Infantryman of the future

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
IdZ demonstration. However, the soldier does not wear the complete system. The equipment consists of the old splinter protection vest, the carrying system and the splinter protection goggles EPS 21. In the foreground on the table are the binoculars Vector IV and the digital camera.
Close up view. Here the soldier is wearing the old splinter vest, the carrying system and the Lucie low-light intensifier glasses. The weapon is an MP7.

The Infanterist of the Future (IdZ) project is the German modernization program for infantry , which runs under the slogan Future Soldier in NATO and serves to improve the personal combat equipment of the infantry in the Bundeswehr . The manufacturer's overall system responsibility lies with Rheinmetall Defense Electronics from Bremen . The current system status (2012) is the IdZ-2, which has been supplied to the German armed forces since 2013 under the name "Gladius" (implementation stage 2).

Reasons and planning goals

Since the end of the Cold War , the tasks of the Bundeswehr have changed from purely defending the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany and the allied states to international operations with and without a UN mandate.

A soldier's equipment is divided into

  • personal combat equipment with hand weapons and weapon attachments, protective equipment,
  • Reconnaissance and orientation equipment and
  • Field and bivouac equipment .

The integration of commercially available components and equipment that has already been introduced should save costs in the long term.

aims

Increase of

  • Assertiveness
  • own survivability
  • Leadership skills
  • agility
  • Perseverance

Components infantryman of the future

Predecessor model of the PDA during the field test in Kosovo

The “Infantryman of the Future” program makes modern techniques and materials available for personal equipment of soldiers. The components have a modular structure in equipment layers in order to adapt them to the operational situation. The basic BS system consists of equipment, clothing and the G36 rifle. The system is being redeveloped with the IdZ-2. After the completion of the pre-series tests, a procurement of 4000 IdZ-2 individual equipment is planned. Depending on the composition, this has a weight between 57 and 66 kilograms for the entire equipment.

1A equipment infantryman

  • Protective vest , inf bulletproof vest (Bundeswehr)
  • Carrying equipment, Inf
  • Hydration system 2 liter water bag with drinking tube,
  • Safety glasses, laser, dust
  • ear protection
  • Speech phrase, station wagon
  • Radio, UHF, Inf
  • Interface computer, Inf
  • NBC protective clothing, Inf
  • Radiation dosimeter, low radiation

1B additional equipment

  • Close range defense weapon HK MP7
  • Le. Machine gun HK MG4
  • Long range rifle G82
  • Module accuracy increase PzF3
  • Digital camera
  • Launcher 40 mm AG36 1.5 kg
  • WBG - hand weapons
  • Tripod, antimagnetic

1C exh. Hunter / 1D exhib. Geb.Jäger / 1E exhib. Fsch.Hunter

  • power adapter
  • Charger, battery, interface computer
  • Charging station, block battery
  • Laser light module, set
  • BiV telescope *
  • BiV device NSA 80
  • Carrying equipment, supplementary set
  • Laser rangefinder, BT
  • BiV glasses Leica

This equipment is to be issued to all soldiers with combat missions; Additional equipment for the mountain hunters is an altimeter. The 1C also has the Dingo, Fuchs, LKW installation kit; for 1D the installation kit BV-206, truck; for 1E the installation kit ESK, truck.

(BiV image intensifier as night vision device through residual light amplification)

Carrying system

The modular carrying system consists of a vest with a back section and two front sections and replaces the previously common belt carrying frame. Bags for ammunition or other equipment can be looped onto the vest. On the back, two pockets can be attached as so-called daypacks with a capacity of ten liters each with zippers . The system also includes a two-liter water bag with a drinking tube , the Camelbak . The equipment is arranged in equipment layers. However, the carrying system is not adapted to the large rucksack or the small combat rucksack introduced by the troops and cannot be carried with them.

