When the world's at stake,
go beyond the headlines.

National security. For insiders. By insiders.

National security. For insiders. By insiders.

Join War on the Rocks and gain access to content trusted by policymakers, military leaders, and strategic thinkers worldwide.

Cogs of War
Cogs of War

The Future Soldier Loadout: Smarter Gear or Dead Weight?

April 10, 2026
The Future Soldier Loadout: Smarter Gear or Dead Weight?
Cogs of War

Cogs of War

The Future Soldier Loadout: Smarter Gear or Dead Weight?

The Future Soldier Loadout: Smarter Gear or Dead Weight?

Brian Cummings, Joel Dillon, Erik Fox, and Ryan Evans
April 10, 2026

The tech soldiers carry will shape their performance in combat, missions, safety, and health. If you care about any of those things, you will love this episode. The next generation of American soldiers will operate with systems that blur the line between human and machine, but that future is still being worked out in real time. In this episode, three former servicemembers turned industry leaders look ahead to how frontline capabilities may evolve over the next decade and what will constrain them.

Image: Sgt. Thiem Huynh via DVIDS.

Become an Insider

Subscribe to Cogs of War for sharp analysis and grounded insights from technologists, builders, and policymakers.