Environmentally adapted future military concepts

Authors:

  • During Åhs Cecilia
  • Lindén Mikael

Publish date: 2001-01-12

Report number: FOA-R--00-01738-170

Pages: 39

Written in: Swedish

Abstract

Alternative ways of solving military tasks to obtain dematerialization and reduced use of fossil fuels are studied. The results, presented as three concepts, do not replace whole military systems but focus on selected functions of the systems. Today, military systems have several functions integrated into one platform. A leading idea when developing the concepts has been that parts of these tasks can be performed in alternative ways by dividing up the functions. The concepts are named "Sea", "Land" and "DBA" (Dominant Battlespace Awareness). The presented alternatives have been chosen mainly due to their reduced impact on the environment and no military evaluation has been performed. The concepts are based on that existing platforms are replaced with unmanned units, UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). The advantages with UAVs are among other things that they are smaller and lighter and consume less fuel and that the need for peacetime training is reduced because they are unmanned. The analysis presents possibilities for the Armed Forces of reducing its environmental impact. Combined with modern technology, the strategy of ´function division" enables a reduction in the use of fossil fuels as well as a decreased use of materials.