Future armies could be made up of half-human half-machine cyborgs with infrared sight, ultrasonic hearing and super-human strength, equipped with mind-controlled weapons.

In a US Army report, experts from Devcom – the Combat Capabilities Development Command – outlined a number of possible future technologies that could be used to enhance soldiers on the battlefield by 2050.

These include enhanced limbs for increased strength, an eye that provides infrared and ultraviolet vision, and an audio device that provides ultra- and subsonic hearing.

They also suggest a future soldier could have a neural device that optimises brain power and allow them to control weapons with their mind.