PROGRAMMES AT A GLANCE: NOVEMBER 2014 • 1 New • 24 Updates

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www.soldiermod.com SoldierMod 27 PROGRAMMES AT A GLANCE NOV 2014

Country Programme Schedule Contractor Recent Procurement Activity Notes Name Team

Australia Land 125 Phase 2 Includes Elbit In late January 2014 Steyr Phase 3C, focus on “Lethality” Phase 3 completed. Systems, Mannlicher’s SL40 under- continues. Phase 3 being Harris, Thales barrel grenade launcher was acquired; & Selex. selected. Yet an extensive list This last phase is focused on 3A C4I, 3B of equipment remains, most of an upgrade of the Austeyr F-88 UPDATED Soldier Combat which comes under the category bullpup assault rifle to EF-88 Ensemble and of sights and aiming devices. specification overseen by Thales, which is now in the process of 3C is Enhanced The Australian Defence Materiel Austeyr and STA. selecting suppliers for a range Organisation (DMO), which of accessories that must fit the oversees defense procurement weapon’s STANAG 4694 rail in the country, is now putting system. these lethality enhancements through a risk mitigation process See Soldier Mod.com for more and looking to achieve second details! pass clearance in June of 2015, a step on the road to initial and final materiel releases in 2016 and 2020 respectively. Australia Land 125 To be managed TBC All personnel in Land 125-4 will Strategy has not been fully Phase 4 (Army by Diggerworks. already have L53-1BR - Night scoped. Cost estimated at High Priority Equipping Fighting Equipment technology A$500m-$1500m although Capability Gaps the soldier re-fresh L125-3B – Survivability expected to be towards the - Next Soldier after 2020. – the Soldier Combat Ensemble lower end. $7.5 million of Enhancement) Programme (Protection, Platform, Pouches, Phase 4 funding allocated to likely to be Packs) L125-3C – Enhanced F88 new DMTC to develop new renamed. Broad with ‘open architecture’ Army technology. cuts to defence Minors, Force Protection Review, budget have Sustainment – F88SA2 and 3, seen First Pass 7.62mm MG, 7.62mm Marksman Delayed by a Rifle. In December 2013, Elbit year to 2015 and Systems announced a $229 the whole Phase million pair of Australian contract 4 programme modifications for Risk Reduction due to complete Activities, and additional Battle in 2023. Management Systems. The exercised options and risk reduction survey and quote were separate items, but both fall within the existing contract. Work will be performed over the next 3 years. NO NEW INFO SINCE LAST UPDATE Austria Soldat der Concept Phase TBC The Rheinmetall Group has been The new modular Gladius Zukunft concludes 2011. awarded an €84 million (US$112 System, which provides soldiers Acquisition million) contract to supply a with high-tech protective gear The system postponed to further sixty of its Gladius “future backed by a networked array of – originally now begin from soldier” systems to the German communication and navigation known as 2015. Federal Defense Force. NO NEW equipment, is currently being “Infanterist INFO SINCE LAST UPDATE used by German troops in Der Zukunft” Afghanistan. or “” – is now called “Gladius” (Latin for sword)

