FIST Technology Demonstrator

FIST (Future Integrated Soldier Technology) is the UK Soldier Modernization programme, to identify and provide the dismounted soldier's equipment for the 21st Century.

The FIST TD was part of DERA's applied research programme and was undertaken on their behalf by the industrial consortium led by Pilkington Optronics and BAE SYSTEMS with Royal Ordnance as a major partner. In association with the Infantry Trials and Development Unit (ITDU), a section of eight troops from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders undertook an extensive trials sequence. The TD programme ran from April 1997 to March 2000. It comprised a £6m programme, 50% funded by Industry.

Improvements are looked for in five key areas: lethality, survivability, C4I, mobility and sustainability. This demanded mixing many fields of expertise within the TD system.

Lethality: Changes to the SA-80 rifle were incorporated and trialled. These included an underslung grenade launcher mounted with a combined day/night weapon sight fitted with a laser rangefinder. A low ammo device warns the firer when he has only a few rounds left in his magazine. A newly introduced thermal weapon sight greatly improved the surveillance and target acquisition capabilities. Fall of shot and groupings were found to be much improved. System controls were also incorporated into the weapon handguard.

Survivability: Each soldier was equipped with new weaponsights and a helmet camera, each linked by video to a helmet mounted display. This enables the user to observe and fire his weapon from positions which may afford better protection, such as from around corners, above his head, from behind walls etc.

C4I: Communications and control of the fighting section was much improved by the provision of a Personal Role Radio (PRR) to each soldier. The radio was linked to a boom microphone and earpieces built into the helmet. Verbal orders were given quickly and quietly without the need for hand signals or shouting. A second radio was issued to each commander and 2ic to enable radio and data communications to the higher levels of command. This radio also enables data and imagery to be transmitted from the commander.

Mobility: Enhanced day and night vision capability. Radio communications between each soldier and improved navigation map displays. All such features realize an increase in tempo and safer mobility. Night patrols are quieter and separation of soldiers within the section (reducing vulnerability) is evident whilst being able to converge on the objective at the vital moment. Although the demonstrator equipment was not designed to be fully robust and lightweight, it has proved to be sufficiently user friendly and compact, enabling representative scenarios to be completed. The enhanced navigation facility proved to be a major benefit.

Sustainability: Keeping the soldier on the move with a full and working complement of equipment is paramount to the operational effectiveness of a fighting platform. This not only includes food and water but also ammunition and power (through batteries). The FIST TD equipment sought to provide a minimum load carriage weight whilst providing for a maximum replenishment stock for the individual. Little can be done to improve the ordnance load other than give the soldier the largest quantity of ammunition that he can sensibly carry. However, the biggest problem is in providing sufficient power to his various systems to enable the soldier to continue his duties with least inconvenience or incapacity. Power consumption has been kept to a minimum and power supply to a maximum using current battery technology. Advances in power sources will enable improved systems to last longer and with least weight.

Training has therefore been a prime consideration at the onset. To this end, training systems have been developed which enable the new equipment to be understood and as easy as possible to use. Simple laptop training aids and Synthetic Environments were provided with software programmes that were not only intuitive but also had elements of fun and competitivness. At the end of the training sessions, the trials troops were using the TD equipment instinctively.

Last Updated - February 2001