As a vet who has worked with developing electronic warfare systems in the field, my heart goes out to the first generation of soldiers tasked with fielding the Army’s next-generation infantry combat platform called the Land Warrior system. The philosophy and concept are good, and the technology is rapidly getting to the point where the system will be truly functional.
I think we need another generation or two before Land Warrior becomes a real force multiplier and not just a balky new gadget as dangerous to the soldiers as it is useful. A lot of troops died just getting the bugs out of the M-16.
There’s a half-billion dollars invested in the gear hanging off the heads, chests and backs of the soldiers of Alpha company. Digital maps displayed on helmet-mounted eyepieces show the position of all the men in the unit as they surround a block of concrete buildings and launch their attacks. Instead of relying on the hand signals and shouted orders that most infantrymen use, Alpha company communicates via advanced, encrypted radio transmissions with a range of up to a kilometer. It’s more information than any soldiers have ever had about their comrades and their surroundings.
But as Alpha kicks in doors, rounds up terror suspects and peals off automatic fire in deafening six-shot bursts, not one of the soldiers bothers to check his radio or look into the eyepiece to find his buddies on the electronic maps. “It’s just a bunch of stuff we don’t use, taking the place of useful stuff like guns,” says Sgt. James Young, who leads a team of four M-240 machine-gunners perched on a balcony during this training exercise at Fort Lewis, Wash. “It makes you a slower, heavier target.”
If we had a tactical C3I system of a caliber comparable to those in games such as Halo, GOW, and other shooters, it would be great. Sadly, we are a long way from that level of sophistication. Having said that, We must field systems and evaluate how they behave in the field. Think of the first hand-cannoneers and their burning ropes, progressing through years and bloody battles to the tech we put in soldier’s hands today. Progress occurs in warfare through combat, unfortunately.
What ever happened to the J.E.D.I. program?
After reading the link, I must point out that some REMFs have seen the movie ‘Aliens’ one too many times. (Bill Paxton — “Game over, man, game over !!”)
Great article, Alix, perhaps more info on J.E.D.I.?
The biggest problems with these systems is the batteries; they add something like 15 pounds of weight. The systems are nothing new though; they’ve been in the development and test phase for about ten years now. The real advantage to the system though is that it helps to prevent fratricide incidents.
Batteries arent the biggest problem. The biggest problem is they never did any RF deconfliction to ensure critical RF signals dont interfere with emitters in accordance with NTIA or ITU allocations.
The more you carry in combat the more you drop once the shooting starts.Tell us about J.E.D.I.
Here’s a link to some Joint Expeditionary Digital Information (J.E.D.I.) program info:
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/04/19/jedi.soldier/
I was told that one reason Iridium was rescued was that it was needed for infrastructure.
So, this is a cup half empty post!!!
Some soldiers don’t like “Land Warrior” next-generation combat gear
Good thing the Army is a democracy.
Battlefield 2 has a great system. When you get an enemy in your sight you can hold Q and click, he will be “spotted” and visible on the radar to your teammates for about 10 sec.
It should be similar in RL in that the soldier should not have to look away from the battle and focus on a piece of equipment.
Todays you can not win a war anymore. The only way is to avoid conflicts by diplomacy and intelligence. The danger with all such systems is that governments believe there is a way around sensible acting.
#7 – Yahbut, who wants to lug around a keyboard in combat? Not to mention the Army would probably do it on the cheap, and use standard keyboards instead of ergonomic keyboards, resulting in RSI problems.
On a serious note, this sort of tech could be used against friendlies if it falls into foes’ hands. Imagine: instead of calling for an artillery barrage, the foe points and clicks a captured “M-16 Advanced Electronic sighter” at a crowd of friendlies. The artillery takes it as valid, since it’s from friendly equipment, and BLAMMO!
9,
On that note, there is a pivotal scene in my book Cyberchild, a novel about next-gen microbot tech gone awry, that hinges on the tactical IFF systems of the bad guy and how the good guys deal with it. I’d tell you, but then there’s be no reason to read my book. 😉
(/shameless plug)
Dress them up like DEVO. Problem solved…
Military capability isn’t what it’s all about folks. If Cheney can get fifty bucks for a gallon of milk in Iraq, imagine how much he could milk the taxpayer for selling this sort of hardware to fight the wars he starts.
It’s all about the money folks. New republican = war profiteering.
Half a million in gadgets but they still can’t get decent helmet liners to the soldiers in-field.
What’s with that?
The strength of this system, as it currently stands, will not be seen in close quarter battle engagements, but instead is better suited for wide-area ambushes, and counter ambushes. Given the terrain in Afghanistan, this technology should be tested heavily there, instead of Iraq. Also, equipping every solider seems inappropriate at this time, and it is reassuring that the Army has taken this into consideration.
Given the inherent power of this system, if this technology is put into the hands of a well trained company (or SPEC-OPS preferably) operating out in the open in Afghanistan this could be incredibly powerful. Soldiers would have the ability to see more clearly (optical zoom), and shoot-more accurately at targets that are entrenched. The push-of-a-button indirect fire would, will with enough time, work well with JDAMs and Excalibur arty rounds. Also, the beacon function could be utilized in aborting ordnance that may hit friendly troops. Increased communication seems to be a step up. Now if they could only get the M-8’s to replace the aging M-16/M-4s, it’d be fantastic.