"Future Soldier Expanded System": Rheinmetall to supply the Bundeswehr with cutting-edge "Gladius" infantry equipment


The German Bundeswehr has placed an order with the Düsseldorf-based Rheinmetall Group to supply it with state-of-the-art infantry equipment. A contract to this effect has now been signed at the Federal Agency for Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) in Koblenz.

Under the initial order, a total of 900 soldiers (90 infantry sections or squads) will be outfitted with the new equipment. Specially developed by Rheinmetall on behalf of the Bundeswehr, it is the most advanced system of its kind anywhere. Units due to deploy to Afghanistan in 2013 and 2014 will be the first to be equipped with Gladius.

This forward-looking system is an important step in the process of providing German infantry troops with significantly improved capabilities in current and future deployments.

Back in 2009, Rheinmetall was awarded a contract to develop a pre-series demonstrator version of the Gladius system for the Bundeswehr. It supplemented the basic Future Soldier (IdZ) system which Germany ordered in 2005 as an interim response to an urgent operational requirement.



Now ready for fielding, Gladius is intended to expand and improve the capabilities of the existing system, particularly with regard to networking, command and control, and combat effectiveness. Responding to heightened requirements on the part of the Bundeswehr and building on the results of extensive trials and operational experience, Gladius is a far-reaching, highly advanced new development.

A prominent feature of the Gladius system is a holistic design approach that takes full account of the complex operational requirements levied on modern soldier systems. Gladius is intended first and foremost to bring the 10-man infantry section and its vehicle into the network-enabled operational loop. This network, consisting of reconnaissance, command and control components, and weapons, enables rapid exchange of information as well as shared situational awareness as the basis for planning and conducting operations.



The individual soldier receives all relevant data concerning the tactical situation, the position of friendly forces, the mission, and system status. It includes a GPS and an inertial navigation system as well as a magnetic compass, facilitating reliable orientation on the ground.

Equally impressive are the systems ergonomic features, especially with regard to weight reduction, miniaturization and improved integration of individual components. The modular battle dress uniform, body armour and harness system provide excellent protection from detection in the visual and infrared spectrum as well as from the weather even in extreme climate zones and especially from biological and chemical agents. Flame-retardant equipment and vector protection round out the systems high level of protection. The system is integrated into an "electronic backbone" that contains the radio, core computer, batteries and GPS module.



More than just the sum of its parts, the Gladius system puts Bundeswehr infantrymen on the global cutting edge, placing them ahead of their peers in terms of networking capabilities, command and control, and operational efficiency.

Always been a fan of german military equipment. They make the best goodies out there.

Germany Builds A High Tech Warrior
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The German Army has ordered the first production versions of its Gladius system for its infantry. Initially, 900 Gladius systems are being bought. It was six years ago that Germany began developing a high-tech ensemble of weapons and equipment for their infantry. This rapidly evolved into Infanterist der Zukunft (Infantryman Of The Future), or IdZ for short. The name was subsequently changed to Gladius.

Germany had noted the decades of American effort to develop the "Land Warrior" infantry equipment. In development since the 1980s, "Land Warrior" then consisted of 7.8 kg (17 pounds) of computers, displays (an eyepiece), radio, GPS, vidcam and battlefield wi-fi. The helmet mounted display is a vidcam that provides the soldier with 6 and 12 X magnification, plus the ability to transmit images or video back to headquarters. The net increase in weight for infantry was only about 5 kg (11 pounds), because the "Land Warrior" stuff replaced some gear already carried, like the GPS and personal radio.

France, Spain and Italy quickly joined the United States and most NATO nations in equipping its infantry with a more effective set of weapons and equipment, including a lot of electronic items (personal radio, GPS, gun sights, sensors, computer, and so on), new body armor and accessories in general. India and China are also working on similar projects.

These systems often run into problems when the troops get to try them out. Five years ago, the German army took its ensemble of high-tech Infantry gear and put it to the test. When the troops finally got a chance to try the stuff out, the equipment developers were dismayed to discover that the soldiers found IdZ more of a hindrance than a help. That's surprising, since the German program, like many similar ones in other NATO countries, were based on the two decade old American Land Warrior program, which was known to have some serious problems, things that had to be fixed before these "infantry systems" would work.

