MILITARY TECHNOLOGY
In today’s environment, more and more thought and work is being put into innovations in military and civil protection. To compete with potential adversaries, countries need to exploit and develop advanced future technologies and competences. To achieve this, working together in the field of military, civilian and technical innovation is an inevitable choice.
DEVELOPMENTS IN MILITARY TECHNOLOGY HAVE LED TO SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE ENTERED OUR EVERYDAY LIVES
We may not even realise that many of the inventions we use in our daily lives have their origins in the military. Some examples are given below.
INTERNET
The most popular invention to emerge from the military to the civilian market is the Internet. At the end of the Second World War, the US government feared that another global conflict was imminent. The Americans then concluded that the key to success in a possible future clash lay not only in strength and weapons, but also in the efficient flow of information. And so, the idea of a communications network was born. This task was assigned in 1958 by US President Dwight David Eisenhower to a dedicated research organisation called DARPA, or Defence Advanced Research Project Agency. 11 years later, the first communication nodes were built, and the ARPANET network was born – the forerunner of today’s internet. It was on this network that the first e-mail in history was sent in 1971, thanks to Ray Tomlinson. His work at the US Department of Defence resulted in the software used to communicate on the government’s ARPANET network. Tomlinson also introduced the @ symbol into e-mail addressing systems.
GPS
GPS, which we use almost every day, also has its roots in the military. It was developed for the US Navy. In December 1973, the first phase of the GPS system – NAVSTAR – began. All branches of the US military (Army, Navy, Air Force), as well as private companies and research centres, participated in this project.
DRONES
One of the newest devices that has found its place in the civilian market is unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones. From the very beginning, these devices were produced for military use, but nowadays they can be purchased by anyone. The most famous military drone is the Predator, recognised as one of the 10 drones that changed the world. Unmanned aerial vehicles have forever changed the way the military and aviation operate. They date back to the 1970s and 1980s, when Israeli and US initiatives created gliders known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), on the basis of which modern drones were later designed.
MICROWAVE OVEN
The history of the microwave oven is very peculiar. In 1946, Raytheon engineer Percy Spencer was testing magnetron parts for military radar when he realised that they had caused the candy in his pocket to melt. He was so intrigued by this phenomenon that he decided to investigate and exploit it. He tried placing eggs and popcorn kernels under the magnetron tube and realised that it could effectively heat the eggs and warm the popcorn. A year later, the first commercial microwave oven using this technology appeared on the market.
COMPANIES THAT COMBINE COMMERCIAL AND DEFENCE PRODUCTION
Many commercial companies see and seize the opportunity to boost their development by getting involved in the production of military devices. A company with a diversified production and customer environment can, for example, survive a potential crisis or downturn in a sector (example: the Covid-19 pandemic). The army, as a publicly funded entity, is a large and stable customer and working with it can mean sometimes slow but steady growth and income for a company. The following are some examples of companies that successfully combine commercial and military production.
Raytheon
An American company and one of the largest arms manufacturing companies in the world. Raytheon produces a wide range of products, from radar and missile systems to aircraft engines and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The company produces the state-of-the-art MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, capable of striking targets at a range of more than 100 kilometres. Following its merger with United Technologies in 2020, Raytheon has a broad portfolio of aerospace businesses, including engine companies Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace. Raytheon is also not overly dependent on either the Pentagon or commercial airlines.
Boeing
Boeing is an American company primarily known for the production of commercial and military aircraft as well as space technology and defence systems. The defence sector accounts for less than one third of Boeing’s total turnover. Most of Boeing’s defence portfolio is based on aviation – the F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-15 fighters, Apache helicopters and several surveillance and support aircraft.
General Dynamics
The company is a major supplier of tanks and heavy ground vehicles to the US government and owns several shipyards producing nuclear-powered naval vessels and submarines. The company is the manufacturer of the famous Abrams tanks. General Dynamics also owns Gulfstream, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of business jets.
MILITARY SECTOR IN LATVIA
It is not only multinational companies that have been able to adapt to today’s stressful situation – there are also many different companies in Latvia that are able to offer their services and products to the military sector.
SIA “Pelegrin”
Some of you may have heard of Tarragon, an ultra-light aircraft manufactured and assembled in Latvia, which is already being used by our Armed Forces since 2022.
Tarragon aircraft are being built in Riga, Mangaļsala, since 2018. These ultra-light aircraft are actually handmade, without the use of conveyors or any robotic equipment. The aircraft parts are mostly manufactured in Riga – the engine, electronics and Tarragon-made hulls are not made in Riga.
