Soldiers overseas consistently experience regular and consistent threats. As a result, tactical equipment is always evolving to meet this need. According to an article by Lance M. Bacon titled “Equipping the Soldiers of the Future,” new or improved tactical equipment goes from an idea to out on the field in a year or less. The gear being created, however, addresses a specific threat, and the development of new equipment focuses more on mission-specific adaptability instead of uniformity. The Asymmetric Warfare Group, Program Executive Office Soldier, and Rapid Equipping Force are involved in the process of identifying a need for soldiers, developing the equipment, and getting it out into the field as soon as possible.
Enhanced Night Vision Goggles are one of the new pieces of gear developed and put into action. These goggles use thermal detection, which allows the wearer to see people and vehicles at night, in all weather conditions, and during battle.
Another new development for tactical gear is the “Sense Through the Wall” technology. The AN/PPS-26 uses radar waves to sense and find targets through eight inch thick walls. The device is sensitive enough to detect breathing patterns. The AN/PPS-26 has a 20-meter reach and uses a red-dot sight to find the target. Although not implemented yet, 9,212 detectors are planned for the future.
The Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a detection device for IEDs. The GPR identifies buried mines and explosives – even nonmetallic ones – and is attached to a vehicle or the forward arm of the Husky mine detection system. As IEDs are a significant threat in Afghanistan, GPRs are expected to reduce the amount of explosives-related injuries and deaths.
The Second Generation Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) is an improvement over the previous body armor system. Efficiency is a key change in the 2nd Gen IOTV, and a plate carrier that allows soldiers to release weight quickly while still keeping their organs protected is the vest’s most notable feature. The 2nd Gen IOTV is equipped with a quick-release cable and is easily adjustable.
The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is another piece of tactical equipment that has seen recent changes. In addition to the implementation of the MultiCam pattern for troops in Afghanistan, ACUs no longer have crumpling collars and have less Velcro. The trouser pockets, for example, now have buttons, and the material has been treated to be fire resistant and with insect-resistant permethrine.