Military systems increasingly need to directly interface with each other to reduce redundancy and soldier burden, and to take advantage of new ‘big data’ analysis techniques. British software specialist 2iC has written and shared with the MOD an innovative standard that could greatly improve interoperability and overcome the technical constraints of battlefield systems.

The post Open Architecture – interoperability at the heart of the modern military arsenal appeared first on Army Technology.

A decade of war has highlighted the importance of batteries for the soldier. New technology has multiplied the number of batteries used and the weight a soldier has to carry. Dr. Cynthia Lundgren of the US Army Research Laboratory discusses the organisation's revolutionary work to develop more powerful and lightweight batteries.

The post Super cells: developing the next generation of soldier batteries appeared first on Army Technology.

Soldiers on the frontline have to be at the peak of physical fitness; any slacking could be lethal. But the pressures of operations in Afghanistan, where soldiers carried nearly 60% of their bodyweight, have led some to question whether the physical demands are too high. With technological innovations lacking, soldiers are looking at other – potentially lethal – ways to keep strong on the battlefield.

The post No pain, no gain – keeping soldiers fit for the frontline appeared first on Army Technology.

Special issue: Future warriors – from power systems to camouflage, firepower and communications, new soldier technology is transforming the frontline

The post Global Defence Technology special issue: Soldier systems appeared first on Army Technology.

One of the UK's biggest military vehicle events, Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD), kicked off yesterday in Bedfordshire. A big theme for the government-sponsored event is to show off some of the UK’s best defence technology and equipment. In the spotlight at this year’s DVD was the Scout SV vehicle, currently one of the British Army’s most important defence programmes.

The post British Army’s new Scout SV vehicle takes centre stage at DVD2014 appeared first on Army Technology.

New technologies are constantly reducing the need to use lethal force with soldiers now able to employ low-energy lasers and non-lethal directed energy weapons in addition to traditional devices such as Tasers and pepper spray. But extensive research and training has to be undertaken first to make sure these non-lethal weapons don’t turn lethal.

The post Shock tactics: ensuring non-lethal weapons remain non-lethal appeared first on Army Technology.

Feeding troops on the battlefield is one of the most important parts of fighting a war. Now thanks to advances in technology and scientific research, soldiers no longer have to endure the torture of canned rations and can instead enjoy home comforts. Army Technology speaks to the people responsible for developing some of these revolutionary new foods, including a pizza that lasts for three years.

The post Meals Rarely Edible: how science revolutionised eating on the battlefield appeared first on Army Technology.

A total of $1.7 trillion was spent on defence in 2013, the year in which China surpassed Russia as the world’s second biggest defence spender. Army-technology.com lists the ten biggest military spenders in 2013.

The post Rise of the Red Dragon – 2013’s biggest military spenders appeared first on Army Technology.

Body-worn health monitoring systems measure physiological signals in real time to track individuals’ physical condition and performance. Combining data from established human monitoring technology with environmental and performance information, a new system provides detailed live feedback from military training exercise participants, monitors their well-being and records changes in ability over time.

The post The body electric – soldier conditioning monitoring and big data appeared first on Army Technology.

British soldiers could soon be donning the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset to train for medical emergencies on the battlefield. A British consultancy has just unveiled the world’s first immersive medical trainer using the innovative virtual technology. Just like gamers, troops could soon experience life-like battlefield scenarios in a fully immersive environment.

The post British Army turns to Oculus Rift to take the sting out of battlefield trauma appeared first on Army Technology.