Tarragon is a two-seater aircraft that can reach speeds of up to 370 kilometres per hour and climb to an altitude of up to 3.5 kilometres. Due to its economical maintenance costs and size, the aircraft manufactured by SIA “Pelegrin” are popular with wealthy people in Europe, Asia and the USA for both private and pleasure flights.
VR-1 FOX
In 2020, the founders of two well-known local racing teams – SIA “Baltic Motorsport Promotion” and SIA “Vāģi” – joined forces to create the best special forces army vehicle on the market – the VR FOX.
In 2021, the company received funding from the Latvian Ministry of Defence for the initial design of a military personnel carrier. In 2022, the company signed a research and development contract with the Latvian National Armed Forces for the production of the first two prototype vehicles. The first vehicle was presented at the Ādaži military training ground on 5 September 2022. It also took part in the National Armed Forces Independence Day military parade on 18 November 2022.
Military scooters Mosphera
In late 2020, the design and prototyping of the Mosphera high clearance scooter was launched, with series production of the Mosphera starting in January 2022. With durability as a top priority, these scooters are built like a tank and are available and usable in forestry, agriculture, hunting, logistics, ports, airports and even viticulture. These unique electric scooters are reported to have already reached customers in the USA, the Czech Republic, France, Israel, Poland, Finland, Slovakia and Switzerland, and their true capabilities are already being tested in Ukraine. In early 2023, four of these electric scooters were donated to the Ukrainian army thanks to the “Labas ziņas” campaign on Ziedot.lv platform.
The Mosphera military scooters are manufactured in Liepāja by Global Wolf Motors The company says that these scooters have been tested for high off-road capability and have a maximum speed of 100 kilometres per hour. In addition, they can travel up to 300 kilometres on a single charge. The capabilities offered by these scooters are very useful for army scouts and special units whose missions are based on mobility and agility.
Patria 6×6 armoured vehicles
By signing a contract with the Finnish Government and Patria in 2021, Latvia ordered more than 200 Patria 6×6 armoured personnel carriers for delivery by 2029. This cooperation agreement strengthens the combat capability of the Latvian National Armed Forces as well as the Latvian military sector and economy as a whole.
Company Patria is owned by the Finnish State (50.1%) and the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (49.9%). Patria was founded in 1997 by the merger of several Finnish military and aerospace system manufacturers.
In order to contribute to the development of the Latvian military sector, as well as to upgrade, assemble and repair Patria 6×6 armoured vehicles, the military equipment production facility of Defence Partnership Latvia, a Patria Group company, was opened in Valmiera on 24 May 2024, where Patria 6×6 armoured vehicles will be produced.
Latvian unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer SIA “Edge Autonomy Riga”
SIA “Edge Autonomy Riga” (formerly “UAV Factory”) was founded in 2009 and has offices in Latvia and the USA. The company is one of the world’s leading suppliers of unmanned aircraft systems. Its aircraft and video cameras are sold in more than 50 countries for military, civilian and academic applications.
The company has already supplied several UAV systems to the Latvian National Armed Forces. In 2023, the company’s aircraft models were donated to the Ukrainian army through a US military aid package.
ADVANTAGES OF ADAPTING MILITARY TECHNOLOGIES TO THE CIVILIAN SECTOR
As can be seen above, the adaptation of military technologies to the civilian sector brings many benefits to society. Advanced solutions developed for the army can be used in everyday life, increasing the level of safety and comfort of citizens. Their deployment in the civilian sector also allows for more resilient infrastructure, more efficient rescue systems and advanced communication solutions. In addition, the transfer of knowledge and expertise from the military to industry stimulates and drives global economic and technological development. It contributes to job creation and strengthens a country’s position in the international market.
ROLE OF INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS IN CIVILIAN MILITARY TECHNOLOGY
The role of interpreters and translators is becoming increasingly important as advanced military technologies develop internationally. Interpreters and translators ensure effective communication between military professionals and civilian counterparts, ensuring a seamless exchange of knowledge and experience in the implementation of joint projects. Accurate translation of instructions, specifications and technical documentation is essential for civilian organisations to fully exploit the potential of these advanced solutions. In addition, translators and interpreters facilitate international cooperation in the field of defence technologies, ensuring effective communication between partners from different countries. Their role is crucial to build trust and mutual understanding, which is essential for the effective development and implementation of innovative solutions.
At Skrivanek, we have been providing military translations for more than 30 years. We have extensive experience in translating confidential documents for NATO, the EU and companies operating in this sector. We also use and implement new technologies to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients.
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*Images created with artificial intelligence (AI)