Active_Military

Active Military War Is Hand-Held on Battlefield of the Future In the valleys of FT. IRWIN, Calif.--For nearly a century, the essential gear for the front-line infantry soldier has been a rifle, boots, canteen and helmet. Soon, it may also include a hand-held computer linked to satellites. U.S. military officials believe the system, developed by engineers at TRW Inc.'s research laboratory in Carson, could alter the way wars are fought by giving soldiers unprecedented access to battlefield information. It marks a significant step toward the Pentagon's goal of using information technology to defeat enemies before they have a chance to threaten American lives. Last week, in the first major demonstration of the revolutionary concept, about 950 U.S. Army tanks and armored personnel carriers fought a mock battle here, 31 miles north of Barstow, outfitted with 10-inch computer monitors that told them instantly where they were, where they should go and where the enemy might be. Aided by orbiting spy satellites, each crew was able to view a digital map of the landscape, including three-dimensional contours, that gave it a better overview of the skirmish than any general ever had. Moreover, the commander in the operations center miles from the front line was system, soldier, officials, computer, hand-held, army, soldiers, instantly, able, trw, time, said, research, pentagon's, pentagon, one, include, each, devices, commanders, battlefield, years, way, vehicle, technology, tank, spent, should, satellites, precise, plan, off, new, monitor, miles, location, linked, line, last, know, information, infantry, help, go, giving, general, fought, first, exercise, enemy, enemies