DARPA was commissioned to develop a new stealth motorcycle for the military in 2014. The goal: a motorcycle with no engine noise that allows the rider to sneak up on the enemy, that has a longer range that motorcycles powered by fuel, and more versatile than an electric bike.“The DARPA program calls for a lightweight, rugged, single-track vehicle that can operate near-silently for extended periods while transporting small numbers of troops over hostile terrain,” Alta Motors, one of the companies contracted to develop a prototype wrote.This prototype is designed to be the first of its kind to combine electric, two-wheel drive operation with a low-noise diesel/JP8 power generation system, LSA Autonomy, the other company contracted to design a second prototype, reported in 2014.Finally, that goal has been achieved. The two prototypes were showcased at National Defense Industrial Association’s Special Operations Forces Industry Conference, Defenseone reported this week, adding that the two prototypes could be cousins.
