Trialling the Future Integrated Soldier Technology

by Paul Wathen
Paul Wathen is the FIST International Collaboration Manager at Thales Defence Ltd. In this article, he describes the reduction of programme risk through trials, leading to conclusions on what equipment is required for all dismounted soldiers and what is needed for commanders. into the network-enabled battlespace. The selective use of high-technology modules focused to meet the needs of soldiers will enhance their ability to move, find and engage the enemy and also conduct effective peace support operations. The Assessment Phase The FIST technology demonstrator programme, which ran between 1997 and 2000, provided a strong indication that an integrated soldier system combining C4I, lethality, mobility, survivability and sustainability elements was likely to deliver significant benefits to the dismounted soldier in particular, casualty reduction. This led to approval for a full Assessment Phase (AP), for which Thales Defence Ltd was selected as the Prime Contractor. Starting in April 2003, the three-year AP will narrow down the possible solutions, reduce risk and provide the high-quality data and evidence needed to inform the MoDs Main Gate investment decision. Specifically, this phase involves producing and baselining a System Requirement Document (SRD) that defines what the system must do in order to meet the users needs as stated in the User Requirement Document (URD), supported by evidence generated from trials, modelling and analysis. This includes analyses of the capability increase that this system will deliver, the whole-life cost and the residual programme risks. The resulting business case, written by the MoDs Defence Procurement Agency (DPA), will be analysed by the MoDs Investment Approval Board (IAB) at Main Gate after the conclusion of the AP in 2006. This will address all lines of development necessary to deliver this defence capability including training, sustainability, personnel, estates, concepts and doctrine, as well as equipment and technology. The IAB will ultimately recommend to Minister (Defence Procurement) the procurement approach that should be adopted, leading to the release of funding for manufacture and subsequent fielding of the proposed solution. FIST is expected to enter service around the end of the decade. System Requirements Trial A fundamental aspect of the programmes systems engineering process is that the linkages between the user and system requirements are established and maintained. This auditable process will ensure that only technology providing an enhancement to the operational capability will be selected. The SRD is currently being developed, which involves trading time, cost and performance to identify the best technological solution, whilst delivering a balance of effectiveness and affordability within the Initial Gate boundaries. The current phase of this SRD development is influenced by detailed modelling of both in contact and out of contact phases and the results of an experimental trial, which has recently concluded. This was the latest of a series of trials to assess the requirements for the FIST system and identify the factors that will influence the system architecture. The purpose of the recent trial was to answer a series of questions relating to the functionality required by soldiers engaged in DCC, including riflemen and their commanders. Many of these questions relate to the nature of the command and control (C2) information that soldiers need to be provided with during operations. For example, it seems desirable for a commander to know where he and his fellow section members are located, but how often should this information be updated? Over what range

uture Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) is an equipment acquisition programme that considers the UK soldier engaged in Dismounted Close Combat (DCC) as a combat system in his own right. This marks the first time that soldiers are being equipped in an integrated way, this approach being applied to load management, power consumption, human factors and integration of the soldier and his sensors

Human Factors modelling techniques are being used to test out possible equipment configurations and locations on the man.

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EQUIPPING THE DISMOUNTED SOLDIER

An experimental system was used on a recent trial to acquire a greater understanding of the C4I needs of the individual soldier and his commander.

does the section need to communicate? How much C2 information should be provided to an individual soldier? The answers to these questions have a fundamental influence on system design. Additionally, Measures of Performance (of the system including the man) were examined to enable a comparison to be made between sections of FISTequipped and conventionally equipped soldiers. These are currently under analysis, but it is likely that they may underpin further data collection processes for future trials. The two-month trial was designed to

answer a hundred or so such questions. It took place on Salisbury Plain and involved some 70 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, The Princess of Waless Royal Regiment, representing the organisational structure of an infantry company. The trial was jointly managed by Thales and the Infantry Trials and Development Unit (ITDU). Fifteen specialist engineers collected the trial data for subsequent analysis. Each soldier was equipped with an experimental FIST system, comprising a combination of off-the-shelf modules including radios, computers, GPS, weapon sights and cameras, linked

