Tomorrow's infantry warrior.

Recent events in Iraq are already having their effect on the on-going programmes attempting to determine how to configure, arm and equip tomorrow's infantry warriors. Following Iraq, some advanced soldier equipment development programmes are no doubt having to be significantly modified.

Despite some intense fighting, the 2003 campaign in Iraq against a poorly motivated and even less well led adversary remains hardly indicative of all possible future conflicts. Yet enough operational experience emerged to indicate that tomorrow's warrior would be still able to function efficiently without all the many and various subsystems' once proposed.

What are under continuing consideration are what nature of the data the communications systems will carry and how the soldiers will operate and function using communication networks. The latest Iraqi operation did prove that one lesson was not entirely learned: how to avoid fratricide.

Forecasts

The overall objective is to somehow make the individual soldier more combat efficient than is the case at present. Within most armed forces the soldier still operates very much as a separate individual. Combat cohesion at squad or similar command level can be extremely high but once the shooting starts or conditions of darkness and battlefield confusion arise, each soldier often has to act in relative isolation, both to operate and to survive. Junior commanders may display leadership and command abilities of a high order but all too often those qualities become reduced by the time the individual soldier goes into action.

This has led to the foot soldier being re-categorised as a weapon system; fighting and communicating with local and higher command levels, receiving and using orders from above and, in turn, receiving information and data to allow him to carry out his combat tasks effectively. In the past these procedures have usually been provided by voice from an NCO or junior officer, combat data being transmitted back up the chain via the same media. Yet experience has repeatedly demonstrated that this simple chain can soon break down or become garbled under combat stress and battle environment distractions, leading to an overall reduction, or even loss, of combat effectiveness.

In order to render command and operational chains more effective, the key is still communication. Each soldier can now be provided with direct communication to others, both within a squad or low echelon command structure or to higher levels, all via small communication units that can transmit not just voice messages but data images, maps and other navigation aids. It becomes possible for remote commanders to reliably determine in real-time what really is 'on the other side of the hill' or behind other obstacles, using data transmitted direct from an individual placed to supply just such information. Important combat data such as unit or individual locations, weapon ammunition levels and medical condition reports can be continually monitored. It is now possible for monitoring to extend to local chemical or radiological conditions by using suitable sensors integrated into uniforms.

Using these few examples it becomes apparent that the trained foot soldier can act as a more efficient individual weapon system as well as amplifying the individual's subsystem importance within an overall unit-based weapon system.

Three underlying factors are, one would hope, going to be involved in any future warrior system; lethality, survivability and communications, all to be introduced without degrading the foot soldier's present levels of vision, mobility and flexibility in action.

Programmes

While some repetition of efforts and results is no doubt emerging, most of these nations are experimenting, while others are still dabbling with concepts. With their Land Warrior (LW) and Objective Force Warrior (OFW) programmes the US Army seems to be going overboard in its efforts to produce its future Land Warrior within the next few years. France and Britain are still behind the American Land Warrior programme and, as yet, have little in tangible hardware form other than technology demonstrators.

The one aspect that has to be remembered when adding such sophistication is that logistic services will have to support every single element carried by the soldier. Up to now, a soldier's basic needs boiled down to water, food and ammunition, but will soon need replacement sights, displays (however rugged, some wild inevitably get smashed) and, of course, loads of batteries or some sort of renewable power capability, such as a solar recharger.

Felin

The United States may lead the pack, but France and its Felin programme is within eyesight. At stake are 23,800 infantry systems and 945 terminal information systems for the dismounted soldier. Giat and Thales have joined forces to bid for the programme and are competing against Sagem for the final selection in December 2003. According to the current schedule development and industrialisation phase of the Felin system would continue 2006 followed by the delivery of a first tranche between 2006 and 2008, with final deliveries taking place in 2010.

The Giat-Thales project is based around the Terminal Information System (itself linked to the PR4G radio system--see Part One, Armada 4/2003, page 82) and the Famas rifle. The latter will be equipped with an electronic sight that can relay images to the soldiers' helmets for remote aiming. Soldiers will be able to communicate between themselves and also send data (including video) to their base vehicle.

