Special ops technologists have unique wish list.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: Special Operations - Richard Chandler

* The U.S. Special Operations Command's advanced technology directorate has a long list of items it wants to put in the hands of elite commando teams during clandestine missions.

Richard Chandler, who heads the directorate, said the three overarching needs are in advanced power sources, command, control, computers and intelligence and "signature management," which is shorthand for keeping clandestine operators and their equipment hidden from the enemy.

Here is a partial shopping list.

Advanced Power Systems. SOCOM, like most of the military, is looking for improved batteries. Of particular interest are micro-batteries with extended duration that can fit into small "tagging, tracking and locating" devices. These tags might secretly be attached to a person or vehicle.

Signature Management. The directorate is looking for any technology in the "low-probability-of-intercept/low-probability-of-detection" category that can help mask operators and their equipment.

That includes suppressing infrared and seismic signatures as well as what can be heard, seen and even smelled, Chandler said.

Of particular interest is a noise suppression technology "that can drastically reduce the sound of medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicle engines."

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