Can Soldier Systems Deliver the Edge in Future Operations?

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Joanne Swann
09/10/2025

The dismounted soldier, that is, the soldier who operates on foot rather than in a vehicle or aircraft, continues to be central to modern campaigns. These soldiers face a multitude of threats, such as transparent battlefields (due to far fewer places to hide because of modern surveillance), asymmetric threats (opponents who don’t fight in the same way or on equal terms) and diverse terrains. This is why soldier systems are crucial. Soldier systems integrate weapons, sensors, communications and protective gear to enhance soldier survivability, awareness and lethality.

What is a Soldier System?

Ultimately, a soldier system is a suite – a suite, however, that has been carefully constructed with equipment and digital assets to form a connected ecosystem. Features of the suite may include:

Weatherproof protective gear like helmets (often with night-vision) and body armour.
Weapons such as rifles with weapon-mounted sights and multi-function lasers.
Communications and data tools, such as tactical radios and/or personal area networks.
Sensors and displays, for situational awareness, health monitoring, navigation, and battlefield data sharing.

These systems do not rely on isolated gadgets – instead, they function through seamless integration via a power and data harness. As a result, they can achieve streamlined data flow, reduced physical burden, and smarter resupply or system upgrades over time.[1]

That being said, not everyone agrees the term 'soldier system’ fully reflects the reality. Thales experts John Foley and Amyas Godfrey, who have led key UK soldier system programmes, caution:

“..most people would agree that the equipment carried by soldiers today does not currently work together ‘as an interconnecting network’ in and of themselves, except in small parts, but rather needs the ‘connection’ to be carried out by the soldier themselves.[2]”

In other words, while indeed the ambition here is to create a fully integrated system, soldiers still play a central role in making these connections work - benefiting from its capabilities but also burdened with holding it together.

Why Are Soldier Systems Critical for Today’s Dismounted Soldier?

Firstly, integrated systems help to ease decision-making and reduce cognitive load. Understandably, a combat environment is an extremely stressful environment to be in, especially when faced with snap life or death decisions. These systems have the power to help carry some of this mental strain. At the SAE Media Group’s Future Soldier Technology Conference last year, Lieutenant Colonel Christian Hasbach of the US Army discussed how enhancements to the Nett Warrior Programme are addressing this challenge. Colonel Hasbach explained that tools such as the DOCK-U hub, which simplifies on-body wiring, and haptic-enabled smartwatches linked to ATAK software, reduce distractions and enable faster responses, easing the cognitive burden on soldiers in fast-moving combat situations.[3]

Another reason why soldier systems are critical is due to operational environments. Unpredictable combat environments demand readiness - especially in situations where terrain, climate and threat dynamics can change quickly. Examples include:

Urban combat zones (collapsing buildings / hidden snipers / civilian safety)
Dense jungles (limited visibility / extreme humidity / guerilla warfare)
Mountain terrain (steep incline / altitude sickness)
Deserts (extreme heat / sand)
Arctic region (snow and ice / frostbite / freezing temperatures)

For this reason, soldier systems must be highly adaptable and deliver consistent performance across these diverse terrains.

What Is the Future of Soldier Systems?

Currently, soldier systems are being shaped by a whole new wave of innovation. Here’s a snapshot of what’s coming next:

Ergonomic Advances and Powered Exoskeletons

Defence firms are developing wearable systems that help reduce physical strain while boosting endurance and mobility. One example of this is from BAE Systems who, in June of this year, showcased an exoskeleton prototype which has been designed to reduce musculoskeletal load and improve load-carrying efficiency in rugged environments[4]. Similarly, Mehler Systems introduced the ExoM Up-Armoured Exoskeleton at SOFINS 2025, offering full-body protection (VPAM 8) while preserving operator mobility[5].

