The British Army is testing a handful of new, wearable military technologies, including those that can detect lasers and control drones.
Troops from Leicestershire-based Royal Anglian Regiment are trying out a wearable laser detection system that reportedly warns if enemies are targeting personnel.
It does so by detecting the wavelengths of incoming lasers and relaying the crucial information to its users.
The soldiers are also testing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control worn on the body, which gives users the ability to remotely maneuver a drone and even pre-program it.
Other wearable tech being put through their paces are a drone thermal detection system, laser range finder, advanced digital day and night optics, and a mesh network that hops from one soldier’s radio to another for enhanced range.
Enhanced Operational Advantages
Integrating available defense technology into wearable tech is part of ongoing efforts to enhance battlefield awareness and allow faster tactical decision-making.
It is also aligned with the country’s Future Soldier program, which aims to deliver a modernized warfighting force by 2030.
According to Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) official Jon Russell, the technologies being tested will soon help them gain a tactical advantage over enemies.
“Our aim is to develop the most capable armed forces in the world by merging different technologies to advance battlefield awareness,” he said.
The British Army plans to explore vehicle-mounted systems next.