The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Those troops you saw in science fiction movies as a child are now real. A few years ago, many countries recognised a need to upgrade the individual infantryman and thus started their own “future soldier” programs. Most of them completed more or less the main priority objectives, applying them to some of their elite troops and special forces, bringing together commercial, off-the-shelf technology and state of the art military gear and equipment.

More lethal assault rifles, upgraded weapon sights, modular gear, more effective head, body and limb protection, cutting-edge networked communication, computer and navigation gadgets — nowadays these subsystems transform a common soldier into a high-tech warrior.

Now, with helmets fitted with real-time positioning and information systems, thermal weapons sights, and computers embedded into their uniforms, soldiers are able to engage in combat assisted by satellite imagery of the battlefield and ballistic accuracy calculations. The future of ground warfare will surely bring integrated smart weapons, lightweight full body armours made of more advanced materials, exoskeletons, and even cybernetic implants to the battlefields; but, until then, the following photos from around the world show you the present. And it’s scary enough.

These are the most advanced troopers of our age, the people their enemies fear the most.


USA: “Land Warrior” individual soldier combat system

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Gerry J. Gilmore, American Forces Press Service

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Spc Steven Hitchcock/US Army

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Ric Feld/AP//The News Tribune, Peter Haley/AP


“FÉLIN” (Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons Intégrés, Integrated Infantryman Equipment and Communications), the French Future Soldier program

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: SIRPA Terre/ADC Gilles Gesquiere

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: SIRPA Terre/CCH J-B Tabone

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: SIRPA Terre/ADC Gilles Gesquiere


Russian “Ratniks”, a.k.a Warriors, with high-tech military equipment, the “future soldier kit”

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Itar-Tass

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: 2014 Calendar for Alpha Group

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Rostec


“Normans”, the Future Soldier System of Norway

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Torbjørn Kjosvold/Forsvarets mediesenter

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Torbjørn Kjosvold/Forsvarets mediesenter

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Torbjørn Kjosvold/Forsvarets mediesenter


The “Future Integrated Soldier Technology” (FIST) and the “Army 2020,” the transformation of the British Army for the 2020s and beyond

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: PO(Phot) Sean Clee/Royal Navy/Crown

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Army/Crown

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Cpl Mark Webster/Army/Crown


Germany’s IdZ — “Infanterist der Zukunft — Erweitertes System”, or “Future Soldier — Expanded System” — is also known as the “Gladius”

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Bundeswehr/Bender

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Bundeswehr/Rott

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Bundeswehr/Rott

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Rheinmetall

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Rheinmetall


The “ISW Tytan” (Indywidualny System Walki Tytan, or “Individual Warfare System Titan”) is the Polish Future Soldier military project

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Bumar PCO

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Bumar PCO

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Polish Defence Holding


“IMESS”, the Swiss Future Soldier program

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Cassidian


“ACMS”, Advanced Combat Man System, the Singaporean Future Soldier project.

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: ST Electronics


The “21st Century soldier” (Voják 21. století) is the Czech Future Soldier project

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Jan Kouba, Ministerstvo obrany České republiky/Marie Křížová, Ministerstvo obrany České republiky


“LAND 125” Soldier Combat System is being planned and phased in by the Australian military

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: LSIS Jo Dilorenzo/Australian DoD


“Combatiente Futuro” (COMFUT) is a program developed by the Spanish Armed Forces

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

The High-Tech Soldiers Of The Future Are Here

Picture: Ministerio de Defensa de España

Lead picture: SIRPA Terre/ADC Gilles Gesquiere


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