General Dynamics to Develop New Soldier Gear

FALLS CHURCH, Va., June 15 -- General Dynamics was awarded a contract yesterday to develop a "networked soldier" system, which will outfit the soldier of the future with wired uniforms that monitor heart rates and respiration and with helmets that receive real-time video from overhead drones.

The contract, part of the US Army’s Objective Force Warrior (OFW) advanced technology demonstration, is initially worth about $10 million and potentially worth $3 billion over a 10-year period.

The creation of a new uniform is part of the Army's overall goal to create the "digital battlefield," where soldiers, tanks and drones are connected to a common network. The soldier would essentially become a "node" in the network, wearing an undershirt fitted with body sensors and receiving video from drones tracking enemy movements.

The General Dynamics OFW effort is headed by its Eagle Enterprise unit, a company formed "to address technology and system integration challenges," the company said.

For more information, visit: www.gd.com