FWS Top 10: The Most Iconic Military Sci-Fi Technologies
Thursday, August 4, 2016

There are great deal of technological hallmarks of science fiction that military sci-fi shares in common, but one towers above all others, and that is why it is number one on my list: the Armored Power Suit. The founding classic of military science fiction, 1959's Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein established several major precedents of the sub-genre, and given its enduring popularity, the book continues to be an influence to creators. In the novel, his 23rd century spaceborne assault troopers, the Mobile Infantry, were encased in MILSPEC armored power suits of various configuration, weaponry, and abilities; fusing the armored suits of the Knights of Europe and the Samurai to wars in outer space.
During the 2nd World War, the concept of paratroopers was established by Italians, Soviets, and the Fallschirmjagers of the 3rd Reich. After the massive Airborne drop just prior to D-Day, the ideals and tactics of the paratrooper became solidified in the mind of generations to come. As with any science fiction technology, it takes inspiration from a current familiar element and evolves it to the next level. The paratroopers of D-Day became the ODSTs of HALO via the iconic space drop pod or capsule. Hard linking the concept of space assault soldiers descending through the furious hell of reentry was the founding classic of military sci-fi Starship Trooper by Robert Heinlein. In the first section of the book, we are introduced to the concept of transforming current Airborne tactics into the Space Age via powered armor soldiers dropping into alien worlds via capsules. From this point onward, space capsules housing assault units became an icon of military science fiction, and a technology reinvented again and again in countless works.
3. Hovering Military Vehicles
4. Directed-Energy Weaponry
One of the oldest iconic sci-fi technologies is the Directed-Energy weapons (DEW), and dates back to the first sci-fi book: 1898's War of the Worlds by HG Wells. This concept was expanded by the unofficial sequel to War of the Worlds: Edison's Conquest of Mars, and rapidly became a symbol of sci-fi at large. Since warfare has been using firearms since the 13th century, there is commonality between those ancient chemically propelled projectiles and today's. When we our space heroes firing colorful beams and bolts of lethal light, it immediately communicates: "this is the future". So rooted and iconic is this trope of laser guns in science fiction, that for the better part of sci-fi history, the space laser blaster reigned supreme over the slug-thrower. However, recently, KE weapons have been making inroads in the dominance of the DE weapons since the 1980's, causing less colorful battles in sci-fi ever since. It is highly likely that slugthrowers will never fully replace directed energy weaponry due to their iconic status and easily communicating the setting and timeframe.
5. Mecha
It is, at times, difficult to separate the line between powered armor and mecha. Mecha is classically defined as "robots or machines controlled by humans." To me, powered armor is more wearable and controlled more organically by the wearers natural inputs and limbs, while Mecha is more of an vehicle, with humans controlling their robotic machinery via controls like an attack fighter or tank. However, the lines are blurred and at times, we just have to make a call based on our own assumptions. Much like powered armor, mecha is a hallmark of classic military science fiction works like ROBOTECH, Gundam, Battletech, and even Pacific Rim. Since modern military organizations do not anything close to mecha, it is yet another technology that serves has a seperate between the military of today and the military of tomorrow.
6. Robotic Soldiers
Combat since the beginning of mankind has always come down to one warrior against another. One human against another. has been a million years' old tradition is being altered with the final realization of robots on the battlefield. Robots like the MQ-1B Predator UAV are finally achieving the sci-fi staple of robotic soldiers in the real world. Why is the robotic soldier iconic in military science fiction? Like many technologies mentioned on this list, it representation of the future and how much the passage of time alters the battlefield traditions. Also, robotic soldiers are a commonly held fear as demonstrated in works like R.U.R, Battlestar Galactica, and Terminator. This fear as allowed for the massive inclusion of the robotic soldier in works in a attempt to mine that fear. After all, what is more sci-fi than robots taking over for humans on the battlefield?
7. Space Fighters
To quote Bender: "the laws of science be a harsh mistress", and none more does that apply to iconic military sci-fi technology of space fighters. What would Wing Commander, BSG, or even Star Wars be without their space fighters? Not the same without a doubt, but realities of physics informs that space fighters as we understand them would not exist in the same fashion...sorry COD: Infinite Warfare. Fighters have always had a hold on sci-fi creators because...well...they are very cool, and they make for exciting battles and great toys. They also become enduring symbols of their fictional universe as well as ambassadors to the masses.
8. Cybernetic/Genetic Super-Soldiers
Since ancient man, there have been stories of humans gifted to be more skilled than the normal brethren, Achilles and Hercules are early symbols of this. It is natural that such a long held concept to enter into the realm of military science fiction via advancements in cybernetics, bionics, genetics, and pharmaceuticals. These "super-soldiers" born of scientific progress occupy some of the most important MSF characters, like the Master Chief from HALO, the Astartes from 40K, the COBRA from Timothy Zahn's books, and even our friend here, Robocop. These are yet another hallmark that clearly communicates to the audience that is this the future.
9. The Dropship/Tactical Transport
Over the course of two blogposts, FWS attempted to demonstrate the fundamental differences in these two terms that are deliberately thrown about carelessly by creators and the general public. To the extent that the term "dropship" encompasses a wide variety of military sci-fi vehicles that are in fact mostly "tactical transports". This iconic technology of military sci-fi is one of the most common spaceborne vehicles seen and much like Space Fighters and Combat Starships, the Dropship/Tactical Transport allows the creator to have free reign to develop an iconic vehicle that will serve as a callcard for the series and one of the most commonly seen vehicles. This is seen with the Pelican from HALO and the Cheyenne from ALIENS; and countless other works.
10. Combat Starships

In the history of space exploration, no purely military spacecraft has been developed and launched into space. However, science fiction is packed with combat starships that have evolved into icons of their brand and the whole genre. This makes combat starships one of the most visual, celebrated, and conceptized of all military science fiction technologies. Countless websites are packed with concept art of combat starships, there are entire video games and board games centered around massive space battles between flotilla of warships, and the toy/model industry pumps out more plastic representations of combat starships to fulfill this market share. While this is number ten on the list, it is in reality, the number one most iconic military sci-fi technology.
Next Time on FWS...
In all of science fiction, one of the most celebrated "evil" fictional governments is the Galactic Empire from the original Star Wars trilogy. However, its relationship to its military and the overall relationship to the Sith is jumbled. Next time on FWS, we will try to pull out the truth of the Empire in the next installment of Future Military Organizations. Given the circumstances of my life with an 9 month old running and the amount of research needed for this blogpost...it could take awhile. Stay Frosty.