protection

Leadership tools

The originally planned, not procured thermal imaging aiming device AN / PAS-13 from Raytheon for the HK G36
5x magnification, 10x possible
  • Binoculars Vectronix (formerly Leica Geosystems) Vector IV with laser rangefinder and digital compass
  • Night vision and thermal imaging device
    • Residual light intensifier glasses Lucie, residual light intensifier telescope BIG 35
    • Thermal imaging target device HuntIR from AIM AEG Infrared-Module GmbH (picture on the right shows the originally planned, not procured model from Raytheon)

BiV glasses LUCIE Every infantryman should be equipped with Lucie residual light intensifier glasses . The glasses can be attached to the helmet or worn with a head frame. With a range of 15 cm to 250 m, it should enable safe movement, reading of texts and the operation of equipment at the shortest possible distance. The HyperGen XD-4 used weighs 360 grams; it has an operating time of more than 60 hours with a 1.5 V AA (Mignon) mono cell and an operating range of −30 ° C to +45 ° C. It is also used in conjunction with the laser light module as a target system in the invisible area.

BiV-Fero, light The group will be equipped with two BIG 35 residual light intensifier telescopes for the group rifle scope shooters in order to achieve observation distances of up to 800 meters. The device is equipped with a BiV tube, weighs 840 grams and can be used for more than 30 hours with a set of two 1.5 V AA mono cells. If lithium-ion batteries are used, the service life increases to 100 hours.

Night vision attachment NSA80 The NSA80 as a target aid for the G36 rifle is to be used eight times in the group. It is identical to the BiV-Fero, lightweight, the optical view has been changed in shape. For use as a target aid, the image generated by the BiV-Fero is mirrored in front of the daytime optics of the weapon. The shooter continues to use the markings on the respective reticle for the fire fight. The BiV aiming device must be adjusted according to the optronics of the G36.

Thermal imaging target device The thermal imaging devices (WBG) that were previously only used for heavy weapons should also be used in infantry groups. This is possible by using uncooled WBG. The aim is to compensate for the shorter range and the shortcomings of the residual light amplifier technology, since BiV devices cannot observe in dark areas. The infantry group should be equipped with two of these WBG, which should be both target devices for weapons and observation devices for use on tripods. These are devices of the type TWS AN / PAS-13 A (V) with a weight of 2.5 kilograms and optics with a field of view of 3 degrees or 10 degrees. The device works in the first thermal window, ie the wavelength 3.4–4.2 µm; the power supply is provided by rechargeable batteries, which guarantee a service life of more than eight hours. For use as a monitoring device, the generated image is converted and shown on an external display.

Components Infantryman of the Future Extended System (IdZ-ES) Gladius

The main contractor for the second implementation phase is Rheinmetall Defense Electronics (Bremen) . The order to modernize the infantry equipment of the Bundeswehr was awarded to Rheinmetall in 2006.

IdZ-ES consists of around 20 equipment components in the three core areas:

  • Clothing, protective and carrying equipment (BST)
  • Weapons, optics and optronics (WOO)
  • Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Information (C4I) .

The previous protective vest is being replaced by a soft ballistic SK1 protective vest with an integrated ventilation system that offers protection from pistol projectiles up to 9 millimeters. Hard ballistic protective plates of protection class 4 can be integrated into the modular support frame.

On the Ops-Core Fast Ballistic Helmet belonging to the system , a combat helmet with a weight of 1328 grams in size. M, L, various attachments can be attached, for example lamps. The new helmet weighs 20 percent less than the previous one with the same protective effect. In the helmet display, each individual shooter can see the positions of all group members with one eye.

The Nacre headset , an individually adapted inner ear speech set, allows quiet speech and dispenses with a microphone. The speech signals are picked up via the inner ear bone. The headset also serves as hearing protection, which automatically locks if the noise is too high. If necessary, ambient noise can be amplified. Push-to-talk buttons (PTT) enable radio operation without taking your eyes off the optics or your hand from the weapon.