28 Volume 14 Winter/Spring 2015 Country Programme Schedule Contractor Recent Procurement Notes Name Team Activity

Austria Soldat 2015 Near term TBC Madritsch delivered first Brigadier General Norbert procurement of batch of its AG77 A1/ HuberHead of Force Development radios, hearing ML40. Division, Austrian Army spoke protection and at The Infantry Weapons and head subsystem. Support Systems 2014 conference, UPDATED held September 2014 in London, UK. He gave a brief on developments and progress of SOLDAT 2015 to this point, and discussed: • Austrian infantry support systems; shoulder launched munitions now and in the future • Austrian efforts to integrate non-lethal weapons and their potential benefits • The future direction of the Austrian infantry; modernization developments over in the next 5 years Belgium BEST R&D and market Decision on According to a letter Trials continue for a supplier of studies. joining VOSS in dated November 15th the VOSS Smart Vest System. 2011 for Smart 2013, signed by the Potential suppliers Sagem, Vest. heads of the Ministry Cassidian (part of EADS) and of Defense of all three Elbit / Thales Netherlands have UPDATED Benelux countries, “The been asked to make further three countries have adjustments to their proposals. A the intention to develop requirement for integrated head a more structured protection has been added to the cooperation with regard programme to contributions to the EU Battle Groups and to establish a Benelux led EU Battle Group.” Brazil Combatente 2007 Army General TBC $14m award for Harris The contract involves the supply Brasileiro Staff endorsement. Falcon II&III radios in of radios to the Brazilian army´s (COBRA) R&D and testing RF-7800V in Feb. 2011. center for communications and and evaluation First 86 VBTP-MR Guarani electronic warfare. phase until 2013 6x6 IFVs delivered linked to AFV work. in December 2013, Both the RF-7800V and RF-7800S requirement for 2130. systems are essential to the NO NEW INFO SINCE COBRA modernization program, LAST UPDATE as they will provide secure voice and high-bandwidth data applications, including video combat chat. Canada Integrated Project restarted in Companies New RFP Issued by Public There was no substantive change Soldier System February 2013, with expressing Works and Government in ISSP requirements in the Project (ISSP) a formal RFP for interest Services Canada in April reissued RFP, nor has there been new bids reissued include: 2013. any indication of when Phase 1 in August of 2013. awards will be made. UPDATED Elbit Systems The Request For Proposal with L-3, (RFP) for the ISSP closed There is fear among the industry Thales Canada, on the Government that this oft delayed project, could Rheinmetall Electronic Tendering again be derailed. Canada with System (GETS) on August Saab, General 1, 2013. Dynamics Canada, Sagem with Raytheon, DRS Technologies and Selex.

www.soldiermod.com SoldierMod 29 PROGRAMMES AT A GLANCE NOV 2014

Country Programme Schedule Contractor Recent Procurement Notes Name Team Activity

Croatia ‘Future Soldier’ EDA/LCG/1 Procurement New uniform and load New sniper rifles demo-ed: Berta participation only for carriage procured. First 1000 Projekt BP 08 M in .338 Lapua on C4I. Afghanistan VHS 5.56mm assault rifle and .300 Win Mag and Agencija deployment delivered. NO NEW INFO Alan’s MACS M4 12.7mm. inc. Motorola SINCE LAST UPDATE Program is almost an end, should GP300, Kroko be fully implemented by the end ballistic vest, of 2015. Sestan Busch helmet. Czech Voják 21 ‘V21’ V21 2004-6 single VOP-026 New Ceska Zbrojovka assault Plans to acquire 10,000 CZ 805 Republic or Soldier 21 demonstrator led V21 and rifle postponed in 2011 due Bren assault rifles, 7,000 CZ 75 Squad level ‘Sesedak’’ to funding. NO NEW INFO Phantom pistols and 500 CZ ‘Sesedak’ SINCE LAST UPDATE Scorpion SMGs from 2014-2020. experimentation in 2007-9. Denmark ‘Danish Army Work on integrated As Recent funding of Aimpoint Contracted with Harris for 3500 Network SMP ended equipment. laser light module, ballistic SPRs with INVISIO V60 ancillaries Enabled Soldier’ 2005 in favour eye protection, first aid kit, in October. (DANES) of incremental combat vest and Personal The Royal Danish Army acquisition. May Role Radio. NO NEW INFO announced in March 2014 it procure systems SINCE LAST UPDATE has selected the U.S. Ordnance from 2015-20. M60E6 as its new General Incremental Purpose Machine Gun. The procurement in M60E6 was chosen for the meantime for benefits it holds over the current Afghanistan. M/62 MG3 which has been in use Move to acquire with the Danish Army since 1962. dismounted BMS Additionally, the Danish Army is 2009-14. also in the process of obtaining an optics and sensor package for the new MG, including unspecified daylight optics, thermal optics, red dot optics, tactical lights, tactical lasers, and laser range finders. Finland Now known as Technology TP2010 Though not part of “Warrior The ‘future soldier’ program Warrior 2020 Programme 2010 includes 2020”, Finland recently for the Finnish Army known (TP2010) until 2014. Savox as announced it had signed as ‘Warrior 2020′ is currently Fielding from 2017. integrator a EUR 90 million (about conducted on a parallel and Millog, $123 million) contract for path, under the Technology UPDATED Nethawk and Raytheon’s FIM-92 Stinger Programme 2010 (TP2010) Insta. RMP Block 1 missiles. The framework spanning four years “Stingers” will reportedly be of evaluation and development used to replace Finland’s of advanced soldier systems for current arsenal of Russian- the Finnish Army, scheduled to made SA-16/18 Igla missiles be fielded by 2017. and 23mm “Sergei” (ZU-23, or 23 ItK 95 in Finland) towed guns.

