"Hoverboards for Combat?" Topic

Last month, Franky Zapata stunned the world by revealing his jet powered 'hoverboard' that could travel at 90mph (150km/h).

Now, his firm has been sold to Implant Science, a Department of Homeland Security supplier…

link

So, what is the percentage of World Champion class acrobats in the US Army? I'd also question the ability of something like this to lift both the soldier and the extra 70-100 pounds of personal equipment that is needed on the battlefield. There is a reason that the major World Powers haven't converted all their infantry into Air Cavalry with helicopters, the logistical tail is huge.

As for Zapata, looks like he is looking ahead by selling his company while he has the public eye, I suspect he has found the end of the road for development is just around the corner.

I've always wanted to conduct an amphibious invasion with surfboards.

Saw that on the news today … the only real problem I see at a tactical POV, is you make a good target flying/hovering above cover …

With only 10 minutes of flight time, it is nothing but a novelty.

Yep, that's exactly what they said about those new fangled flying air machines back in the day.

Hoverboard jousting, coming to a neighborhood near you.

My guess is they'll be able to figure a way to add a little chip to them, in order to keep the men from exceeding the safe flight parameters, before too long.

Treetop, or NOE flight should be a good option for protection from enemy fire.

Treetop, or NOE flight should be a good option for protection from enemy fire.

Yes contour or NOE is what choppers have used since Vietnam. But still you can get shot down. Regardless if it only has 10 min of air time, like the Rocket Pack of the '60s which had much less than that, IIRC … There really has not an acceptable function in military ops. That I can think of.

Anyone who has ridden a hoverboard knows how much balance you have to maintain to keep from toppling.

A soldier loaded with gear and gun, riding in combat conditions would fall right off. Boots clipped into place? -would just make the crash more spectacular.

Oh yeah ! And I never rode a hover board but it seems obvious to me !

Well, you can get shot trudging across the dirt on foot too.

I'd rather be a faster moving target, if given the choice.

Given the choice … I'd rather not get shot …

You cant duck or crouch on a hoverboard, and you certainly cant crawl.

If anyone hasnt ridden a hoverboard before, youtube what riding one looks like. You make a very big upright target.

Now, if it could replace the parachute, or be used to step off a helo with, I can see the possibilities.

An interesting thought …

But how about a hoverboard that could carry a soldier prone?
Of course though it's a matter of cost and utility, why not assault on ATVs then, or motorcycles, albeit small ones like minibikes? Personally I wouldn't want to cross an open area standing up even at a hundred miles an hour, there are these things called automatic weapons and facing that all you are is a target.

Even with only ten minutes worth of fuel, it has some great potential for deployment from helos and low flying aircraft.

If it could get a team to the top of a building for breaching/clearing.

Agree you are highly exposed, and will have to be used with surprise and suppression.

So who makes (or will be first to make) moderns and near future SEALs (or more generic operators) on a jet hoverboard?

If nothing else it is an amazing bit of technology … And as noted, if for military use you will have to make some tactical "adjustments", etc. … But as we know many militaries today have been cutback by limited defense spending. So it maybe hard enough to keep what you have combat ready/FMC. Let alone buy new expensive tech. But who knows ?

All in all it sounds like a 21st Century version of the mid 20th Century's wonder weapon of the future, the jet pack.

Yes, the Jet Pack was a one trick pony with less than a minute of air time or less, IIRC …

I see no reason why they couldn't be ridden while prone, like surfers do when paddling on their boards, and lightweight armor could be incorporated in them to provide protection from bullets and shrapnel as well.

I'd also question the ability of something like this to lift both the soldier and the extra 70-100 pounds of personal equipment that is needed on the battlefield.

Soldiers would be overjoyed to only have 100 lbs of personal gear to lug around.

The current weight for a US Army squad of 9 is 3500lbs (from the Ultralight Combat Vehicle competition). 390lbs per person. So try more like 200lbs of weapons, ammo, armor, and gear per troop, though this does include a significant amount of "extra" small arms ammo.