Segway FGR1
 

The Sunday Telegraph

BAE Systems, Britain's biggest defence supplier, is to lead a campaign to sell the revolutionary Segway single-person transporter to the Ministry of Defence and other Government departments.

The futuristic machine - a kind of electrically powered scooter that uses missile-guidance technology to maintain the rider's balance - will be launched in Britain this week and the target market is the armed forces, BAE executives told The Telegraph.

The defence company will sign an agreement with Segway, the American inventors, to market the transporter for military uses in Britain.

Executives will demonstrate the transporter to Army, Navy and Air Force officials and other VIPs at the Farnborough International Air show, which starts tomorrow. Segway hopes that contracts with Government departments will help sell the transporter to the general public...............


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/grap.../nscoot21.jpeg

Let's see now. Gotta do this properly. RAF version should cost at least 500K. Need FLIR at least for night ops.

Then there's trials and acceptance and release to service. Got to get Q and BD in on it. Then we'll need an OCU and an OEU. Should manage to get it into service as early as 2010..... :D

I want one.

Can it be fitted with a GPMG pannier?

How much does it cost>?

Tony:D

Let me see - how many advantages could we get from that?

Stick a gun on it and you've got a tank (well in new labour speak at least) - I bet you lots of money we'll get loads of press releases like "new labour increase "tanks" by 560000 in the Army since 1997"

Give it a propellor and a gun we have a boat - again think of the press releases.

Finally the disabled lobby will say that if we're think personal vehicles with two wheels are good, wait till you get motorised wheelchairs in the forces - now we're talking. We could form a whole new cavalry regiment - "The Queens own partially abled hussars", (anyone else remember Timmy from South Park? :) )

(apologies to any wheelchair users here, its been a long day!)

This isn't April 1st, is it?:confused:

Thank god One Fat American Lass with her Super Maxed Whopper Burger weighs no more than 1 Squaddie + Bergen + SA80; so no need for beefed up version for the Military. :D

God Bless America (& BAe Systems)

Looks about as strong as a G222 nosewheel!:D :D :D

Its probably the idea of some senior stacker, who will sell the idea to the MOD that it will save money on the shoe budget and allow females to get around the parade square without injuring themselves, thereby reducing the risk of claims against the MOD. He'll probably get promoted and a Knighthood out of it.:p :D

At least we now know why BEagle can't get any flying boots. :D

Just hope the damm things don't jam like the SA80s.:D

...provided you clean them PROPERLY they don't jam :p

I take it the latest weapon in the war against terror is to kill em laughing at out advancing troops...?

Seems they do 12mph for max 17 miles then need charging overnight (at your convenient tactical plug socket). I notice there's no mention of noise either - wouldn't want the machine to give away the King's Own Fusiliers as they creep on the enemy to launch a Valkyrian attack on an unsuspecting enemy !

This contract is but one of many that the inventors hope to sign in their bid to conquer the world:

http://www.time.com/time/business/ar...186660,00.html

I can just see the Sparras now, practising their new tricks on the parade square on a black flag day.....

Fantastic - something I can use to race the GoPed at happy hours! I'll even take it to war - as long as it can tow a Samsonite :D

Segway
 

I think this is going to be a valuable tool in the fight against global terrorism...as long as the terrorists you are chasing don't run up stairs.