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2024-09-12

British Troops Test Game-Changing Wearable Tech

The battlefield is about to get a lot smarter. British troops are testing out a new generation of wearable tech designed to give them a decisive edge. Imagine real-time battlefield awareness, fast decision-making, and technology that adapts to every soldier’s needs. It’s the future of combat, and it’s happening now.

The announcement aligns with the new government’s pledge to acquire cutting-edge defence capabilities. The Future Soldier programme supports the goal of adapting military equipment to meet emerging needs, as detailed in the Strategic Defence Review launch.

Examples of the technologies being considered by the Army include laser detection systems to warn if enemies are targeting personnel, drone thermal detection to identify opponents, and ground sensors to detect enemy movement with alerts sent to body-worn systems.

The digital system is standardised and delivers customised control that can be tailored to each specific mission.

Leicestershire’s 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, tested advanced data visualisation tools, integrated sensors, and live intelligence feeds, all within a single system.

Small Tweaks, Big Wins

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) trial demonstrated that minor changes to infantry tactics with Command and Control, Communications, Computing, and Information Systems can significantly improve operational outcomes.

Improved outcomes include increasing the tempo of battle by creating a faster understand-decide-act loop, enhancing situational awareness for better decision-making based on real-time data of friendly and enemy positions, and sending data, such as images and full-motion video, from soldiers to wider teams for enhanced decision-making.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, affirmed the government’s commitment to advancing technology for UK Armed Forces. She noted the technology will boost operational lethality and battlefield awareness.

Dstl scientists are carrying out the research as part of the Future Integrated Dismounted Soldier Vision (FIDSV) with research into how the next generation of ‘digitally connected soldier’ technology can improve capability and operational advantage.

Range of Technologies Tested

The range of technologies tested includes a helmet-mounted strobe alert system to identify friend or foe, an electronic system that emits an identifiable beacon when detecting an incoming laser, a laser detection system to warn if personnel are targeted, and a system that detects incoming laser wavelengths and alerts the user.

The technologies include on-person drone control for pre-programming drones, drone thermal detection to aid in enemy detection, a laser range finder on weapons to calculate target range, and advanced digital day and night optics for weapons powered via the Picatinny rail.

The smart hub serves as the brain of the integrated power and data supply for all digital devices, while a mesh network allows radio signal hopping from one soldier’s radio to another to enhance range. Ground sensors detect movement and send alerts to body-worn systems.

Dstl Chief Executive Dr Paul Hollinshead OBE MBA highlighted that Dstl is collaborating with industry to develop and integrate technologies that will enhance the capabilities and effectiveness of the armed forces. He noted that this work builds on decades of expertise to ensure mission success, national protection, and prosperity.

Jon Russell, Dstl’s Senior Principal Scientist on the research, said: “This technology will protect the lives of our Armed Forces by improving operational capability by giving them the advantage over the enemy. It is great to see the Future Integrated Dismounted Soldier Vision is proving how a soldier system containing multiple knowledge capabilities that are designed to combine crucial data to improve operational advantage.”

Data Drives Decision

Dstl, in partnership with industry, will make use of the lessons learned from the testing on Salisbury Plain’s military training area to develop the need for future equipment for defence.

The focus will expand beyond individual soldiers to include vehicle-mounted systems, creating a more integrated and comprehensive approach to battlefield awareness.

The UK plans to collaborate with its allies to develop a standardised joint soldier system, enhancing interoperability and effectiveness. The project is set to evolve over the next five years, incorporating the latest technological advancements to maintain a competitive edge on the global stage.

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