The United States Military is the most elite and advanced fighting force on the planet. The elite status however comes not just through the flesh and blood soldiers that populate the battlefield but through the technological advances that we have made. The technological advancement protects our soldiers with smart weaponry, which can be carried with them into the thick of the fight. Stinger missiles able to track the heat signature of a helicopter can be carried by a single man onto the battle field to take out enemy helicopters that threaten his fellow team members. New and improved jets such as the F-22 can take out all enemy power even when out gunned 5-1 thanks to the ability of stealth technology that helps cover them up from radar, or the new and improved targeting computers that exist on board.
Technology isn’t just for attack either; new technology has helped to create better armor from tanks to the armor of a single solider. The M1 Abrams not only uses depleted uranium in its munitions but thanks to technology it’s now used in its armor creating a safer tank that can take hit after hit without killing the crew. Technology has also been able to allow tanks to communicate with each other, with advance global positioning systems live battle information is downloaded insentiently to the tank allowing each to know were friendly tanks, and troops are located so they can better pursue enemy combatants without endangering friendlies.
Yet for the common foot solider the greatest advancement comes from the fact that technology can help reduce weight of important systems. Body Armor which was originally just steel plates weighed a ton to carry around the battlefield but thanks to improvements in Kevlar and ceramic, they have become the new replacement armor. This not only has cut down on the weight carried by the soldiers but is also better suited to protect them from direct enemy fire than traditional steel. Yet even that pales into comparison of the advancement of the radio. The traditional radio weighed about 40 pounds and couldn’t be drop off the back when a Platoon or Squad ran into enemy contact. Today however the weight has been cut drastically down to just ten pounds allowing for more efficient contact with higher on how the Squad or Platoon should proceed on the mission, or even when they need medevac.
Works Cited
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"M1A1 / M1A2 Abrams - Main Battle Tank." Army Technology. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://www.army-technology.com/projects/abrams/>.
Shachtman, Noah. "The Army's New Land Warrior Gear: Why Soldiers Don't Like It - Popular Mechanics." Automotive Care, Home Improvement, Tools, DIY Tips - Popular Mechanics. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/4215715>.
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