Conversations surrounding
the nature of “future war” have existed ever since wars have been fought. While the
battles of yesterday echo into the battles of today, advancements in technology
have had significant impacts on the capabilities of military units.
Once, an infantryman would
carry cloth on his body, a rifle, some extra ammunition, and maybe tertiary equipment
into battle such as knives, canteens, light medical equipment, etc. Today, the
average infantryman carries around 68 pounds worth of gear, and this number can
increase to as much as 120 pounds.[1] To aid in this load, and
to even increase it, exoskeletons are being pioneered across the military.
Additionally, today’s warfighters are much more self-sufficient, protected by armor,
more literate, and intelligent, meaning they are expected to master more skills
and can be relied upon to learn more, faster and better. This is why robotics
are now showcasing their utility in organic infantry units. This is why small
arial drones are now being utilized by individual operator’s real time on the
ground. And this is why currently, infantrymen are learning how to utilize digital
technology which aids in land navigation, reconnaissance, and enemy acquisition, which helps in estimating ranges to targets for better effects downrange.
The U.S. Army’s Pathfinder
Program is one such example of exoskeleton tech being used to alleviate stress
and strain over moving heavy loads.[2] It can aid in military logistical
operations, all the way to helping artillerymen, and of course, the ground
combat soldier. A good example of a move towards increased reliance on robotics,
or robotics augmenting units through a human controller, is Boston Dynamics Big
Dog (2004) gen, the LS3 (2010) gen, and the famous Atlas robot, which is being
designed to act as a fully functioning human replacement robot.
These advancements will
have serious mobility impacts in future war. Along with smaller more
specialized units, currently being implemented with the U.S. Marines, utilizing
robots or exoskeleton tech will allow for versatile fast paced combat on the
ground. Terrain will become less of a hinderance, and tactically, commanders
will need to re-evaluate when and how enemy troops will maneuver. Additionally,
the components powering such technology will most likely become more of a center
point for state level strategy pushing countries to compete in the economic forum vigorously in areas like AI and semiconductors. Cyber warfare will also become
more important. As technology improves on the ground, so will the adversaries
means of thwarting a more highly technical based military, one that relies increasingly
on software, rather than flesh and bone.
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