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Future Force Warrior (FFW)

By FY06 the Future Force Warrior Advanced Technology Demonstration included a number of integrated subsystems, many of which had extensive development planned. Also included was an element that would provide necessary testing and evaluation of the various pieces of equipment and their integration.

Headgear: In FY06, completed design and development of basic helmet configuration integrating leveraged lightweight ballistic shell and liner materials. Complete development of modular add-on hardware for leader/MOS specific capabilities, including initial implementation of TES/laser sensors, microphone, visual and infrared dual aperture sensor fusion and integrated high resolution color helmet mounted display. Perform systems engineering tasks to refine architecture, metrics, and requirements allocation. Develop backwards-compatible interfaces for Advanced Combat Helmet. Continue exploration/development and integration of active noise reduction. Fabricate, integrate and test 12 headgear systems. In FY07, will complete integration into FFW electronic components of vision enhancement, sensor fusion, and TES functionality, and XM50 chem/bio mask interface. Will modify existing 12 systems and fabricate, integrate and test 10 additional headgear systems to support field experiments and demonstrations. Will perform systems engineering tasks to support integration, interoperability and supportability.

Soldier Computer and Software: In FY06, planned to execute incremental development of Soldier computer system and employing System on a Chip (SoC) technology, leveraging the LW computer system and continue service based software development and testing of Operating System and information management, power management, WPSM interface, netted fires/cooperative engagement, memory joggers, embedded training and TES, situational awareness, mapping image capture and transmittal, user interfaces and System Voice Control, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) data feed. UAV and UAV controller technology would be leveraged for other development programs. Development of a basic system processor to support increased functionality for distributed capabilities for Soldier MOSs that would not require a full-up computer was a requirement, as was Development of a Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW)-based Application Programming Interface compatible with future radios to result in effective integration of the Soldier in the FCS network. The program also hoped to develop a basic compatibility with the planned FCS (SoS Common Operating Environment, Battle Command/Network Management Services) and Army Battle Command System. The program also sought to explore development of enhancements to handheld planning device/tool. It was hoped that during this period tests would be conducted of FFW systems with leveraged LW computers and initial software applications described above. The program looked to evaluate Army and FCS information assurance/cross domain security developments for future incorporation into GSS. Modifications would be conducted to WPSM data processing algorithms to reduce signal artifacts and improve data quality for augmented cognition. In FY07, software functionality development would be completed to include applications described above and after action review, limited built in test, and code optimization for a power constrained computing environment. Field experiments would also be conducted, along with demonstrations with FFW Soldier computer hardware and software. Combining all these requirements would be a central plan for information assurance/cross domain security for GSS and systems engineering to support integration, interoperability and supportability.

Personal Area Network (PAN): In FY06, PAN components were to be developed for distribution of power and data across the FFW electronic components, leveraging LW cables/connectors and novel electronic textile cables from other developments. Systems engineering to refine architecture, metrics, requirements allocation, and interface controls would also be performed. In FY07, PAN was expected to be refined, and the program would fabricate, integrate and test PAN to support field experiments and demonstrations. Normal systems engineering tasks to support integration, interoperability and supportability would be performed.

Power Sources: In FY06, development was expected to continue on advanced novel Lithium Polymer (24 hr, rechargeable and conformal for ergonomics/comfort) and Zinc Air (mission extender for missions beyond 24 hrs) power sources. By FY07, power sources to support field experiments and demonstrations were expected to be fabricated. Power and energy technologies developed in PE 0602705 would be integrated into Soldier systems, with particular emphasis on the GSS. Prototype hybrid fuel cell power systems for technical performance and mission capability in Soldier tactical environments for 72 hr mission would be evaluated as a future replacement. Prototype modular quiet man-portable (less than 10 kg without fuel) battery chargers to support off-vehicle battery recharging were also hoped to be demonstrated in this timeframe.

