The powersuits that the military is currently working on is probably what we'll see in the near future. What supports infantry best? Right now HUMVEEs, then APCs, then tanks on the ground; in the air its transport helicopters and attack helicopters.
So could you see a close-in support role for infantry that has the fire power of say a Cobra, but the mobiliy of a HUMVEE?
Being able to side-step is probably the most notable movement advantage a walker has.
Having 'hands' to grip, tear, or minimulate objects can be useful, especially for combat engineers (i.e. travel to an area to pull trees from its roots to help make an airfield while underfire).
I can't see Mechs carry more than say 2 or 3 people...so they won't be troop carriers like APCs or Ospreys.
MGS4 seems like a good role for them, infantry support in urban areas.
Being able to switch weapons quickly might be useful (pickup a railrun or a laser gun in its hands instead of having to be retrofitted turret of a tank).
Hover tanks would be kewl because they solve the problem with the 'side-step' that current tracked tanks have...but what about armor protection?
Perhaps armor protection in the future will be like armor in the middle ages? You got to a point that the weapons (in the 1700s with muskets), do so much damage it no longer matters what kind of armor you have because if you get hit by anything the enemy has you're dead. Only recently are our troops actually wearing body armor, for example.
A supressive role...perhaps is its best role.
I still think powersuits will be more useful in the long term.
So could you see a close-in support role for infantry that has the fire power of say a Cobra, but the mobiliy of a HUMVEE?
Being able to side-step is probably the most notable movement advantage a walker has.
Having 'hands' to grip, tear, or minimulate objects can be useful, especially for combat engineers (i.e. travel to an area to pull trees from its roots to help make an airfield while underfire).
I can't see Mechs carry more than say 2 or 3 people...so they won't be troop carriers like APCs or Ospreys.
MGS4 seems like a good role for them, infantry support in urban areas.
Being able to switch weapons quickly might be useful (pickup a railrun or a laser gun in its hands instead of having to be retrofitted turret of a tank).
Hover tanks would be kewl because they solve the problem with the 'side-step' that current tracked tanks have...but what about armor protection?
Perhaps armor protection in the future will be like armor in the middle ages? You got to a point that the weapons (in the 1700s with muskets), do so much damage it no longer matters what kind of armor you have because if you get hit by anything the enemy has you're dead. Only recently are our troops actually wearing body armor, for example.
A supressive role...perhaps is its best role.
I still think powersuits will be more useful in the long term.