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Podcasts Take Two
The ramifications of a technologically enhanced military
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Jan 8, 2013
Listen • 7:35
The ramifications of a technologically enhanced military
The US military has been developing technologies to help boost troops‚ performance abilities for years. Now, a new study looks at the future of military enhancement. Max Mehlman joins the show to discuss the ethical ramifications of an enhanced military. Mehlman is the co-author of the study “Enhanced Warfighters.”
US Army Sgt. Josh Deveraux models the goggle-mounted display (GMD) below his right eye, which can be used to look at the battlefield, part of his Future Force Warrior high-tech combat outfit, during the US Army Soldier Modernization Day expo in the Rayburn House Office Building June 6, 2007 in Washington, DC. The Future Force Warrior integrates GPS, advanced communications, body armor and other computer systems to help coordinate ground troops, aircraft and vehicles in the field. The expo displayed weapons, clothing, body armor and combat rations that are on the cutting edge of military technology.
US Army Sgt. Josh Deveraux models the goggle-mounted display (GMD) below his right eye, which can be used to look at the battlefield, part of his Future Force Warrior high-tech combat outfit, during the US Army Soldier Modernization Day expo in the Rayburn House Office Building June 6, 2007 in Washington, DC. The Future Force Warrior integrates GPS, advanced communications, body armor and other computer systems to help coordinate ground troops, aircraft and vehicles in the field. The expo displayed weapons, clothing, body armor and combat rations that are on the cutting edge of military technology.
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
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The US military has been developing technologies to help boost troops‚ performance abilities for years. Now, a new study looks at the future of military enhancement. Max Mehlman joins the show to discuss the ethical ramifications of an enhanced military. Mehlman is the co-author of the study “Enhanced Warfighters.”

The President has tapped Chuck Hagel to be his next defense secretary. The former Republican senator will have plenty of challenges to face, including how far to go with what's known as military human enhancements. 

These enhancements include everything from robotic implants to drugs and gene therapy, which can make soldiers stronger and faster, but also include great inherent risks. 

Maxwell Mehlman is a professor of law and mediciane at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, he's also one of the authors of a new study on some of these risks.