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2015-02-01

STATE OF THE ART SOLDIER SYSTEMS

Equipment should be easy to use even under tough field conditions

Infantry in modern airmobile and other special operations have to be able to carry out a multiplicity of highly-diverse missions. This doesn't just require new force structures, it requires modern equipment specifically tailored to the task.NATION SHIELD looks at the best in Soldier Systems and some of the companies developing them in a two-part series

Advanced technologies can make a major contribution to improving the survivability, C4I capabilities, sustainability, mobility and lethality of modern military operations.

As a result, there is a range of companies vying for a piece of the 'future combat' pie. Notable systems include FIST (Future Integrated Soldier Technology) for the British, Félin (Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons Intégrées; Integrated Equipment and Communications Soldier) for the French, IdZ (Infanterist der Zukunft) for the German Bundeswehr , Soldato Futuro Future Soldier System, Italy, Land Warrior for the Americans, IMESS (Integrated and Modular Engagement System) for the Swiss, and Land 125 for the Australians

Central role of infantry man in modern operations
In today's rapidly transforming armed forces, the infantryman continues to play a central role in new operational scenarios. His mission spectrum is extremely complex, calling for capabilities enabling high-mobility operations in difficult, unfamiliar terrain, even when dismounted. Increasingly often, the infantryman has to operate in urban areas and under extreme climatic conditions. He has to contend with new asymmetric threats, and frequently faces attacks from irregular forces.

The important thing: providing the troops with an open infantry system based on modular combat equipment and delivering enhanced performance and reduced weight. And it isn't just with regard to weight where it is necessary to avoid overburdening the soldier. Equipment should be easy to use even under tough field conditions. A modular design ensures operational flexibility and the ability to adapt to new situations and mission requirements. The aim of future soldier systems program is a well protected soldier, equipped with robust weapons, a clear view of the tactical situation and reliable means of communication.

FIST - Future Infantry Soldier Technology, UK

The Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme is a modular system of cutting-edge equipment, weapons and sighting initiatives that aims to maximise the fighting effectiveness of the British infantryman. After a decade of assessment, trials and procurement, the full FIST pack is now seeing active use in theatres such as Afghanistan.

The programme has followed a systematic, requirements-driven approach to equipping small teams of soldiers engaged in dismounted operations with an inte¬gra¬ted fighting system.

It also addresses the integration of the dismounted section with other systems, including personal equipment and platforms, to deliver network-enabled capability.

The assessment phase began in 2003, under the prime contractorship of ThalesUK, to identify the optimum solution for FIST, including through-life support, ensuring that the correct balance is struck between capability, cost and risk. The MoD and Thales UK established an open partnering culture to deliver this complex programme.

Military personnel have been involved at every stage by conducting trials and contributing to design decisions. Deployment is progressing - 3 Commando Brigade, 16 Air Assault Brigade and 4 (Mechanised) Brigade have all been issued with FIST. 4 Brigade is deployed on Operation Herrick with the full suite of FIST equipment. All remaining deliveries will be completed by the end of March 2015.

When used in conjunction with the laser light module, users can hand off targets to other soldiers within the section who are operating with goggles. Weapon sights are a vital element of FIST's surveillance and target acquisition (STA) capability.

FIST is delivering that STA capability to the dismounted section; starting with what goes on the weapon, the biggest single item is the new lightweight day sight (LDS).

FIST also aims to deliver an enhanced capability to operate in darkness. Though procured separately, night vision equipment has been delivered with the rest of the programme so that every soldier in the dismounted section now has a head-mounted night vision system (HMNVS), a laser light module and PVS-14 goggles.

FELIN (Fantassin à Équipements et Liaisons Intégrés) - Future Infantry Soldier System, France

Is it possible for soldiers to shoot better and more accurately, even further and in total darkness, without getting lost and while staying connected with fellow troops at all times? Operational and technical revolution, FELIN has been designed as a system that fulfills these crucial needs of an infantry force.

This capability has been demonstrated during a combined training conducted by the British Army – the 5 Scott - and a company of the 8th RPIMA, a marine infantry paratrooper regiment of the French Army, now fully equipped with FELIN.

