ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (Sept. 2, 2014) -- The Army of the future
may have fewer Soldiers but more lethality thanks to research in
precision, scalable effects and improved range.
"Our scientists and engineers are, and have been, redefining the art of
the possible to make this enabling technology a reality," said Dale A.
Ormond, director of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering
Command. "Our strategy is to build from the Soldier out, equipping our
squads for tactical overmatch in all situations."
In the September/October 2014 issue of Army Technology Magazine, the
Army showcases research and development efforts to maintain overmatch.
"The Army has global responsibilities that require large technological
advantages to prevail decisively in combat -- 'technological
overmatch,'" Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno wrote for the Army's
official blog. "Just as Airmen and Sailors seek supremacy in the air and
on the seas, Soldiers must dominate their enemies on land. Modernizing,
especially as end strength is reduced, is the key to ensuring that the
Army's dominance continues."
Experts predict an individual Soldier of the future, armed with a 40mm
grenade, may have the same lethal effects as current 155mm artillery.
"Lethality is more than just offensive lethality," said Keith Jadus,
acting director of the lethality portfolio for the Office of the Deputy
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology. "It is the
ability to provide protection. Lethality is what protects our Soldiers.
It is the capability to reach farther than our adversary, and the
ability for Soldiers to hold their ground, protect their ground, and
move forward.
Army science and technology research examines affordability, extended
range and precision to deliver new capabilities to Soldiers. The Army
also seeks a scalable range of effects, both lethal and non-lethal.
"We envision the capability to decrease lethality to reduce collateral
damage, or increase lethality tailored to the targets," Jadus said.
Officials said energetics research also holds the promise of a tenfold
increase in range and explosive punch through the use of new materials
and chemical compositions.
"Imagine being a commander in the field with 10 levels of scalable
lethality," Ormond said. "Options increase exponentially. A strike need
only be as lethal as necessary to accomplish the mission. As our
sensors, targeting and associated technologies match our improvements in
lethality, commanders will have fine-grained control to minimize if not
completely avoid collateral damage."
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III, the featured interview
for the lethality issue, said the best weapon in the Army is still the
U.S. Soldier.
"He or she is also the most precise weapon that the Army has, because of
a combination of skills, experience and knowledge. A combination of the
technology and the Soldier makes us superior on the battlefield, and
that's what makes the Army strong," Chandler said.
A tanker by background, Chandler said he has seen the evolution of lethality firsthand during his career.
"We can do a lot with the power of the Soldier when it is accurately
matched to technology that provides the outcome we want to achieve,"
Chandler said. "In addition to lethality, we also need to increase our
precision. We have made great strides in precision technologically, but
the most precise weapon we have on the battlefield is the American
Soldier. It's the person that makes the final decision to shoot or not
to shoot. Combining our Soldier awareness and the technology that is
available, we will be even more accurate and more lethal on the
battlefield.
Army Technology Magazine is available as an electronic download, or
print publication. The magazine is an authorized, unofficial publication
published under Army Regulation 360-1, for all members of the
Department of Defense and the general public.
http://www.army.mil/article/132849/Army_turns_to_researchers_for_future_lethality/
By David McNally, RDECOM Public Affairs
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