If batteries are an issue, one might start to argue that using
firearms is not all cracked out as it seems because at the end of
the day it's down to the soldier and his meele weapons!
No, I do not think 3G is a load of worthless bull, what it gives
the individual soldier a level of situtational awareness never seen
before in the history of armed conflict. A force that reacts faster
and knows where to hit to distrupt the enemy's Bloyd loop is
certainly a lot more useful then truging around in the fog of
war.
Imagine attacking an objective and knowing where all the friendies
are at all times, imagine being able to tell all troops in the
area, even those out of LOS where an enemy position is in an
instant. Imagine being able to pass down orders and carry out plans
that used to involve a lot of shouting and time wasted getting the
act together. Imagine having smart rounds that are able to reach
the enemy in cover without having to expose yourself to danger.
Imagine having HQ constantly aware of your status and knowing
exactly when to pass you supplies or reenforce you.
Is that useful in combat? It certainly is.
Is there a need for electronics? The useful ones I suppose (and
there are many useful ones), but I think it's going to be the way
of the future. The logistics of the issue just has to catch up with
the reality of the situtation, the situtation should not adjust
itself to the logistics.
The reality of the thing is that we do not have as many troops to
squander like other armies, we need to augment our numbers with
technology. I doubt sticking to the bare-bones man and rifle is
going to help, because the enemy will end up having more men and
rifles and being able to replace them easily.