Integrated Digital Soldier System (IDSS) developed by Cobham
Defence Communications (CDC) provides a fully integrated Combat
Management System (CMS) for dismounted infantry units to gain
full Situational Awareness (SA), digital mapping navigation and
integrated command and control. The system is provided in three
basic configurations – a commander system, a soldier system
and a tracking system. All systems can be upgraded or downgraded
in the field; a common battery type is used for all three system
variants, ensuring accessibility to power, commonality of spares
and increased availability during prolonged operations. The system
is designed to offer mission capability of 24hrs on a single system
battery charge.
The soldier data terminal (SDT) designed for the infantry unit
commander weighs about 5 kg, including radios and batteries, providing
navigation functions, support for blue force tracking and situational
awareness features, displaying the locations of friendly and known
enemy forces. The SDT also provides target identification, reporting
and messaging. The Soldier Interface Unit (SIU) provides interfaces
to the various sensors, power management for all peripherals and
operates the GPS and Digital Magnetic Compass (DMC) subsystems.
IDSS also includes the lightweight integrated harness, which can
be worn as a stand alone harness or worn in conjunction with legacy
load carriage equipment and body armor. The lightweight harness
includes load carriage for the SDT and SIU units and communications
gear, all linked through a screened cable system, electromagnetically
compatible to enable the operation of multiple systems in the
same location (co-siting). The system also offers a docking station
for the SDT.
IDSS communications equipment supports two types of radios –
including Short Range Radio (SRR) transmitting location and data
to friendly users within a short range, and Long Range Radio,
supporting the functionality traditionally provided with Combat
Net Radio (CNR), carrying voice, and data on command and control
communications. IDSS is designed to support two radio systems
operating simultaneously.
In the downgraded version designed for the individual soldier
weighs about 3.5 kg, including radios and batteries. Essentially
it is similar to the commander's system, but with the commander's
SDT replaced with a small wrist terminal, supporting a preselected
set of functions such as navigation, reporting and target acquisition
functions. Further degraded version is the tracking system, which
has no visual display for the user, but still provides location
information to other users within range.
New versions of Cobham's Integrated Digital Soldier System (IDSS)
were displayed at Soldier Technology 07. Cobham designed its system
to work with a wide range of radio sets, both combat net and IP
based communicators. The kit also includes the hand-held soldier
data terminal (SDT) running the Battlehawk situational awareness
and communications software, and an optional wrist worn miniature
data terminal. BattleHawk provides standardized combat management
features supporting units from the section leaders up to the battlegroup
level. This application integrates Blue Force tracking and situational
awareness features on a geographical map display, navigation planning
and monitoring, report distribution, including pre-formatted,
emergency messages and free format. The display is operated by
touch screen menus and programmable buttons.
The system is configured to work with a number of external devices
and sensors to improve combat efficiency through direct input
to the system. Sensor types that can be interfaced into IDSS include
laser rangefinders, unattended ground sensors (UGS), video cameras,
battlefield surveillance radars, day and night sights, target
designators and additional display systems. The MDT is a small
wrist watch size device, displaying selective information on a
small display. In addition to standard time display (watch), the
MDT can also display a plan position indicator with two range
scales, showing relative locations of team members and targets.
The device can also show incoming text messages, or heading indication
(compass rose).
In this series Defense Update covers the following topics: