Robot Tanks Getting Bigger, With More Firepower

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Warfare is starting to get more high-tech, as the world's biggest militaries are starting to field remote-controlled light and heavy tanks, to add to the growing arsenal of remote-controlled flying drones.

The US military is currently developing packs of semi-autonomous robot tanks that will be armed to the brim with chainguns, missiles, and other fearsome weaponry.

As they make their way to future battlefields, these robotic combat vehicles, or RCVs, will be used to lead the charge in both conventional and electronic warfare in the years to come.

The US is currently building robotic light, medium, and heavy combat vehicles. Respectively, these are lightweight scouting vehicles, heavily armed mini tanks, and powerful artillery vehicles.

For now, the Army wants to make sure that it's a human pulling the trigger on the weapons, so each vehicle will have one human remotely steering and another remotely operating its weapons.

The tanks will still be partially autonomous, but humans will take over once they reach the front lines, and when they need to steer them through enemy fire.

In addition to direct combat, the Army wants the RCVs to take down swarms of drones. This might take the form of anti-drone lasers, or electronic jamming that renders drones useless.