Developed and produced by Sagem/Safran, FELIN is a high-tech integrated equipment suite for soldier modernization programs and chosen by the French army for all infantry units. France has ordered 22,600 FELIN systems, now being shipped, and several French army regiments are already equipped. The system saw its first foreign deployment in Afghanistan, with the La Fayette Task Force, where it has quickly proven its effectiveness in a critical theater that harbors particularly insidious threats.

The capabilities of FELIN were put to the test for a week in February in Europe for at the first time at the huge Otterburn military base in northern England, in the mountains near Scotland.

A unique feature of this exercise was that the French army dispatched a company from the 8th marine infantry paratrooper regiment (RPIMA), based in Castres, that was fully outfitted with FELIN systems, having taken delivery of their complete consignment in November 2011.

Rounding out the tactical familiarization phase for FELIN, in joint maneuvers with the 5th company of the Royal Scottish Regiment from Canterbury, the 140 marines from the 8th regiment were able to use all components of the FELIN system during these exercises.

IdZ (Infanterist der Zukunft) Future Soldier System, Germany

Following the successful six-year development of the German Future Soldier System “Infanterist der Zukunft – Erweitertes System (IdZ-ES)” (Future Soldier System – Enhanced System) by an industrial consortium led by Rheinmetall Defence, the first lot of 30 systems of GLADIUS, equipping 300 riflemen, was delivered at the end of 2012.

The development and production of this highly sophisticated system required the interdisciplinary management of extremely varied professional specialisations and structures, both in the industry and within the Bundeswehr, similar to the integrated project teams (IPT) approach that was implemented in the new procurement process according to CPM. This made it possible to realise the project within the time and cost framework, as Bodo Garbe, member of the Management Board at Rheinmetall Defence, noted.

The emphasis was laid on weight reduction, miniaturisation and improved integration and modularisation.

The clothing, including a functional, sweat and heat absorbing and flame retardant base layer, can be adjusted to the most severe climatic conditions while providing cold and wet weather equipment in order to increase the survivability of the individual rifleman.

The soldier’s body protection against shrapnel and blast injuries as well as against bullets can be increased by various protection layers adding up to Class IV protection according to the German Army’s requirements, depending on task and mission of the squad.

The heart and brain of “IdZ-ES” is the core system with merges power supply and command and control (C4I) functions in a specifically designed “electronic backpack”, which monitors the processes of all individual components within the core computer.

A key feature is the squad radio communication (data and voice simultaneously), allowing the integration into networked operations, providing the link to the squad’s support or combat vehicle (e.g. Boxer multi-role armoured vehicle or the Puma infantry fighting vehicle).

The main weaponry is the G36 assault rifle, modularly adapted to the requirements of the “IdZ-ES”. Picatinny rails enable mounting of a variety of targeting and sighting devices for acquiring targets in daylight, at night or in poor visibility.

Soldato Futuro Future Soldier System, Italy

Selex ES, a Finmeccanica company, has attained more major achievements within the Italian Soldato Futuro programme: the signature of two contracts, together worth about 60 million euro, relating to the SWave Software Defined Radio (SDR) portable terminals and TM-NVG (Tactical Mobility Night Vision Goggles).

The Soldato Futuro programme, currently being developed with the Italian Army, will lead to the complete modernisation of the systems and equipment of soldiers, aligning their operating capacities with the requirements of current and future scenarios.

The first supply consists of 2726 radio SDR Hand-Helds thanks to which the Italian Army’s light infantry troops will be equipped with new wideband communication systems. This is a first batch, which has already successfully received the approval of the General Defence Staff, and is part of the lot envisaged for the next five-six years.

The SDR, which represents the most cutting-edge synthesis of radio and IT transmissions, is a new-concept platform able to host various wave forms interoperable with systems already in use and future ones.

The second acquisition concerns 2726 TM-NVG night vision goggles, a third-generation binocular device developed to provide state-of-the-art equipment for the nocturnal tactical mobility of the Future Soldier. This apparatus, the most advanced currently available on the market, has been designed to display all the information and map data provided by the command and control system on the eye-piece.

The goggles also feature an integrated camera able to return the observed scene to the Command and Control system. Hardware and software developments are expected to provide the soldier with yet further functions and for individual navigation, with the idea of further improving mobility in low-visibility conditions.

Next month – Land Warrior for the Americans, IMESS (Integrated and Modular Engagement System) for the Swiss, and Land 125 for the Australians.

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