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The modern soldier is being reimagined not just as a combatant but as a highly mobile, adaptive, and networked battlefield asset. The vision for the future warfighter revolves around full combat effectiveness paired with enhanced situational awareness, information assurance, and sustainability. To meet these demands, today’s dismounted soldier is equipped with a range of electronic gear including night vision goggles, radios, GPS units, infrared sights, smartphones, laptops, and the batteries required to power them. Each device contributes to a soldier’s capability, but also adds to the overall weight and power burden.
As digital integration deepens, soldiers rely increasingly on power-intensive systems such as advanced sensors, displays, data processors, and high-bandwidth communications gear. Among these, communications equipment consumes the most energy, followed closely by thermal displays and data processing. However, advancements in ultra-low-power electronics offer the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption for subsystems like sensing, display, and computation—without compromising performance. High-power needs, such as laser designators, microclimate cooling systems, and exoskeletons, still pose significant energy challenges on the battlefield.
To address this, the military’s vision for Micro, Soldier, and Portable Power focuses on providing long-lasting, mobile energy solutions to support both personnel and autonomous systems. Global defense organizations are actively pursuing smaller, lighter, and more efficient power sources to meet growing electronic demands while reducing logistical strain. These efforts include innovations in flexible solar panels, wearable energy harvesters, nuclear microbatteries, smart battery management systems, and low-power semiconductor technologies—all aimed at increasing soldier endurance and agility in the field.
Man-portable military electronic systems include any electronic device or system that can be operated by a soldier while dismounted. These systems are often integrated into body armor, helmets, or wearable platforms to ensure minimal interference with movement while maximizing battlefield capabilities. It is important to note that while these systems include communication gear, sensors, and displays, they exclude man-portable weapon systems such as rocket or missile launchers. The focus remains on achieving optimal size, weight, and power (SWaP) characteristics, especially as applications extend to micro air vehicles, soldier-borne networks, and real-time battlefield intelligence platforms.
High-Demand Specialized Systems: Powering the Edge of Capability
Certain battlefield technologies—such as laser designators, infrared sights, exoskeletons, and microclimate cooling systems—present uniquely demanding power profiles that require tailored solutions. These specialized systems often rely on non-silicon technologies and are engineered for highly specific combat roles. Among them, laser designators stand out as some of the most power-hungry devices carried by modern soldiers. Current systems used by special operations forces operate at voltages between 18 to 30 volts, with standby power consumption around 10 watts and peak active power reaching up to 180 watts. While the active phase may last only 10 to 40 seconds, the battery burden is significant—typically requiring five BA-5590/U lithium batteries or four BB-590 NiCd batteries. The sheer energy draw of such systems can easily eclipse that of other soldier electronics, potentially dictating the architecture of a centralized power supply for integrated soldier platforms.
Exoskeletons are another category of specialized technology that introduces distinct power challenges. Developed as part of human performance augmentation initiatives, military exoskeleton prototypes are designed to improve a soldier’s load-carrying capacity, endurance, and speed—particularly when navigating rugged terrain or bearing heavy weapons and breaching tools. Beyond mobility, these systems are envisioned to support increased body armor and situational awareness gear. However, their effectiveness hinges on the availability of compact, high-performance power sources that can operate autonomously from the soldier’s primary power system.
To function effectively, these wearable machines must mirror human biomechanics and integrate seamlessly with the user’s natural movement. The human-machine interface must be intuitive, responsive, and durable enough to maintain operational transparency across extended missions. This makes power supply selection especially critical: only sources with exceptionally high specific energy and power density are viable. Fuel cells, microturbines, and next-gen batteries are being explored as potential candidates, though each comes with trade-offs in weight, thermal signature, and reliability.
Soldier microclimate management efforts have experimented with variety of system approaches—from ice cooling systems to vapor compression and absorption refrigeration. The basic difficulty with management of the dismounted soldier’s microclimate is the large power requirement for such an effort. A dismounted soldier doing very light work such as guard duty has a work rate between 100 and 175 W. Light work such as cleaning a rifle has a work rate of 125 to 325 W. Moderate work such as foxhole digging has a work rate between 325 and 500 W. Heavy work such as emplacement digging has a work rate above 500 W. Since the human body is on the order of 18 percent efficient, these work rates would require cooling rates five times greater.
