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British forces trained to fall behind enemy lines are testing stealth electric motorcycles for battlefield missions.
The virtually noiseless vehicles were tested in November at a secret location in rural France, where rugged dirt roads and hilly terrain became a substitute for desert and jungle combat areas.
The £ 4,495 electric off-road motorcycles known as Sur-Ron Fireflys were piloted by troops from the 16th Air Assault Brigade – the Army’s rapid reaction force recently deployed to evacuate British and personnel support from Afghanistan.
This is the latest attempt by army chiefs to find a modern day successor to the legendary Royal Enfield “Flying Flea” motorcycles that parachuted into action during World War II.
The £ 4,495 electric off-road motorcycles called Sur-Ron Fireflys were piloted by troops from the 16th Air Assault Brigade – the Army’s recently deployed rapid reaction force to evacuate the British and support personnel from Afghanistan.
Fireflies are light, weigh a little more than the 7th (45 kg) compared to the 43rd (272 kg) of a regular motorcycle, and have a top speed of 45 mph. They also leave behind a tiny “thermal signature”, making them much less likely to be detected by an enemy’s thermal sensors.
Powered by lithium batteries that can be removed and carried separately when crossing water, the bikes have a range of 60 miles and are fully charged in just over three hours.
Tests, which the motorcycles could be used in live action this year, will be overseen by Captain Dan Lauder, a former Royal Marine command who oversees the operations of the 16th Air Assault Brigade.
“The good thing about such a small vehicle is that you can put it in the back of a helicopter,” he said.
“You could have several in the back of an airplane and then possibly drop it under a parachute from behind. They’re not loud, they don’t create much heat signature and can be used in a way that a gasoline engine would just tell your location. ‘
Capt Lauder and colleagues believe that motorcycles could be ideal for reconnaissance missions and provide vital information through undiscovered areas of conflict.
The Department of Defense said last night, “Further testing will be needed before a decision to promote the procurement is made.”
Brigadier General Nick Cowley, Commander of 16 Air Assault, said, “Since we must be able to fight on battlefields where there will be periods of non-communication, we must have the maximum capacity to send messages across the battlefield, to make sure we can still maneuver.
But fireflies can be problematic under certain conditions. Lithium batteries can run out of charge in cold weather, and a range of 60 miles could lead bikers to search for charging points in a war zone.
Capt Lauder also noted that the vehicle’s range dropped to 25 miles when a combat-ready soldier with a rifle, supplies, and protective gear drove the vehicle hard.
Sur-Ron’s Fireflys are open to the public and have been linked in the past to accidents where pedestrians could not hear the approaching bicycles.
The Department of Defense said last night, “Further testing will be needed before a decision to promote the procurement is made.”
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