Making a Splash
 U.S. Special Forces Hydro-Shock Trooper prepares for battle |
Consider the principle of taking a non-lethal water weapon and "turning it up a bit" to adapt it into a design capable of delivering enough punch to make it combat-worthy. This was the starting point for the U.S. military's initial deliberations in the design of what it's now calling hydro-ordnance. The scope of the design was eventually expanded to include mortar rounds, anti-tank weaponry and aerial smart munitions. The ultimate goal is an inexpensive, environmentally-benign ammunition that has the same lethality and effectiveness as traditional munitions in use today. With the latest and most advanced hydro-ordnance to date, U.S. military researchers believe they have reached that goal, and will be able to deploy it across the entire military infrastructure.
Dr. Blanchard suggests:
In order for this initiative to effectively reduce the cost of military spending on ammunition, we had to redefine the idea of "the round" across the board. We would like to see water based munitions replace traditional ore- and alloy-based munitions in the next 15 to 20 years. The pace of this replacement will be gradual and consistent with our commitment to national security. If our projections are correct, based on some of the design options we've been presented with, the successful development of a water round could reduce spending by up to 80 percent.
 Ordnance specialists move ammo onto the battlefield during training exercises. |
As development was underway, a second advantage of water presented itself. Although unknown to most, high-pressure water is often used as a cutting tool in place of high-temperature plasma torches. "Once we realized the cutting potential," said Blanchard, "it opened up a completely new way of thinking."
Let's look at how military thinkers plan to put hydro-ordnance in the hands of every U.S. serviceman by the year 2020.
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