http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/ Engadget Comments for Army tests of Land Warrior high-tech uniform successful, soldiers request more http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/why?]]>Mar 28th 2008 2:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 3:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 4:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
I don't see how 6 lb's makes that much of a difference; most soldiers rucksacks weigh well over 50 lbs]]>Mar 28th 2008 9:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 10:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 11:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 1:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
It makes me sad.]]>Mar 28th 2008 10:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
I mean come on, that's the price of a single jet isn't it?]]>Mar 28th 2008 2:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 2:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 4:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 9:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
Most people using this are probably not Airborne.

Being a soldier this makes it pretty exciting to see happen.]]>Mar 28th 2008 2:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
So thats the HUD, lets take another quick glance at some of the features (I'll be brief with these), they wanted and may have got a mouse pointer and buttons on the gun, also a camera as a "sight". both of these currently require(though they could be remoted with bluetooth) wires, connecting the gun to the soldier. A bad idea, a soldier needs the ability to drop his weapon with haste in many situations, so the obvious comes up, well we can have break away connectors, thats great until you realize that any breakaway connector that allows a weapon to be discarded easily is the same breakaway connector that will disconnect at the slightest wrong tug. and the camera... ohh to see around corners and shoot we have to have a camera, cause it's high tech and cool... a double mirror set up as a prism in front of an aimpoint weapon sight? thats to old tech and not cool enough, plus we can spend at least 10000$ per gun with a camera, and that makes the big military industrial complex happy, and they must be satisfied.

Not to say everything in the kit was a bad idea, the mapping ideas, and soldier location concepts were really good ideas, but for some reason the army kept insisting on that stupid monocle. Guess every half billion dollar project needs something dumb as hell. Maybe the army will through away the useless stuff, I certainly hope so, but after dealing with them for years I'm not going to hold my breath.]]>Mar 28th 2008 3:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 4:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
So, deployed in Iraq, we were the first unit to test the gear in combat. Keep in mind, this gear adds 15 lbs of extra load at all times. you CANNOT drop this tech as it's worth more than you. Besides, It's just a bunch of stuff we don't use, taking the place of useful stuff like extra guns or ammo. The map showing soldiers' locations isn't exactly quick, either. And there are LOTS of glitches. I walked around the lot. My position on the map lags about a minute behind where I was in real time. That kind of delay wouldn't be too important in a long-range duel of sharpshooters. But in an Iraq-style firefight it could be lethal.

..When I finally got into a fight, making sure I didn't get my weapon entangled in the suit's wires. I point the M-4 across the field at a row of houses. I wait — and wait — for the enhanced gunsight to focus. It responds more like a cheap digital camera than an advanced piece of military gear. In the time it took to focus, I was shot in the arm by enemy fire. Yeah.. that's not something you like to see happen. I was then med evacted out on a helicopter. Well, it landed and when I came out there was a dude who looked like a cop standing there with my name out. I ain't trying to get arrested, I just got here. I sprang with the quickness like lightening, disappeared. I whistled for a cab and when it came near the license plate said fresh and it had dice in the mirror. If anything I can say this cab is rare But I thought 'Now forget it' - 'Yo homes to Bel Air' I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8 And I yelled to the cabbie 'Yo homes smell ya later' I looked at my kingdom I was finally there To sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel Air.]]>Mar 28th 2008 5:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
Damn! You had me till the end, good sir.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0md6Flcrd0s
]]>Mar 28th 2008 5:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
Sati you slick rick you.

Nice writing man.

Thanx for the laugh.]]>Mar 28th 2008 1:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 3:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
Go ahead and tear me apart on this if anyone has some counterpoints, just a thought that came to mind after reading Jeffrey's comment. ]]>Mar 28th 2008 4:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.anti-cnn.com/]]>Sep 6th 2008 9:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
...but over there, we can blow them up too ^_^]]>Mar 28th 2008 4:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
The dude that never forgets /anything/. heh.

...bring on the TiB hard drives!]]>Mar 28th 2008 4:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/January 17, 1961, President Dwight Eisenhower
By the way Cellenin where is it said to be paranoid about believing in the constitution? We should be very careful not to turn human beings into targets on a hud. I know you cant make war humane believe me I know, but we must be careful in how we transform it...I look at games that simulate this and the kids think this is cool thats what bothers me, hope that clarifies things. ]]>Mar 28th 2008 5:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 9:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
... what the hell was up with the Fresh Princery?]]>Mar 28th 2008 7:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 5:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
And, no, I am not being sarcastic. I have a semi-open mind and will listen to well-reasoned theories. I just hear so few well reasoned theories....]]>Mar 28th 2008 6:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 8:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 8:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 9:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
"making political means a much safer route for other nations than military action."

