When do you think we will be able to see the land warrior program in action? it seems as if all the big countries are already begun developing and producing similar projects. Do you think its possible that the US will use it in iraq?
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I'm not completely up to speed with the Land Warrior system, but I'm 99.9% sure that we won't see it in Iraq. I'm pretty sure that Land Warrior is still in the developement and testing stage. It'll probably come out with the V-22 Osprey (as in we don't know when it will be operational). From the latest shots I've seen of Land Warrior, it still looks way too bulky and heavy for practical use. I don't know who within the military will receive it first. I don't think SOF's will use it because of its size, and I don't think regular infantry will use it because of its high cost. But then again, I"m out of the loop as far as Land Warrior goes.
"Infantrist der Zukunft", the german Land Warrior equivalent, is in its final testing phase and will be first fielded in 2005. First units to be equiped will be those of the Division for Special Operations (DSO). I do not believe the Americans want to start fielding Land Warrior much later...
Remember... both systems will begin with a starting version and will be constantly modernized (electronic develops fast) and upgraded. Probably the U.S. armed forces will use the opportunity of Gulf War II to test at least some elements... For example the weapon mounted camera for street fighting, or the LW squad communication-system for elite units.
The british LW equivalent system FIST and the french FELON will be introduced from 2008-2010 on... I think after 2020 no western army will send soldiers to a battlefield without such a system.
Someone said SF likes compact weapons and infantry cant afford it, my guess is that just like the M4A1, they would issue the "systems" i.e. helmet mounted HUD, CPU, mouse, camera, etc. to the "high priority" units such as SF and 75th/82nd/101st/10th Infantry
Personally I'd like to see an airsoft version created
The main problem the Army is having now is the battery life. With all systems running the current batteries only last about 150 minutes. In combat not all systems would be running, but the Army still feels this is unacceptable. Its to be tested by a platoon from 101st this spring at Ft Campbell Ky. Some are also skeptical as to weather it can hold up to the rigours of combat, dust, sand , is it grunt proof, etc.
Kitsune, do you have any more info on the German system?
just my opinion, but instead of the whole land warrior system suddenly coming of age, i would expect that individual sub-systems will become operational. the first of these, the RIS-equiped M16A4/M4 are already out. later on we might see other portions of the program develop on their own, away from the whole.
Yes Sir Nob :
The main difference between the german system and Land Warrior seems to be the german concentration on a 10 man combat team. Not everyone gets everything (like target designation laser or thermal imaging) but everything is planned with this system of a combat team operating from a new APC (to be introduced in 2005/6, similar to the american Stryker) in mind. This reduces weight, energy usage and costs.
There are of course standard features for everyone like communication systems, nigthvision goggles, a personal data assistant (showing maps, orders and so on), eye laser protection, body armor. Every part of the equipment (clothes and such) has been reworked, the weight of equipment a soldier has to carry has actually been reduced, despite of the new stuff.
The approach is very practical with no science fiction stuff in mind. But the system will change over the years taking technical developement into account.
Thanks Kitune. The German system seems more realistic than ours, spreading the components throughout the combat team, while each individual soldier still gets the fun gear (NVGs, data assist, etc) Guess they dont like the "Army of one" saying either,heh.
Yeah Sir Nob,
all western nations developing these programs will learn from each other. The final word will come from the soldiers who are in cobat with such a system the first time. In the end the american, british, french, german, australian... systems will be very similar I think...
Sir Nob really inspired me:
An Ultrasonic Near Miss Indicator (UNMI) detects projectil flight paths within 5 meters and automatically activates the mentioned Helmet Mounted Solar Powered White Flag Popper Upper... (HMSPWFPU).
Yeah...
I would call it the Universal Combat Life Saving System (UCLSS)...
Have problems typing this... Can't stop laughing.
Land warrior program
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