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Titanium fangs? The technology behind Navy SEAL dogs
These high-tech animals are almost as well-equipped as the soldiers they serve with.
Fri, May 06 2011 at 12:06 PM
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Photo courtesy of K9 Storm
As you may have heard, the Navy SEAL raid that took out Osama bin Laden included a four-legged soldier — aptly described as "the nation's most courageous dog" by the NY Times.
Such a revelation has sparked tremendous interest in the use of war dogs, while also shedding light on the technology these canines use to assist SEAL teams on missions. Dogs for this line of work (the military uses Labrador retrievers, Belgian malinois, and German shepherds) require a significant investment (an estimated $50,000), so it's in the best interest of the owners to equip their canine comrades with the best in safety and high-tech surveillance.
Below is a short list of the most common tools used to turn man's best friend into a modern peacekeeping/assault soldier.
Training, training,training
According to ABC, military working dogs are enrolled in a 60-90 day training program in which they learn how to detect explosives and drugs. Some can even sniff out the enemy from up to 2 miles away. Dogs are also taught how to defend their handlers in the event of an attack.
Titanium teeth
The most important thing to note on this topic is that the Navy SEALs and other enforcement agencies are not just ripping out a dog's teeth for the sake of creating a terrifying-looking war machine. There was a general misconception yesterday on the Web that titanium teeth were preferable to the real thing, but as Wired points out, they're more of a backup solution when injury strikes.
War dogs, police dogs, etc. are all trained to bite. Many times, those bites can lead to broken teeth. Replacing injured teeth with titanium (at a cost between $600-$2,000/tooth) is one way to help a dog continue its service.
Generally, the canine teeth (the four longest and most noticeable teeth) are the most commonly replaced teeth because they allow the animal to grip and tear through material (including body armor) without injury to itself. However, as one canine training specialist pointed out to Wired, titanium fangs are not as stable as regular teeth and are "much more likely to come out during a biting."
In terms of visuals, however, many agree that the false fangs do enhance the "oh my God" fear factor.
Tactical body armor
Yes, even dogs get body armor — since nobody wants "Chomper" getting stabbed or shot in the line of duty. The adjustable, lightweight suits protect the vital organs and come in an array of models depending on the dog's line of duty (ie; the "Assault Vest" defeats a combination of ballistic and ice pick threats.) And yes, there are plenty of colors to choose from.
Last year, the Navy SEALs purchased four waterproof "Canine Tactical Assault Suits" from Canadian firm K9 Storm for a reported $86,000. According to CNN, the company makes $5 million a year selling custom armor for dogs in the "U.S. Army, Navy, Marines and Special Forces; police departments in 13 countries; and security firms worldwide."
Wireless cameras and radio communications
In conjunction with the tactical armor, military dogs also commonly now carry infrared/night vision wireless cameras to relay visuals from as far as 1,000 yards away. Some sites have even reported that an "intruder communication system" is included — enabling the ability to see through concrete walls. According to the NY Times, speakers are also included in the tactical suit so that handlers can relay commands remotely as well.
There are currently some 600 military dogs serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, a number that's expected to increase substantially. “The capability they bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine,” Gen. David Petraeus, current U.S. commander in charge of Afghanistan said in 2008. “By all measures of performance, their yield outperforms any asset we have in our industry.”
Check out ABC News' special report on war dogs below.
Also on MNN: Meet the dog that helped capture bin Laden
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And going to war, to prevent war, was the most stupid thing I ever heard.
Peace through power.
It beats becoming enslaved without a fightback option.
If a man pointed a gun at your child(if you have any), would you shoot him? Does THAT clarify the doctrine enough for you? You would be creating violence in order to prevent it.
Yes, because we're in Iraq and Afghanistan because they both pose SUCH a threat to us, after all.
War dogs are as old as war itself. Just look back at history and the mastiffs used by Spanish conquistadors in the "new world".
even earlier the romans used Rottweilers
Romans did not use Rottweilers, the breed was not even created at that time. The most we can do is speculate and based upon speculation they used the ancient and extinct Molossus dog and sometimes other mastiffs (possibly Kangals)
"ice pick threats"
Wait. What? Do terrorists even know what an ice pick is?
"We will not release the names of these dogs." I guarantee you, one of them is named "fido".
Terrorism is war waged by the poor and powerless / War is terrorism inflicted by the rich and powerful.
I'd go beserk though if the dog that i was working with was being attacked and was losing, and id probably end up getting myself killed trying to save my dog, cause i'd know that the dog would do the exact same for me...
You're definitely not the only one who feels that way. I can see why they are an asset to the Army, but to think that now, not only are humans dying, but mans best friend as well.
id be the same way, and i mean its really only because the dog can't defend itself fairly (and it obviously can but i mean against a trained combatant) against something that is 3 times its height and 2 to 3 times its weight. However these dogs do put up an absolutely tremendous effort in doing so, and like u said id go beserk should my dog be losing a battle that it just couldnt win in the first place.
you would be surprised at the even matchup between dog and human.
If it came to a fight to the death, sure a human might win, but a 120 pound dog with fangs attached to your arm wouldn't exactly be a good position to be in, regardless of how much bigger you are than it. like the article said... if you are being attacked by the dog, the SEAL team is close behind
My 60 lb Catahoula will stand up to a 300 lb+ hog.......most guys would be no match for a trained war dog.
How can this company justify that price?
Because the military gets away with unlimited spending while our country is going into third world status.
Our infrastructure is dilapidated!!!
Killing Bin Laden is not going to solve the problem. One man's death is just that a single death. His people are still out there. This gives the opening for other groups to step it up a notch.
Dogs and people in war EQUAL death and destruction
We need a shift in consciousness.
STOP THE WAR!!!
meh.. third worlds are more exciting anyways. BRING IN ON BABY!!!!
First, second, and third world designations were created by the Allies after World War II to denote democratic nations, communist nations, and everybody else respectively. The "everybody else" tended to be poorer countries hence the corrupted use in modern vernacular.
We have the best weapon systems, the best government, the best people. There is a method to the madness, have faith, you will see. They will work on the infrastructure when we are safe. Just be glad you are on THIS SIDE of the power of the USA
DEFINE THIS SIDE. This side is talking too much about everything, and it makes me nervous, because it prepares the enemy. This sides weakness blab, blab and blabs out all of our plans, defenses and bragg on results and don't know when to shut up-already. Like planting a bomb and then telling the enemy where to find it. Now do you still feel safe? "because I sure as hell don't."
...the most deluded citizens.
I bet your backside is safe and out of harm's way. So, thank men like those manning SEAL Team Six for your comfort. Ingrate.
our enemies were created by the actions of our government.
You can thank Charles Kirchner of the Metropolitan Police Washington, D.C. USA for this. It was his concept and training of the world’s first explosive detection canine in 1971. It was his ingenuity and forethought that helps solve a high tech problem with a low tech solution. At that time the MPDC used only dogs that were given to the department by civilians. See Police K9 magazine May June 2010 issue for details.
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