A closer look at field equipment reveals the steep energy burden. Laser designators, for instance, draw up to 180 watts in active mode, depleting four BA-5590 batteries in under a minute. Even thermal sights, vital for 24/7 combat visibility, consume 5 to 8 watts, cutting overall mission endurance by 30%. Software-defined radios can account for up to 40% of a soldier’s total power budget, while microclimate cooling systems—critical in desert environments—consume between 100 and 500 watts, rivaling the soldier’s own metabolic output
Ultimately, these high-demand technologies require a dedicated energy strategy that balances performance with mission duration, form factor, and interoperability. As these systems become standard on the battlefield, militaries must rethink energy logistics to ensure that even the most power-intensive tools do not compromise soldier agility, survivability, or effectiveness.
The SWaP Imperative: Survival Hinges on Efficiency
Modern infantry soldiers operate as mobile nodes within a digital battlespace, carrying an array of interconnected electronics that can weigh between 15 and 25 kilograms—more than three times the burden compared to early 2000s deployments. This includes sophisticated communication systems, real-time ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) tools, augmented reality displays, and AI-enabled targeting systems. Each device enhances situational awareness and mission effectiveness, but together they impose significant energy and mobility costs.
As militaries pivot toward network-centric warfare, ensuring uninterrupted power to these systems is no longer a convenience—it is a necessity for survival. Soldiers must maintain secure communications, access live data feeds, and execute precision targeting even in austere environments where power logistics are constrained. Every extra gram of equipment and every watt of draw affects endurance, heat signatures, and agility under fire.
This is where Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) optimization becomes a strategic priority. Reducing the physical and energy footprint of electronics not only lightens the soldier’s load but directly enhances combat readiness and survivability. The goal is to deliver more capability with less burden—without sacrificing reliability or performance.
With global defense spending surging past $2.44 trillion in 2023, significant investments are being channeled into technologies that prioritize SWaP efficiency. From ultra-low-power processors and advanced battery chemistries to wearable energy harvesting systems, the race is on to re-engineer soldier systems for a future where mobility, endurance, and power autonomy are as decisive as firepower.
Breakthrough Technologies Redefining Battlefield Efficiency
Display technologies have similarly evolved to match the power constraints of modern warfare. Traditional LCDs, which historically consumed up to 60% of portable device energy, are being phased out in favor of AMOLED and e-paper displays. AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) screens eliminate the need for backlighting, delivering rich contrast and crisp visibility even under direct sunlight—ideal for desert operations. On the other hand, e-paper displays are gaining ground for mission-critical interfaces such as maps and static situational updates. Their near-zero power consumption allows for 24/7 operability without the need for frequent recharging, significantly extending mission endurance in austere environments.
Low-Power Computing Devices: Enabling Energy-Efficient Embedded Intelligence
Low-power computing is foundational to modern battlefield electronics and connected systems, especially where space, energy, and weight are at a premium. At the heart of this ecosystem lie microcontrollers—compact integrated circuits that combine processing cores, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals. Unlike general-purpose processors used in personal computers, microcontrollers are optimized for specific embedded tasks and are widely deployed in devices such as medical implants, smart appliances, automotive engine control systems, and industrial tools. Over the past decade, the proliferation of ultra-low-power microcontrollers has surged, driven by their ability to maintain a fine balance between cost, energy efficiency, computational performance, and security in embedded environments.
Ultra-low-power microcontrollers are particularly well-suited for applications requiring extended battery life, robust data processing, and support for cryptographic algorithms—making them ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, wearable tech, and portable military electronics. These microcontrollers dramatically extend the operational life of sensor nodes and connected platforms by reducing power draw during both active and idle states. For more intensive tasks like signal processing, architectures scale from microcontrollers to specialized processors, including digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). While standard microprocessors offer broad flexibility, they are the least energy-efficient. In contrast, FPGAs can execute highly parallelized functions at a fraction of the power, and ASICs—though less flexible—deliver the highest energy efficiency, often by an order of magnitude. These layered architectures provide designers with a toolkit to optimize performance while minimizing energy usage across a wide spectrum of defense and commercial applications.
