Cassidian commissioned to deliver 400 equipment of the Future Soldier System to the Bundeswehr.

This is part of an immediate procurement measure to meet the needs of the Bundeswehr forces deployed in Afghanistan in the context of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission. It means that another 400 Bundeswehr soldiers will be supported by the tried and tested soldier system for mission preparation and execution. This new delivery will raise the Bundeswehr’s total number of IdZ BS equipment sets to 2,900.

An IdZ BS system for equipping an infantry squad (ten soldiers) consists of an identical basic configuration for all soldiers (including modular bullet-proof vest in protection class I to IV, C4I equipment including NaviPad for situational awareness and transmitting messages, target data and images, night vision device, tactical radio) and various special items (such as laser range finder, camera, thermal image sighting device).

The system entered service with the Army, Navy and Air Force back in 2004 and has since proved its worth on the Bundeswehr’s foreign missions. It offers soldiers not only protection but also highly increased capabilities in terms of command and control, navigation and weaponry.

In view of the increasingly asymmetric threat situations arising and the challenges presented by missions within the context of network-enhanced operations, enhancing effectiveness, assertiveness, protection and rapid and secure information exchange via more powerful information and communication systems for the deployed infantry forces is of ever greater importance.