How Defense Technology is Changing in 2018

Technology has transformed every part of modern-day life, and nowhere is this more obvious than in the military, where defense technology is changing at a rapid pace.

Here is how defense technology is changing in 2018.

1. A significant focus on cyber and electronic warfare

Cyber and electronic warfare is at the top of private and public authority’s priorities these days. As all military systems utilize communications and computer networks to plan operations, an enemy’s ability to disrupt, deceive and destroy these networks can cause serious concerns.

Despite the growing investment in this arena, traditional security strategies have grappled with the need to protect against highly advanced cyber attacks and safeguard valuable data.

Therefore, militaries need to be better prepared to defend their networks and data against sophisticated cyber threats. For this reason, in 2018 a significant focus will be on building systems and processes to protect organizations from cyber and electronic warfare. This way, militaries can establish control, and keep their system, personnel and subjects out of harm’s way.

In 2018, there remains to be an urgent need for cybersecurity solutions and strategies that are always a step ahead of the rest.

2. Investment in automated equipment

As everything in our lives edges closer to total automation, military equipment is no different. Defense departments all around the globe are looking to obtain devices that can function without the physical presence of humans.

Whether it is automated attack drones, automated submarine hunters, self-driving convoys, or something else, these defense technologies will be utilized to take the place of soldiers in some of the most high-risk military assignments, protecting human armed forces while undertaking defense tasks.

Additionally, drones can be employed to decrease the time and costs necessary for the maintenance of assets. That being said, the concern over cyber and electronic warfare (see #1) makes it challenging to protect this type of technology adequately.

Moral and ethical dilemmas surrounding military automation must also be thoughtfully examined, and may necessitate a comprehensive rewriting of military policy and law.

For these reasons, while militaries continue to invest in automatic equipment, it will take a lot of smaller steps to actually implement automated technologies in the battlefield.

3. The advancement of virtual reality training for soldiers

In the past, military training had always been time-consuming and expensive. In addition to being more efficient and cheaper, today’s militaries are converting to using virtual reality (VR) training for soldiers, as it can be manipulated to create a more realistic understanding of situations and allows soldiers to retain a higher level of information.

VR can be used for a full range of immersive scenarios (such as mission rehearsals and live fire exercises) as well as tactical exercises. Various software are now available which allow trainees to be exposed to a variety of demonstrations and scenarios in a single training session.

Not just for soldiers, army medics also find great value in the immersive approach of VR, as it gives them the chance to endure and experience the turmoil and chaos of a battlefield — a situation that is a challenge to recreate with more traditional methods.

4. The necessity for armored vehicles with discrete blast and ballistic protection

Global tension and hotspots of conflict continue to escalate around the world. In response to such dangers, global militaries have witnessed the growing need for adaptive armored vehicle fleets. In addition to having an extremely configurable design, armored vehicles must be equipped with high-quality discrete blast and ballistic protection.

With ballistic protection up to STANAG 4569 Level 4 and mine protection STANAG 4569 up to Level 4A/4B, the NIMR N35 was designed to operate efficiently under the severest military circumstances. Moreover, this vehicle provides its crew unparalleled comfort and security.

The defense abilities of the N35 have seen it surge in demand, gaining renown globally.

A Continuing Metamorphosis

The defense industry remains in a state of transformation as border tensions continue to escalate, the threats of cyber-attacks are ever-present, and defense technology advances in terms of automation.

Militaries and security organizations cannot afford to be left behind. They must realign their tactics and approaches to take into account new disruptive technologies, while also focusing on keeping their military assets ready and prepared for deployment as efficiently as possible.