DARPA eyes technologies for dismounted soldiers

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. military has a new program to develop lightweight integrated technology for dismounted soldiers.

The program is called Squad X Core Technologies and builds upon two earlier Requests for Information by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

"SXCT aims to help dismounted infantry squads have deep awareness of what's around them, detect threats from farther away and, when necessary, engage adversaries more quickly and precisely than ever before," said Maj. Christopher Orlowski, DARPA program manager. "We are working towards advanced capabilities that would make dismounted infantry squads more adaptable, safe and effective."

DARPA said the program is will focus on four key areas:

-- Precision engagement for threats as much as a half-mile away. The technology would be compatible with infantry weapon systems and not add imposing weight or operational burdens;

-- Non-kinetic engagement systems to disrupt enemy command and control, communications and use of unmanned assets;

-- Sensing technologies to detect threats up to a half-mile away.

-- Technologies that increase location awareness of units and individuals in GPS-denied environments by leveraging embedded unmanned air and ground systems.

DARPA said it is holding a familiarization conference on the program's technical objectives with industry on February 27.