12-03-2011, 04:05 PM
The scope size, weight and cost can all be expected to fall over the years, as happens to everything electronic. So at first it will be for snipers, then for sharpshooters, then for all infantrymen (as happened with optical scope sights). The benefits will certainly justify their use, particularly since the army wants to build in combined starlight/thermal imaging technology for night fighting.
You are right about the need for training, but I suspect that this can be supplemented by "virtual ranges" on which soldiers can practice. These are already used in some form, I believe.
Just thinking off the cuff, here, but since what the soldier will see is a video image, I'm sure it would be possible to plug in a training session module which would run all sorts of scenarios through the scope's eyepiece, giving the soldier practice in identifying targets and in shooting skills, with sensors to determine whether his shot would have hit the right target. So they could practice anytime, anywhere. I'm sure the vast video game industry could come up with something toot sweet, as they say.
You are right about the need for training, but I suspect that this can be supplemented by "virtual ranges" on which soldiers can practice. These are already used in some form, I believe.
Just thinking off the cuff, here, but since what the soldier will see is a video image, I'm sure it would be possible to plug in a training session module which would run all sorts of scenarios through the scope's eyepiece, giving the soldier practice in identifying targets and in shooting skills, with sensors to determine whether his shot would have hit the right target. So they could practice anytime, anywhere. I'm sure the vast video game industry could come up with something toot sweet, as they say.