Military

Future Soldier Vision concept imagines the British soldier of 2025

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Future Soldier Vision shows what the British soldier of the next decade may look like
Dstl
The FSV helmet has bone-conducting headphones
Dstl
The FSV helmet has built-in sensors
Dstl
The FSV has smartglasses with a heads-up display
Dstl
Future Soldier Vision shows what the British soldier of the next decade may look like
Dstl
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What will the British infantry of 2025 look like? At the recent Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibitions in London, Britain's Ministry of Defence (MOD) took the wraps off its Future Soldier Vision (FSV), which is what the Ministry imagines a high-tech squaddie of the next decade might look like. Developed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the British Army, Kinneir Dufort, and SEA Ltd, the FSV is based on projections of today's commercial and military technology.

The concept battle dress features sensor-laden body armor for better survivability and situational awareness, as well as a personal-role computer and information-sharing network capability. The most obvious advance of the FSV is the helmet, which serves as more of an information processing center than a plastic brain bucket. Referred to as a "head sub-system," an integrated power supply runs a crown of lightweight sensors that not only feed data to the wearer, but to fellow squad members.

Over the ears are bone conducting headphones that improve communications and situational awareness without interfering with the wearer's hearing. What look like shooting glasses on the FSV are actually smart glasses with a built-in camera and a heads-up display to relay data. Continuing the wearable data concept is a smartwatch that monitors and records biometric data.

The FSV helmet has bone-conducting headphones
Dstl

The FSV protects the body of the soldier of tomorrow with customizable segmented armor with flexible shoulder pads to not only enhance protection, but to also distribute weight from the notoriously heavy loads squaddies routinely carry in the field. In addition, the armor has its own integrated power supply, power and data connectors, and an emergency release cord to get the lot off fast.

Completing the FSV is a concept weapon that is ergonomic, customizable, and can share targeting information with other soldiers and units.

"The Future Soldier Vision concept provides the MOD and industry with an aim point for what the soldier could look like a decade from now," says Ross Jones, Programme Manager for Close Combat Systems, Dstl. "It provides a platform to challenge what this future could be and how industry and academia could help the MOD to make it a reality."

The video below outlines the Future Soldier Vision concept.

Source: MOD

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8 comments
Robert Walther
Wow! At their current rate of downsizing, it's good to see how all 24 members of the British Armed forces will be outfitted in ten years.
Stephen N Russell
Test overseas after UK testing & in states like Norway, Greece, Italy, then major overseas use & PR for next 007 movie.
David993
This looks like a committee solution! The armour leaves large parts of the body exposed, especially face, neck and arms. So we are providing additional protection to the chest and back at the expense of mobility and comfort? Regardless the armour is not going to protect against a high velocity round, so why bother?
christopher
LOL - like as if they won't be at home with a screen and xbox controller.
RelayerM31
Hmm... It looks British-y and all but I dunno. Is this just the base armor or something? A lightly armed soldier could have this and then add other pieces. We'll see.
NikBennewitz
Dark Helmet would approove
Cyndy
This reminds me of a sci/fi movie staged for 2050 where people are using guns that have tech that is thousands of years old with some spit and polish to make them "Look" advanced.
Derby OD
Now we know what the future soldier will look like..... a dork!