The advent of smart bombs, drones and other high-tech gadgetry has made it very unlikely that the future military conflicts will require the need for hostile beach landings, but that doesn’t mean there will never be a need to get troops, vehicles and supplies to remote places with limited access.
With this scenario in mind, the U.S. Marines are currently testing the prototype version of a new landing vehicle called the Ultra Heavy-Lift Amphibious Connector, or UHAC. Developed as an eventual replacement for the Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) hovercrafts that date back to the 1980s, this UHAC prototype recently showed off some of its skills during the Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2014, a multinational maritime exercise taking place in Oahu, HI.
Looking like a hybrid between a centipede and a tank, the UHAC can drive on water or land using treads made up of air and foam filled paddles giving it more versatility and maneuverability than the aging LCAC, including the ability to drive over 10-foot-high sea walls. According to Business Insider, the UHAC has a payload of up to 190 tons, which is about three times more than what the LCAC can carry. That means it can carry up to three tanks in its cargo area, and it can do so for a distance of 200 nautical miles.
This increased ability and payload comes at a price as the UHAC’s top speed is only 20 knots (23 mph) – half of what the LCAC can do. Despite the fact that the UHAC is a mammoth coming in at 42 feet long, 26 feet wide and 17 feet high, this particular prototype is actually just a half-scale version of what the production model would be. She may not look pretty, but she'll definitely get the job done.
If you want to see how some of your tax dollars are being spent, be sure to check out the video taken by Navy Recognition showing the UHAC in action.
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