California-based startup JetPack Aviation is selling two jetpack units for $400,000 each, to an “undisclosed military customer in South-East Asia,” according to New Atlas. The model dubbed JB-12 packs three small jet turbines on either side, making room for redundancy if something goes wrong.
The jetpack weighs 105 pounds and can accelerate its wearer to 120 mph. This suggests that jetpack technologies are growing to the point at which military contractors are showing interest. Even the US Department of Defense is looking to show interest in jetpacks for potential military applications, as per an announcement made in March.
Odd choice for military application
“The ratification of this deal demonstrates that the JB12 JetPack provides defense forces with exceptional aerial capabilities to fulfill a wide array of mission requirements,” CEO and chief pilot David Mayman told New Atlas. “The maneuverability of the JetPack, its small form factor, which fits inside a set of standard Pelican cases, and ease of integration with our Speeder platform to complement the JB12’s capabilities, were all factors that informed the sale.”
The JB12 jetpacks aren’t perfect. They’re extremely loud due to the six jet turbines, and require some leg work to get airborne, according to New Atlas. That makes them a rather unusual choice for military applications.
The unnamed customer is likely looking to have individual units that are very light on their feet and enable them to traverse extremely tough terrain. But, it’s unlikely we hear more about the sale – since the buyer wants to stay anonymous.
High-tech robots for the military
Speaking of advanced engineering for military purposes, a bipedal robot funded by the US military has been developed by students at Oregon State University. The robot uses machine learning to teach itself how to finish a 5K racecourse. The robot named Cassie ran 5 km of gravel, sidewalk, and fields to finish a course on a single charge in 53 minutes.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency funded $1 million for the research. While bots like Cassie will come in handy for mundane tasks such as package delivery, DARPA’s aim is to fund the technology for military use, which means it’ll also be used for security purposes.
