Just about everyone I know has watched that noisy, explosion-filled movie called 'Transformers', but probably none of them know that real-life transformers exist, and could well be on the way to fighting for freedom, justice, democracy and everything else in between.

Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defence contractor, is developing High-Speed Amphibians (HSAs) that reach 50 knots on water, 128 kmph on land, and 'transform' from land-to-sea mode or vice versa in five seconds. That's probably a tad slower than any autobot or decepticon in the movie, but in case you've been overwhelmed by the fantastic CGI in the Michael Bay movie, Optimus Prime and friends are fictional. Well, for now at least.

When the call came from Lockheed Martin's press relations team, I thought "Oh? amphibious vehicles? you mean big, clumsy hovercraft?"

I didn't say the last bit out loud, but it was pretty much what I expected until I saw the 'movie'

No, not 'Transformers', but the demo movies for the Humdinga and Quadski amphibious vehicles, which UK-based Gibbs Technologies has spent ten years developing for the commercial market.

And as you can see for yourself, these things are no half-baked sampans.

Recognising the military potential of this new technology, Lockheed Martin has partnered Gibbs to build three military variants codenamed the Riverine, Expeditionary, and Terraquad.

Lockheed Martin's Scott Rudder

Speaking to AsiaOne Motoring, Mr Scott Rudder, Senior Manager for 'New Market Initiatives' at Lockheed Martin at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference 2007, which was held here from 15 to 18 May, said: "A vehicle that can go very fast on land, and very fast on water, has not existed till now.

"If you're doing riverine operations or border patrol on water, and the bad guy is on land, typically if you're on a boat, you can't do much about it. Now you can."

HIGH PRICE FOR HIGH SPEED

According to Gibbs Technologies, the system that propels all the HSAs over water function in the same way, large quantities of water enter a jet intake located beneath the vehicle which are accelerated at high velocity, and then forced out the back from a nozzle which can be directed via the steering column, changing the direction of travel.

The exact mechanics of which, I will not even attempt to fathom, because it took the company somewhere in the range of US$100 million to develop and refine.

Apart from sheer speed, the other great thing about these adaptable craft is that they are modular, which makes them customisable, much like lego bricks - you add on what you need and take away things you don't, depending on the mission profile.

Whether it's a heavy duty assault mission or a MedEvac (medical evacuation) scenario, the same hull & chassis can take on an assortment of armaments, from machine guns to missile launchers, from sensors to command & control equipment.

Typically, these HSAs could be used for coastal and river patrol, anti-piracy operation, and the rapid sea to land deployment of troops.

Typically, because even though the HSAs have been extensively tested by the military and demonstrated their prowess, none of them has seen actual combat yet, i.e. real bullets flying overhead, shells exploding nearby.

COMING SOON TO AN ARMY CAMP NEAR YOU?

While there have not been any confirmed orders for the military-ready HSAs as yet, considerable interest has been shown by the armed forces of the US, New Zealand, India, and Singapore.

One satisfied customer though, is Sir Richard Branson, whose commercially-available Aquada (soon to be available in the USA for an estimated US$100,000) smashed the record for fastest crossing of the English Channel by an amphibious craft by more than four hours.

"It is a great beast. It drives fantastically well on land and then it turns into the most remarkable boat on water," said the man behind the Virgin empire.

Branson was so fired up by the performance of the Aquada that he offered select passengers on Virgin Airlines the opportunity to use the amphibious craft on the Thames to cut up to 30 minutes off the airport to city commute.

Taking a page out of the flamboyant entrepreneur's book, those of us who experience the daily frustrations of rush hour traffic in the Central Business District might be tempted to try to use the Singapore River to bypass the gridlock, and ERP too! Perhaps even get free parking alongside the bumboats?

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TECHNICAL SPECS

Amphibious Combat Craft - Riverine (ACC/R)

Length: 10.8 meters
Width: 2.6 meters
Occupancy: 4 - 20
Gross weight: 8,743kg
Top speed: 35+ knots (on water), 105km/hr (on land)

The amphibious version of the 5-tonner common to NSmen here has 6 wheels, and is capable of most transport mission scenarios, with the ability to rapidly deploy from ship to sea to land being one of its specialties.

Amphibious Combat Craft - Expeditionary (ACC/E)

Length: 6.1 meters
Width: 2.4 meters
Occupancy: 4 - 8
Gross weight: 3,991kg
Top speed: 40 knots (on water), 128km/hr (on land)

Based on the 350bhp Humdinga, the Expeditionary looks like an angry Humvee (or oversized 'Land Rover', in local NS-speak), with more angular surfaces that help it cut through the water at 40 knots (about 74km/hr in terms of land speed). The height at which it sits above the ground can even be adjusted to suit the terrain it traverses, and on flat ground, this 4 wheel drive will easily outrun any Humvee.

Terraquad

Length: 3.8 meters
Width: 2.2 meters
Occupancy: 2
Gross weight: 1,000kg
Top speed: 50 knots (on water), 80km/hr (on land)

This nifty little jetski on steroids is quickest model over water at 50 knots, and still does a respectable 80km/hr on land. It's suited for harbor and coastal patrol, and has loading racks on the fore and aft (that's front and back for all you land-lubbers) for increased weapons, cargo or medical evacuation capability.