In the 1990s, the American Land Warrior concept was more than ambitious, it was revolutionary, so to speak. But that version had a science fiction air about it, and something useful was not expected to appear for two decades or more. But then two things happened. First, the troops began buying consumer grade gear to perform some Land Warrior functions. September 11, 2001 happened. All that, plus the unexpectedly rapid appearance of new computer and communications technologies, caused rapid reductions in the weight and complexity of the original Land Warrior design. At the same time, this made it possible for the first version of Land Warrior to undergo field testing much sooner and, even though that resulted in the cancellation of Land Warrior, many of the individual components continued to be developed. Eventually the troops will have wearable computers, wi-fi capability, and all manner of neat stuff. Eventually came sooner than expected.

Six years ago, a battalion of U.S. infantry tested the then-current Land Warrior gear. Many of the troops involved were combat veterans, and their opinions indicated that some of the stuff was worth carrying around the battlefield, and some wasn't. But once the gear got to Iraq, for testing by a few hundred troops, it was a different story. When people are trying to kill you, all help is appreciated, and evaluated differently.

And then there was the competition. German soldiers commented that they could do a lot better with some commercial gear. This made it clear that the German army brass were out of touch with what was really going on in the world. German soldiers knew more about what the Americans were doing in this department, than the army bureaucrats in charge of the IdZ program. Many of the young troops, as well as NCOs and officers, understood English, and were able to get into the message boards and email lists U.S. troops were using to discuss their experiences with Land Warrior. This led to a lot of tweaks to IdZ before it evolved into the production version called Gladius.

The other NATO nation programs were set up to learn from the experiences of similar projects. But that may not be enough, because there is always a temptation for developers to include new gadgets which seem neat, but do not pass muster in combat. Germany had troops in combat in Afghanistan providing feedback that molded IdZ into something that works. All these ensembles tend to end up with a personal radio, the latest, and lightest, protective armor, GPS, better weapons (rifles, pistols, grenade launchers and knives), night vision devices (especially those incorporated into gun sights) and accessories like remotely operated, lightweight ground and aerial vehicles.

One of the main goals of these ensembles, battlefield Internet, has proved to be more difficult to implement. Obviously, the ability to quickly transmit maps, videos and photos is valuable. But getting the gear light and reliable enough, as well as easy-to-use, has proved easier said than done. Progress has been made, but it's been slow. Some battlefield wi-fi systems are being sent to the combat zone.

The usefulness of the ensembles has been impressive enough for nations like Russia to buy the French version for their own troops. While Russia does not like to buy military equipment from other nations, they also picked up on the fact that these futuristic infantry ensembles are difficult to develop. So to get the troops something workable quickly, the Russians are buying from abroad.


http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htinf/articles/20120625.aspx

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"The chief aim of all government is to preserve the freedom of the citizen. His control over his person, his property, his movements, his business, his desires should be restrained only so far as the public welfare imperatively demands. The world is in more danger of being governed too much than too little. It is the teaching of all history that liberty can only be preserved in small areas. Local self-government is, therefore, indispensable to liberty. A centralized and distant bureaucracy is the worst of all tyranny. Taxation can justly be levied for no purpose other than to provide revenue for the support of the government. To tax one person, class or section to provide revenue for the benefit of another is none the less robbery because done under the form of law and called taxation." John W. Davis, Democratic Presidential Candidate, 1924. Davis was one of the greatest trial and appellate lawyers in US history. He also served as the US Ambassador to the UK.

I hate all this electronic BS. Even thou its good in theory, within 10-15 years, when the new generation of soldiers is used to all displays and gadgets etc. They will be stunned once there systems gets knocked out. And only then will the real warriors come forward. Do you seriously think a teen today can find his way with a map ?

^
well the systems must run good enough that they cant get knocked out

todays soldiers also cant fight with swords

Electronics will always be fragile and to make them non-fragile you need cumbersome and heavy casing.

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no

I hate all this electronic BS. Even thou its good in theory, within 10-15 years, when the new generation of soldiers is used to all displays and gadgets etc. They will be stunned once there systems gets knocked out. And only then will the real warriors come forward. Do you seriously think a teen today can find his way with a map ?