30 Volume 14 Winter/Spring 2015 Country Programme Schedule Contractor Recent Procurement Notes Name Team Activity

France FELIN (Fantassin Total of 22,588 Sagem Eight battalions delivered 1st Infantry Regiment à Equipements equipment since end of 2010: 1 battalion Deployed to Afghanistan in et Liaisons sets ordered equipped every 3 months. Dec 2011. Intégrés) est. $1billion 28 battalions due to be In February 2012 the 1st Completing equipped. Company of the 8th Marine fielding in 2015. In February 2013, France’s Parachute Infantry Regiment defense procurement agency deployed to Otterburn for delivered the first FELIN- a combined exercise with capable variant of its VBCI the British Army 5 Scots armored infantry fighting Regiment. The 8th RPIMa was vehicle to the French Army. the fifth French Army unit The VBCI vehicle is produced to receive the system, and by a consortium made up of it was the first time that the Nexter Systems and Renault system was used in such a Trucks Defense. Sagem is binational exercise. the prime contractor for the New personal radio planned FELIN. in 2018 via France Contact The 8x8 VBCI is an armored SDR programme. transport vehicle. It carries NO NEW INFO SINCE LAST a 25mm gun turret and can UPDATE accommodate 11 soldiers and equipment. France FELIN V.2 Technology Sagem See NEW Programme Below Probable Point at which Roadmap/ FELIN integrated into Concept phase. Scorpion. Initial upgrade for FELIN is planned for 2015 followed by a significant boost in 2020. France Arme Procurement for Expressing A total of 90,000 weapons The bid request requires the Individuelle new assault rifle interest are: are to be purchased, AIF standard to be integrated Future (AIF) Belgium-designed comprised of 45,000 assault with the other aspects of FN Herstal rifles and 45,000 carbines, France’s FELIN future soldier NEW! FN SCAR-L (as all chambered in 5.56 mm system modernisation already used x 45 NATO ammunition. programme. by French The tender includes all Final contract is antipacted special forces), additional accessories, spare to be issued in December of Germany’s parts, maintenance kits, and next year. Eligible rifles must Heckler & Koch instruction and technical be manufactured within HK416A5, Italy’s support, as well as the the European Union or the Beretta ARX160, provision of under-barrel 40 European Economic Area. the CZ 805 BREN mm grenade launchers, 38 of the Czech million training cartridges, Republic, and 21,000 training rounds, the Thales F90 92,000 40 x 46 low velocity adopted by grenades, 13,000 smoke Australia. grenades, and 51,000 dual purpose anti-personnel/anti- tank cartridges. Germany IdZ-1/BS A total of 2900 Cassidian This Programme has been with March completed see below for IDZ- award 2 “Gladius”

UPDATED

Germany ‘Gladius’ IdZ-2/ES Rheinmetall Rheinmetall The German government formally ordered a first lot of thirty transferred systems in 2012, which its new IdZ-ES Rheinmetall is currently future soldier delivering according to plan. system to NO NEW INFO SINCE LAST the German UPDATE Bundeswehr on 7 March 2013. IdZ-ES is also known as the “Gladius”.

www.soldiermod.com SoldierMod 31 PROGRAMMES AT A GLANCE NOV 2014

Country Programme Schedule Contractor Recent Procurement Activity Notes Name Team

