Article Posted on : - Apr 17, 2012

French and British soldiers in a common combat training. A Sagem photo.

PARIS (BNS): France has ordered 22,600 FELIN a high-tech integrated equipment suite for soldier modernisation programmes.

Developed and produced by Sagem, FELIN has been designed to enable soldiers to shoot better and more accurately in total darkness, without getting lost and while staying connected with fellow troops at all times, the company said.

This capability was demonstrated recently during a joint French-British infantry exercise dubbed 'Boar's Head' at the Otterburn military base in northern England.

The French army dispatched a company from the 8th marine infantry paratrooper regiment (RPIMA) that was fully outfitted with FELIN systems to participate in the exercise with British Army - the 5 Scott.

Battle management system of FELIN, the Sitcomde system comprises a computer and software, a touch pad, a man-machine interface to receive and transmit tactical messages.

It allows quick consultation of maps at different scales, real-time geolocation monitoring of different combat groups and consultation of local tactical situations.

In particular, this C2 system offers the Blue Force Tracking function from the individual GPS units integrated in all FELIN outfits, to avoid friendly fire.

The Sitcomde can also transmit an infrared image acquired by a FELIN-equipped soldier, either from his aiming sight or from JIM infrared binoculars, Sagem said.

The French army will equip all its infantry units with the FELIN systems, it added.