Battlefield efficiency is being redefined by a wave of breakthrough technologies that radically reduce energy consumption while enhancing operational capability. At the heart of this shift is a new class of processors tailored for military-grade performance with ultra-low power draw. Application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), optimized for AI tasks such as image and pattern recognition, offer a tenfold improvement in efficiency over general-purpose CPUs. Meanwhile, neuromorphic chips—engineered to emulate the human brain’s neural architecture—consume less than 0.5 watts while supporting real-time threat detection and adaptive decision-making. NVIDIA’s Jetson modules, already deployed in compact battlefield drones, enable swarm coordination and edge processing with just 8 watts of power.
Low-Power Communication: Enabling Persistent Connectivity for Autonomous and IoT Systems
Low-power communication technologies are critical enablers for autonomous systems and the broader Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. These technologies not only ensure energy-efficient, long-duration operation in diverse and often austere environments, but also play a pivotal role in fostering environmental awareness and decision-making through continuous data flow. As autonomous systems become more sophisticated, their reliance on pervasive, low-power data exchange grows. This data, in turn, feeds digital twins—virtual replicas of physical systems—enhancing their fidelity and enabling predictive modeling, mission optimization, and real-time autonomy. In both military and civilian applications, from smart battlefields to precision agriculture, low-power communication protocols are the backbone of distributed situational intelligence.
While some data interfaces, such as UARTs and GPIOs, have minimal energy footprints, others—like cellular modems—can consume up to 3 watts, significantly impacting overall system endurance. Surprisingly, even wired interfaces assumed to be low-power, such as USB or Ethernet, can rival the energy demands of wireless systems, particularly at higher data rates. Moreover, processing the incoming data from these interfaces also adds to the power burden on embedded processors. As a result, careful selection of communication interfaces is crucial to maintaining power efficiency in both sensor-rich environments and mobile platforms.
Among the communication protocols tailored for low power, LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network), NB-IoT, SigFox, and LTE-M stand out. LoRaWAN continues to dominate the market—commanding over 50% share as of 2018—due to its use of unlicensed spectrum and its suitability for low-data-rate, long-range applications. NB-IoT and LTE-M offer tighter integration with cellular infrastructure and are gaining traction where mobility and carrier-grade reliability are critical. As the rollout of 5G advances, particularly in its ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) and massive machine-type communication (mMTC) modes, it will further enable the seamless operation of intelligent edge devices that require both speed and efficiency. Together, these protocols underpin the expansion of smart, networked systems where every byte of data—and every milliwatt of power—counts.
Military communications are also undergoing a revolution centered on power efficiency and operational resilience. AI-enabled mesh networks are now integral to real-time, secure battlefield communications. Radios like L3Harris’s AN/PRC-163 dynamically hop across frequencies using only 1 watt of power, ensuring reliable connectivity even in contested or jammed environments. Complementing these systems are long-range, low-power protocols like LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network), which now constitute over 50% of sensor-based IoT communication on the battlefield. These protocols thrive in decentralized, unlicensed frequency bands—enabling extended-range communication between wearables, UAVs, and ground sensors with minimal energy use.
This convergence of ultra-efficient computing, display, and communication technologies is empowering soldiers to operate longer, faster, and more effectively without the need for heavy, energy-intensive gear. Collectively, these breakthroughs are enabling a new model of warfare where every electronic asset—no matter how small—functions as an intelligent, low-power node within a distributed, real-time combat network.
As the demand for battlefield data fusion and autonomous systems grows, these innovations will become not just advantageous but essential. The ability to sense, compute, communicate, and respond with minimal energy overhead will define the survivability and effectiveness of next-generation soldiers and unmanned systems alike.
The Power Frontier: Beyond Batteries
As military operations grow more power-hungry, the next frontier lies in harvesting ambient energy and revolutionizing thermal management—freeing soldiers from the logistical burden of spare batteries. BAE Systems has pioneered solar-weave uniforms that can generate up to 8 watts per hour in daylight conditions. This continuous trickle of power helps maintain charge for low-draw devices like radios, biometric sensors, or GPS units, all without adding weight or complexity. Similarly, SolePower’s kinetic energy boots transform each step into usable electricity, producing about 1 watt every five kilometers, ideal for trickle-charging headlamps or backup sensors during long treks.