Greece Future Soldier Studies linked TBC Call for new proposals for EDAs Programme postponed System to EDA. Combat Equipment for Dismounted indefinitely. Soldier Feasibility Study Programme (CEDS-FSP) issued in April 2013 UPDATED

Hungary Future Soldier Joined EDA work TBC Call for new proposals for EDAs Programme postponed System in 2007. Combat Equipment for Dismounted indefinitely. Soldier Feasibility Study Programme (CEDS-FSP) issued in April 2013 UPDATED

India F-INSAS Phase 1 2012 BEL expected to Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) According to officials (Futuristic Infantry weapons, be prime. is reportedly in the process with the OFB, the Soldier As a body armour, of developing a weapon with first soldiers will System) clothing and interchangeable barrels that would be equipped with individual be capable of firing 5.56mm, F-INAS full integrated UPDATED equipment 7.62mm and 6.8mm caliber system within 3 years. Phase 2 ISTAR ammunition. According to sources, 2015. Phase 3 The OFB, along with ARDE has also eight to 10 infantry C4I 2020. developed a carbine for the Army battalions are likely that is undergoing user evaluation to be equipped with at the moment. According to the F-INSAS system by officials, this should be ready by 2015. All infantrymen 2015. are set to be covered by this system by 2020. Israel Israeli Advanced First deliveries Elbit Systems Elbit Systems’ Dominator scored No new updates to Soldier / ’Shakhar’ of ‘Dominator’ prime contractor. a considerable success as some IAS, however, Israel (Dawn) system in 2009. of its components are now part of Weapon Industries programmes not only in Israel, but (IWI) Newest Light Finland, Australia and soon to be Machine Gun (LMG) UPDATED India. – the NEGEV NG7 The key element of the new system became operational is the Raptor, an all-in-one wearable during Operation computing unit specifically designed Protective Edge by for soldier use. Weighing only selected Special Forces 285 grams the Raptor features units. a 4.3-inch 800×480 resolution resistive touch screen that can be See Soldier Mod for operated with gloves and be read Details! in sunlight up to 600 cd/m2. It runs on an ARM Cortex A8 720MHz CPU and has a 512MB DDR2 SDRAM, storage coming in the form of a 16 GB SD card. The Raptor supports both Android and Linux operating systems. It features a built-in GPS and a digital compass while two USB ports are available, radio interface being provided by two RS- 232 synchronous and asynchronous ports. Italy Soldato Futuro Testing Selex Selex has been awarded two completed of Communications, contracts worth €60m for the the ‘Precursor Larimart, Selex supply of SWave software defined systems’ Galileo, Beretta & radios (SDR) and tactical mobility AeroSekur. night vision goggles (TM-NVG) for UPDATED the Italian Army’s Soldato Futuro programme. Under the first contract, the company will supply 2,726 radio SDR hand-helds to the Italian Army’s light infantry troops. This first batch is part of the lot envisaged for the next five to six years.

