THE FUTURE COMBATANT DESIGN PROGRRAMME ENTERS ITS FINAL PHASE.

The final configuration of the Future Combatant (COMFUT) will complete its definition during the design programme’s development phase, which faces its final stretch.

This final stage will undertake the adaptations and improvements necessary with the lessons learned in the user trials undertaken in 2008 and 2009 on the Infantry Academy’s “Los Alijares" Training Centre and Firing Range in Toledo. Two squads of Infantry soldiers have been in charge of checking equipment performance, offering key information needed for its optimization, which once achieved, will give way to the pre-series production phase, and later to mass production. Thus a programme that started up in 2006 with the selection of EADS as the awarded enterprise in the design and development phase tender will reach its climax. Its aim is to increase the efficiency and protection of Spanish soldiers through the incorporation of a series of specific systems and technical innovations, outstanding among which is the great “brain” of the system: the Information and Communications System (SIC).

The main innovation of SIC is that it allows a wireless link between the squad and platoon members by means of a wireless mesh similar to WIMAX , which will soon replace WIFI for Internet connection. Integrated into this network is a geographic information system with maps, satellite photos, GPS and even a message service similar to the mobile telephone SMS. Added to this is the Man-Machine Interface with its helmet-mounted display that offers superimposed images, control buttons or PDA.

All this will allow the Future Combatant to be aware at all times of his location with a map of the area where he is operating, showing natural terrain slopes and unevenness, his position on the battlefield, that of his fellow soldiers, that of his enemies and all elements involved, from buildings to tanks or helicopters, each one identified with its own symbol. 

A new uniform for better protectiong
 

The soldier of the future must be able to cope in any type of environment, day or night, in cold or heat, and in this aspect the uniform employed plays a key role. For this reason the aim has been for the Future Combatant uniform to be cool in high temperature situations but able to conserve body heat when long hours must be spent outdoors in bad or extreme weather conditions.

Under the uniform, the soldier will wear sensors that will send the platoon commander’s computer all the information on his health, fatigue or if applicable, his death. In this case, the system would immediately be shut down so as not to provide information to the enemy. One layer will reduce his thermal signature and special fabric will protect the soldier from thermal imaging cameras.

However, the fundamental element, in addition to the new helmet, will be the protection vest, made up of rigid plates, sleeves, elbow and knee pads, pelvic and neck protection, where all the survival and technological elements will be inserted, along with the rucksack, which will lose its handles to be hooked onto the vest itself, which will allow the soldier to have greater mobility. The vest will have a rapid release system designed so that soldiers may remove it in a few seconds if necessary, for example if they fall into a river and need to lighten their weight. 
Another outstanding innovation is the optronic weapons system, called the Fire Efficiency System, which will permit the combatant to detect the enemy through body heat thanks to the thermal camera, along with the laser sight will help him to designate targets without needing to directly confront the enemy, since he will be able to aim thanks to the display situated before his eyes. He will also have a diurnal camera, light intensifier and digital compass.

To keep all these systems active, lithium-ion and primary lithium batteries will constitute the main energy source for the Future Combatant. In particular, they supply the night vision camera, the radio and weapon display, so guaranteeing the soldiers’ safety in labours of identification, location, communication and dissuasion.

All this equipment means that the Future Combatant increases his safety and comfort, while being able to operate day or night and under any weather conditions.