This New Helmet-Mounted Video Camera Will Supply Situational Awareness

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Current military forces communications rely on increasingly complex and intelligent two-way data networks that link everyone from the commander to the frontline troops. These data networks do a lot to dispel the fog of war, but they also require a constant flow of new technology to support them. One particular problems is that elite forces like the UK Royal Marines often operate in distant, harsh environments that are hard on equipment and communications technologies, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, that wearable devices often rely on.

A new helmet-mounted video camera will be tested by Britain’s Royal Marines, providing with real-time data for informing tactical decisions. Part of the Future Commando Force concept, the bespoke camera is based on a general purpose camera design, but has been hardened and weatherproofed.

The new video camera is designed to help the Marines return to commando tactics that will see them work in small, lethal teams once again. This involves not only the new hardware, but also new software to handle real-time data streaming through new mobile network radios that are currently being tested by the Royal Marines’ 40 Commando light infantry unit. These feeds can be streamed to Marines on the ground, other team members using smart devices, or people offsite, according to newatlas.com.