STAR 21 Strategic Technologies for the Army of the Twenty-First Century (1992) / Chapter Skim
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4 Advanced Technologies of Importance to the Army
4 Advanced Technologies of Importance to the Army
Pages 192-203
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From page 192... ...
At a meeting with the Army earlier that year in Washington, D.C., Army representatives had requested a short list of the highest-priority technologies from among those on the full list. The subcommittee group at the Irvine meeting, which included at least one representative from each of the technology groups except Basic Sciences, derived the requested short list by the following process.
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From page 193... ...
Modern warfare, like modern society in general, seems destined to become increasingly dependent on advanced technology for information gathering, processing, and communication. As Chapter 2 pointed out, Operation Desert Storm illustrated just how important winning the information war has become in modern ground warfare.
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From page 194... ...
Selected Technologies The following nine technologies were selected by the STAR Science and Technology Subcommittee as having the highest priority for the Army: technology for multidomain smart sensors; · terahertz-device electronics; · secure wideband communications technology; · battle management software technology; solid state lasers and/or coherent diode laser arrays; genetically engineered and developed materials and molecules; electric-drive technology; material formulation techniques for "designer" materials; and methods and technology for integrated systems design. Each of these technologies is described briefly below: Multidomain smart sensors will be required to locate and target stealthy enemy in camouflage and deception.
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From page 195... ...
Uncooled focal plane arrays do not require cooling with liquid nitrogen, as do current infrared detectors; without the cryogenic cooling, the devices can be lighter and less expensive. For example, this revolutionary technology will allow the Army to expand night vision capability to rifles and weapon sights, passive terminal homing guidance for smart missiles, sights for transport vehicle drivers, and so on.
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From page 196... ...
Millimeter-wave and optical communication links to satellites, as well as fiber optics networks, offer the greatest potential for secure high-bandwidth transmission for both long distances and local information distribution. Spread-spectrum electromagnetic links to remotely operated air and ground vehicles will also provide the basis for "telepresence," which enables the intelligence of humans and smart machines to be merged for many applications, including reconnaissance and targeting.
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From page 197... ...
Solid state lasers based on the rare earth elements and pumped by diode laser arrays are a promising technology for advanced military applications of optics, photonics, and directed energy devices. In contrast to flashlamps, which are the historical method of pumping solid state lasers, diode lasers emit in a narrow spectral band that couples more efficiently into the narrow pump band of the rare earths, delivering the necessary excitation with a much reduced thermal load.
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From page 198... ...
Soldiers will be immunologically enhanced for global protection from naturally occurring endemic infectious disease organisms, which will probably remain the largest casualty producer in future combat situations. Expert medical diagnostic systems in palm-top computers will allow nonspecialist personnel to make rapid diagnoses.
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From page 199... ...
Combining an advanced engine with an advanced electric drive that distributes power flexibility to each wheel or track will significantly improve power density and weight distribution while decreasing signatures and fuel consumption. Power plant options for these integrated systems include ultra-high-temperature quasi-stoichiometric gas turbines with high-pressure ratios and nonrecuperative simple cycles.
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From page 200... ...
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS FROM THE SELECTION PROCESS As the Science and Technology Subcommittee deliberated on its selection of a short list of high-payoff technologies, its members were led to several general conclusions that the Subcommittee thought will have as much significance to the Army as any list of a few particular technologies. The STAR Committee believes that these conclusions, drawn by a representative body of the STAR study's technology experts, are important enough to the major themes of this main report that they bear repeating.
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From page 201... ...
COMPARISON WITH OTHER TECHNOLOGY LISTS Appendix A compares the STAR lists of high-payoff technologies and high-payoff notional systems with three other lists: (1) the Army Technology Base Master Plan, (2)
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From page 203... ...
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