Laser Dazzlers vs. Cyborg Penguins

Super-strength cyborg penguins may not be here, yet. But the Navy isn't taking any chances. The service has taken out a contract on swimmers -- whether they've got undersea exo-skeleton enhancements, or not. Specifically, the Navy just signed a deal to develop a "Non-lethal Swimmer Deterrent":

*Some examples of NLSD systems or devices are laser light dazzlers, entanglement barriers, flash bang rounds, advanced incapacitating agents, electrical shock devices, laser, acoustic and high power microwave directed energy devices. The methods or technology used by the system or device should not be a lethal threat to the swimmer (although the Navy is interested in a scalable capability for future consideration) and only have the ability to stun or temporarily disable the swimmer and stop further incursion. *

The threat of underwater terrorism to ships, pipelines and port facilities has been a concern for the last few years and we've seen several effrots to develop underwater defenses.

In which case we can expect pitched battles between the Navy's flash-bangs, lasers and "entanglement barriers" [i.e. nets] and the oncoming hordes? I seriously doubt it, but maybe Hollywood will pick up on the idea. Much more likely is the prospect that, in a few years, low-tech versions of these exoskeletons may become commercially available. And unless the Navy has the means to detect and deter them, two stealthy swimmers with one explosive charge could do a huge amount of damage.