The system would then detect movement or vital signs. That way, medics would not be killed trying to reach soldiers who are already dead. The US military has successfully tested BAT, a metre long projectile that roams the battlefield looking for tank to destroy. Each BAT is equipped with acoustic sensors and an infrared device to detect moving tanks. Once it identifies its quarry, BAT flies into the top of the armoured vehicle, traditionally the weakest part of a tank.
BAT is scheduled to be in use in three years.
Besides technical superiority, the weapons provide the US military with the potential to cut down on casualties. After the relatively bloodless war in the Persian Gulf, many military planners believe the US public won't accept heavy casualties in any conflict. Unmanned aircraft and robot vehicles fit the bill nicely. But not everyone is convinced of the need to continue the massive technological development. Defence analysts Carl Conetta and Charles Knight note that there is no country that even comes close to the United States' size, stability, economic power and military prowess.