Hoplites numériques : Le combat d'infanterie à l'âge de l'information Focus stratégique, No. 30, April 2011
FELIN, the first "integrated soldier system" in the world, will be effective this year in the French Army. Throughout history, infantrymen have tried to capitalize on technology while trying to arbitrate between the three basic requirements that are mobility, firepower and force protection.
Since Western societies are sensitive to losses, the demand for protection has become critical. Modern dismounted combat is thus characterized by a comeback of the armor as well as by an increased focus on firepower. Furthermore, the emergence of a new generation of equipment that draws advantage from information technologies at the level of the individual now requires to approach the issue of infantry combat from the perspective of informational superiority.
This paper is published in French only - Hoplites numériques : Le combat d'infanterie à l'âge de l'information