2017/08/06

A proposal for infantry modernisation

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I wrote a summary post on soldier (infantry) modernisation programs back in 2009. Such programs range from simply new clothes, helmet, guns and night vision equipment up to super-ambitious 'electronic infantryman' approaches with helmet-mounted display, camera on the rifle, lots of wearable computer tech if not even exoskeletons.

The components are usually not ready for introduction at the same time, so whatever hardware finds its way from development into service does so in a trickling fashion. The procurement agencies have fancy buzzwords ("increment" and so on) for this, as if it was perfectly compatible with the ambition of having one big modernisation program.



That's actually something I'd like to see changed; I don't want to see "one big modernisation program", regardless of how many phases, increments, cycles et cetera it has.
I would like to see the different programs of allies competing in troops testing with realistic and at most partially scripted mock battles. I'd also like to see a competing infantry modernisation program in the same major nation as one of those 'electronic infantryman' programs - and they, too, should compete. I'd like to see - in troops testing mock battles - the concept of agile lightweight-equipped infantry tested against the concept of 'electronic infantry'. Agility and mobility versus more communication, more night vision, more digital maps.
These mock battles should include scenarios with heavy ECM influences.

It's striking that while program managers pay lip service to lightweight products, no infantry modernisation program (the 2009 list is outdated, obviously) appears to focus on reducing the weight of equipment and NOT considering those weight savings as potential for additional equipment.

There's very little insight to be gained by yet another 'electronic infantryman' program, but much insight could be gained by pitting those against a properly lightened load infantry for a change. Besides, the lightened load equipment would be hugely relevant to non-infantry troops as well (while with conventional programs that's mostly limited to clothing), and they comprise well over 2/3 of a deployed army!

S O
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1 comment:

  1. I cannot spoke about other programms but the german IDZ is in most parts crap. It only adds weight and complexity and even reduces the endurance of infantry and make even light infantry like Jäger to a kind of weak mechanised infantry without the necessary firepower such mechanised troops need. So you loose mobility, endurance, firepower and gain very few.

    But the biggest problem is in my opinion that all this fancy electronic devices give higher command echelons the possibility for micro management and every little move of every little infantry group is overwatched and commanded more and more from higher echelons and this is the worst developement and the death for every light infantry against a serious enemy. It slows down the infantry more than the weight of the equipment, the whole unit becomes slower and slower because of this and strict orders replace creativity and intelligence.

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