Apple and Boeing are two companies that I never imagined working together, but when the American military is involved, I suppose anything can happen. Technology is progressing so quickly that the Pentagon is struggling to keep up on its own, which is why it’s looking to partner up with private companies and organizations like Apple, Boeing, Harvard, and more. As for what Apple can do for the American military, apparently the company will be helping the Pentagon develop military-grade wearable technology.
The Pentagon is teaming up with Apple, Boeing, Harvard and others to develop high-tech sensory gear flexible enough to be worn by people or molded onto the outside of a jet. The rapid development of new technologies is forcing the Pentagon to seek partnerships with the private sector rather than developing its technology itself, defense officials say. “I’ve been pushing the Pentagon to think outside our five-sided box and invest in innovation here in Silicon Valley and in tech communities across the country,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in prepared remarks on Friday. “Now we’re taking another step forward.” The new technology aims to use high-end printing technologies to create stretchable electronics that could be embedded with sensors and worn by soldiers, a defense official said, and could ultimately be used on ships or warplanes for real-time monitoring of their structural integrity. The U.S. government is contributing $75 million over five years, he said, and companies, managed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, will add $90 million, with local governments chipping in more to take the total to $171 million.
