From: ez000270@barney.ucdavis.edu (Adam)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: Shadowrun (long!)
Summary: Military stuff for SRUN
Date: 24 Jul 92 01:57:16 GMT
Followup-To: rec.games.cyber
Organization: Computing Services, UC Davis

[Disclaimer:]
	A long article concerning tech advances today has been reposted
so that my technological extrapolation to the Shadowrun era has some
background.  However, I suspect my extrapolation will be rather short-
sighted, actually.  After all, truth is stranger than fiction.
	If you want to cut to the chase, SIPE-IV begins on line 141.

THIS ARTICLE REPRINTED WITHOUT PERMISSION:

Copyright 1990 The Times Journal Company
Defense News

November 19, 1990

SECTION: ELECTRONIC AND ROBOTIC BATTLEFIELD; Pg. 12

HEADLINE: Computer Could Put C3I Capability in a Soldier's Pocket

BYLINE: By NEIL MUNRO, Defense News Staff Writer

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

BODY:
In a move that demonstrates the increasing use of computer 
technology at all levels of the military the U.S. Army intends to test 
in 1992, a new electronic targeting and communications system for 
infantrymen.

If successfl, the system would help infantrymen know what is 
happening in the chaos of combat, and quickly concentrate highly 
accurate fire from nearby soldiers and distant artillery.

The Soldier's Computer should be ready around 2000, and will 
combine a short-range radio, an accurate navigation system, a 
computer and a small vision device attached to the soldier's helmet.

Similar command, control, Communications and intelligence systems 
C3 re being developed to automatically link tanks and aircraft, 
industry officials said. For example, the Army's MIA2 Abrams tank is 
slated to include a C3I system that will automatically keep track of 
other friendly tanks and the location of some enemy units.

A similar C3I system, called Mapcase, is under development by GEC 
Ferranti Defense systems Ltd., based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The soldier's computer system is the most ambitious effort because it 
will link individual soldiers together into a C3I system.

Before the system is deployed, technological advances will reduce the 
weight and cost of the computer, officials said. For example, the 
weight of the computer would be about 9 pounds today, but will 
drop to only 1 pound by 1998. The one-pound computer will be 
small enough to fit into a soldier's pocket, according to a description 
of the system released by Communications Electronics Command, Fort 
Monmouth, N.J. CECOM plans to release a development contract for 
the computer in early 1991.

The vision device, resembling rear-view mirrors on a helmet, will 
protect an image seemingly two feet in front of the soldier's eye. The 
soldier will be able to see pictures gathered by other soldiers' 
infrared rifle sights or read intelligence information disseminated by 
headquarters, according to Patrick Snow, systems engineer for the 
Soldiers Integrated Protective Ensemble (SIPE) program. SIPE is 
sponsoring the development of the soldier's computer.

The radio also will allow soldiers to quickly communicate in battle, 
increasing the ability of infantry to fight as a team, he said.

A $ 10 million SIPE demonstration is scheduled for 1992, and will 
show how modern technology improves the effectiveness of the 
individual soldier Snow said. It will feature a basic version of the 
soldier's computer system combined with an infrared riflesight, 
improved armor protection, uniforms and protection against chemical 
weapons, Snow said.

Two infantrymen linked to a base station will be used to show the 
effectiveness of the system, said Snow, who is based at the Army's 
Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, Mass.

Although the overall system may be technologically ambitious, "the 
technology exists now. It is just a matter of getting it down to the 
right size, " said Snow. However, several obstacles face developers. 
"Definitely the cost is going to have to come down to make it 
available to every infantryman," Snow said

By the end af the decade, an infantryman's system could be built for 
$ 9,000.00, said Vince Scotti of Hughes Aircraft Co.'s Industrial 
Products Division, Carlsbad, Calif. Hughes is planning to market 
similar personal computer systems for maintenance of civilian 
aircraft.

However, Scotti warned that the price would increase if the Defense 
Department requires the system to comply with very tough military 
specification. "You are going to pay a high price to get that done," he 
said.

Scotti said the main problem facing developers is lack of money 
needed to acquire software used to manage information stored in the 
computer. Hardware is not a problem, Scotti said, adding that 
improved computer chips will shrink a radio to the size of a credit 
card by next year.

When deployed, the new system could help change infantry tactics, 
Snow said. The accurate navigation device and the radio will allow 
soldiers to better designate targets for long-range weaponry, while 
the improved communications and night vision equipment will 
increase combat capability.

Also, the computer system could be used to quickly prepare battle 
plans and to show the soldiers what kind of battle they will face.

