Every war is a test of many things: will, resolve, heroism and sacrifice, for example. But they are also testing grounds for material things, and technology in particular. From the first rocks and flints, to spears and swords, gunpowder, chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, every war has served to allow improvements to military systems and weapons.

The United States in particular has relied on its ability to leverage technology on the battlefield, both because of its advanced scientific and technology base as well as a way to compensate for having smaller forces than some of its past opponents, especially during the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union.

Iraq is no different. In fact, given the emphasis on producing a high-tech digital force as party of former US secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld’s “force transformation” effort, technology has assumed a leading role in Iraq. Whether trying to counter improvised explosive devices (IED), proving mine-resistant vehicles, unmanned air vehicles like the Predator that can fire missiles and satellite-guided joint directed attack munitions, or the deployment of the Stryker, a new lightweight infantry carrier that can perform like a mini-tank but at higher speeds, advanced technological systems have been present in Iraq from the very beginning of the invasion.

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