Soldato Futuro – Future Soldier System, Italy

An industrial team, led by Selex Communications (formerly Selenia Communications), is developing the Italian Soldato Futuro, future soldier system. The industrial team includes Aero Sekur, Beretta, Galileo Avionica, Larimart and Sistema Compositi.

A collaborative programme between Germany and Italy was cancelled because there was a difference in requirements, scope and in timing of the countries' soldier modernisation plans.

The ending of the collaborative program led to the Italian Ministry of Defence initiating a national programme and the formation of the industrial team led by Selex Communications.

The armed forces are working closely with the industrial partners, particularly in the evaluation of technology demonstrators and prototypes.

The NATO Army Armament Group (NAAG) has established the Topical Group 1 (TG/1) to coordinate soldier system interoperability and to prevent unnecessary duplication between various nations' soldier systems. Italy is officially represented in the TG/1 group and takes into account the need for standardisation of protocols for symbols such as on tactical displays, messages between terminals, and connectors and power packs.

A prototype development of the Soldato Futuro system has been completed and the first Soldato Futuro system is scheduled to enter service in 2008.

CLOTHING AND PROTECTION

Sistemi Compositi is leading the development of the helmet, clothing and protection system.

The combined combat vest and universal support module, being developed by Sistema Compositi and Selex Communications, includes cables for the integration of the electrical components worn and carried by the Soldato Futuro.

The use of wire links reduces the volume of electromagnetic radiation, making the soldier less vulnerable to detection and surveillance and also the systems less vulnerable to electronic countermeasures such as jamming.

A new disruptive pattern material has been designed for temperate and desert environment versions of the combat uniform. The soldier will also have a camouflage version of the nuclear, biological and chemical protection suit.

The body armour provides stab protection and protection against 9mm rounds. Boron carbide plates can be fitted to the body armour to provide protection against the penetration of 7.62mm armour-piercing rounds.

HELMET

The helmet has two visors, a splinter-proof visor and a bullet-proof visor, and a laser protection goggles. Various configurations are being considered to integrate the Aero Sekur nuclear, biological and chemical warfare protection face mask.

COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM

Selex Communications is developing the Soldato Futuro command and control system and is directly in charge of developing the software. Larimart is responsible for provision of the command and control hardware.

The soldier wears a touch screen for sending and receiving orders and information in the form of both text messages and graphic / image messages and displaying tactical situations, navigation data, global positioning system data over digital maps. The touch screen is wire linked to a pocket-sized computer.

The unit commander and second in command will be issued with a larger touch screen, giving a higher-resolution image of maps and data.

The earphone and microphone being developed by Larimar includes a Galileo Avionica physiological sensor which will allow the commander of the infantry section to monitor each soldier's health conditions through its command and control system.

COMMUNICATIONS

Selex Communications is developing a new Individual Pocket Radio (IPR) capable of transmitting voice and data simultaneously. The IPR of the members of an infantry section has a range of 1.3km, which is considered a nominal maximum spread of an infantry section.

Modulation techniques also assure low probability of detection and low probability of interception, improving the soldier and infantry section security. Moreover the soldier will be enabled to operate the IPR hands free.

In addition to the IPR, the commander of the infantry section has a higher level radio with longer range for voice and data communication with the section's platoon command post. The commander can use both radios while sharing the same earphone and microphone.

Communications design is being addressed in order to ensure the Soldato Futuro system is fit for future operation, according to the emerging network-centric doctrine.

TARGET ACQUISITION

The commander and second in command in an infantry section have a Galileo Avionica binocular target acquisition unit, (UAB), with a day channel and night-time thermal channel, a laser rangefinder and built-in compass.

The soldiers are issued with a Galileo Avionica individual night-vision unit based on a TV camera, on which most significant command and control can also be displayed for prompt alert.

WEAPONS

Beretta is developing an ergonomically designed, lightweight rifle for the Soldato Futuro System. The length of the new rifle with the butt fully extended is 840mm, which is 158mm shorter than the Beretta AR 70/90.The telescopic butt can be adjusted to four different positions to suit the individual soldier's build and situation.

The rifle is fitted with a Picatinny rail and an individual combat weapon sight, developed by Galileo Avionica.

The sight will allow the soldier to identify and visually track a person-sized target at a range of 600m and a tank-sized target at 1,500m. The sight has x3 magnification optical sight, monochrome day television channel, infrared night channel, visible laser pointer, infrared laser pointer and red dot sight.

The visible laser pointer corresponds to the bullet impact point and is particularly useful for close range combat in daylight conditions. An infrared laser pointer produces a near infrared spot which is visible through infrared or night vision goggles and is deployed in night-time close combat.

The red dot sight places a red dot on the image of the target inside the sight. The red dot is not projected onto the real target, which would provide a visual warning to that target. The view through a soldier's sight can be distributed to other members of the infantry section via the radio link.

The rifle can be fitted with an under-barrel grenade launcher. One or two grenade launchers will be deployed in each infantry unit. The grenade launcher fire control system, developed by Galileo Avionica, includes a computer and a Class 1 laser rangefinder.