If you look at a soldier from World War II or Korea or Vietnam, you will see similarities to today’s infantryman: helmet, rifle, bullets, boots: the basics.

Naturally, there’s a lot of differences, too. In five years, there will be more, and 15 years, more still, as the Army works to keep the technological edge of the dismounted combat troop.

As wide-ranging as they are, both near-term and long-term advances sought by the Army reveal some emerging themes.

But what about your guns? Improvements may be more incremental. Physics have limits and so do budgets. But the Army is upgrading carbines with a more reliable barrel, it has picked out a new sniper rifle and it is working to do the same for a new handgun.

These improvements come from a variety of sources, including the Army’s Research, Engineering and Development Command (working closely with industry and academia), the Maneuver Center of Excellence (infused with ideas direct from the battlefield) and of course Program Executive Office Soldier, which develops prototypes and procures field equipment  as technological advances become available.

Read More- Army Times

Image courtesy of Getty