Thales awarded stage one of FIST soldier systems contract
08 September 2009
DSEi 2009 - 8 September 2009 - Minister for Defence Equipment & Support Quentin Davies today announces the award of a £150m prime contract to Thales UK for the delivery and in-service support of a surveillance and target acquisition (STA) system, which will form the first increment of the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme.
The STA system comprises a suite of high-performance weapon sights, observation equipment and target location systems that will be deployed with dismounted units from the UK Armed Forces operating in all environments, from desert to jungle, to arctic, urban and rural, day and night.
For minimal additional weight, the FIST STA system will significantly increase the close combat effectiveness of soldiers by providing the following benefits:
* reduction in engagement times;
* improvement in detection and recognition ranges;
* wider range of night firing options;
* significant increase in the probability of hitting the target with the first round fired;
* reduction in target location times;
* major improvement in target location accuracy.
Extensive trials and modelling have indicated that these benefits can be expected to raise the tempo of operations, increase the troops’ readiness for further operations and, ultimately, reduce own casualties.
Minister for Defence Equipment & Support Quentin Davies, says: “The surveillance and target acquisition package forms the first part of the Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme. This new kit that we have ordered today will significantly increase the combat effectiveness of the British infantryman.
The MoD is committed to equipping our frontline troops with the best equipment we can by using the latest technological advances. I am delighted to announce this new contract which supports the British defence industrial base at the Defence Systems & Equipment International exhibition today.”
The first deliveries - sufficient to equip a brigade - are planned for November 2010, with full contract deliveries due to be completed in June 2014.
Alex Dorrian, CEO Thales UK, says “Having successfully delivered a number of key Urgent Operational Requirement programmes covering soldier systems, vehicles and UAVs, this contract cements Thales UK's leading position at the heart of the UK's land systems domain.
"FIST has always been a cutting edge programme in terms of its acquisition model and in particularly in terms of the partnering approach between Thales UK and DE&S, which I believe remains an example of best practice in defence. We are now looking forward to taking this relationship forward to successfully deliver the FIST programme."
The system includes the following best-in-class equipment and services, which have been selected by Thales UK’s FIST Prime Contract Management Office (PCMO) through open competition involving extensive field trials and independent assessment processes:
| Description | Qty (incl Training) | Supplier | Origin |
| FIST thermal sight | 4,111 | Qioptiq | UK |
| Lightweight day sight | 10,835 | ELCAN | Canada |
| Close quarter battlesight | 19,122 | Shield | UK |
| Underslung grenade launcher (UGL) sight | 784 | Istec | UK |
| UGL fire control system | 2,090 | Vectronix | USA |
| Commander’s target locator | 2,471 | Vectronix | Switzerland |
| Lightweight infantry periscope | 856 | Uniscope | Israel |
| Ruggedised digital camera | 856 | Olympus UK | Japan |
| Conversion of existing Maxikite 2s & common weapon sights to meet FIST requirements |
4,176 | Qioptiq | UK |
| Provision of warehousing, distribution & asset management services |
- | Thales UK | UK |
| Provision of training services | - | Selex SI | UK |
| Provision of technical publications | - | Allan Webb | UK |
- Ends -
Notes to editors
About FIST
FIST is a UK MoD programme, established to enhance the capability of the dismounted infantry section, ensuring that the soldier of the future is equipped to meet changing requirements. The programme has followed a systematic, requirements-driven approach to equipping small teams of soldiers engaged in dismounted operations with an integrated fighting system. It also addresses the integration of the dismounted section with other systems, including personal equipment and platforms, to deliver network-enabled capability.
The Assessment Phase began in April 2003, under the prime contractorship of Thales UK, to identify the optimum solution for FIST, including through-life support, ensuring that the correct balance is struck between capability, cost and risk. The MoD and Thales UK established an open partnering culture to deliver this complex programme, in which the nature of the users’ requirements and the technology available are continually evolving. Military personnel have been involved at every stage by conducting trials and contributing to design decisions. Many types of technology have been assessed for cost-effectiveness and maturity, covering all capability domains, including C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computer and intelligence), lethality, mobility, survivability and sustainability.
Today’s announcement is a culmination of a detailed examination of surveillance and target acquisition (STA) capabilities, marking the first increment of FIST to be approved for full-scale production. The next key milestone is the investment decision for the procurement of C4I capabilities, expected later this year.
About Thales and Thales UK
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Space, Defence, Security and Transportation markets. In 2008 the company generated revenues of £10.2 billion, with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners.
Thales UK employs 8,500 staff based at more than 40 locations. In 2008 Thales UK's revenues were over £1.4 bn.
Press contacts:
Thales UK
Kathryn Bell
Mob: +44 7813 903274
Email: kathryn.bell@thalesgroup.com
Thales UK, Land & Joint Systems
Paul Mottershead
Mob: +44 (0)7711 039095
Email: paul.mottershead@uk.thalesgroup.com
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