Parallel advances in energy storage are amplifying these harvesting gains. Graphene-enhanced batteries now provide over 72 hours of runtime, a vast leap from the 8-hour capacity typical just a few years ago. These lightweight, high-density batteries are not only more efficient but also more resilient across temperature extremes. For missions requiring higher sustained power, Ultra Electronics’ micro fuel cells offer up to 1 kilowatt of silent energy, supporting reconnaissance teams and forward-deployed units without the noise, heat, or signature of traditional generators.
Efficient Power Electronics: The Backbone of Modern Combat Systems
Power electronics play a critical role in military systems—from advanced radar arrays and precision-guided munitions to UAV payloads and next-generation avionics. These platforms demand immense signal processing capabilities, which inherently generate substantial heat. With typical conversion efficiencies now reaching 90% or higher, modern power electronics minimize thermal dissipation and maximize performance per cubic centimeter. This efficiency allows system integrators to continuously enhance capabilities within the same physical footprint—a crucial advantage for upgrades in space- and weight-constrained environments such as airborne and mobile platforms.
According to Martin Schlecht, President and CEO of SynQor, “The key characteristics military customers want from power components are high efficiency, high density, and high reliability over a long life.” Reliability is particularly essential for mission-critical systems like cruise missiles or aerospace components, which may remain dormant in storage for decades but must activate flawlessly when deployed. In these high-reliability (high-rel) applications, power components must not only withstand harsh operational conditions but also maintain electrical stability across a wide temperature range and under extreme environmental stress.
Thermal management remains a key design constraint. While high-density power supplies are desirable, their integration is often limited by how effectively heat can be dissipated. As a result, the industry is moving toward advanced materials like gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC), which offer superior thermal and electrical performance compared to traditional silicon. These materials are unlocking new frontiers in power conversion efficiency and compact form factors, enabling the development of lightweight, ruggedized electronics that can operate reliably across the full spectrum of military operations—from arctic deployments to high-altitude UAV missions
Power Management: Optimizing Performance Without Compromising SWaP
In modern man-portable military electronics, power management is not just a hardware issue—it’s a systems engineering challenge that spans software, firmware, and silicon-level design. Effective power management begins with intelligent software control to minimize consumption without sacrificing mission-critical performance. A key technique is the use of switchable voltage rails to completely shut off power to unused subsystems. This is particularly effective for simple interfaces like USB ports or UARTs, where hardware interconnection is minimal. By turning off power to inactive modules, devices avoid the need for larger batteries, thereby preserving the essential SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) balance.
Complementing hardware shutoff strategies is the use of dynamic low-power modes, including sleep and reduced-functionality states. These modes allow systems to conserve energy while remaining responsive. Unlike full power shutdowns, sleep states preserve critical data lines in high-impedance mode, reducing interference and allowing for faster wake-up times with minimal re-initialization. Although some power is still consumed, it is typically negligible—making this approach ideal for systems that require periodic wake-up, such as environmental sensors or targeting subsystems in tactical gear.
Power Management ICs: Silent Enablers of Battlefield Efficiency
At the heart of these strategies are Power Management Integrated Circuits (PMICs), which ensure accurate and efficient power delivery across various components—ranging from CPUs and GPUs to DRAM, LEDs, and RF systems. PMICs regulate voltages, monitor undervoltage conditions, and include soft-start features to prevent sudden current surges that could damage sensitive electronics. Initially dominated by analog implementations, the industry is shifting toward digital and mixed-signal PMICs, offering finer-grained control and adaptability in field-programmable systems. These smart controllers are essential for sustaining soldier-wearable systems, drone payloads, and portable sensors, ensuring reliability under extreme conditions while extending battery life and system uptime
However, thermal regulation remains a major drain on energy. A soldier building fortifications or marching in desert heat can require over 500 watts just for personal cooling—exceeding their body’s own metabolic output. Innovative new systems are emerging: Lockheed Martin’s phase-change vests can absorb 200 watts per kilogram during peak exertion, while electrocaloric textiles—smart fabrics that shift temperature using electric fields—are proving 10 times more efficient than traditional vapor-compression methods. These breakthroughs not only reduce battery consumption but also extend mission duration in extreme climates, enhancing both safety and performance.