The carrying frame contains the "electronic back" with system computer, radio, GPS receiver and batteries. The portable command computer enables access to the soldier in order to conduct the "Network Centric Warfare", with the advantage that the soldier is less endangered by self-fire . The operating and display device (BAG) is an ergonomically shaped handle that has an eight-way switch and buttons for selection and cancellation to control the core computer. Group and command radios can also be operated via this. The system shows the current position of one's own forces, one's own location with direction of movement and the viewing direction in the digital situation map. Every soldier receives situation information, movement commands and reports from group members.

Group leaders and their deputies have a "portable management computer" (TFR). This is used to represent the situation and helps the leader in planning and monitoring the battle. The Army command information system can be used via the group vehicle SPz Puma or GTK Boxer .

Results from the “Mosquito” laser rangefinder can be transferred to the core computer via Bluetooth at the push of a button. The data can be transmitted to the group and called up in the BAG and helmet display. They can also be passed on to the higher-level command, or as a target message for artillery or mortars to call up steep fire.

The combat value of the G36 assault rifle has been increased with the optics (ZO) 4x30 and the Red Dot Small Arms (RSA-S) reflex sight . These sit on a low Picatinny rail. The very robust and powerful ZO 4x30 target optics has a field of view that is twice as large as the old one. A night vision attachment (NSV) IRV-600 from Carl-Zeiss Optronics (now Hensoldt ) with a weight of 1,090 grams including batteries can be adapted without the residual light amplifier having to be aimed at the weapon. Alternatively, a 390 g night vision attachment up to 100 meters of the type Dragon-C from the manufacturer Qioptiq .

The modular clothing is suitable for all climates and temperatures from −32 ° C to +45 ° C and enables individual adaptation. This also includes wool underwear from Woolpower for the winter in the dry-cold and damp-cold climates as well as cotton synthetic fiber underwear for the climatic zones cold-humid summer to dry-hot.

As early as 2012, 30 systems of infantry equipment were supplied for one group each, as a starting point for procurement, for a total of 300 soldiers. The company was commissioned to deliver a further 60 systems with an order volume of 84 million euros. The cost of the equipment for each infantryman was 140,000 euros.

Weapon systems

Weapons concept from the prototype status in Kosovo 2002
  • Additional or alternate armament
    • HK P8 9 × 19 mm, 0.77 kg (without ammunition) / HK P12 .45 (11.43 × 23 mm) 0.745 kg (without ammunition)
    • AG36 40 mm add-on grenade launcher 1.5 kg (without ammunition)
    • Panzerfaust 3 with Dynarange firing device with laser range finder, yaw rate sensor and fire control computer - increased first hit probability. Combat range against stationary and moving targets 600 meters with PzFst 3-IT-600 15.1 kg (firing device with one cartridge),
    • Panzerfaust RGW 90 MATADOR (interchangeable armament) 10 kg
    • HK MG4 (machine gun 4) 5.56 × 45 mm NATO 7.35 kg (without ammunition)
    • HK MG5 7.62 x 51 mm NATO 9.9 kg (without ammunition)
    • MP7 (submachine gun 7) 4.6 × 30 mm 1.9 kg (without ammunition)
    • Combat knife KM 2000 0.525 kg
    • Sniper rifle
    • HK P2A1 signal pistol 0.52 kg
  • Additional or alternating armament only for certain forces or planned
    • Benelli M4 self-loading shotgun (only KSK, military police, naval protection forces / KS, airborne brigade)
    • Remington 870 bolt action shotgun **
    • HK MG5 weight 9.9 kg as a replacement for the MG3

According to the instructions, both the G82 and the Remington 870 / Benelli are only to be used against material goals (i.e. not against people). For the legally compliant use of the ammunition used, the operators must countersign legally binding commands in accordance with a legal opinion by the BMVg.

