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The FELIN soldier system development is the newest effort in a continuation of previous research and development projects initiated in France in the late 1990s. It is based on the premise that the infantry soldier should be considered as a "system", and it covers the development of new uniforms, personal and combat equipment and weapons with the view of an integrated "soldier system". The idea is to apply the concepts of integrated design and development, as utilised in "machine" weapons systems such as AFVs and aircraft, to the infantryman.
The current FELIN V1 programme (Fantassin à Equipements et Liaisons Intégrés, Infantryman with Integrated Equipment and Links) has been launched by the French DGA (Déiégation Générale pour l'Armement, Defence Procurement Agency) with the aim to rapidly enhance the capability of the individual infantryman as such as well as when operating at the squad and platoon level. This includes a focus on more déployable forces and greater capability through the introduction of "leap forward" technologies. The current French Army's plan is to develop and field its "Soldier Warrior" in a stepped increment or "block" approach. The FELIN V1 soldier system, which is due to be fielded starting in 2007, represents the first increment in this overall approach.
In March 2004, the DGA awarded SAGEM a euro 800 million contract to develop and supply 22,600 FELIN systems to completely re-equip 20 infantry regiments, plus 9,000 additional sets for other units in armoured, engineer and artillery regiments. The first infantry regiment will be equipped with FELIN by mid-2007, and by the end of 2008 two thirds of all infantry regiments will be outfitted with the system.
A follow-on FELIN V2 soldier system, intended to be on the field in 2015, is already under development with the main objective to enhance the FELIN V1's performance in all NATO domains of dismounted soldier combat (lethality, C4I, protection, mobility and autonomy/sustainability) in an incremental approach. This programme further addresses the remaining challenges regarding power and weight saving, armour and protection upgrades and the complete integration in the info centric network.
The FELIN soldiers will become more and more important as the network-centric warfare concept begins to take shape.
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