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This system, and/or components of it have been in the works since 1993. It took a major leap forward in 2005 with the Land Warrior system (now NETT Warrior). Lt Col Rowan is correct; it's all about power generation and weight. Having carried the Land Warrior system in training and deployed with it to combat, the system added 17lbs of extra weight and the batteries only lasted 6-8 hours under heavy use (supposed to be 12 hours). At one pound per battery, that sucks balls.
I'd say this system is probably...15-20 years from being actualized in low rate initial production considering budget cutbacks and the current operational environment. I'm ambivalent about the program due to some (from my perspective) ulterior motives driving it. Probably the same way some fighter pilots feel about unmanned aircraft/drones.
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