FIST pushes ahead
Continuity and change in the UK’s soldier modernisation project
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FIST must be flexible enough to deal with any future operational environment.
© AJB |
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The Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST)
programme is the flagship procurement for the
enhancement of the UK’s Dismounted Close
Combat (DCC) capability. With the first Increment
of integrated capability scheduled for fielding from
2010, and staggered Main Gate decisions this year
and next, the enhancement to British soldiers,
airmen and marines undertaking the most arduous
combat tasks is gaining pace.
FIST has adopted NATO’s five areas of capability
enhancement; C4I, lethality, mobility, survivability and
sustainability to manage and categorise improvements to
the mission effectiveness of eight man sections,
comprising two four man fire teams. The programme is
committed to a Dismounted Close Combat capability,
primarily for high intensity conflict but adaptable to the
demands of the less severe peace-keeping role.
In a statement the DCC IPT said, “While FIST lies at
the heart of the UK’s Soldier Modernisation work, there are
a number of other projects which contribute to an overall
improvement in capability. The main ones are SSARF
(Surveillance System and Range Finder), Sniper System
Improvements and the Grenade Machine Gun, all of which
have been the subject of recent announcements, PECOC
(Personal Equipment and Common Operational Clothing) in
respect of clothing and development of portable power
systems. We have begun concept definition work on a
modular and agile future family of small arms.”
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FIST must operate independently of, but synergistically with vehicles.
© AJB |
Thales UK were selected in March 2003 as the prime
contractor for FIST’s Assessment Phase (AP), for an initial
32 month contract, with the subsequent AP(X) phase
seeing the completion of selected COEIA work. DE&S
confirmed that, “The Thales PCMO remains under contract
and will support the FIST Assessment Phase up to Main
Gate. Subject to Main Gate approval, Thales will continue
as the prime contractor for the first increment of FIST.”
FIST’s anticipated schedule has moved slightly to the
right. “We plan to seek Main Gate approvals for
Surveillance & Target Acquisition at the end of 2008 and
for C4I during the first half of 2009. Decisions on
subsequent timescales, numbers and costs will be made
at the respective Main Gates.”
FIST has adopted incremental acquisition, with details
of planned iterations become more apparent in the past 12
months with Increment 2 for example planned from 2014
integrating amongst other new capabilities remote sensors
and C4I improvements. This approach will require change
to the conventional procurement process. The approach
will be to run assessment phases for later increments in
parallel with demonstration and manufacture phases for
earlier ones. “This will require a more agile approach to
management of the overall programme. A systems
engineering approach will be applied to soldier
modernisation through the Individual Capability Group.”
FIST’s Initial Operating Capability is also prompting a
ripple effect in other procurements as they adapt to the
changed and enhanced capabilities, not least in the area of
training and synthetic environments. The MoD’s
Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT) is one example
of this. “DCCT will be a key part of the training system for
FIST, especially the Surveillance & Target Acquisition and
lethality sub-systems, and integration requirements
definition work is in hand.”
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The importance of C4I has been supported by extensive AP and APX trialling. © Thales |
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Over several years a view articulated by programme
officials from many countries involved in soldier
modernisation, is that it could be advantageous to pursue
joint procurement of modules and capabilities for Solder
Modernisation Programmes (SMP). In practice however,
this has had limited traction in actual procurement
strategies now being implemented by FIST and equivalent
programmes overseas. DE&S offered their perspective on
why this is, “Different doctrines, concepts of operation and
requirements among nations lead to significantly different
solutions. We have no current plans for joint procurement,
although we may buy sub-systems used on other SMPs if
they meet our requirements.”
A whole fleet management approach for FIST has
now been decided upon, likely to be balanced by
providing some elements universally as it the case with
current individual equipment. “FIST in service will be
managed to suit the requirements and the contemporary
operational environment. This will include whole fleet
management and may also include a conventional
approach for certain items.”
The FIST requirement is clear that the programme will
remain a firmly dismounted programme, operating
independently but synergistically with any platform it is
required to work with, “Where a platform is part of the
section ‘system’ then it must be part of the FIST network in
order to support the dismounted element effectively. At the
same time we will seek to exploit the potential platform
contribution to FIST situational awareness and power.
However, FIST will be fully capable of supporting extended
dismounted operations and will not be dependent on
vehicle support.”
Troops are being asked to carry large loads in
extreme environments, particularly in Afghanistan.
“Operational experience shows that a load carriage target
of this order is a significant challenge. Soldiers are
routinely fighting while carrying 50kg or more, and even
when opportunities arise to save weight they may elect to
substitute the saving with more ammunition or water. The
FIST weight User Requirement centres on minimising the
weight increase over baseline rather than setting an all up
weight limit.”
Load carrying, clothing and protection will be vital in
this equation. The IPTs responsible for FIST and PECOC
maintain a close and continuous liaison, facilitated by a
common Requirements Manager. The Director of
Equipment Capability (Ground Manoeuvre) is the sponsor
for both projects. These arrangements are designed to
ensure effective integration of the FIST and PECOC
requirements, with PECOC focussing on improved
protection, learning from current experience in theatre. ■
This article was written with the input of the Dismounted
Close Combat IPT |