As battlefield objectives become more specific, the need for precision increases correspondingly. The successful kinetic operation needs a greater level of accuracy if we are to avoid collateral damage, fratricide and maintain the good will of indigenous people. So, operators must be able to interact quickly and accurately with command and control, and they must also be empowered with a three dimensional view of the battlefield.
Q-Warrior™ is a see-through helmet mounted soldier display offering a high transmission and high luminance see-through display, which incorporates a high-resolution color, collimated display. The technology allows the use of symbols and video. What is important is that the soldier or operator receives this information overlaid on the real view of what’s actually out there.
“Paul Wright, Soldier Systems’ Business Development Lead at BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems in Rochester, Kent, said “Q-Warrior™ increases the user’s situational awareness by providing the potential to display “eyes-out” information to the user, including textual information, warnings and threats,” he said. “Other key features include enhanced night vision, waypoints and routing information, and the ability to track both personnel and assets.
“The biggest demand, in the short term at least, will be in roles where the early adoption of situational awareness technology offers a defined advantage,” added Mr Wright. “This is likely to be within non-traditional military units with reconnaissance roles, such as Forward Air Controllers/Joint Tactical Aircraft Controllers (JTACS) or with Special Forces during counter terrorist tasks. The next level of adoption could be light role troops such as airborne forces or marines, where technical systems and aggression help to overcome their lighter equipment.”
I suspect Q-Warrior will have both a learning curve and acclimation period very much like the helmet mounted systems used by Apache pilots but once implemented, perhaps as part of the proposed Tactical Assault Light-Operator Suit, or TALOS initiative for USSOCOM, the technology should prove indispensible.
FOG HORN 