What version are you playing? While I admit that I haven't tried the newest version yet thanks to lack of time, last I checked it takes them ages to get anywhere in their tech tree. While I'm researching Alien Theory and plasma weapons out of boredom with Bolters, all lasers and nanocomposite ready, they seemingly still lack consistent supply of better weapons, as their most common troop type is still armorless taman with pistols and kerrblades. This on normal difficulty.