The Wondering Brit

Yes, we all know about Radar, Rocket motors, Jet engines, Tanks and the iPod as well as other stuff. But, years ago (1994) the British DERA (Defence Evaluation and Research Agency) started a programme called FIST (Future Infantry System Technology) which invented a system of monacle optical sighting (where the crosshair sits exactly where your bullet will hit), battlefield location awareness i.e. where everyone is, Infrared vision, communications, GPS and a whole host of other gadgets incorporated into the helmet and eye piece of the soldier. This in turn was attached to a computer placed inside the soldiers webbing. The advanced optics incorperated such technology as automated range finding and sight adjustment attached to the soldiers weapon – just what you need when you have to point your weapon around a corner and shoot someone 500 yrds away!
Further technologies included advanced uniform/combat clothing etc.

The technology wasn’t the problem, making it soldier proof was. So years after they perfected the systems, DERA out sourced because the ever tightening of UK military spending strangled it. But more over, DERA was also ever evolving and changing. In July 2001, QinetiQ was founded from the partition of DERA into two separate organisations and, in February 2003, became a public private partnership with US-based Carlyle Group being the equity investor. QinetiQ was then floated on the London stock market in February 2006 and is mainly American owned now.

Technology changed hands rapidly and the US Military took the FIST information and made it Soldier Proof and changed it’s name to Land Warrior. Well, Land Warrior was originally based around the developement of the OCIW personal weapon platform that sadly failed.
Later this month soldiers of the U.S. Army’s 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division hit the ground in Afghanistan and they’ll be carrying the latest in high-tech gear.
It will be the first real test of this equipment in a combat environment and if successful, the $48000 per man equipment will make Land Warrior a reality.

The only question I had is this, at night, in the field, a soldier hones certain human senses, how much of a distraction from your natural senses will the equipment be? Believe me, at night in a close environment you need all your senses.