Armada-Modern-Soldier-Compendium-AUGSEPT-2013

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A close up of the screen of Elbit’s Dominator LD PDU; the system is fully compatible with the earlier Dominator. (Armada/P. Valpolini) and a range of 2-3 km in open space. Equipped with embedded GPS the PNR- 1000A features a proprietary dynamic network architecture that eliminates the need for a central control unit and optimises communications in difficult areas such as urban canyons. It can also connect to the vehicle intercom system for full long-range connectivity via vehicle radios. In intrateam conferencing mode it accepts up to six speakers. With the currently available wave forms the data rate can reach 320 KBps; however Elbit Systems expects to increase the throughput of this software driven radio up to 1 MBps. Powered by a Li-Ion battery it can operate for 20 hours with one hour TX, two RX and 17 stand-by mission profile. When on the move the Dominator-LD’s soldier interface can include the eyepiece and joystick adopted for the Dominator IICS, which also contains a digital compass and camera. Overall the Dominator-LD weighs less than one kilogram. SOLDATO FUTURO The delivery of the first 60 production kits of 558 ordered as a first batch of the Italian Soldato Futuro is planned for September 2013, with final deliveries expected in late 2014. Their configuration will be that of the so-called “precursors” seen in March 2012 during the last tests. This includes the UHF/VHF Selex ES SWave handheld software defined radio operating in the 30- 512 MHz band, the ITT Exelis TM-NVG (Tactical Mobility – Night Vision Goggle), the Elacan SpecterDR 1-4x coupled for night firing to the L-3 Warrior Systems’ Insight Mini Thermal Monocular, and the AN/PEQ- 15 APTIAL laser pointer from the same latter company. As interim target acquisition system the Steiner 10x50 R LRF binocular with integrated laser rangefinder provided by Beretta Defence Technologies replaced the Selex ES Linx, which is currently the subject of further developments. Turning to the weapon, the original Beretta ARX-160 has evolved into the A1 model. Major differences include a bigger magazine catch (which is also better protected), a shorter buttstock to cope with body-armour equipped soldiers and with sand and mud. All those modifications were drawn from the development of the A2 aimed at Special Forces. The GLX-160’s 40 mm underbarrel grenade launcher was also improved with a front rubber buffer to protect the barrel in case of shock, while the barrel length has been reduced to 350 mm. Besides the 92 rifles provided for the preproduction Soldato Futuro kits and the further 558 that are part of the first production batch, the ARX-160 has already been acquired in great numbers by the Italian Army. Two contracts for nearly 2,000 rifles were issued, the first rifles having been deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. A further contract for over 11,000 weapons was subsequently filed, these being at a near A1 configuration. All the further contracts for nearly 10,000 rifles with options for 3,000 more were for the full A1 version. This allowed to deliver the new rifle to the units deploying downrange well ahead Soldato Futuro deliveries. The same applied to the sights, over 4,000 SpectreDR and nearly 250 each of the L-3 thermal clip-on and laser pointer having been acquired as UORs. A split program known as SIC (Sistema Anticipating the Soldato Futuro programme the Italian Army started the acquisition not only of the Beretta ARX-160 rifle but also of sighting systems. (ISAF RC-West) 16 Compendium Modern Soldier Programme 2013
Selex ES SDR-HH fitted to its vehicular attachment. This Finmeccanica company is also proposing other soldier radios for numerous SMPs. (Selex ES) Individuale di Combattimento, for Individual Combat System) has now been launched. This will lead to the acquisition of 6,602 kits split between 4,257 “basic rifleman”, 803 “basic grenadier” and 1,542 “basic commander” kits, in the 2013-15 timeframe. The SIC will include rifles, sights, SDR HH radios, NVGs, as well as protective equipment. However, units equipped with the SIC will receive the additional equipment to bring them to full Soldato Futuro configuration. Not only does this allow all mature elements to be fielded in advance, but it also spreads equipment costs. The first orders were placed in 2013 and first deliveries are planned for 2014. Clearly the SDR radio capabilities will not be fully exploited in that stand-alone configuration, the radio being provided with a double pushto-talk, one worn on the soldier harness while the second will be installed on the rifle. One of the functions that will remain is the Manet (Mobile Ad-hoc Network) that allows one to talk even when numerous obstacles break into the line of sight, as is the case in urban areas. The usefulness of this facility was evidenced by the Selex ES radio during operation “Atalanta”, the anti-piracy mission carried out in the Horn of Africa. Italian Navy boarding teams – each with up to 8 men – were equipped with the SWave HH, to forward without any relay voice and images to the mothership, at a range of about one nautical mile. The Manet allowed to do that, up to two streaming videos being sent back to the naval vessel from inside the merchant ship under verification. The order covering a further 1,024 Soldato Futuro kits is already planned and financed. According to industrial sources The availability of Selex ES SDR Hand Held radio allowed to completely revise the architecture of the Italian Soldato Futuro, reducing weight as well as the number of elements. (Selex ES) System interface of the Soldato Futuro. Deliveries of the first production items to the Italian Army are expected to start in late 2013. (Armada/P. Valpolini) these might have a different configuration especially in the C2 component. Selex ES has already proposed an upgraded computer with a better display and a lower power consumption than the current LRT- 440, while Android-based solutions might also be taken into consideration as the Italian Army, like many others, is watching with great interest America’s decision to follow that path. Selex ES is proposing its system to the international market. Russia has been one of the main targets in 2012, while the Indian programme seems to proceed very slowly. The company answered to numerous RfQs, but it is still too early to see if anything will materialise. To improve its chances on the export market Selex ES is offering a lower cost radio in place of the Swave HH in the form of the Frontline Soldier Radio (FSR). This operates in two bands, UHF between 350 and 450MH with wideband and narrowband waveforms, and 2.4 GHz with the Personal Role Radio waveform, which allows those armies that invested heavily in PRRs to maintain those radios in service. Both UHF waveforms ensure the dual-net function, which means that the squad commander can monitor both the squad and the platoon radio nets with a single radio. When the C2 module is fitted to the FSR, this allows the radio to host the C2 applications thus replacing in fact the body-worn computer. The FSR provides independent encrypted voice and data as well as automatic position reporting, being equipped with an integral GPS. In urban areas it is capable to form an ad hoc self-healing network and has intrinsic relay capability. Compendium Modern Soldier Programme 2013 17
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Page 4 and 5: The US Army Nett Warrior programme
Page 6 and 7: Afghanistan, however, were the pref
Page 8 and 9: The German Army name for the recent
Page 10: The soldier can send only pre-forma
Page 13 and 14: dismounted close combat infantry so
Page 18: ISSP Initially approved in 2008, th
Page 21 and 22: functions of a full-size PC into a
Page 23 and 24: The conventional version of the MSB
Page 25 and 26: On, or Soon on, the Modern Soldier
Page 27 and 28: With The Widest Range Of Radio Plat
Page 30: Lighter, yet more capable than its
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Armada-Modern-Soldier-Compendium-AUGSEPT-2013

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