together to form an integrated soldier system representing the likely functionality required by FIST to give the expected uplift in capability. The soldiers were put through a number of scenarios typical of those encountered by infantry soldiers, including night/day, urban/rural and attack/defence. Their effectiveness was compared to a baseline representing soldiers equipped with conventional infantry equipment, which had been established through an earlier trial. The resulting trials data has been analysed and is being used to inform the major design decisions during the FIST V2
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T R I A L L I N G T H E F U T U R E I N T E G R AT E D S O L D I E R T E C H N O L O G Y

systems engineering cycle, which will be a further step toward the final FIST system that ultimately enters service. The resulting V2 system will address the optimisation of the vitally important aspects of weight, power consumption, human factors, cost and reliability, and will be the subject of a major validation trial in late 2005. Trial Results So what has been learned from this recent trial? The trial addressed a number of areas, in particular reporting, navigation, situational awareness, surveillance/target acquisition, displays, lethality and power supplies. Reporting: The trial showed that orders can be distributed far more quickly and accurately when the entire section is equipped with data radios, although there remains the need for face-to-face briefings prior to missions. The reduced time to communicate tactical information, such as range and bearing, was seen as very beneficial. Navigation: The system provided almost effortless location of the individual, the section and the next navigation waypoint. Casualty-finding and actions-onbeing-separated were conducted far more efficiently, especially at night. Situational Awareness was found to be far more important in some roles than others, so C2 information will be provided to soldiers who need it, to avoid information overload. Data communications traffic was mainly confined to the planning and manoeuvre phases and at the Line-ofDeparture. Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA): The soldiers STA capability was markedly enhanced through the use of both weapon-mounted and hand-held thermal devices. Target acquisition time was reduced through the use of red-dot type sights.
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Displays: The display of C2 information proved to be a challenging area, with issues arising with all types of display, especially at night. For example, the loss of the soldiers own natural night vision and the excessive light signature of some display types. Further studies are needed to find an acceptable way of conveniently displaying data in all conditions. Lethality: Target hand-off to nonorganic assets proved to be effective and valuable. Further trials are planned here to refine the options. Fire control systems for specialists were found to be very beneficial. Power for these experimental systems was supplied by Lithium-Ion batteries, which performed well. These trials and the ongoing supporting modelling continue to highlight the benefits of FIST to the Dismounted Soldier, including the potential for significantly reducing casualties. They have demonstrated critical time reductions in completing activities such as reporting, navigation, casualty-finding and communication of tactical information. In addition, FIST-equipped soldiers are predicted to suffer less from the impact of fatigue and strain than their non-FISTequipped colleagues. A FIST Vision These early conclusions are being used to drive the development of the ultimate realisation of FIST that will enter service. Already a vision of FIST is beginning to emerge. The section will be considered as a system, leading to a distribution of functionality across the section rather than equipping every soldier with the entire suite of capability. The current inservice weapons will be retained within two symmetrical fire teams, each comprising: Commander with SA80 A3 IW (Individual Weapon)

Grenadier with IW & UGL (Underslung Grenade Launcher) Gunner with LMG (Light Machine Gun) Marksman with LSW (Light Support Weapon) Preliminary conclusions suggest that the following equipment will be provided for everyone: Helmet Load carriage Wiring loom (infrastructure) Voice & data radio (intra-section) Audio headset Combat body armour (incl. plates) Ocular protection GPS Night vision goggles Information processing Power unit Weapon modifications & modules Additionally, each fire team commander will also be provided with: Soldier processing computer Commander radio (intra-company) Head down display Binoculars with laser range finder and digital magnetic compass Torso control unit Another type of display (maybe headmounted) Weight, with its close linkage with power, remains a key driver for the system design. This can only be managed effectively through a holistic, integrated approach. As FIST moves through the Assessment Phase, the solution space is narrowing down, risks are being mitigated and the quality of evidence available to inform future investment decisions is increasing. This is being achieved largely through the co-operative partnering relationship between the DPA, Thales Defence Ltd and the other stakeholders, which is proving to be critical to the success of this complex programme. s