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Last updated: February 01, 2011

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US soldier Jonathan Springer develops iPhone app to target the Taliban

  • Wed Jan 26 00:03:00 EST 2011 Wed Jan 26 00:03:00 EST 2011
  • US army captain dreams up iPhone app
  • Spent $26,000 of own money developing it
  • App can be used by soldiers in Afghanistan

AN iPhone app that tracks down the Taliban has been developed by a US soldier who put $26,000 of his own money into the project.

The idea for a smartphone application to assist soldiers in combat came to Captain Jonathan J. Springer in a dream last July.

The 31-year-old, from Fort Wayne, Indiana, has worked with programmers ever since to make the idea a reality.

Tactical Nav, which is expected to be available through Apple’s App Store next month, assists soldiers in mapping, plotting and photographing waypoints on a battleground and conveying coordinates to supporting units.

Captain Springer used a variety of armoured vehicles, remote observation posts and harsh combat conditions to test the accuracy of his invention, which can also be used to direct artillery fire on enemy positions or call in helicopter support.

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  • Curlyone of Summerholm Posted at 8:14 AM January 26, 2011

    Finally a Smart Phone application that has some real time use.

    Comment 1 of 13

  • Alan Stafford Posted at 8:38 AM January 26, 2011

    So the bad guys can buy it too?

    Comment 2 of 13

  • Bob of Bris Posted at 9:36 AM January 26, 2011

    I'm not sure of how he transmits information but sending tactical informaton via unsecured phone network is not great practice. Interesting concept still.

    Comment 3 of 13

  • Lord Clarence McTavish-Harrister-Smith of Brisuburbane Posted at 10:20 AM January 26, 2011

    A GPS (with a compass or just a standard old compass and a map for military coordinates) will usually get a signal in the mountains of Halfgoneistan. I'm not sure if Taliban.inc - the mobile phone service provider there will get you that signal down in the valley and around that next hill. Get real. Sounds great for the city boy gamers.

    Comment 4 of 13

  • Brendan of Gold Coast Posted at 10:35 AM January 26, 2011

    Australian Telcos, lift your game. The Taliban can get Mobile phone coverage throughout the mountains of Afghanistan.

    Comment 5 of 13

  • Telstra's Patsy of Brisbane North Posted at 10:35 AM January 26, 2011

    Bob and Lord Clarence, you are right in some respects but the military have been running encrypted private 3G networks for some time. The issue of bearers and carrier signal is moot.

    Comment 6 of 13

  • Sean B of Brisbane North Posted at 10:43 AM January 26, 2011

    This story is old hack, ruggedized portable C2 systems have been around for years... i2, anyone? The major issue is that it is going to Apple App Store, this is a major issue. Soldiers who us unproven technologies make inexcusable errors and endanger all. Obviously, if he is offering it to market then the defence has rejected it. $26,000 developing what is essentially a Y Gen distraction... fool. Bigger implications, if captured how do you wipe the info, if you have time that is?

    Comment 7 of 13

  • Nathan of Morayfield Posted at 10:47 AM January 26, 2011

    The US forces in Afghanistan use their own military-level network provided by mobile radio towers. Australian soldiers, I think are able to access this network too. And no, bad guys won't be able to use it as you will need a verified military ID.

    Comment 8 of 13

  • Matt12 of Bris Posted at 11:05 AM January 26, 2011

    Ever if the bad guys can access it, what are they going to call in..... a carrier pigeon.

    Comment 9 of 13

  • DC Posted at 11:26 AM January 26, 2011

    If it can be used by the good guys, it can be used by the bad guys as well.

    Comment 10 of 13

  • Ronaldo of Uo North Posted at 5:20 PM January 26, 2011

    An Iphone that can kill people. Isn't that wonderful?

    Comment 11 of 13

  • RJP Posted at 7:43 PM January 26, 2011

    Better them than us, Ronaldo...

    Comment 12 of 13

  • anon e-mouse of rock #3 Posted at 1:55 AM January 27, 2011

    say Ronaldo - go watch Hurt Locker - the bad guys already use phones to kill people.

    Comment 13 of 13

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