32 Volume 14 Winter/Spring 2015 Country Programme Schedule Contractor Team Recent Procurement Notes Name Activity

Japan ACIES Evaluation 2005- Hitachi prime; HMD NO NEW INFO SINCE 8. Delivery of first by Shimadzu, NEC LAST UPDATE system in 2012. IR camera and Brentronics power solution. Jordan ‘Future Soldier Completed Phase Led by Army and Selecting which items can FMS case for new C4I System’ I studies. Entered KADDB. Selex and be developed produced system using C2PC family Phase II. Sagem amongst locally or sourced including dismounted international internationally. Trialled element expected to partners. weapons optics from conclude in 2012. Aselsan and Jels Polly & Norinco, Night Optics and STS. Also trialled gunshot location systems from QinetiQ, Raytheon and Ultra. NO NEW INFO SINCE LAST UPDATE Malaysia Soldier Advanced Study phase Sapura has NO NEW INFO SINCE SAKTI – section exercise Kombat unfunded made proposal. LAST UPDATE in November as part of Technology programme. May Supporting SAPURA a wider exercise. A new Integrated (SAKTI) be included in in the development uniform with fractal Network Centric of SAKTI is the geometry designed Operations Phase KEMENTAH’s to replace the current 1B in next Five Year Science and Harimau Belang pattern Plan. Technology is also being developed Research Institute by STRIDE as part of the for Defence better program. known as STRIDE. Netherlands VOSS (Improved Pre-Study Phase Smart Vest, power E-Lighter prototypes Trials continue for a Operational completed late Supply, Load trials in 1Q 2013 with supplier of the VOSS Soldier System) 2010. Study Phase Carriage and series production 4Q Smart Vest System. passed in 2011 RFP Protection. 2014. Smartvest pre Potential suppliers for Smart Vest in serial production and Sagem, Cassidian (part of UPDATED Dec. 2011. Contract evaluation in 2013-2014, EADS) and Elbit / Thales is scheduled in the serial production and Netherlands have been beginning of 2013. implementation in 2014- asked to make further 2017. adjustments to their proposals. A requirement for integrated head protection has been added to the programme. Netherlands VOSS 2 Scoping Includes NO NEW INFO SINCE Requirements enhancement for SF LAST UPDATE requirements.

New Zealand Future Soldier Incremental TBC NO NEW INFO SINCE acquisition in LAST UPDATE similar areas to Land 125 Phase 2B.

Norway NORMANS Successful C4I Thales, Teleplan and FFI (Forsvarets Norwegian trials in Oct. 2008. Kongsberg. forskningsinstitutt) has Modular Arctic Further small scale developed the NORMANS Network Soldier de-risking trials in (Norwegian Modular 2010. Selection of Arctic Network Soldier) UPDATED Thales-Teleplan C4I system and has announced Oct carried out systematic 2011. tests and evaluation of the requirements in the definition phase of the procurement program. FFI has renewed its contract with SDE to continue testing and evaluation of C41.

33 Volume 14 Winter/Spring 2015 www.soldiermod.com SoldierMod 33 PROGRAMMES AT A GLANCE NOV 2014

Country Programme Schedule Contractor Recent Procurement Activity Notes Name Team

Pakistan Concept TBC TBC but inc. POF Not part of “Future Soldier” phase on lethality. Program, however, in July NO NEW INFO 2013, QinetiQ North America in SINCE LAST Waltham, MA received a $7.8 UPDATE million sole-source, firm-fixed- UPDATED price Pakistani contract for Talon IV robots external link, spares, and training. The Talon IV is used by US military EOD (explosive ordnance disposal technicians), using their remote cameras and robotic arm to investigate potential land mines. Philippines ‘Future Procurement Various suppliers. Under the programme in Soldier’ under AFP Recently March 2014, sources confirmed Modernization procured new a purchase of 63,000 new Law and Battalion GPS, Comms, Remington M4 carbines and of Excellence EOD Bomb Suits, plans call for all M4s issued to UPDATED programme. AFVs and LMGs. rifle platoons to be fitted with infrared laser aiming devices, and soldiers to receive image- intensified monocular devices that work with the lasers, plus handheld radios. The assault rifle procurement closely followed an order for 400 US-built Airtronic RPG-7 rocket launchers to replace obsolete M18 and M67 recoilless rifles. On the survivability front, an order for a reported 44080 force protection equipment sets is in the offing, each comprising a ballistic vest, plate inserts and a soft ballistic panel and weighing between six and seven kilograms (13–15 lb). Poland Tytan/Polish Three-phase Led by Bumar Will use R35010 personal radio Individual R&D stage begin Group includes and MSBS-5.56 weapons family. Battlesystem 2011. Operational FB Lucznik, PCO, A new NBC protection mask and technical PSO Maskpol, purposely developed for the requirements Radmor, CNPEP Tytan programme has been completed Radwar, OBRSM developed by Maskpol, An initial in Spring, 50 Tarnow, WB batch of kits to equip a reinforced prototype Electronics and platoon might be acquired, but systems to be ZM Tarnow. not earlier than 2016, while the acquired in first battalion-size unit should not 2016 and 800 receive the Tytan before 2018. NO production set in NEW INFO SINCE LAST UPDATE 2018. Portugal Soldado do TBC NO NEW INFO SINCE LAST Futuro UPDATE

