21st Century Warfighter Technologies on Display

General Dynamics, local high-tech companies and Arizona politicians gather on Veteran's Day to recognize Arizona's contribution to providing future combat technologies to the 21st Century warfighter.

WHAT: Future Combat Systems Southwest Regional Conference

WHEN: Nov. 11 (10:45 a.m. to noon)

WHERE: General Dynamics C4 Systems
8201 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale, Arizona

General Dynamics will demonstrate first-hand, the future technologies and capabilities for warfighters that will provide better protection, survivability and combat effectiveness. The Future Combat Systems Southwest Regional Conference will be held at the General Dynamics Scottsdale campus. The conference will feature high tech companies in Arizona that are contributing to the success of the landmark U.S. Army Future Combat Systems (FCS) program which is helping put needed capabilities into the hands of current and future forces. When fully procured, FCS has an estimated value of $100 billion.

Some Arizona elected officials are expected to be on hand to hear how the State of Arizona is supporting the FCS program. The program has already brought more than 100 engineering jobs and $300 million in high-tech work to Arizona.Companies contributing to FCS in-state include: General Dynamics, Raytheon, Embedded Plus, EXECUSPEC, Inc., Insight Direct, Scientific Monitoring, Inc. and Stoutware Software Engineering.

As the nation pays tribute to all veterans, General Dynamics will demonstrate and showcase important technologies that will help future warfighters better protect themselves in battle including a demonstration for Future Force capabilities and the Land Warrior ensemble, an integrated, modular fighting system. Land Warrior uses technology to enhance individual soldiers' close-combat tactical awareness which includes a weapon-mounted system, an integrated helmet assembly, a communications-navigation computer system and software for friendly-force tracking and command/control programs. Other technologies to be showcased include prototypes of radios that allow warfighters to communicate in many modes through a single device and a demonstration of software that allows others to "See What You Think."