History in the making – the story of military conflict and technological change

Picture the scene. It’s 1915 and the British and German armies are locked in stalemate in the wet, muddy trenches on the Western Front.

Military commanders identify the need for a vehicle that can cross trenches, carry supplies, and capture fortified enemy positions. Taking their inspiration from commercial farm vehicles, they develop the first ever combat tank – the British Mark 1. The rest, as they say, is history.

Military events are constantly shaping and influencing technological development. Look at the pioneering work behind carbon fibre. At the height of the Cold War in 1963, scientists from the Royal Aircraft Establishment developed this strong, light and stiff material that offers obvious military benefits. Since then, carbon fibre has been used in numerous commercial applications – from Formula 1 cars through to musical instruments.

In recent times, technological developments have been guided by military events in the Middle East – from the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1991 through to the ongoing war in Afghanistan. Scientists have developed new ways to tackle Improvised Explosive Devices and develop improved vehicle protection. Nowadays, our military forces need a continuing pipeline of technology innovation to deal with an ever evolving threat.

Yet, the nature of warfare has changed and it’s no longer simply a battle between two opposing forces in the trenches. Today, the threat comes in multiple forms – from a pitched battle through to cyber warfare. This calls for a new approach to technology innovation – which involves simultaneously ‘spinning out’ and ‘spinning in’ technologies from both the military and commercial sectors, an area in which QinetiQ is continually innovating.

There has also been a shift towards novel approaches to procurement and acquisition – the military is constantly looking for new ways to deliver technology with multiple applications and a long lifespan. In an age where the military needs to ‘do more with less’, this demands a more lateral approach to defeating the enemy – in whatever shape or form.

QinetiQ will be showcasing ‘350 years of know how’ as part of Defence Procurement Research and Technology 2012 on 21 November.