34 Volume 14 Winter/Spring 2015 Country Programme Schedule Contractor Recent Procurement Notes Name Team Activity

Romania Romanian Initial trial with TBC Integrated with Romanian Harmonised with EDA CEDS. Individual demonstrator. C4I systems based on RF- Using the Quandtum3D Fighting System NO NEW INFO SINCE 7800S,M, R5800V& H. Expedition DI systems with (RIFS) LAST UPDATE VBS2. Russia Ratnik (Warrior) Def. Min. announced TBC 7.62-mm Steyr-Mannlicher According to an October part of the in Feb. talks to acquire SSG-69 acquired in late 2011. 2013 Press Release, by Soldier Military several FELIN sets. Testing of C4I elements with Russian Defense Minister Equipment (BES) Also visited Italy 5th Special Infantry Brigade Sergei Shoigu says, The programme regarding Soldato reported in early 2012. Russian Defense Ministry Futuro in 2012. Acquiring pilot batch for will start mass purchases FELIN kit. of domestically designed Ratnik “future soldier” gear in 2014. The gear, comprises more than 40 components, including firearms, body armor optical, communication and navigation devices, and will likely the new Kalashnikov AK-12 assault rifle. NO NEW INFO SINCE LAST UPDATE Serbia Vojnik Vojnik Demo Phase. Yugoimport M21BS-v10 5.56mm& M77 In June 2013, Serbian Budocnosti-10 SPDR product/ 7.62mm weapons, new PBB Yugoimport SPDR Company (Future Serbian MoD. VB-10 body armour and offered Azerbaijan direct Soldier-10)/ M21 uniform. sale or joint production of VB-10 equipment. Currently the Azerbaijani military is studying this system. VB-10 meets requirements of Azerbaijan Armed Forces in terms of weapon set and other elements. Several other Arabian countries and Pakistan have expressed interest in the Serbian system. NO NEW INFO SINCE LAST UPDATE Singapore Advanced Singapore reports ST Engineering, Combat Man three battalions fully ST Electronics, System (ACMS) equipped with the ST Kinetics and Advanced Combat DSTA. Man System (ACMS), UPDATED

35 Volume 14 Winter/Spring 2015 PROGRAMMES AT A GLANCE NOV 2014

Country Programme Schedule Contractor Recent Procurement Notes Name Team Activity

Slovakia Prokrocily Last ten man PIBS Programme in limbo due Individualny Bojovy squad trials in to budget concerns. System (PIBS) 2009. Funding halted after Concept UPDATED Development and Experimentation Phase. Original plan was to equip brigade from 2012. Slovenia 21st Century Pre-study Various Not Participating in EDA NO NEW INFO SINCE LAST Warrior or phase 1998. suppliers. work. UPDATE Slovenian Warrior Study phase 1999-2005 procurement from 2002. South Africa African Warrior Requirement TBC Defence budget increased by Operational 10 percent for 2012-13. Capability NO PROGRESS DUE TO was approved BUDGETARY CONCERNS. NO in 1999 NEW INFO SINCE LAST UPDATE Functional User Requirement Statement and the Logistic User Requirement in 2003 Project Study Report and the Customer Selection 2004. Now phased procurement. South Korea Future Soldier Concept and ADD leading DSM Dyneema has International R&D co-operation development Applied been named to provide sought in Energy Supply, phase. Research the ballistic protection Sensor Fusion and Virtual Acquisition from Phase; June material and key solution Simulation. 2016 to field in 2009-Dec. 2011. for enhanced lightweight UPDATED 2020 Now concept armor for the Republic of phase until Korea (South Korea) Army 2013 at earliest Multi-purpose Body Armor conclusion led Program. The Multi-Purpose by Samsung Body Armor Program is part Thales of South Korea’s efforts in soldier modernization, seeking to equip defense personnel with lightweight armor that provides enhanced protection over a large area of the body, thus increasing protection and survivability. Spain Combatiente Cassidian prime Operational trials of Futuro (COMFUT)) contractor plus prototypes started at the end Indra Sistemas, of September 2011 and May Iturri, Amopack 2012. SL, Fedur and Due to Spain’s economic woes, GMV. the programme is currently in limbo. NO NEW INFO SINCE LAST UPDATE Sri Lanka Special Infantry Continuation of Various Requirement for additional Operations Team counter-LTTE suppliers NV sights and navigation (SIOT) strategy. equipment per Team and two new under barrel GLs per team. NO NEW INFO SINCE LAST UPDATE