Silencers are only available for certain weapons and in selected associations. For
the original equipment with handguns, see the list of handguns of the Bundeswehr

Field and bivouac equipment

This equipment, also known as the third layer of equipment, has a total weight of around 18 kg and includes:

  • Rucksacks and carrying equipment
    • Backpack small 30 l olive polyamide
    • Combat backpack 5-color or 3-color camouflage print 50 l polyamide
    • Large 110 l backpack + 30 l olive (special forces only) 3000 g
      • Additionally as transport packaging - combat carrier bag 80 l, duffel bag 100 l, laundry and transport sack 140 l
    • Belt support frame or equipment carrier Chest-Rig with loop system
  • Modular sleeping bag system with tarpaulin, folding sleeping mat , tent sheet
    • (Synthetic) sleeping bag in general (1) Climate zone C, damp and cold, summer Tcomf −15 ° C, Tmax −35 ° C, weight 1950 g + stuff sack 200 g
    • (Synthetic fiber) sleeping bag tropics climate zone A Tcomf +4 ° C Tmax −10 ° C
    • Sleeping bag cover (bivouac sack) three-layer laminate
      • all together for climate zone C winter down to −45 ° C Tmax
  • Cookware with cutlery and Esbit stove , lunch box, canteen and water bag with drinking tube , Epa
  • Folding spade
  • personal equipment small parts (e.g. mosquito head net)
  • personal equipment self and buddy aid ( aid dressing agents, field dressings burn wounds , triangular bandage , emergency blanket , gloves , respirator film , Wundschnellverband )
  • personal NBC protective equipment made of poncho and NBC protective mask 2000
  • Wind / moisture protection clothing, a set of long underwear and spare stockings, thermal underwear, if necessary a replacement field suit, cleaning and sewing kit, laundry bag with contents and terry cloth
  • Breithaupt Marching Compass

(1) dissolving (mummies) sleeping bag generally 1980 , and (Down) sleeping bag Fernspäher and sleeping bag Winter from

clothing

  • Field suit 1990 camouflage print with flecktarn (Bundeswehr) - humid and cold climate zone D = (A3 + C1)
  • Field suit 5-color camouflage print (jungle camouflage) - hot and humid climate zone B (rainforest)
  • Field suit 3-color camouflage print tropical camouflage - dry-hot climate zone A (steppe A1, savanna A2, desert A3)
  • Winter camo with white / camouflage green or white

each with combat boots or mountain boots and combat gloves

The equipment snow camouflage with snow camouflage jacket and pants as well as helmet camouflage cover should continue to be issued only as equipment for the troops. A white snow camo knitted or winter hat, a white hood and a snow camo backpack cover are still missing and are not part of the equipment.
In connection with the equipment "infantryman of the future", the combat clothing deployment / exercise is to be considered, as it must be worn under the field equipment.

Group equipment (infantry)

  • Pioneer set light infantry with spade, saw, hatchet, ax, pickaxe, barbed wire laying device
  • Barbed locking wire as S-wire and coils of barbed wire for laying device
  • Catering set for one-man group
  • Water canister
  • Ammunition equipment reserve ammunition, explosives and supply set group
  • Equipment self and comrade help group with mountain cloth

enlightenment

With small aircraft such as the EMT Aladin , MIKADO or with small all-terrain land vehicles, remote-controlled reconnaissance and monitoring tasks in urban canyons , buildings and sewers can be carried out if the use of humans would be too risky. The reconnaissance data of these technical aids can be transferred into the system of the infantryman of the future.

history

The field test of the forerunner was carried out in 2002 in Kosovo. As part of Task Force Prizren's Mission Battalion 1, a fighter platoon of Jägerlehrbataillon 353 tested the system for operational suitability in cooperation with the Hammelburg Infantry School. The basic version was used in Afghanistan in 2003.

In 2012/13, units of the Security Battalion 12 of the 10th Panzer Division from Hardheim received the IdZ ES from the industry, which is planned as the future standard for foreign deployments of the Bundeswehr. In Afghanistan , the 232 Mountain Infantry Battalion of the 23 Mountain Infantry Brigade from Bischofswiesen was the first to deploy the equipment.

