UNITED KINGDOM - 8 SEPTEMBER 2009
Minister for Defence Equipment & Support Quentin Davies today announces the award of a GBP150m 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 equip-ment 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 Tech-nology (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 & Equip-ment 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."
Source : Thales Group
Minister for Defence Equipment & Support Quentin Davies today announces the award of a GBP150m 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 equip-ment 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 Tech-nology (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 & Equip-ment 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."
Source : Thales Group
