French DGA orders 16,454 FELIN soldier modernisation systems
Latest order brings total to 22,588 equipment suites for French Army
07:08 GMT, November 26, 2009 defpro.com | In a major effort to equip its land forces with state-of-the-art integrated soldier modernisation systems, the French procurement agency DGA has ordered an additional 16,454 FELIN (fantassins à equipements et liaisons intégrés) equipment suites. This brings the total number of ordered systems to 22,588 and will provide the French Army regiments with a significant modernisation boost and technical as well as fire-power superiority on the battlefield. The order, which was placed on 20 November 2009, was announced by the DGA and the prime contractor for the FELIN system, Sagem DS (Safran Group) earlier this week.
Being one of the largest and most advanced soldier modernisation programmes, the value of the entire French FELIN programme, including development, industrialization, production and initial support, is estimated at approximately €1 billion ($1.5 billion).
On track to be fielded in early 2010
This major programme, which is among the most significant procurement efforts of the French Armed Forces, resulted from a study of soldier modernisation requirements by the DGA and the French Army in 1995. Hence, the FELIN is approaching the final phase of its 14 years history and may see fielding with the first Army regiments in early 2010 while the first soldiers equipped and trained with FELIN may see deployment to Afghanistan in late 2010. Delivery of all ordered systems, which will equip more than 20 Army regiments, is to be completed by 2014/15 with four regiments to be provided with the new systems (1,000 units per regiment) per year.
As SAGEM explains in its announcement of the latest order, FELIN features an enhanced ergonomic design, plus better protection against modern small calibre weapons. The novel sighting system facilitates the engagement of adversaries during day or night time. Because of its enhanced observation and positioning capabilities, FELIN also considerably improves night manoeuvring and combat capabilities. The systems to be delivered include a protective vest, combat gear, day/night sights for individual and crewed weapons, day/night vision and observation equipment, as well as communications and information systems.
This system has been extensively evaluated in various locations in France (et al. mountainous and urban terrain) as well as in French Guiana (tropical jungle conditions) and Djibouti (desert conditions and NBC equipment testing) during the past years. The Technical/Operational Evaluation (EVTO) was carried out by the “Marche du Tchad” Regiment, the 13th Mountain Infantry Battalion and the naval infantry’s 8th Paratrooper Regiment. Moreover, the legionnaires of the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment used FELIN during the Phoenix testing in October 2008, testing to study the future networked combat systems. The entire evaluation and design process has been conducted in a joint network between industry, Army and the DGA.
“If you consider the improvements in this system compared to our old system, and when you understand that this equipment weighs just two kilogram more than the previous one, you can’t wait till it’s fully introduced,” a soldier told defpro.com on the occasion of a dynamic system demonstration earlier this year.
Sagem soldier technology going international
Pascal Brossard, Deputy VP Sales & Marketing at the Land Warfare Business Unit of Sagem, told defpro.com that FELIN is also attracting attention from countries such as Brazil, the UAE and Eastern Europe. Furthermore, in August 2009 defpro.com reported that the Russian Ministry of Defence showed great interest in the system during the MAKS 2009 trade fair. According to different press reports, the Russian military is in talks with Sagem, on the possibility of buying FELIN systems; however, the company did not officially acknowledge any such negotiations.
Besides now producing the significant number of ordered FELIN systems for the French Army, Sagem and its subsidiaries and partners are also involved in two other European soldier modernisations programmes: UK’s Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme as well as the Integrated and Modular Swiss Soldier Deployment System (IMESS) programme.
The latter has been awarded to EADS Defence & Security with Sagem as the main partner in November 2007 by the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports, “armasuisse”. Sagem provides all optronic means including JIM LR multi-function infra-red imagers, day/night weapons scopes and head gear, the latter including Sagem’s OVD around-the-corner vision eyepiece and Vectronix’s BBR-D night vision imager. Furthermore, Vectronix AG, a Sagem subsidiary, was selected in September 2009 by Thales UK to supply the British FIST programme with 2,700 multi-function Moskito imagers and 2,300 Rapid Acquisition Aiming Modules (RAAMs), plus related logistical support.
Nicolas von Kospoth
