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Subject: Future of warfare (armor, infantry)
usa    4/16/2004 5:05:05 AM
I have seen a few of these threads, but nothing real definitive ahve seem to come of them. Will the future of warfare see tanks becoming more mech warrior-ish? 1. First off, is it a logical development fusing infantry and armor (not replacing infantry) into a complete weapons platform? 2. with advanced techs (good balace, effective drive systems), doesn't it make sence, as mechs would be more manuverable, and more effective in, say, urban enviroments? 3. Even if tanks were still a major weapons platform, then wouldn't a "super heavy" infantry be a logical new force in the military (as the technology appears)? When I saw mech, don't be thinking Atlas-type stuff. I mean more of a massive "suit" for soldiers, or a Vulture/Marauder type weapon system.
 
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mr_rok    RE:Future of warfare (armor, infantry)...when?   4/16/2004 5:19:03 AM
I'm pretty much involved in robotics and AI and I can tell you that a lot of water is going to pass beneath the bridge before your vision becomes a reality. Let's say in ~2050 if all goes well. If! The immediate future goes more towards tank EM guns (I know of power issues that need to be resolved first among other things), "electric" armor, maybe the U.S. Army's SPETC programme will get off the test ramp and into a tank? As for the infantry, I guess you just have to follow the "21st century soldier" programmes of several countries (USA, France, UK...) They're not all named named like that but in general seems to be an idea in all of them.
 
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   RE:Future of warfare (armor, infantry)...when?   4/19/2004 4:25:36 PM
Hey usa, I agree with mr)rok. The cost and mass are the big problems. Sincerely, Keith
 
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interrested 2    RE:Future of warfare (armor, infantry)...when?   4/19/2004 4:45:06 PM
That and: 1. energy supply 2. Mechanics 3. Balance issues 4. Control issues A big mech will not be of any use. A small soldier size suit will be below a sertain critical mass. (is mass for control compu, sensors, radio, big powerpack, armor against 12.7 or higher ammo etc etc) The mass will exceed the maximum possible mass/size for an urban requirement. After that a wheeled/tracked traditional verhicle is a much better option. It a big non starter and it will probably never come to anything
 
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Kozzy    RE:Future of warfare (armor, infantry)...when?   4/19/2004 5:11:25 PM
Are you talking about Gundam type mechs?
 
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Allan_X    RE:Future of warfare (armor, infantry)...when?   4/19/2004 6:27:21 PM
Forget about uparmored infantry, I would expect infantry-like robots to be more likely the development, in the future decades. An Infrantry robot, maybe as simple as a Four wheel motorbike, with a small turret holding a 7.62mm LMG or the grenade launcher.
 
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usa    RE:Future of warfare (armor, infantry)...when?   4/20/2004 1:13:25 PM
I was thinking more of something like this: http://www.clan-ghost-bear.com/images/vulture.gif Or "up armored" infantry. Starhip troopers-ish things. Or even Halo like armor. Is that in the future of things?
 
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Artfull-Bodger    RE:Future of warfare (armor, infantry)...when?   4/20/2004 1:26:22 PM
how about remote controlled tanks , smaller and lighter than modern designs with no internal space they could be massively armoured!
 
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   RE:Future of warfare (armor, infantry)...when?   4/20/2004 5:09:00 PM
Sorry Artfull-Bodger, But mass and expense are the limiting factors. It also takes manpower to maintence them. a Battlemech would weigh roughly 20,000 to 100,000 tons with modern methods! Only Suppercarriers and transport ships weigh that much presently. Sincerely, Keith
 
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Sophmore    RE:Future of warfare (armor, infantry)...when?   4/20/2004 7:52:05 PM
Insane amounts of armour on Remote controled tanks would be pointless. whats the point of armor then theres no-one to protect with it. I suposes it would keep the CPU safe but the vehical itself would be easliy disabled aim for the sensers with a HMG and scratch one tank, then you can walk up open up the proccesser and drop a hand grenade in there a single soldier could take a tank out of action no problem. And that just one scenario the tracks the main gun everything would still be just as easy to put out of action the only thing the armors there for is the crew becuase mobility and firepower can both bedisabled without penetration
 
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roadcop    RE:Future of warfare (armor, infantry)...when?   4/21/2004 7:12:02 AM
Remote controlled tanks? Forget it... Easily jammed and disabled. Military robots can be very vulnerable to EM pulse weapons (small nuclear devices). Powered armor for infantry? More realistic, IMHO... and more useful. Also I can imagine hovertanks (with modern materials like kevlar we can design bullet-proof plenums, also hovertanks could be equipped with reactive armor). Also, for more conventional weapons... Super-heavy sniper rifles (20-25 mm shells capable to defeat any IFV or APC), caseless ammo for assault rifles and machineguns, liquid propellant for artillery and much much more. Battlefield will change greatly in XXI century.
 
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