36 Volume 14 Winter/Spring 2015 Country Programme Schedule Contractor Recent Procurement Notes Name Team Activity

Sudan Future Soldier The Sudanese military has selected the Chinese QBZ-97 bullpup for their Future Soldier System. The Sudanese military has been using Chinese weaponry for some time now including: Type 96 main battle tank, HJ-8 anti-tank missile, Type 56 and Type 81 rifles, CQ rifle (copy of the M16A1), QJZ-89 50-cal heavy machine gun, M99 50-cal sniper rifle and the QLZ-87 automatic grenade launcher. NO NEW INFO SINCE LAST UPDATE Switzerland IMESS (Integriertes Airbus won a In July of 2014, Airbus The next stage of the project will Modulares contract for Defence and Space has see the Swiss Army conduct field Einsatzsystem the prototype announced it has completed trials of IMESS over two years, Schweizer Soldat) phase of the the development of the with Airbus Defence and Space IMESS project Swiss Army’s planned new providing logistical support for from defence future soldier system and it the test phase. UPDATED procurement is now ready to enter serial Subsystems of the IMESS system agency production. include: the Kongsberg TacLAN Armasuisse tactical high-capacity radio in 2007, then system (including the SR600 received a hand-held and vehicle-mounted CHF20 million VM600 short range radios); and (USD22 million) Sagem optics, including the advanced Sword T&D (Thermal and Day) production weapon sight, as used in the engineering French FELIN system. contract from it in 2011. The latter contract also included an option for series production of IMESS, valued at around USD160 million. Sweden MARKUS Plans finalised TBC Acquired AeroVironment RFIs submitted in Sept for Markstridsutrustad in 2010. Puma AE SUAV in June. New Sweden’s IGR programme, Soldat (Swedish Integrated small arms family is planned replacing/supplementing IGR Project for Capability for from 2017. 1 the PRR, Motorola LMR and Development and MARKUS V1 IGR 2 Harris 7800 SPR. The IGR Acquisition of from 2014. comprises 17,000 group radios Equipment for Foot New small and 8,000 platoon radios. NO Soldiers) arms family NEW INFO SINCE LAST UPDATE from 2017. Thailand SFT 21 Concept TBC NO NEW INFO SINCE LAST phase. UPDATE

37 Volume 14 Winter/Spring 2015 www.soldiermod.com SoldierMod 37 PROGRAMMES AT A GLANCE NOV 2014

Country Programme Schedule Contractor Recent Notes Name Team Procurement Activity United Future DC3 Thales PCMO Deliveries are on General Dynamics in negotiations to Kingdom Integrated completing for Assessment track and well replace FMS TIGR with COTS GeoSuite Soldier Commanders Phase. FIST underway, as in the phase 3 of Tactical Situational Technology Lightweight IA equipment over 50% of the Awareness UOR. Ventronix awarded (FIST) 1a/ DCC Radio sourced from equipment was additional contract for 1400 Commanders Inc 1 (CLR) and ELCAN, Shield, handed over to the Target Locator/Moskito in June. Commander’s Qioptiq, military. The last In March 2013 Thales completed Locating Uniscope, subsystem accepted deliveries of 8,000 Lightweight Day Sights Beacon Vectronix, in late 2012 was the integrated with Close Quarter Battlesights (CLB) being Olympus and Vectronix/Wilcox – this was under a separate contract, in deployed. Istec. grenade launcher fire addition to the main Fist contract. control system. United DCCS/FIST 2 New home for Currently Thales Major R&D thrust on Man Worn Power & D TDP Final Report Kingdom FIST 1b from PCMO. burden reduction Delivered on November 2012. 2015. Goal to reduce burden to 40Kg by 2020 In mid-March 2013 Roke Manor Research Ltd, part of the Chemring Group, was awarded a three-year research contract under the Dismounted Close Combat Sensors (DCCS) Research Programme. Roke is leading a team that also includes SEA (Systems Engineering & Assessments) and QinetiQ to assess, mature and integrate innovative sensor technology for the dismounted close combat infantry soldier. United FIST 3/DCC Inc 3 Continuing Meggitt secures FIST enhancements to 59 of the MoD’s Kingdom Procurements £13 million UK MoD 154 DCCTs include three simulators: an and Contract small arms simulator underslung grenade launcher sight, a awards upgrade thermal sight and a commander’s target locator, for which Meggitt will provide associated ballistics and round effects UPDATED for SA80/UGL rifle simulators, modifying them to accommodate new thermal sights.

