Soldier of the future

[STOMP_Team]

Singapore infantrymen have new eyes and ears for urban warfare.

Gone are the old fighting methods where soldiers kick open closed doors, lob a hand grenade into every room and charge in with guns blazing.

From December, new urban warfare tactics will be taught to all full-time national servicemen, making use of 'sensor managers' that plotted enemy positions using video images sent to them from battlefield robots.

http://www.stomp.com.sg/adhoc/0725_tb_soldier1.jpg
Camera mounted on remote-controlled car can be sent in harm's way to look out for danger areas.

http://www.stomp.com.sg/adhoc/0725_tb_soldier2.jpg
A locally-developed device attached to the scope of a SAR-21 assault rifle allows the soldier to hit targets without exposing himself. The image from the rifle scope is displayed on the flat screen monitor.

http://www.stomp.com.sg/adhoc/0725_tb_soldier3.jpg
Soldiers use a fibre optic scope to peek under a door. It beats charging in without knowing what lurks behind.

[STOMP_Team]

http://www.stomp.com.sg/adhoc/0725_tb_soldier4.jpg
A lightweight and flexible stretcher allows casualties to be moved in congested areas. It also enables medics to move a casualty in a high-rise area where the stairs have been destroyed.

http://www.stomp.com.sg/adhoc/0725_tb_soldier5.jpg
The platoon commander (left) holds a hand-held computer or PDA to chart the location of friendly forces and known enemy locations before assaulting an urban area.

[STOMP_Team]

http://straitstimes.asiaone.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20060724/jcurbant.jpg
After two years of experiments, the Singapore Armed Forces' new urban warfare capabilities will be operationalised across all Infantry and Guards battalions come December.

Click here (http://media.straitstimes.com/20060725-jcurban/Player.html) to view ST Interactive's vodcast.

[guntrain]

I guess hi-tech equipments are meant to make a soldier more effective (force-multiplier) and the integration of the various forces available in the execution of a mission or just peace-time trg. We must still maintain the soldier's fitness, determination, courage, camadarie to make use of such equipments to its max effectiveness... Airborne All The Way

[des98017]

Hmmm i just like to comment that some of these new technologies really needs to be beef up to prove its use. Dunnoe whether i will be charge for making such statement. But i think most of the designers need to be line up and shot. the equipment is simply too heavy. Didn't poly or uni teach them ergonomics and customer comfort plus usability. I think our A star and dsta ppl really need to improve. But again, some of it is really useful like uav. I know some of the designers are really trying their best but if we do need to fight we really hope it will give us an edge over the god damn enemy not carry it and die 1/2 way. Please bear in mind, we are still not a motorised army, we still need to walk. Personally i have seen some of the technologies from other countries that look really good for operations.

[EricLensherr]

All that gear seems rather heavy. And fragile.

[des98017]

Its not seem it is bloody heavy, fragile i won't comment but it isn't as rug as it shuld be.

[koko4475]

It's interesting to note the various new technology...
However, the public deserves more live play of the gadgets during SAF day where various camps open to the public.

One thing that came to my thot was that recently, there are quite a few cases of training mishaps... Won't the new technology help to reduce these mishap? And how would these advanced technologies, spent with tax payers' money help in real war scenarios? Have the Armed Forces deployed these technologies in operational situations and peacekeeping or disaster relief moments?

[des98017]

It's interesting to note the various new technology...
However, the public deserves more live play of the gadgets during SAF day where various camps open to the public.

One thing that came to my thot was that recently, there are quite a few cases of training mishaps... Won't the new technology help to reduce these mishap? And how would these advanced technologies, spent with tax payers' money help in real war scenarios? Have the Armed Forces deployed these technologies in operational situations and peacekeeping or disaster relief moments?

Usually ppl dun want to show too much things cause if you can see so does the potential agressor. As to reduce mishap i don't think its design to do that, its to make life easier for troops attacking urban areas. Real war scenarios, we dun have it but some armies like the us and israel have similar ones which is in used, some are quite good but well ours dunnoe not battle proven but well just need to follow what they used is good as a baseline to compare. As to deployed it in other areas, when applicable i think they will use some in a limited way.

[koko4475]

Frankly speaking, if you show some of what you could do, it's also able to deter your potential enemy to take actions...Obviously, must not show everything...This is one of the tactics that North Korea and Iran have been doing in the world scene recently to raise their bargaining chip on the world political arena...

Look at the Israel and Hizbollah wars now...The strategies that Israel are taking is excellent examples even though I was appalled by the suffering by the civilians especially when we saw the children bodies being taken out from the debris...War is never kind and the missiles would fall on anything...

[des98017]

[QUOTE=koko4475]Frankly speaking, if you show some of what you could do, it's also able to deter your potential enemy to take actions...Obviously, must not show everything...

I totally agree and demostrated in one of the ndps where malaysia and indonesia conducted a airborne exercise just north of singapore during our national day. It urns out we mobilise almost the entire army and new weapons were issure, tanks rolled out from now where. AMAzing feat i should say. Just an additional info german did used an airborne "exercise" to cover its motive to attack one of the country. I think if they had the same idea they must really have got the shock of their life. Haha great job that MINDEF.

[packjust]

Good lah, nowadays kids are so savvy with technology. They will pick up the usage of these devices and gadgets fast. :D

[Cowjuice]

but well.. 3G soldiers... lead by 1.5G encik ??

[des98017]

but well.. 3G soldiers... lead by 1.5G encik ??

haha 1g lt cols with big bellies haha. well nowadys some encik super savvy too.

[Cowjuice]

3G Soldiers everywhere.. NSF should be getting 3G salary too.. ya, we need some motivation...