Sagem's project is of course similar in concept and focuses on miniature electronics, but also features multiple-function communicating observation binoculars/goggles, as well as a purpose-developed fuel cell to recharge the individual soldier's Li-ion batteries. Thus equipped, the Soldiers's electronic suite would have a 72-hour autonomy. Because Sagem predicts an increasing involvement of forces in urban combat, Sagem also throws in the Fantail, a miniature vertical take-off and landing minidrone developed by Singapore Technologies.

Whichever of the two teams is declared the winner, it remains quite probable that some of the solutions of the defeated will be retained for incorporation into the winning project.

Land Warrior

As the most advanced programme now in existence it would perhaps be best to use the US Army's Land Warrior (LW) content to provide an overall indication of what other national programmes are covering. Indeed, it may well emerge that the Land Warrior hardware will become the basis for other national programmes as the economic attractions of purchasing combat-ready American equipment may override the usual local development and in-country source advantages. As it is, many components of the Land Warrior system are readily available off the shelf items, but integrated into an overall system.

Perhaps the most important component to the individual soldier is the weapon subsystem.

Weapon

The Land Warrior will initially utilise the existing 5.56 mm M16 Rifle or M4 Carbine, but configured with combat accessory rail systems to facilitate the selection of accessory options to suit a specific mission. Options include an add-on thermal weapon sight (TWS), at present the Raytheon Systems AN/PAS-13, and some form of laser rangefinder combined with a digital compass. However, there are plans to replace the long serving M16/M4.

It is planned that two new weapons will be involved in the programme. One will be what was known as the Objective Individual Combat Weapon, now redesignated as the XM29 Rifle Integrated Air Burst Weapon System. The XM29, developed by a team headed by Alliant Tech systems, combines two offensive elements, a 20 mm air bursting grenade launcher with an effective range of up to 500 metres, and a 5.56 mm kinetic energy rifle. The user is provided with what is essentially a tank gun fire control system crammed into a compact housing over the receiver.

The second weapon is also being developed by a team led by Alliant. This is the XM8 Lightweight Assault Rifle, basically the 5.56 mm kinetic energy subsystem of the XM29 reconfigured into a dedicated assault rifle context. The XM8 will have a simpler fire control system than the XM29, probably no more than a red dot reflex sight with the option of a TWS. This option has been introduced rarely for cost reasons. The XM29 has already displayed every indication of being expensive, not only in unit costs but also in training and logistic terms. It also promises to be heavy--the final post-development weight is set at 6.35 kg.

As a result, within a Land Warrior infantry squad of nine, only four will carry the XM29. Two will be armed with the already available 5.56 mm M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, so only the remaining three will have the XM8.

However configured, the weapons will be integrated into the overall Land Warrior system by electrical connections to transmit TWS sight pictures to another member of the quad or to a commander. That same cable and associated harness also allows the user to aim around corners or from behind cover without having to expose the person, as is usual with direct-fire weapons. The same inter-connecting cable will also be able to transmit reports on items such as ammunition remaining and barrel condition. As an indication of what this approach could include there is the example of the British developmental L85 Individual Weapon (IW) being investigated by Qinetiq. This has been converted to electrical ignition so that fire rates may be monitored or altered at will, perhaps eventually with some form of target range input that will optimise cyclic fire rates to suit the range.

Other nations are rather more conservative in their future weapon selections. For instance, Germany expects to maintain its 5.56 mm G36 rifles in service, and with the IDZ, for years to come, while others will follow a similar path. One exception is Australia, which intends to field a combination of the in-service 5.56 mm F88 (Steyr Aug) assault rifle and a single tube grenade launcher from Metal Storm holding a stack of grenades to be fired in sequence and under electronic control.

Helmet and Computer

Another Land Warrior subsystem closely associated with each individual is the helmet or Integrated Helmet Assembly Subsystem (Ihas). This is based around a lighter version of the existing Kevlar helmet shell but with a suspension system that carries a small display unit about the same dimensions as an eye patch and covering one eye. This unit can display images or symbols for fire control, personal navigation and night vision while a separate helmet-mounted, miniature video camera can transmit terrain or other images to a remote commander. Full laser protection is provided for the eyes and the helmet also contains earphones for voice communications, plus a small microphone positioned in front of the mouth.

