Marines and Special Forces; police departments in 13 countries; and security firms worldwide."
Wireless Cameras and Radio Communications
In conjunction with the tactical armor, military dogs also commonly now carry infrared/night vision wireless cameras to relay visuals from as far as 1,000 yards away. Some sites have even reported that an "intruder communication system" is included - enabling the ability to see through concrete walls. According to the NY Times, speakers are also included in the tactical suit so that handlers can relay commands remotely as well.
There are currently some 600 military dogs serving in Iraq and Afghanistan - a number that's expected to increase substantially. “The capability they bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine,” Gen. David Petraeus, current U.S. commander in charge of Afghanistan said in 2008. “By all measures of performance, their yield outperforms any asset we have in our industry.”
Check out ABC News' special report on war dogs below.
With all this attention on the skills and tactics of the SEALS they are almost assured a new movie like the bunch we saw back in the 80's and early 90's.
I am just glad that Chuck Norris and Charlie Sheen are either too High or standing too far to the right to act in those roles today!
But what about "Call of Duty: Hunt For Osama."
Maybe when things die down a bit.....Then again this is America!
As you may have heard, the Navy SEAL raid that took out Osama bin Laden included a four-legged soldier - aptly described as "the nation's most courageous dog" by the NY Times.
Such a revelation has sparked tremendous interest in the use of war dogs, while also shedding light on the technology these canines use to assist SEAL teams on missions. Dogs for this line of work (the military uses Labrador Retrievers, Belgian Malinois, and German Shepherds) require a significant investment (an estimated $50,000), so it's in the best interests of the owners to equip their canine comrades with the best in safety and high-tech surveillance.
Below is a short list of the most common tools used to turn man's best friend into a modern peacekeeping/assault soldier.
Training, Training, Training
According to ABC, military working dogs are enrolled in a 60-90 day training program where they learn how to detect explosives and drugs. Some can even sniff the enemy from up to 2 miles away. Dogs are also taught how to defend their handlers in the event of an attack.
Titanium Teeth
The most important thing to note on this topic is that the Navy SEAL's and other enforcement agencies are not just ripping out a dog's teeth for the sake of creating a terrifying looking war machine. There was a general misconception yesterday on the web that titanium teeth were preferable to the real thing - but as Wired points out, they're more of a backup solution when injury strikes.
War dogs, police dogs, etc. are all trained to bite - but many times, those bites can lead to broken teeth. Replacing injured teeth with titanium (at a cost between $600-$2,000/tooth) is one way to help a dog to continue its service.
Generally, the canines (the four longest and most noticeable teeth) are the most common injured teeth replaced so that the animal can again grip and tear through material (including body armor) without injuring itself. However, as one canine training specialist pointed out to Wired, titanium fangs are not as stable as a regular tooth and are "much more likely to come out during a biting."
In terms of visuals, however, many agree that the false fangs do enhance the "oh my God" fear factor.
Tactical Body Armor
Yes, even dogs get body armor - since nobody wants "Chomper" getting stabbed or shot in the line of duty. The adjustable, lightweight suits protect the vital organs and come in an array of models depending on the dog's line of duty (ie; the "Assault Vest" defeats a combination of ballistic and ice pick threats.) And oh yes, there's plenty of colors to choose from.
Last year, the Navy SEALs purchased four waterproof "Canine Tactical Assault Suits" from Canadian firm K9 Storm for a reported $86,000. According to CNN, the company makes $5 million a year selling custom armor for dogs in the "U.S. Army, Navy, Marines and Special Forces; police departments in 13 countries; and security firms worldwide."
Wireless Cameras and Radio Communications
In conjunction with the tactical armor, military dogs also commonly now carry infrared/night vision wireless cameras to relay visuals from as far as 1,000 yards away. Some sites have even reported that an "intruder communication system" is included - enabling the ability to see through concrete walls. According to the NY Times, speakers are also included in the tactical suit so that handlers can relay commands remotely as well.
There are currently some 600 military dogs serving in Iraq and Afghanistan - a number that's expected to increase substantially. “The capability they bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine,” Gen. David Petraeus, current U.S. commander in charge of Afghanistan said in 2008. “By all measures of performance, their yield outperforms any asset we have in our industry.”
Check out ABC News' special report on war dogs below.
No comments:
Post a Comment