Future Army gadgets go for testing on Salisbury Plain

The 'Army Warfighting Experiment' took place in Tilshead.

Author: Jack DeeryPublished 22nd Oct 2020

Salisbury Plain was the backdrop for the testing of some brand new military kit, aimed at supporting our forces in the future.

These include miniature UAV drones, an autonomous all terrain buggy and a Challenger II tank.

It's all thanks to a new Science and Technology Strategy, that was unveiled by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

They say the project will "focus on finding and funding the breakthroughs that will shape the future, and ensure the armed forces are equipped to meet tomorrow's threats".

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

"We are in a very real race with our adversaries for technological advantage. What we do today will lay the groundwork for decades to come. Proliferation of new technologies demands our science and technology is threat driven and better aligned to our needs in the future."

The 'Army Warfighting Experiment' has been ongoing for the last 10 years as a chance for the forces to look at and check out the latest technology that could be used in the near future.

It was a chance for soldiers to test out some new equipment

It saw industry partners and soldiers come together, who have been testing some of the equipment for the last few weeks.

Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, added:

"This new Army will be about the integration of 'boots and bots', of proxies and pixels, of the conventional and unconventional. An Army which is fit for the demands of the digital age: more lethal, more agile and more expeditionary, more of the time."

As well as the miniature drones, there was also a large automatic vehicle used to carry heavy equipment and storage.

At the touch of a button, the vehicle was track the movement of the person in front, or be controlled remotely.

The vehicle can follow someone by using sensors at the front

There were also all terrain electric bikes on display, that are already being used by the Armed Forces.

The all terrain electric bikes already being used

The event is an important one for the future of the Army and RAF, but it's also always an exciting one for the soldiers there.

Lance Corporal Daniel Petriello told Greatest Hits Radio:

"It's good for us to get out here and definitely a good experience because we get to be trialling the stuff that the army of the future could be using.

The technology in the Armed Forces, all over the world, is constantly progressing so as a professional army it's important that we keep up to date with the rapidly changing technology."

One of the tanks on display at the event

You can read the MOD Science and Technology Strategy by visiting the government website.