British and coalition forces face unprecedented threats at home and abroad driven by the War on Terror and prolonged combat on fronts around the world such as in Iraq and Afghanistan. The global security situation has never been as critical as it stands now and while troops fight in-theatre, domestic forces are struggling to combat the threat from terrorism at home.

The face of warfare has changed dramatically in recent years, even since the first Gulf War in 1990. Major General John Cooper, former Commander of the Multi National Division (South East) within Iraq said the battlespace “is an environment which is growing in density and complexity on a daily basis.” The range of threats troops face has increased substantially due to the tactics employed by the various armed groups operating within current operational zones in Afghanistan and Iraq, and previously in engagements in Kosovo. Troops deployed in today’s war zones deal with running battles in urban environments, guerrilla

tactics and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) everyday. "Urban operations are both very important and they're becoming more difficult to carry out safely," said Lord Drayson, Ministry of Defence and Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform. "The challenge of the urban environment is the degree to which you have this unstructured clutter and the unexpected."

These challenges have led to new requirements in war fighting: ever more sophisticated equipment, weapons and technologies that will support and protect troops, reduce casualties (both civilian and military) and help them to execute their mission while working seamlessly with other coalition forces.

At the most fundamental level, a commitment to R&D and innovation from both the public and private sector is essential. Lord