Technology Getting a Boost in the Battlefield

With plans underway to increase the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, many of the technologies that were used in Iraq have been transferred and adapted for that region.  TIME reporter Kris Osborn covered this trend recently, highlighting Task Force ODIN (Observe, Detect, Identify and Neutralize) in particular.  ODIN is a system designed to prevent insurgents from planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), using both piloted aircraft and “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” (UAVs).

The inforSide-Huachucamation collected by aircrafts in Afghanistan is sent to soldiers on the ground, who use Toughbook® computers to spot suspicious changes or patterns. According to Osborn, ODIN is “reputed to have killed 3,000 alleged bomb-planters and led to the capture of several hundred more.”

As technology becomes more pervasive on the battlefield, whether through drones or robots, reliable laptops that can withstand extreme conditions are now more important than ever. We’re proud that Toughbook computers have played an important role in the U.S. Military for years, and look forward to supporting these exciting new technologies as they come along.