  Jeff Nanis				MIT Lincoln Lab
  nanis@ll.mit.edu			Radars 'r' us.


From: nanis@ll.mit.edu (Jeff Nanis)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Warrior's Edge
	The latest Defense News (July 6-12, 1992) has another article
on the Soldiers Integrated Protective Ensemble (SIPE) demonstration,
part of the Soldier As A System (SAAS) program, aka "Warrior's Edge".
I won't post the whole article (it's copyrighted - look it up in 
your library), but I'll summarize here.

	SIPE will be tested this fall with a 12-man infantry squad and
full-scale tests will run from '94 to '97, with a Block I system 
fielded in 1999. Initially, soldiers will get PCs, data links, and
IR sensors on their helmets. Block II is slated now for circa 2010
IOC. Possible technologies/systems to be incorporated are: new armor,
stealth, multi-purpose rifles (bullets and microgrenades), EMP-resistant
electronics, cooperative engagement/shared targeting data networks,
and tiny radios (credit-card sized). Supposedly, the Special Forces
are also interested in powered exoskeletons and drugs that enhance
learning ability.

-- 
  Jeff Nanis				MIT Lincoln Lab
  nanis@ll.mit.edu			Radars 'r' us.

			SIPE-IV, Block III (circa 2052)

	Helmet:  Fully sealed, life support and rebreather enabled.
Completely armored visor with a fiber-optic sensor array on the faceplate
(cameras) and an emergency armorplas visor accessable by charge detonation.
Radio: 1000km range, Comlink-XX, Scramble-X, Vision Magnification-3, 
Thermographics, LI (25,000x), Hearing Amplification, Lo-and High freq
sonar, SQUID, Microwave Radar Reciever, laser communications system,
and an orientation system with holographic display.

	>>>>>[What the drek is all this stuff?  What the heck is a
Squid, anyway?]<<<<<  --Icepick

	>>>>>[SQUID=Superconducting Quantum Interference Device, useful
for detecting extremely tiny magnetic fields (.00001 Gauss, or a billionth
of Earth's B-field).  Fiber-optic array=thousands of microscopic light pipes 
ducted through the armor.  There's no visor, just a slab of Chobham.  The
sonar's the really bad stuff, though.  Hi-freq sonar is pretty good location
stuff (they use them on sights) and it doesn't have to be active: shine an
ultrasound on a soldier, and they know *exactly* where you are.  Odds are 
their gun will track on you faster than you can pull the trigger. Low-
freq sonar is good for detecting large things - or noises - through solids,
like buildings, the ground, etc.  What they don't list is the signal
processing computer which washes away all the garbage.  And even I don't
know how good that is so I can't give you an effective range on the sonar.
But watch out for the radar: it's 5 km individually, 500 km in an array.]
<<<<<  --The Mad Physicist

	>>>>>[An array?]<<<<<  --Icepick

	>>>>>[When the whole squads C-cubed-I integrates all the suits
sensors together and makes one big reciever out of all of them.]<<<<<
--The Mad Physicist

	Integrated Weapon System:  The IWS consists of a 3.5mm gauss rifle
coaxial with a 12cm Disk Airfoil Munition launcher.  The IWS is mounted
on a Enhanced-Targetting robotic arm cosupported by a smart memory plastic
frame.  The weapon is designed to be fired one-handed, with the Robotic arm
decreasing target acquisition time {+4 Reaction} and added stability in 
single shot/burst fire mode {-4 Recoil comp} and the memory frame continuously
reshaping to provide optimal bracing {-4 Recoil}.  The gunnery computer
provides tactical advice via holodisplay, threat warning and reaction, and
enhanced aiming {System is level 3 tactical computer, effective level 13
with all sensors and orientation system included. For SRII add this to
Combat Pool.  The weapon is, obviously, smartgun linked. Weapon stats:
3.5mm GR  6S2 SS/ 5S2 base burst/ 4S2 base full auto, as the weapon velocity
is *reduced* on full auto to help recoil, which is +1 ss, +1 burst, +1/2 
shot on auto; damage code of S due to proper setting of memory plastic 
sheathe in flechette (which is memory plastic + uranium core), but only M
if the wrong armor setting is used per "Smart ammo" rules [kudos] The 
gauss rifle is backpack-fed with 1,000 rounds of ammo (they will not 
detonate in an explosion, being solid with no propellant)
12cm Disk Munition:  Int:6  12D2/6D1  "Smart" frisbee CO2-launched for
minimal signature, programmable to detonate via IR, visual, sonar, radar,
or over a specified area as designated by the Gunnery computer. 
Detonation generates an armor piercing self-forging fragment backed by
1,563 hexagonal pellets in a downward direction, with blast effects
directed skyward (conservation of momentum & avoids IR glare) The
launcher can hold 3, which are electronically armed just prior to launch.
{They will not cook-off either, as the warhead is binary}

