Computers in the Military

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The armed forces have a very complex supply chain, where the right item

needs to be in the right place at the right time. This could be anything from

bread rolls for lunch to a tank to patrol a war zone.

The logistics are handled

with the help of computer systems where items are tracked by technologies such

as barcodes and RFID devices.

Smart weapons.

There are many

reasons why it is desirable to have accurate weapons.

Weapon systems, such

as a missile, have sophisticated on-board computer systems, able to track

exactly where it is at any instant in time.

For example, the

on-board computer system can connect to GPS navigation satellites to work out

its current path in real-time.

Command and control

Armies work through a

chain of command.

Generals issue orders

to their officers who issue orders to their troops.

All this requires a

very reliable, tough and secure communication system.

The heart of such a

system are computer systems, from a digital radio backpack carried by a soldier

to a sophisticated satellite system in space.

21st century soldier

'Situational

awareness' is the key term.

Imagine a platoon

where every soldier knows exactly where their comrades are in real-time through

a helmet-mounted graphics display.

They can also connect

to real-time video feeds from hovering cameras if need be. Gradually this is

becoming a reality, and computer systems are at the heart of it.

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