Tactical Gear Developments for Lessening Soldiers' Loads, Reducing Injuries - 0 views
started by Ike Lindahl on 19 Jul 12
started by Ike Lindahl on 19 Jul 12
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When dehydration occurs, an individual experiences some sort of drop in blood level, which results in the guts needing to work tougher, muscle cramps, dizziness, fatigue, heat exhaustion, or a heat swing. Because dehydration happens effortlessly in dry, hot arid climates, soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq, or any area with similar conditions should be equipped with hydration packs and effective filtration equipment.
As degenerative arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions have become more prevalent in soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, lightening troops' loads has developed into a factor in creating new tactical gear. The weight of the soldier's load has enhanced tenfold since 2003 and generated multiple pervasive repercussions. According to a March 2010 Seattle Times bit titled "Weight of Struggle: Gear that Protects Soldiers Also Injures Them, " heavier loads lowers combat readiness, and between 2004 in addition to 2007, one-third of all health-related evaluations in Afghanistan in addition to Iraq stemmed from musculoskeletal connective structure or spinal injuries - double the number of injuries from combat.
In March, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, chairman of the Home Armed Services Committee's tactical fresh air and land forces section, stated that the Armed service and Marine Corps need to consider alternative approaches for carrying gear and ammunition, as loads for soldiers is as large as 145 kilos. While Rep. Bartlett drew attention to the growing concern, lighter but powerful tactical gear will be developed for soldiers being a response to it.
The XM806 lightweight. 50 caliber machine gun is the type of piece of gear. A successor to your M2, the XM806 is half the weight of the predecessor, and its recoil will be reduced by 60 per cent. The XM806 has numerous 2, 000 meters - 170 over the M2 - as well as allows for quick barrel changes without having adjustments for head space and timing. While not currently fielded, the XM806 was scheduled to be in use by 2014, but a pierced primer ended in more testing. The delay is projected to get 17 months, and the additional time permits PEO Soldier Systems to develop a more reliable tool.
The M224A1 60mm light-weight company mortar system includes a similar set of characteristics. 20-percent lighter than its predecessor, the M224A1 uses some sort of nickel-based alloy for cannon tubes and keeps a similar range. Considered more durable, the M224A1 requires less maintenance and is particularly expected to replace many 1, 550 mortar systems by 2014.
Ammunition, as well, is being developed having a similar set of qualities. The M829E4 120mm Advanced Kinetic Energy tactical tank round is anticipated to be more accurate in comparison with previous tank ammunition but will never require additional force for soldiers. Although still in a developmental stage, the M829E4 round is being designed to have better heavy armor defeat capabilities and to increase first shot lethality.
While being lighter and still powerful is the aim behind new or in-development tactical items, equipment to carry a heavy load, such as the Human being Universal Load Carrier (HULC), is also in the works. HULC would equip a new soldier to lift two hundred pounds of supplies, weapons, ammunition, or another person. Developed by Lockheed Martin in partnership with Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center, HULC is a battery-powered exoskeleton which has a built-in microcomputer and hydraulically-driven titanium thighs, which align with some sort of soldier's movements.