Invisibility, nighttime sensing top SOCOM's science and technology priorities.

• Author: Jean, Grace V.
• Position: Special Ops

* U.S. Special Operations Command is perhaps best known for grabbing technologies off the shelf and adapting them for challenging missions. But it is also committed to a steady investment in research and development, some of which will spin out as technologies to special operations forces within six to 18 months.

Current SOF research-and-development priorities fall into four areas, said Lisa Sanders, deputy director of science and technology at SOCOM.

One of the priorities is to help operators become invisible, or to hide in plain sight.

"We operate in environments where we just don't want to stand out," said Sanders. "Invisible doesn't mean the Klingon cloaking device," from Star Trek, she added. Rather, the command is seeking a broad range of technology, from camouflage and heat or visual signature concealing equipment to items that could mask an unattended sensor. Maintaining special operators' status of "owning the night" is another priority. They want to beef up their ability to operate in the dark, and current night vision technology is not keeping pace with the demand. "We need to go to digital capability," she said.

Another priority is "extended duration incapacitation"--an ability to disable people without permanently injuring them. It's also referred to as the "15-minute kill." Having a suspected enemy incapacitated without having to employ potentially lethal force would give special operators the time they need to determine whether they are a threat.

"That is important as we operate in environments with a mixed population," where a person might be carrying something that looks like a baby, but could turn out to be a gun, said Sanders.

The command is partnering with the Joint Nonlethal Weapons Directorate to explore options in directed energy. One of its efforts is pursuing is a 40 mm Taser-capable weapon. "It's not Taser, per se, but utilizing that kind of technology," said Sanders. "One of the ulings we're working on is the ability to fire at more of a standoff distance."

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