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The 38-Ton Think Tank
It's the perfect mix of firepower and processing power. The US Marines crammed all the computing might of a fully staffed command center into their new advanced amphibious assault vehicle. The armor-plated AAAV packs four workstations linked with a 100-gig Ethernet cable, a mobile router, thermal scopes, multiple radio links for satellite and land-based communications, 18 combat-equipped troops, and a three-person crew.
The $7 million landing craft can cruise through 6-foot swells at 23 to 29 mph - nearly four times faster than the current model - and keep up with battle tanks on the ground. It's topped with a 7.26-mm machine gun, and a 30-mm cannon makes it look more like an elongated tank than a waterproof server closet. A big chunk of military strategy is riding on the AAAV, which is slated for action in 2007. The thinking goes like this: The more information available to soldiers in the field, and the more data those soldiers can relay back to headquarters, the better the chance of victory. The shift to data-rich battlefields started with the Gulf War. Traditionally, 90 percent of military communications have been conducted by voice: Soldiers reported their location and situation, commanders issued orders. The AAAV will put text, pictures, maps of troop movements and artillery activity, and even video right on the battlefield. No word yet on whether it runs Counter-Strike.
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signal : noise
Keep Your Enemies Closer
Nutrition
MILITARY HARDWARE
BIOENGINEERING
Jargon Watch
Star Man
Exploded View
Wiring the Wells
cheat sheet
Holyware
ENTREPENEURS
Wired | Tired | Expired