Network/Communications/Antennas: In FY06, communications and network interface Hardware/Software (HW/SW) functionality was expected to be developed, leveraging Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) for other programs and also developing backwards compatibility to Current Force. Implement FFW communications architecture for the SCU and integrating it with the Squad Level Integrated Communications Environment SRW-based network would be high priorities. Network modeling and simulation would be conducted. A network gateway for Soldier connectivity to unmanned ground systems, UAVs and legacy systems was also expected to be developed. Communications architecture for compatibility with FCS would be optimized while at the same time ensuring robust peer-to-peer communications, situational awareness and synchronization of fires while away from supporting platforms. Hardware interfaces for leveraged handheld radios would be developed to support this. Advanced body mounted antennae concepts to support robust communications in restricted positions and environments would be developed. Components for 12 systems to support FY06 experimentation would then hopefully be fabricated and imtregrated for experimental purposes. By FY07, the network could then be refined based on FY06 experimentation and M&S. An additional 10 communication subsystems to support field experiments and demonstrations would then be fabricated. As always, systems engineering tasks to support integration, interoperability and supportability would be performed.

Small Combat Unit Lethality and Fire Control: In FY06, the distrubition of lethality capabilities across the SCU was expected to be developed. Modification of two XM104 prototype fire control systems for day/night non-line-of-sight cooperative engagement would be performed and the units integrated with the LW weapon user interface and the FFW body borne system. XM104 hardware interfaces including black box, Weapon User Interface (WUI) and interfaces to Soldier Computer were to be designed and would integrated a visible aiming laser and pointer/illuminator. Demonstrations in a laboratory enviornment and subsequent live fire assessments of modified XM104 would be performed. Complimenting the XM104 would be the FFW system with a multi-function Laser/Small Tactical Optical Rifle Mounted Micro-Laser Range Finding System, Medium Thermal Weapon Sight and Daylight Video Sight for long range target acquisition. Lethality components to support FY06 experimentation would be procured for these experiments and demonstrations. By FY07, it was hoped that development and integration would be complete on the wireless WUI. A total of 6 wireless WUIs were to be fabricated, as well as other distributed lethality components to support field experiments and demonstrations. Systems engineering tasks to support integration, interoperability and supportability would support the progress.

Precision Position System (PPS): In FY06, a high fidelity personal navigation system utilizing Micro Electro-Mechanical System Inertial Measurement Unit technology was to be developed. This effort would provide improved accuracy (3 m vs. 10+ m) necessary to enable precision netted lethality/fire control capabilities and 3-D position location in Global Positioning System denied areas (e.g. inside buildings), while reducing system size, weight and power. Integration of the precision position/navigation system into the overall FFW architecture was also planned. Fabrication of 5 PPS systems would be initiated. In FY07, development work was to be completed on the PPS systems and the units were expected to be integrated into FFW HW/SW architecture to support field experiments and demonstrations. Systems engineering tasks to include metrics, requirements allocation, interoperability and supportability would be performed.

Technical Evaluations, Analysis, Assessments and Demonstrations: In FY06, technical evaluations in a Soldier Integration Lab environment were to be conducted, as was modeling and simulation evaluations/assessments to validate component/subsystem performance, integration, and "what if" analyses to explore system robustness. A reduced-scope Map Exercise analysis was also planned. A FFW system level evaluation was to be completed, through participation in a C4ISR On the Move (OTM) experiment to validate system performance progress and network interoperability. SCU combat effectiveness and cost benefit analyses were planned to compare FFW capability enhancements against currently fielded soldier equipment and LW baseline capability sets to show extent of performance improvements. Planning for an then unknown number of demonstrations to be conducted in FY07, including early development of Experimental Force (EXFOR) training and test plans, was initiated. Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for SCU tactical employment of FFW capabilities and associated training program was also initiated. In FY07, it was hoped that EXFOR training and FFW System level demonstrations would be conducted through participation in C4ISR OTM and Air Assault Expeditionary Force Spiral D experiments employing an FFW equipped squad, adjacent squad leaders, and platoon headquarters element, the minimal required configuration needed to demonstrate platoon level communications network, to validate system performance at Technical Readiness Level 6. Final analyses regarding SCU combat effectiveness were then expected to be completed.