AI-Enabled Wearables and Situational Awareness Tech

Research and Markets, a leading global provider of industry analysis, projects the global soldier systems market to grow at a 6.9% CAGR, from USD 10.9 billion in 2025 to nearly USD 19.9 billion by 2034. This growth will be driven in part by technologies, such as augmented-reality helmet systems that enhance battlefield visualisation and situational awareness, and AI-enabled wearables for threat detection. As a result, these systems are moving towards a future where dismounted soldiers receive live data and smart alerts that are tailored to their situation - allowing faster decision making and overall efficiency.[6]

Interoperability and Modular Upgrades Across NATO

NATO is modernising soldier systems by moving away from patchwork add-ons and instead adopting modular, plug-and-play components that can be easily upgraded as technology continues to advance. At the Coalition Warrior Interoperability eXercise (CWIX) 2025, Hadean demonstrated real-time interoperability by integrating with NATO-standard protocols such as High-Level Architecture (HLA), Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS), Over-The-Horizon Targeting Gold (OTH-T Gold), and Cursor on Target (CoT), showcasing how modern systems can connect, adapt, and support collective defence effectively.[7] This focus on digital compatibility means allied forces can work seamlessly across nations and domains.

Immersive Training & Simulation Integration

Soldier systems also extend into how troops are trained. The U.S. Army’s Synthetic Training Environment (STE) is already integrating to create immersive and realistic training scenarios, as Marwane Bahbaz, CTO of PEO STRI, explains:

“Haptic technology in combination with immersive VR/AR technologies and artificial intelligence form a critical architecture element within emerging Army training systems … simulations using VR and haptic capabilities drastically increases immersion and improves retention and learning in training exercises.”[8]

In other words, soldiers can now rehearse complex missions safely, cost-effectively, and with improved retention.

What Are the Main Lethality and Survivability Tactics on the Battlefield?

Lethality

Soldier systems continue to evolve with cutting-edge optics that significantly improve accuracy and night fighting capability. In November 2024, the MOD awarded a contract to equip infantry with the TALON Fused Weapon Sight which is the most advanced sight the British Army has fielded. The system uses thermal recognition technology which allows for advanced target detection in low-light conditions. Fitting seamlessly onto existing SA80 A3 and HUNTR rifles, soldiers can identify enemies at distances of up to 1km in darkness. Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard commented:

“Rolling out this high-tech rifle sight shows how we’re investing in new tech for our soldiers to take the fight to our adversaries. The rifle night sights are tried and tested, proving highly effective to keep British soldiers protected in difficult environments.”[9]

Survivability

On the other hand, survivability is being enhanced via wearable medical technology. A great example of this is the U.S. military’s Wearable All-hazard Remote-monitoring Program (WARP) which has been developed by LifeLens Technologies under JPEO-CBRND. The system uses a small chest-mounted node containing 25 miniature monitors, paired with a gateway device, to continuously track vitals such as heart rate, stress, and fatigue while also detecting chemical threats. WARP is scheduled to begin fielding by the end of 2025 and represents a positive step towards real-time physiological awareness and faster medical response during combat.[10]

What Are the Barriers to Widespread Adoption of Soldier Systems?

Cost and legacy integration

The truth is, soldier systems are expensive, and many militaries still use older equipment that doesn’t easily work with new technology – thus putting constraints on innovation. The Defense Industry in 2025 report highlights that legacy technologies often struggle to interface with new systems because they require significant and costly upgrades before modern solutions can be fielded.[11]

Human Factors

Finally, and very importantly, let’s not forget that soldiers are human, and too much information overload on the battlefield can overwhelm them. As warfare becomes faster, that overload problem only gets worse. At the same time, a June 2025 RAND report highlights obstacles in pairing soldiers with AI-driven tools. The report cautions that poorly designed systems can erode user trust and actually make performance worse thus slowing adoption of new tech rather than accelerating it.[12]

To overcome these challenges, defence industries, armed forces and governments must adopt close coordination to ensure that technology development aligns with human-centred design, training and interoperability. The goal here is for innovation to serve the soldier, not just the system.