Collectively, these innovations mark a decisive shift toward energy autonomy on the battlefield. Instead of being tethered to heavy packs or constrained by resupply, tomorrow’s soldier will operate within an ecosystem of energy-smart systems—harvesting, storing, and deploying power precisely where and when it’s needed most
Regional Powerhouses: Where Innovation Thrives
The global man-portable military electronics market is projected to grow from $4.7 billion in 2024 to $6.5 billion by 2033, driven by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.72%. This growth is fueled by the evolution of network-centric warfare, with over 158,000 software-defined radios already deployed across U.S. military forces. Lightweight reconnaissance technologies, such as FLIR’s Black Hornet nano-UAVs weighing just 33 grams, now offer platoon-level aerial intelligence. Meanwhile, emerging exoskeletons like those from Safran are increasing soldier load capacity up to 100 kilograms, all while demanding even more robust yet efficient power solutions.
Across the globe, defense innovation hubs are aggressively advancing low-power technologies to redefine battlefield effectiveness. In North America, the U.S. Army’s \$22 billion Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program has rolled out augmented reality visors with a sub-2-watt power draw and an impressive 72-hour battery life—ushering in a new era of persistent, networked situational awareness for dismounted troops. Meanwhile, in Asia-Pacific, India’s Smart Jacket initiative—spearheaded by IIT-Delhi and DRDO—features integrated health monitoring systems that operate at just 0.3 watts, enabling continuous soldier biometrics tracking without draining power reserves.
Europe is also making significant strides. The Franco-German “Tactical Edge Cloud” initiative is developing serverless battlefield computing infrastructure, drastically reducing power demands while enabling real-time, edge-based data fusion across infantry units. In Israel, Elbit Systems’ TORC2 helmet system is setting benchmarks in fused reality by halving the power requirements of advanced AR processing—allowing for extended operations with minimal energy tradeoffs.
The Asia-Pacific region continues to lead in growth, clocking a 5.9% CAGR, largely fueled by China’s massive \$225 billion defense investment and India’s deployment of lightweight, portable counter-drone systems. These developments point to a broader global arms race—not for firepower alone, but for efficient, reliable, and sustainable electronics that can dominate the digital battlefield.
Together, these global efforts signal a strategic pivot: power is no longer just about output, but about endurance, efficiency, and adaptability. As defense ecosystems converge on low-power innovation, the ability to outlast and outmaneuver in high-tempo, electronically saturated environments may well define tactical superiority in the decade ahead.
Future Soldiers: 2030 Vision
The battlefield of 2030 will be defined not just by firepower, but by how efficiently soldiers manage and generate power. Future warfighters are evolving into self-sustaining combat platforms, equipped with intelligent, low-draw systems that augment endurance, situational awareness, and survivability. Safran’s next-gen exoskeletons, for instance, go beyond mobility enhancement—they incorporate hydraulic energy recovery, converting movement into usable power to reduce battery reliance and increase operational autonomy.
Artificial intelligence will play a central role in managing this ecosystem. Advanced AI systems are being developed to monitor biometric data—such as heart rate, stress levels, and muscular load—and intelligently allocate energy across subsystems in real time. This ensures critical equipment like targeting optics, communications, or cooling systems always have power when most needed, without manual intervention.
On the communications front, quantum radio frequency chips under development by BAE Systems promise to revolutionize secure field communication. Requiring just 0.01 watts, these chips can maintain encrypted links even in contested electromagnetic environments. This ultra-low power profile makes them ideal for stealth operations and long-duration missions without frequent recharging.
Complementing this silent efficiency, haptic signaling systems are being explored as an alternative to voice or radio communication in zero-visibility or EM-contested conditions. Operating at just 0.1 watts, these systems translate navigation cues, alerts, or formation commands into vibrations or pressure-based feedback, keeping soldiers informed and connected without emitting detectable signals. Together, these innovations point toward a future where power becomes not a limitation—but a tactical advantage.
Conclusion: The Invisible Edge
Success in 21st-century combat won’t just come from heavier firepower—it will come from silent, low-power technologies that make soldiers smarter, more connected, and less dependent on bulky support infrastructure. As the ISTAR segment grows at 6.1% CAGR, man-portable low-power electronics will transform every operator into a node on a seamless, data-rich combat cloud. The future belongs not to those who carry more, but to those who carry smarter.
“The infantryman of 2030 won’t carry gear—they’ll be the gear.”
– Gen. James Dickinson, U.S. Space Command
