FELIN is a modular infantry combat suite, offering efficient
ergonomics, autonomy and weight saving. In March 2004 Sagem Defense
Systems won the French Defense R&D Directorate (DGA) contract
to develop and produce up to 30,000 infantry combat suits, to
be fielded with all French Army active infantry regiments by 2010
as part of the future air/ground system of systems called BOA.
The total contract worth is estimated at 800 million Euro. The
program considers two versions to be developed. Felin V1 system
will introduce an integrated equipment and communications for
the infantryman, and Felin V2, which will provide more far-reaching
innovations. 358 units are to be delivered by the first half of
2007, equipping three combat units scheduled to begin technical
and operational evaluation of the systems by the second half of
the year.
Sagem
is expected to begin serial production and delivery of Felin V1
systems in 2008. the introduction of Felin V2 is expected b y
2015. Both systems are based on common building blocks such as
observation, fire control, navigation, position locating and communications
systems.
FELIN systems will comprise a modified weapon system, integral
sensors, wearable computer, communications and display systems,
advanced uniform, protection and headgear and team allocated equipment
such as ODIN mini-UAV, robotic
mule and commander's specific equipment. The weight of the entire
FELIN system will be 24 kg, including weaponry, energy, ammunition,
water and food.
Suite's Clothing
Superior resistance, comfort and stealth will enable the soldier
to move faster with extra protection. The uniforms are designed
for sufficient ventilation, and are fabricated from fire retardant
materials, replacing current fire retardant coveralls used by
AFV crews. Torso protection will be improved with removable modular
combat jacket which will have significantly larger protection
area, provided by soft armor, rather than hard ballistic protection
plates. Naturally, it will retain the capability to add supplemented
ceramic inserts for extra protection of critical areas, when required
by the mission or threat level. The garment's structure will be
modular, allowing the soldier to adjust the weight according to
the mission. The suite will also be provided in a special Nuclear,
Radiological, Bacteriological and Chemical protection configuration.
Two wired networks are integrated into the clothing and load bearing
gear – the electrical power bus and digital network, transferring
data, video and linking to GPS/radio antennae. The system uses
a combination of Li-ion rechargeable batteries and chargers, supporting
up to 72 hours of operation. Recharging will be provided by vehicle
mounted chargers or dismounted fuel-cell chargers.
Felin
Weapon System
The FELIN infantryman will use an upgraded FAMAS
assault rifle which has been fitted with image intensifying
(I2) sight and a wireless video camera that relay the sight images
over wireless local network to either the torso or helmet displays,
or directly to transmits them to the platoon commander or team
leader. The commander's FAMAS will be equipped with thermal weapon
sights. IR optronics will also increase the effectiveness of the
Minimi machine gun and the FRF2 sniper rifle. FELIN V1 will field
with four types of sights – a reflex day/night sight for
the FAMAS, a day/night sight for Minimi, an improved long-range
day/night (I2) sight integrated with a laser rangefinder for the
FR-F2 sniper rifle and hand held imager, integrated with GPS,
LRF and Digital Magnetic Compass (DMC) for commanders.
Electronics
Systems
The helmet offers enhanced protection with an outer layer that
contains a wide-angle day/night camera improving dismounted soldier's
mobility in both day and night, relaying images to the helmet
ocular, and thorax display unit. Using the standard headgear,
the soldier will be able to detect a human target at 150 meters
and identify it at a range of 70 meters. The suite will comprise
a variety of electro-optical sensors, including light-intensifying
optronics, uncooled thermal camera (weapon mounted or hand-held
multifunction binocular configuration). A headband mounted osteophone
will eliminate the use of microphone and earphones for voice communications.
This device enables the employment of passive ear protection without
impairing communications and spatial orientation. By separating
the osteophone headband from the helmet, a modular functional
cabling organization is established: audio/data in the headband,
video/sight on the helmet, fitted with optronic devices. All elements
are interconnected through the digital bus and contribute to the
Infantryman's Information Network (RIF) through the "Portable
Electronic Platform" embedded in the clothing. The helmet
mounted day/night microcamera will offer 50 degrees field of view.
The
wearable computer (Portable Electronic Platform - PEP) and
the wearable network form the hub of FELIN system, built around
a high speed processor integrated with a high speed digital open
bus network (FireWire IEEE 1394 standard is currently supported)
which manages the energy resources and signal exchange between
the different elements, including weapon sights, displays, communications
and navigations assembly. The system is powered by a high performance
electrical energy source integrated into the infantryman's load
carrying gear. The application software driving the system supports
all the system's elements, and also has some emergency defaults,
providing nominal position and emergency functions for critical
actions such as communications and reporting. The computer is
connected to a man-machine interface unit enabling the soldier
to control the system and carry out complex operations such as
firing around a corner or see through obstacles.
Section
and group leaders will also be supplied with a hand held tablet
PC designated SIT-COMDE ("portable terminal information system
for the dismounted soldier") The system will support the
commander by displaying situational pictures and maps and exchange
encrypted information with other command post.
All Felin equipped infantrymen will use a small
personal radio (RIF) transmitting voice and data communication.
The RIF will be functional both in mounted or dismounted operations
enabling GPS position tracking and information sharing within
the squad and platoon. The communication bandwidth provided by
the RIF is sufficient to pass operational graphics, imagery, maps
and video sequences between team members and back to the higher
echelon. They will operate with either all-in-one or sub-network
architecture and interface with the fourth generation radio (PR4G)
which remains the link between the dismounted platoon and the
vehicles. As it is separated from the PEP computer, the radio
will operate even in the event of computer breakdown.
FELIN equipped platoons will operate five networks: four will
operate as RIFintra squad networks, (three infantry and one antitank
squads) maintaining continuous and open "conference"
between the squad members. Each RIFIntra network will also be
separable into two intra-team sub-networks, allowing control of
small team operations when required. At the platoon level, RIF
Command network will operate, communicating between squad leaders,
platoon commander, CO, snipers and the unit's armored personnel
carriers.
The portable digital communications between the section members,
their leaders and their superiors and related elements (land vehicles,
helicopters, drones and robots) will be the cornerstone of the
Felin system. This communications will comprise voice, data and
video. Transmission of video information is of fundamental importance
for the French planners, enabling warfighters to relay images
they capture on their sights to their superior commanders. Sagem
will establish this capability based on its experience with commercial
mobile telephony and computing. Each section commander will be
equipped with multifunction, un-cooled thermal binoculars used
for day/night observation and targeting. Infantry leaders and
specialized section commanders will get the "Offboard Fighter
Terminal Information System (SIT COMDE), a palm-sized computer
used for tactical situation assessment. The SIT will display images,
maps with overlaid symbology, and will be able to exchange encrypted
messages with other commanders and higher echelons.
The FELIN electronic ensemble will be powered by two rechargeable
Li-ion batteries
will be used to ensure that the soldier can operate the system
for 24 hours once dismounted. The unit will also be equipped with
a collective fuel-cell based
battery charger, which will sustain the team for two more
days of continuous dismounted operation. Batteries can be recharged
using collective devices. These will be integrated into the futuristic
EBRC, AMX-10P, VBCI
and VAB armored vehicles, in support of FELIN equipped infantry
teams.
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