Data transfer to and from the individual Land Warrior is accomplished using a Computer/Radio Subsystem (CRS) worn in flat containers suspended on a backpack frame. Motorola is responsible for the CRS suite. The computer section of the CRS processes and distributes all the various incoming and outgoing messages for the Ihas, all communications with other CRS and command systems being secure, both for voice and data. The CRS also contains a Global Positioning System unit from Rockwell Collins, both for individual land navigation purposes and for indicating to a commander the location of each individual within a squad. In time it is anticipated that many CRS functions will be switched by voice actuation alone, leaving hands free for weapon handling or other tasks.

At present all the associated computer software is based around the off-the-shelf Windows 2000 operating system and is 'open' to permit future enhancements and improvements to be readily installed.

Clothing

Basic to the entire LW concept is the individual's Protective Clothing and Individual Equipment Subsystem (PCIE). This is centred on the Load Carrying Equipment (LCE), a flexible frame that fits around the body, not only to distribute the weight but also to carry the wiring harnesses. The LCE allows a personal high volume kit backpack to be carried when required and access is provided for ballistic protection plates to be inserted as required--an LCE belt adds extra protection. In the long term the uniform will have an improved NBC warfare protection capability combined with some degree of fire or flash proofing. It may also carry integrated medical and other sensors. Kneepads will also be part of the PCIE suite.

Power

Electrical power is essential to drive everything. At present this involves significant weights and volumes as well as the need to change the associated batteries of power cells at uncomfortably frequent intervals but this area of power technology is being addressed with some urgency and fully acceptable solutions are foreseen. In the meantime, the logistic support loads for the Land Warrior will include plenty of batteries. However, as seen under the Felin heading, Sagem offers a 72-hour autonomy solution that could be operational as of 2006.

Global Solar of Tucson, Arizona has developed and is shipping a portable power source that is a shoe-in for field-based battery recharging requirements. The company's Portable Power Packs (P3) are rugged, lightweight, foldable power source receptors (sunlight) for recharging any portable 12-or 24-Volt battery. The units also power portable computers and mobile phones. The sheets are maintenance-free and made of rip-stop nylon with an anti-glare surface of either forest or desert camouflage colour patterns (see Armada issue 3/2003, page 86). It is no doubt that many of the programmes mentioned will be looking to such renewable sources for their future warriors' power requirements.

Orders

The path to Land Warrior has not been smooth. The initial test equipment was based around a 'tortoise shell' LCE that provided a high degree of ballistic protection but was so rigid that it impeded mobility, as well as being extremely uncomfortable to wear. At about 18 kg the shell was also far too heavy--the current PCIE weight is now about 5.4 kg and is expected to be reduced further.

Much of the work carried out with Land Warrior development was the remit of a team led by Raytheon. Since then General Dynamics Decision Systems has been awarded a $ 59.9 million contract to enhance the current version of the LW system, the long term intention being to procure an initial 34,000 LW systems with an in-service date of 2005 (most other national comparable systems, including the British Fist, have a similar in-service target date). For LW that date will cover the M16/M4 weapon, the XM29/XM8 combination coming about five years later.

However, the Land Warrior is seen as only the first step to the Objective Force Warrior (OFW) in which all manner of enhancements will be introduced, largely covering weight reductions and mission durations of up to 72 hours without the need for fresh power cells. Topics such as Identification-Friend-or-Foe (IFF) may also be addressed, as will some form of subsystem neutralisation should the carrier be wounded or otherwise become non-operational. The target for the first in-service OFW seems to be about 2010.

Beyond that comes the Future Warrior Notional Concept which currently remains as the designation states--at the concept stage. Weapon enhancements expected to appear during this future phase include target-seeking missiles launched from hand-held or arm-mounted multiple launchers.

Planning

As mentioned above, the future content of the Land Warrior and several other similar projects may well be modified as a result of combat experience in Iraq. The environmental factors present in that country, such as sand storms, can seriously degrade the efficiently of soldiers normally used to European and similar conditions. In addition, such extreme conditions could have a considerable effect on the efficiency and reliability of many LW components. It may be some time to see what LW aspects will be altered.

Another important factor that predates the Iraq campaign is international inter-operability. This has been the planner's dream for decades and even now there are few results to show except in the communications arena. However, it cannot be said that Nato, as in many other fields, is attempting to impose some form of rationalisation on their national programmes that could reach down to component or at least interface level. Under Nato auspices, 14 nations (including non-Nato Australia) are seeking ways to somehow integrate their national efforts although many obstacles, from national stances to equipment legacy interfaces, may well hinder anything substantial from resulting.

