We've seen a lot of high tech tactical systems in video games which are stuff that can only be dreamed of by soldiers in the field, and that's where armed forces with the budget and know how are going into, with some crowdsourcing help. In the field of C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), it's a dream come true.

C4ISR people are some of the most loaded up operators on the ground for some high-tech warfare. They carry of them all the gizmos to support troops on the ground, and flyers in the air, plus the power supply such as batteries to further increase the load. And this is not to mention their fighting gear such as weapons and whatever the human soldier needs to sustain himself/herself.

With all those equipment comes the carrying gear to load them up. These cannot just be easily carried on standard issue vests and bags issued for the rest of the boots on the ground. If they do get carried in standard issues, easy access and comfort is also compromised as standard issue were mainly designed for ammunition, ballistic plates, first aid, communications, and weapons, not for other equipment such as computers. Moreso, the weight gets unevenly distributed throughout, which means more discomfort.

Black Diamond Advanced Technology's Modular Tactical System (MTS) is not a new thing, as it has been used and improved during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and is now made available commerically. By the mere name itsef, the MTS is modular, allowing the C4SIR to reconfigure the MTS depending on mission needs. It's not only a vest, but it's a tech wonder, cramming all the electronics needed by the C4ISR in one, configurable package.

This means that the MTS can cover multimissions such as targetting, medical, intelligence, unmanned vehicle control and EOD --- all are missions that require additional load as the equipment are specialised. The MTS approach allows the weight to be distributed evenly throughout the whole body, and still allow access to equipment in a timely manner necessary to get the mission done. The Black Diamond design team incorporated provisions for the COTS (Commercial Off The SHelf) hardward that can be packaged into the system. Thus, the MTS in itself has the following core components as shown in the image below:

For further information on the components of the MTS, click here.

I know, I know, you might protest that there is no application for the MTS in airsoft. However, it is always a point for us to know what military technologies are coming out, since we are also obsessed with such, as airsoft is not about airsoft guns nowadays, it's about the technologies and equipment that are being used by militaries which we try to replicate in airsoft, albeit as dummies, or as bare bones ones. For those creating a C4SIR impressions such as being a JTAC, TACP, or EOD, then having a loadout which also replicates the MTS would be a must, even if the equipment used as a UTD (Universal Tactical Display) is an iPad or an Android Tablet.

Is it worth doing the impression? If it is, you can read the spec sheet for you to understand the MTS concept. See you in the skirmish field with it.