Nah thats why tankers still use maps when they are not in combat. At least German Panzer crews are trained that Way. A lot of stuff in the military has already been digitalized but its not always used to still train and maintain skills to not be dependent on electronics. That can be done.

False.



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Why is vaseline in my sig? Because Turks don't want to read what I post. Hopefully the lube makes it easier for those criminal scum who are such great cry-babies to swallow.

One of the main concerns about everything being the way it is, is that it becomes vulnerable to hacking, and like when the first Enigma was captured during World War 2, it spelled disaster for the German military since the enemy knew their every move..

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How will they get all the batteries to power it all?
That's a real pain to get in the military as you can't just fuel up a tank.

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Do you seriously think a teen today can find his way with a map ?

I share Jag's concern here. The dependence on electronics certainly has a downside. I would hope that training would include nonelectronic enhanced soldier skills. It would be nice to be able to use a compass and read a map. Most of the kids I see can't do even simple math without a calculator or find their *sses without a Garmin. I hope their lives never really hinge on the use of skills they should know. If they do they'll be in a world of hurt.

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"The chief aim of all government is to preserve the freedom of the citizen. His control over his person, his property, his movements, his business, his desires should be restrained only so far as the public welfare imperatively demands. The world is in more danger of being governed too much than too little. It is the teaching of all history that liberty can only be preserved in small areas. Local self-government is, therefore, indispensable to liberty. A centralized and distant bureaucracy is the worst of all tyranny. Taxation can justly be levied for no purpose other than to provide revenue for the support of the government. To tax one person, class or section to provide revenue for the benefit of another is none the less robbery because done under the form of law and called taxation." John W. Davis, Democratic Presidential Candidate, 1924. Davis was one of the greatest trial and appellate lawyers in US history. He also served as the US Ambassador to the UK.

>How will they get all the batteries to power it all?
from the battery pack

Digitalization within the next 10-15 years will be huge and inevitable. I would expect in the near future battlefield miniturized electronics to be present everywhere especially embedded nanoscale devices. Electronic devices that the operator will constanly use and interface with in an augmented reality enviroment and without even noticing it.

Multiple and interoperable Networks and a huge divercity of different digital divices that each one of it could become a potential network node, will make almost impossible to hack each and every one of them or to bring the network down in a single blow!

Of course Cyber warfare capabilities will be key element to any successful operation either in an offensively manner or in defensive.

Like it or not its going to be the future...

>>How will they get all the batteries to power it all?
>from the battery pack

But where do you charge it ?
It takes a-lot of time and energy to charge batteries in the woods for a whole battalion.
It won't be a problem in say Iraq or Afghanistan because those opponents are impotent but in a war between industrialized nations there will be alot of trouble.

The military should try and get fuel cells that run on alcohol, they cost a fortune but are much more suitable to war.

P.S. good luck fighting in the arctic with those batteries for more then 2 hrs

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Meh... soon a simple grunt will have to have a PhD. Just to use all the toys he have properly.

Theres a biological limit to how much a soldier can focus on in high stress situation. While looking at his display hell get downed by some moron in sandals. As it is today in A-stan.

Don't overestimate the efficiency of such toys - there very specialised tools not a wunderwaffe.
The more irregular the opponent will be, or the less he will play "by the rules" the less useful those toys will be.

Theres a good story to that - a large patrol of British soldiers (pre WW2 era) with Lee-Enfields was attacked by an arab rebel with sabre. The saying goes that he took down about 4 fully armed soldiers and wounded a few more before being killed. How? He jumped in the middle of thier formation and started attacking blindly. Soldiers couldnt fire thier rifles cause of friendly fire possibility.

Most had no idea what to do - rifles, granades, were not designed to that, and thier bayonets were outmatched by sabre and its reach. In the end arab was shot by officer and his vastly outdated revolver. Tools are tools - if you have tools for one job, don't think they will work in much different situation.


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"Peace is a precious and a desirable thing. Our generation, bloodied in wars, certainly deserves peace. But peace, like almost all things of this world, has its price, a high but a measurable one. We in Poland do not know the concept of peace at any price. There is only one thing in the lives of men, nations and countries that is without price. That thing is honor." - Józef Beck on the outbreak of WW2