BAE SYSTEMS focuses on Soldier Modernisation

BAE SYSTEMS has created a dedicated Soldier Modernisation team to co-ordinate the fusion of specialist expertise from different parts of the company with technology and skills from partners and suppliers to meet many emerging requirements around the world.

The team will deploy BAE SYSTEMS' capability in the fields of systems integration and prime contractorship in the selection of enabling technologies. These range from communications and human factors to lethality, and through sensors to displays, with inputs being drawn from the defence, aerospace and commercial sectors.

The initiative reflects both the recent announcement that the UK Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme has achieved "Initial Gate" within the UK Ministry of Defence's procurement process and the company's commitment to realise the business scope offered by numerous world-wide Soldier Modernisation projects.

FIST encompasses enhancements to the five NATO domains of lethality, survivability, C41, mobility and sustainability. The UK Ministry of Defence issued a FIST URD and PQQ earlier this year, to which a number of companies, including BAE SYSTEMS, responded. The next phase of the procurement cycle is the selection of a contractor to fulfil the assessment phase of the contract. An initial operational deployment is expected in 2009.

This market will become increasingly significant in the military programmes of NATO nations and other advanced countries over the next decade. World-wide, the market will probably involve expenditures of between £5 billion and £10 billion.

The BAE SYSTEMS Soldier Modernisation team will operate as part of the Avionics Group's Land Platform Communication business, located at Christchurch, Dorset, and Blackburn, Lancashire.

Team leader Steve Collier comments "BAE SYSTEMS (has)extensive prime contracting experience, combined with specialist technical expertise relevant to Soldier Modernisation programme. These skills will allow us to maximise the cost benefits toour customers of commonality between national programmes. Our open approach to partners and suppliers will create "best of breed" solutions with world-class technologies being brought into the Soldier Modernisation programmes world-wide."

REF XQQEE XQQLD