Criticism of the future infantryman concept

The concept improved the command and reconnaissance on the battlefield, especially for out-of-area operations. Emergency vehicles such as the armored transport vehicle GTK Boxer “harden” the previously only motorized infantry in transport and on the battlefield. In addition, they offer protection against NBC weapons. But this also leads to a bond between the infantry fighting on foot and their vehicle. Their fighting style is thus similar to that of the Panzer Grenadiers.

The vehicles do not allow the protected transport of the soldiers' personal field and bivouac equipment, sometimes not even the personal combat equipment, as with ESK Mungo . In addition, the extensive group equipment such as pioneer material, water canisters, food, additional ammunition, additional equipment for local and urban warfare can only be transported to a limited extent.

Since the entire infantry is capable of airborne landing, the equipment with the GTK represents a restriction of mobility, since it can only be transported by air. Forces of the infantry in air-mobile use with helicopters are then no longer wheel-mobile on the ground and the equipment is based on the GTK. In addition, the use of motor vehicles is not possible everywhere - not in heavily covered, cut or urban terrain. This weakness in the fighting style and equipment of western armies is therefore used by less technical enemy forces to relocate the battle in terrain that is unfavorable for the mechanized enemy.

The equipment with electronic devices improved the command and the flow of information between the command levels, but at the same time the information load on the soldier, who is supposed to process the information from his IDZ in addition to the impression of the battle, also increases. The increasing number of “consumers” leads to a high demand for batteries for power supply. In addition, there is the increasing flood of information for soldiers at all levels and the possibility of higher command levels accessing the lowest combat level without knowing the full battle situation and at the same time burdening the lower combat level with information interruption or information. In addition, the illuminated screens make camouflage difficult in the dark. The tablet computer can only be operated with a stylus pen. In Afghanistan, for example, a troop that came under fire and whose stylus pen was lost, which is necessary to transmit their own coordinates for requesting support via radio data transmission, was not able to request fire support.

For the future IdZ ES system , points of criticism apply, such as the weight, the only limited renewal of the field and bivouac equipment - this no longer corresponds in any way to the requirements and today's long-standing options. This leads to the fact that soldiers sometimes “inappropriately” equip themselves. The weight of the combat equipment, which is given as 23 kilograms (including 14 kilograms for the protective vest), the field and bivouac equipment, which is necessary for the long-term preservation of combat capability, was disregarded. This increased the physical strain on the soldier by a further 16 kg. In addition, there is the weight of other weapons such as bazooka or additional ammunition. This means that additional equipment can no longer be carried, but only transported by vehicle. For this reason, emergency medical equipment is said to have remained on the vehicle and was therefore under fire out of reach for wounded soldiers.

The handguns that were introduced earlier - especially the G36 with attachments - increase the ability to fight at night. A three-shot limiter to limit ammunition consumption was omitted. The need for ammunition replenishment with the corresponding supply trips is correspondingly high. The weapon is not supported by a bipod, the shoulder rest is not variable and the red light sights and riflescope built on top of each other are not ideally suited for targeted shots. The smaller ammunition in caliber 5.56 × 45 mm led to a reduction in the penetration capacity of obstacles. This weakness was also evident in the infantry fighting in Afghanistan. This is less serious when it comes to the support provided by on-board weapons, as is available to the armored infantry troops. However, armored personnel carriers are usually not available in asymmetric conflict and especially after air-mobility use. The lack of poorly penetrating (standard) ammunition is counteracted by the use of expensive hard and double-core ammunition. However, this has little man-stopping effect. The Maschinenkarabiner HK G36 has moreover type of construction as a gas pressure loader problems compared to a more expensive to the producing roller shutter , since the same amount of powder residues are discharged a cartridge of the same caliber only via the Gasdruckdüse and the gas piston. A "dirty" problem should be remedied by an adjusting screw to be operated during the battle, as with the FN FAL G1.

With the reintroduction of more powerful ammunition in caliber 7.62 × 51 mm, as with group riflescopes, the previously required standardization of ammunition and supply is being postponed. The partial use of the MG3 instead of the MG4 in action shows the need of the troops for a more powerful portable MG. The newly introduced HK GMW machine grenade launcher is basically manoeuvrable without a vehicle, but only to a small extent due to its weight.

