It has been claimed that the Ministry of Defence has revealed new technology which, when applied to tanks, effectively renders them invisible. It is alleged that under-cover trials were carried out in the last few days, in which, according to the British Army, a vehicle was made to disappear entirely from view. The Army added that the in-service debut of an invisible tank could only be five years away.

The technology is understood to employ the use of cameras and projectors, which transmit images of the surrounding terrain onto the tank itself. Consequently, those surveying the space where the tank is present will be able to view only the backdrop.

Comments have been provided by a soldier who participated in the trials. Describing the technology as “incredible”, he added: “If I hadn't been present I wouldn't have believed it”

“I looked across the fields and just saw grass and trees - but in reality I was staring down the barrel of a tank gun."

MoD Keeping Invisibility Technology Under Wraps

Data on the exact specifications of the technology remains classified, but it is thought that the Ministry of Defence is simultaneously exploring its use on clothing.

Theories of invisibility and associated powers are reminiscent of the likes of James Bond, but the technology is real, as far as Armed Forces International has been able to establish.

Its creator is Imperial College London’s Professor Sir John Pendry, who, describing the principles behind it, said the only snag was the operability of the cameras/ projectors used. "The next stage...”, he added,  “..is to make the tank invisible without them - which is intricate and complicated, but possible."

The Ministry of Defence is quoted as having said: “We’ve already had some success in making vehicles invisible and it’s still early days.”

Source – Armed Forces International’s Assistant Editor

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