38 Volume 14 Winter/Spring 2015 Country Programme Schedule Contractor Recent Procurement Notes Name Team Activity

United Marine Continuing NA Program Milestone Status: States Expeditionary Soldier as Integration efforts during 2014 Rifle Squad a System include: (MERS) approach • refinement of a metric for mobility utilizing MCLEAP; • integration of the Joint Battle UPDATED Command – Platform (JBC-P) and centralized power for the Marine rifle squad; • improvements in the weight distribution and load carriage methodology within the squad using metrics for mobility; • ergonomic enhancements to the infantry system; • thermal strain and physiological studies in the tropical environment; • research into efficient power generation and power/data distribution on the Marine; • integration and anthropometry of the Marine in mobility platforms under development such as JLTV or the Amphibious Combat Vehicle; • integration of the unique infantry items carried in the billet positions within the rifle squad. United LUT in Rockwell Concepts tested at NIE 13.2 PEO Soldier continues advanced States November Collins, development on the Nett Warrior 2010. Designs Raytheon system. Most recently, PEO Soldier considered and General has included a Samsung Galaxy Note too heavy Dynamics II smart phone as the chest-mounted and bulky. contracts now “end-user device” that serves as the UPDATED Going for cancelled. centerpiece of the system. ‘Cellular type device’ with apps linked to AN/PRC- 154 Rifleman Radio. United Development Effectively completed with legacy States complete. gear integrated into Nett Warrior

United COMPLETED States

39 Volume 14 Winter/Spring 2015 www.soldiermod.com SoldierMod 39 PROGRAMMES AT A GLANCE NOV 2014

Country Programme Schedule Contractor Recent Procurement Activity Notes Name Team

United Air Soldier Strategy TBC Air soldier goals: Reduce bulk and Picking up where Air Warrior, States changed in weight. ended, no new info since last Dec 2011. Integrate Aviation Life Support update Changed from Equipment. Improved operations three to two in degraded visual environments. increment Increase operations in full MOPP approach. and extreme temperatures. RFP issued in March 2012. Currently in EMD phase, procurement of Sub-Inc 1a in FY2014 and Sub-Inc 1b in FY2017. United PM Soldier R&D and On- TBD The Maneuver Center of Excellence Status Soldier Protection States PEO Protection Going. and U.S. Army Natick Soldier System (SPS) Soldier Protection Soldier and Individual Research, Development and System (SPS) replaces the Equipment Engineering Center, are working capability of multiple current together to find “evolutionary systems and has achieved and revolutionary” approaches to a 10% weight reduction. lightening the Soldier load. Many more status updates, UPDATED and Enduring Requirements see this link for details: https://www.wewear.org/ assets/1/7/JAPBI_Army_Col_ Mortlock_050814.pdf United Web Warrior The Wyss Institute for Biologically States Inspired Engineering at Harvard University announced that it has DARPA been awarded a first-phase $2.9 million follow-on contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to continue UPDATED development of its Soft Exosuit. SEE SOLDIER MOD FOR DETAILS! United Joint Effects On Going No New Info Since Last States Model (JEM) UPDATE DARPA Increment 2 US Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command

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