Article Posted on : - May 19, 2010

Bundeswehr armed forces. A file photo.

PARIS (BNS): EADS Defence & Security has received a contract to deliver 220 units of the Future Soldier System (FSS) in its basic version (IdZ BS) to Germany's Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB).

The order is part of an immediate procurement measure to meet the needs of the Bundeswehr armed forces deployed in Afghanistan, in the context of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission.

The total number of IdZ BS equipment in Bundeswehr forces is about 2,500 including the current order of 200 FSS.

According to EADS, 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 German forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) have commissioned the FSS in their fleet from 2004, and it has proved its worth on the Bundeswehr's foreign missions.

The system also offers protection to soldiers in terms of command, control, navigation and weaponry.

In view of the challenges presented by missions within the context of network-enhanced operations, safe and secure information exchange via more powerful information and communication systems for the deployed infantry forces is of ever greater importance.