And that is exactly what military research expenditure is geared toward. The purpose of a military is to enforce political will when negotiations fail. Whether that means offense or defense is secondary.

There are several reasons the US develops and continues to develop the highest-tech weaponry: 1) our Constitutional philosophy is based on an idealism that runs counter to historical doctrines almost worldwide and which must be defended if it is to prevail; 2) our prosperity and proactive stance on individual freedom leads to a level of enmity from those who lack one or both; 3) as a medium-sized nation (look at your atlas) with three battle fronts, we can not afford for any hegemony of nations to feel confident enough to challenge us on our own terrain.

/Reader/ is 100% correct here; we are safer -- our nation has not been challenged with direct military action as part of another nation's political will -- because our weapons technology gives great pause to nations with superior numbers of fighting men & machines.]]>Mar 28th 2008 9:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
Aaaagh! Bastage! You got me -- that was a good one.

bastage.]]>Mar 28th 2008 9:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 30th 2008 9:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
The facts are that the soldiers on the ground liked the tech enough to request 1,000 more.]]>Mar 28th 2008 9:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
That dude got us all !!

LOLz..]]>Mar 28th 2008 1:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 9:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 9:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 9:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 28th 2008 9:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
Frankly, I realize some definite benefits but I hope that it becomes priced low enough that the average American could buy one. No, I am not an , or a er, or anyone else who has an unreasonable vendetta against the government. But there's a reason the Founding Fathers had the second amendment, and it wasn't just to protect ourselves from criminals. Go study up what they said. It is also intended to protect us from our own government.]]>Mar 28th 2008 12:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
http://dontworrysir.ytmnd.com/

]]>Mar 28th 2008 12:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
Do any military guys remember wearing that stupid IR training gear made back in the 80s? (I got out in 2001 and we were still using it). The crap never fit on an M16 right, and it had to be modded for an M4 because the Army was too cheap to buy a new transmitter. Plus, the stupid halo that went on the kevlar helmet hurt the back of the neck from looking up while in the prone. And, who can forget that geniusly designed body harness that had to go over the head ... I can remember so many fond days of just want to drop my ruck sack only to be thwarted by being caught up in a spider web of tie-downs and that GD training gear.

Look, if only team leaders and above are wearing this gear, what happens to command & control when the team leader or above goes down? If everyone is going to become reliant on this crap, then imagine what happens when PV2 Joe Knucklehead (that one jackass in the platoon) decides to Sua Sponte because he's not jacked into the network? Or, what happens when the enemy gets ahold of one of those things from a downed trooper?

To me, that entire thing needs to be rethinked ... personally, I think we should give the job to Steve Jobs and the California Apple Lab. It'd be made as light as possible and simple beyond belief. Hell, it'd probably all be the size of an iPhone ... and get rid of that damn HUD! A simple LCD screen on the wrist would be way more practical! ]]>Mar 28th 2008 1:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Mar 29th 2008 10:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
It's kind of funny seeing a reference to the Manchus of the 9th Infantry Regiment. When I was stationed at Fort Ord, CA in the early 90s with the 7th Infantry Division (Light), I was with the 17th Infantry Regiment (Buffalos) and we used to poke fun at the Manchus by chanting "bless you" when they were running by, going "Manchu...Manchu..."

Those were the days. ]]>Mar 30th 2008 7:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/
I don't know how many of those things got replaced because the cord running from the iCom to the ear would always get torn up ... whether they were cut through or ripped apart by being snagged on things. Plus, the push to talk was a pain in the ass because it meant taking a hand off the M4 mid-firefight and pushing on a button usually pinned to the collar -- only to try and talk in a way the other guy could hear you cause you were gasping for breath from sprinting and diving (yah that 3-5 second rush thing), plus, having to say everything twice cause the button wasn't pushed all the way down, or it was pressed intermittently.

Hell, I carried my iCom clipped to my LCE, no ear-bud, for that reason. It meant having noise that enemy in hiding could hear and find my position, but it was a trade-off I was willing to make for mobility and flexibility.

I also want to add a piece of Army doctrine that goes back to the Rangers in the Revolutionary War -- listening. I don't remember what the acronyms is, but it was basically how the point guy took a knee, removed his kevlar and just listened, looked around and smelled the air. The point being, even the helmet can be an encumbrance when trying to use the most basic of human instincts in a survival situation. ]]>Mar 28th 2008 1:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/28/army-tests-of-land-warrior-high-tech-uniform-successful-soldier/Apr 29th 2008 12:53PM