The additional production and technical defects lead to equipment that is not fully operational. So it should have come to incorrect coordinates by GPS with the NaviPad, which suggests that a chip was installed for the C / A code and not for the military P / Y code or that there are connection problems between the NaviPad and GPS.

The training of soldiers with the new equipment is also criticized as inadequate. A briefing often only takes place in the operational area.

With the introduction of further infantry weapons for the group and platoon, the argument for the introduction of the G36 as an all-round weapon with the standardization of the caliber is taken ad absurdum. The new G28 with interchangeable optics is a step towards using a weapon adapted to the situation.

Components Infantryman of the Future Extended Gladius System

As with the IdZ system, the increased equipment with telecommunications equipment that transmits permanently increases the possibility of locating the transmitter-receiver mobile through hostile electronic reconnaissance. This allows a fight against the forward line of own troops by enemy artillery, which can use them as a line of fire. At the same time, the volume of information for the individual soldier increases with the impression of combat.

The weight of the field and bivouac equipment was not included in the weight of the IdZ Gladius equipment. This should remain on the combat vehicle, on which the dependency increases. The equipment of the infantry is thus approaching a "unit infantry". However, this does not consider the peculiarities of the terrain typical of the infantry with terrain depressions and elevations as well as bodies of water and urban area that form the battlefield for the infantry troops.

For the field clothing Flecktarn belonging to the equipment of the future Gladius infantryman, see there.

The Bundeswehr Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) had procured a total of 90 systems for equipping a ten-man group from Rheinmetall in three lots since 2012.

According to the report, a further 68 train sets (around 2,460 soldiers) with a total value of 370 million euros were ordered in June 2017 for delivery by 2020, so that on average one man equipment costs around 151,000 euros.

See also

literature

  • Jan-Phillipp Weisswange: Think about the effect! Active agent for infantry and dismounted combat. Strategy and technology. November 2010, ISSN  1860-5311 , pp. 11-17.
  • Stefan Ley: Infantryman of the Future Extended System The combat equipment on the way to realization. Strategy and technology. November 2010 pp. 18–23, online (PDF; 352 kB) .
  • Report Verlag (Ed.): Hand weapons, ordnance and equipment for infantry use. ( Defense Technical Report 4/2010, ISSN  0935-3100 ).
  • Michael Schmidt: High-tech with pitfalls. Tagesspiegel November 26, 2007 [1]

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ IdZ-ES - State of the Art? Hard height courier
  2. ↑ a b Equipment of a soldier | Infantryman of the future. In: Y-Punkt.de. June 20, 2018, accessed July 23, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Archived copy ( Memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.bluecher.com
  4. ↑ Infantryman of the future - already in Afghanistan today -... In: bundeswehr-journal. February 11, 2013, accessed July 23, 2019 .
  5. ↑ spartanat: TRUPPENSCHAU: IdZ Gladius. May 20, 2013, accessed July 23, 2019 .
  6. ^ Equipment soldier Bundeswehr
  7. ^ Bw combat backpack TD ( Memento from March 22, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) LHDShop
  8. ↑ High-tech with pitfalls. In: www.tagesspiegel.de. Retrieved July 23, 2019 .
  9. ↑ Ulrike Demmer: Threatening push buttons , Der Spiegel, November 14, 2011.
  10. ↑ Marco Seliger: Bundeswehr: Beyond the pain limit . ISSN  0174-4909 ( faz.net [accessed July 23, 2019]).
  11. ↑ Shelling - Effectiveness of ammunition in action YouTube
  12. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO4r-xI9wlE How reliable are Bundeswehr weapons?
  13. ↑ on the problem of new handguns, see also Dreyse needle gun historically
  14. ↑ http://strategie-technik.blogspot.de/2017/06/vorwarts-marsch-bundeswehr-bestellt.html Forward march - Bundeswehr orders more soldier system Infantryman of the future - extended system