	>>>>>[This is really gross, especially the 'Death Frisbees'.
How do they detonate, and why *hexagonal* pellets?]<<<<< --Madman

	>>>>>[They detonate depending on what conditions/waypoints
the gunnery computer gives them.  And you can pack hexagons onto a flat
surface much better than spheres.]<<<<<  --The Mad Physicist

	>>>>>[Now I see what the SQUIDS are for.]<<<<< --Madman

	Battledress:  The battledress is ergonomically designed to provide
maximum battlefied efficiency and protection.  It has a built-in medkit
which can download diagnostics to the company casualty station, full
NBC protection, and life support for 20 hours.  The most innovative feature,
however, is the camouflage system.  Twelve sensor nodes with processing
are emplaced around the suit, and provide information for the visual
chameleon system {Ruthenium fibers, +12 Target Number to spot} and the
selective bleed IR camouflage {Passive and active IR masking, +12 Target}
Finally, the suit is Dikote treated and can utilize energy generated by
the soldier's body heat to run non-dedicated functions.{8/8 B/I}

	>>>>>[Jesus H. Christ, how can you see these bastards?]<<<<< --Madman

	>>>>>[Carry a SQUID and wait until they fire their gauss
rifles (you won't see IR or muzzleflash); set up a VERY VERY good
seismic array (and hope they don't detect it with low-freq sonars);
best yet just ask your mage friends.]<<<<< --The Mad Physicist

	>>>>>[Does *everybody* on this net know how to fudge time/date
stamps?]<<<<<  --Soroptimist (1-23-52/12:54:18)

	>>>>>[You're on a military network without knowing that?!?
Jack out!  Jack out now!  The IC'll track you via time/date!!]<<<<< --Madman

	>>>>>[Soroptomist?  Did you make it okay?]<<<<<  --Madman

	>>>>>[Soroptomist?]<<<<<  --Madman

	Mess Kit:  The mess kit contains eating and sanitation supplies, 
Disk Airfoil munitions, and other miscellany that soldiers from any age would
recognize immediately.

	Overall:  The SIPE-IV, Block III is, in our opinion, simply the best
integrated system for the battlefield soldier.  The excellent sensor and
communication suite, firepower, mobility and protection offered by this suit
ensures that it will continue to serve the UCAS Armed Forces in an exemplary
fashion as its predecessors have for the past 50 years.

	>>>>>[This, believe it or not, is just the basic model for the
grunts.  The officers model has a better laser communicator, gunnery
computer, and comes with remote drones for remote radar targetting and
communications.]<<<<<  -- The Mad Physicist

	>>>>>[Yeah, and the AirCav's got suits with vectored thrust,
more grenades, and a laser replacing the gauss rifle.]<<<<<  -- Madman

	>>>>>[I've seen Special Forces running around with cybernetic
augmented strength and speed, a semi-AI combat computer, mystic runes
(!) fraggin' drawn right on the suit and a fraggin' plasma rifle!!]<<<<<
-- Anonymous

	>>>>>[Hey Anon, how the drek did you survive that?]<<<<< --Madman

	>>>>>[Like I'm gonna tell you.  I might have to do it again!]<<<<<
-- Anonymous

	This stuff is admittedly very gross.  BUT, at least there's little
possibility of Shadowrunners getting their hands on this stuff since the
suits are microwave tagged, and the Combat computers will not activate without
the correct soldier being in the suit (moreover, the suit is not likely to
fit just anybody, either).  Why post this stuff?  Just to give an idea of
military technology and debunk this myth that "Go-gangs can take on the
military and win..." (Sheesh...there isn't a go-gang that would last 2 seconds
against an Armored unit of Bradleys and Abrams, unless they're all wizzers 
and know how to jam thermal sights)  Also, perhaps they run into some
high level corporate's bodyguards...now you know how they'll be outfitted,
especially Fed-Boeing and Ares Macrotech. 
	Heh-heh...

The opinions stated therein are mine, and no one else's (unless you happen
to agree).  Say! EVERYONE agrees with me, so there is no legal recourse.
**************************************************************************
*	Adam Getchell     "A knife in the shoulder blades will seriously *
*                          cramp a wizard's style." - Vlad Taltos        *
*	ez000270@yogi.ucdavis.edu	acgetchell.ucdavis.edu           *
*	GETCHELL@RADONC.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu                                *
**************************************************************************