An Illuminating Tale

On 12 April 1988, the security officer on duty in the New Cumberland Army Depot, Pennsylvania, could hardly believe his eyes when he saw the radioactive measurements being registered. The Geiger counter in one of the storage halls reported considerably increased radioactivity. The cause of the contamination: the SandY 184 military watches in the hall were emitting an unusually high dose of radioactivity. The hands and markings on the dial were coated with traditional tritium phosphorescent paint. In the case of some watches, one hundred times the 50 dpm level were measured. The large stock of watches in New Cumberland was therefore a security and health risk.

Thomas Chleboski, Head of the Standardization and Specifications section in the army, acted immediately and deleted the supplier Stocker&Yale from the Qualified Product List QPL-46374.

But Stocker & Yale had an idea as to how a real solution could be found to the problem of radioactivity in watches. For several years the company had been supplying the US Army with compasses where a small glass tube filled with tritium gas was used for illumination. The tritium gas light sources produced by the Swiss company mb-microtec in Niederwangen with the help of a special laser were proven not to release any radioactive material whatsoever.

Since 1989 the US Army has specified the use of tritium gas light sources for military watches destined for troops, in order to ensure that they can be read in the dark. Among the best-known and popular models are the SandY 490 Type 1 and the SandY P 650 Navigator.

In 1991, the manufacturing specification for military watches was again updated to MiI-W-46374F, which allowed production of a watch model Type 6. A wristwatch of this type had to fulfill additional requirements with regard to altitude, magnetic field protection as well as salt spray and perspiration resistance. In addition, the watch had to withstand the low air pressure at 35,000 feet for at least 60 minutes without sustaining any damage. Its magnetic protection rating was raised from 15.5 to 125+/-1 Gauss. This means that the antimagnetic watch will not cause mines to detonate.

1994 came the first order for 14,000 SandY P 650 Type 6 Navigators, which were supplied to American troops the following year. It then became part of the standard equipment of special units such as the Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, Navy Seals and EOD teams.

One Last Point

A treatise on the modern soldier's weapons is not complete without mention of some of the auxiliary hand-held tools. Here is where the personal knife holds its own. Thales, for the Felin (and possibly the Fist) programme, is planning on including a combat knive as part of their submission. One product on test is the Masters of Defense CQD Mk I Special Operations Tactical Folder, which has been personally chosen by waves of Special Forces professionals in the US and other countries. The award-winning Mk I includes a guarded cutting edge for emergency parachute cutaway or extracting someone from a wrecked automobile's seatbelt, also included in the design is a carbide window breaker on the end of the hilt and military anti-slip grip inserts.

The German Army has already chosen its 'blade for the soldier', the KM2000 from Eickhorn (see issue 4/2003 pg 94). This is a bulky yet solid, heavy working knife that is designed for hard work that could include prying or chiselling. Whether this will also be supplied to Germany's IDZ teams is yet to be seen.

As a last resort and something no close quarters combat operator should be without, Benchmade offers its Model 175 CBK, which it terms "an emergency tool for when all other avenues of defence have failed" (also seen in issue 4/2003 pg 94). The knife has a double-edged spear point blade with an extra strong tip. The open handle is skeletonised for weight reduction and concealment but can be cord wrapped for a more secure grip.

Ongoing Pragrammes

Numerous future soldier development programmes have been instituted in
as many nations, some programmes being more ambitious or advanced than
others. Nations involved in such programmes are known to include the
following:

Australia:           Land 125 Soldier Combat System (formerly Project
                     Wundurra)

Canada:              Soldier Information Requirements Technology
                     Demonstration (Sireq TD)

Egypt:               Egyptian Integrated Soldier System (Eiss)

France:              Equipement de Combattant Debarque (Ecad) and
                     Fantassin a Equipements et Liaisons INtegres
                     (Felin)

Germany:             Infanterist der Zukunft (IDZ)

Italy:               Combat Soldier 2000

Netherlands:         Soldier Modernisation Programme (SMP)

Norway:              Norwegian Modular Arctic Network Soldier
                     (Normans)

Singapore:           Advanced Manworn Combat System (AMCS)

South Africa:        African Warrior

Spain:               Combatiente Futuro

Sweden:              Future Infantry Programme (Markus)

United Kingdom:      Future Integrated Soldier Technology (Fist)

United States:       Land Warrior (LW) and Objective Force Warrior
                     (OFW)