Stumble It!
Army Technology
This part of our report series went quickly out of date following the demise of Future Combat Systems and subsequent rethinking of a number of programs within the Army/Soldier/Land Systems area by the U.S. DoD. This continues to be a very interesting sector for a number of reasons, among them:
Essentially a highly fragmented space with numerous programs based around smaller, flexible acquisitions strategies; we think this equals more opportunities for small-medium sized companies and technology entrepreneurship.
A truly global marketplace. Every developed nation and many emerging ones have made soldier modernization, as well as interoperability, a core tenet of their overall defense strategy and long term acquisitions budgets. On the industry side this is one area where the Big 5 are not dominating (although they are definitely involved), mostly because of the modular/scaled and open architecture acquisitions environment.
Soldier Tech hits a lot of interesting areas that could have massive applications in the commercial sector. Battery tech, secure mobile communications, knowledge management and complex event processing, alternative energy, bio defense ---- obviously, all of these are getting developed actively in the private sector as well and that is a great thing (in both directions).
So rather than wait for a fully developed report (that might change again anyway), we have decided to make this area of the website our "whiteboard" for Army technology and to keep track of our growing notes & data collection that we may or may not formalize at a later date. So what follows is (highly) subject to change as we continue our research.
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Army Technology could be better described as Land Combat Technology Systems; or hardware/software and services for worldwide land forces (soldiers and marines). Maybe Land-Tech is a better term.
Soldier Modernization Programs:
IdZ (Germany)
MERS (USA)
ISSP (Canada)
PROJECT LAND 125 (Australia)
FUTURE SOLDIER PROGRAMME (SLOVENIA)
SOLDATO FUTURO (Italy)
FIST (UK)
AFRICAN WARRIOR (S. Africa)
COBRA (Brazil)
WARRIOR 2020 (Finland?)
DANISH ARMY COMBAT SCHOOL
TYTAN (Poalnd?)
RIFS (Romania)
IAS (Israel)
FELIN/SCORPION
ACMS
NORMANS (Norway)
MARKUS (Sweden)
Mobile Energy, Power: battery tech, wearable power sources
- Night Vision Equipment
- Tactical Radios
- Ruggedised Computers
- Connectors
- Ballistic Protection, Protective Clothing
- Weapons and Ammunition
- Optics: Lasers and Sights
- System Integration
- Threat Detection Systems
- Battlefield Management Systems
- Knowledge Management
- Advanced Cognition
- Ammunition and Fuzes
- Antennas, Masts and Towers
- Armoured Fighting Vehicles and Upgrades
- Artillery and Mortars
- Base / Camp Protection and Security
- Bearings, Seals and Couplings
- Bridging, Recovery, Breaching and Engineering
- Command and Control Systems and Components (C4I)
- Communications Systems and Equipment
- Countermeasures, Camouflage and Pyrotechnics
- Data Recording and Storage
- Design and Information Management Software
- Electrical Equipment, Batteries and Power Supply
- Electromechanical and Electrohydraulic Equipment
- Electronic Warfare and Jamming Systems
- Electronics, Subsystems and Components
- Events and Publications
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Mine Clearance
- Explosives, Powders and Propellants
- Field Hospitals and Medical Equipment
- Fire and Explosion Protection
- Fire Control and Targeting
- GPS, Navigation and Satellite Communication
- Helicopters
- HVAC, Fans, Blowers and Ducting
- IT, Computing and Software
- Logistics, Transportation, Supply and Spares
- Machine Guns, Small Arms and Sights
- Manufacturing, Engineering, Testing and Consultancy
- Materials Handling and Packaging
- Military and Civil Infrastructure and Construction
- Military and Special Purpose Vehicles
- Military Vehicle Parts and Spares
- Missiles, Rockets and Components
- NBC Equipment
- Noise, Shock and Vibration Control
- Optronics, Surveillance and Sighting Systems
- Personal Protection, Medical and Survival Equipment
- Propulsion, Transmission and Components
- Recruitment and Personnel
- Rotary Joints and Sliprings
- Rugged Computers, Workstations and Peripherals
- Shelters
- Technical Publications and Media
- Tracks, Wheels, Tyres and Runflats
- Training and Simulation
- Turrets and Turret Sub-systems
- Unmanned Vehicles
- Vehicle Ballistic Protection
The FCS public website has been updated with info on the new Army Brigade Combat Team (BCT) Modernization strategy, which has replaced the FCS strategy. It includes Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV), the new direction for what were the FCS manned ground vehicles (MGVs). Another useful reference for Army technology is the Army Science & Technology Master Plan (ASTMP), which is published biennially and is available through the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC).