Digitisation

The complex art of spending huge amounts of taxpayers' money converting things that usually work, are relatively squaddie-proof, and, when they do go wrong, can be fixed with a "Glasgie screwdriver" (or lacking even that, a hard enough kick) into "network enabled capability".

This means:

1. Needs batteries - of a type you haven't been issued with and you can't buy at the NAAFI or (if you are lucky) PX.

2. Needs good comms, therefore lots of scaleys.

3. Develops mysterious "functionality enhancements" within 250 miles of an operational theatre - although can look really cool at Defence exhibitions.

4. Will break as soon as it is looked at by anybody in C95.

5. Fixed by returning to factory - leaving you without whatever it is for most of your deployment.

Bowman is one classic, but hardly unique, example.