Summary
Modern Soldier Systems - Company overview
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Future is now.
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'Future Soldier' programmes, as they were then called, started to emerge in the late 1990s with a view to addressing five essential requirements: C41, lethality, mobility, survivability and sustainability. They were a logical complement to the net-centric environment that was forecast for the medium-term future, allowing a single soldier to exchange all necessary information with higher command echelons. All seemed poised for rapid development, at least in some countries; but the need to wait for the advent of certain technological breakthroughs and the usual financial constraints combined with the more recent emergence of the so-called 'urgent operational requirements' for contingents deployed in various theatres of operation slowed down many of those programmes. Turning to the management structure of these programmes, contrasting approaches have been adopted: most Europeans, for instance, have selected a leading company responsible for integration, while others, especially the United States, left this task to the military. At time of writing the various programmes had reached different levels of maturity (for some 'Future' is already 'Now') and taken different paths. Indeed, some involve full integration of all the subsystems that have been developed from the ground up, while others chose a more conservative approach, contemplating integration of existing or modified equipment. Most of them, however, agree with the necessity of integrating with infantry fighting vehicles. The export aspect is also taking an interesting turn. Indeed, many of the subcomponents developed for the various national programmes are proposed for other nations' studies, with the companies involved trying to capitalise on the research and development they devoted to this sector. The problems common to all systems are weight and power consumption. Another point of concern is interoperability, as coalition operations are typical of current missions, although it seldom happens to see troops mix at tactical level. Felin The French Felin (Fantassin a Equipements et Liaisons Integres) is currently the most advanced programme of its kind, both in terms of technology and deployment timeframe. Born in 1993 as a concept study, requirements were frozen in 2001 and, by 2002, two definition contracts were issued to two industrial groups led respectively by Thales and Sagem. In March 2004 a contract worth 800 million [euro] was eventually awarded to Sagem. This included the development of the Felin system per se, its industrialisation and production, as well as two and a half years' support. Early trials with a reduced number of prototypes were carried out between 2006 and mid-2008; these led to a system offering a 24-hour endurance and a weight reduced to 23 kg, including rifle, ammunition, water and food. In July 2008, some 358 systems, part of 'tranche one', were delivered for troop trials (tranche two of 1089 systems was ordered in March 2006). These trials were carried out over a period of nine months by a mechanised infantry company, an airborne infantry company and a mountain infantry platoon. On 3 April 2008 the French defence procurement agency (DGA) placed an order worth 143 million [euro] (tranche three, part of the overall ...See the full content of this document
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