First stage of FIST for Thales

David Donald

Wednesday, 9 September, 2009

Yesterday at the show, Quentin Davies, UK Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, announced the award of a £150 million prime contract to Thales UK, covering the delivery and in-service support of equipment for Increment 1a of the Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme.

FIST is a major soldier modernisation effort for the British Army, and is being conducted in three phases. The first phase is divided into two parts, Increment 1a for the surveillance and target acquisition (STA) element, while 1b covers C4I. The latter is currently being evaluated by the MoD, although no timescale for a decision has been given.

Thales has been involved with FIST since 2003, and has worked closely with the MoD to define requirements and identify the best equipment. An earlier UOR programme – Synergistic and Integrated STA (SISTA) – resulted in some kit being delivered to theatre in April 2008, and significantly aided the FIST assessment phase.

With the FIST STA package, Thales UK has addressed what the standard four-man fire team needs to conduct operations with far greater capability, but without adding to the soldier’s burden. Benefits include improved 24-hour detection capability in difficult light conditions, faster engagement, improved target location, improved accuracy and the ability to view from cover.

Increment 1a includes new thermal, close-quarter battle and lightweight day sights, underslung grenade launcher sight for the fire team’s grenadier, target locator for the commander, lightweight periscopes and ruggedised digital cameras.

Under the contract, Thales will deliver 11,000 STA suites. Initial deliveries – sufficient for one brigade to begin training – are planned for November 2010, with a view to having the equipment in Afghanistan in spring 2011. This timescale reflects the British Army’s roulement schedule and the need for units to be fully trained before deployment. Full implementation of the contract is planned to be complete by June 2014.

Soldiers from the Irish Guards demonstrate the new FIST Increment 1a STA equipment