Army unveils latest gadgets and gear in Canberra
The latest Army technology, big and small, was on display to the public in Canberra. Photo: ABC
Silent bug-sized drones, tanks and the latest in Australia’s combat technology have gone on display in Canberra.
The Australian Army allowed the public to see and test out some of its most recent technology in an event at Russell.
Many of the changes being rolled out countered the increased threat from blast weapons and made the most of improvements in technology.
They have been driven by soldiers’ experiences in places such as Afghanistan.
The new additions included robotic targets that would duck, weave and shout like a real person when soldiers shot at them.
A 70-gram unmanned aerial vehicle or drone that could be used to see over mountains or into windows was also on display.
Staff officer Lieutenant Colonel Ben McLellan said the weapons systems had greatly improved.
“The enhanced rifle system that we’re now delivering is allowing us to achieve much greater lethality and accuracy for our soldiers in training and, if required, on operations,” staff officer Lt-Col McLellan said.
“You can see that also with the lightweight automatic grenade launcher system, which is just rolling out now.
“That is a world-first capability, no one else is doing that like we are, and it’s very exciting to be part of.”
Robotic targets respond to being shot at by ducking, advancing on soldiers or calling out. Photo: ABC
The vehicles on display included an aviation fire truck that had moved to a fully digitised system.
“The reports back from the soldiers is that it has been a much easier system to use and it’s very intuitive,” staff officer Major Rebecca Marlow said.
“It’s a more capable system than the last system, it’s off road capability as well as on road capability, it’s a much more capable fire truck in general than the fire truck that it’s replacing.”
A new M1A1 Abrams tank was a crowd favourite.
The enhanced rifle system aims to improve accuracy. Photo: ABC
A crewman on the M1A1, Trooper Marc Berg, said he first became interested in tanks because his grandfather was a qualified Leopard commander.
“He used to give me all these stories about it and I’ve never looked back since then,” he said.
“At the start I was very nervous considering that I’m behind 61.3 tonnes of pure steel.
“But it’s actually more spacious than people think.
“It’s not like in the movies where there’s 40 different camera angles, but it’s actually very spacious to work in.”
-ABC
