Safran: Worldwide Expertise in Integrated Soldier Systems

For the last 20 years, Safran Electronics & Defense has innovated to equip Defence forces with integrated capabilities, to reduce cognitive and physical load for dismounted soldiers and to enhance the modularity of their fighting systems.  With 23,000 FELIN systems in service, with the French Armed Forces, Safran Electronics & Defense has developed core expertise and key experiences to support the worldwide soldier systems market. Safran is currently preparing the future of dismounted systems for France, Europe, and beyond, through the Centurion (Fr) and Achile (EU) programs. Though these programs Safran, plays an active role in the National Defense and Sovereignty of the countries it supports.

Where it started: French Soldier System

« Integrated Infantry Soldier Equipment and Communications (Fantassin à équipements et liaisons intégrés – FELIN) system. »

The French FELIN Program was launched in 2001 by the French Defense procurement agency (in French DGA, Direction Générale de l’Armement), which awarded Safran its first contract in 2004. The initial systems improved the soldier operational capabilities and reduced the time for decision-making in various military operations. This first baseline marked an unprecedented leap forward regarding both capacities and technology. The concept of the program was to bring technology to the individual soldier.  The overall design aims to improve the performance of the individual soldier and improve the performance of the integrated unit. The French soldier system provides key elements for the soldier: enhanced Communication at platoon level and above; maximized Observation with day/night binoculars; improved ballistic Protection and increased Mobility. The unified, modular and comprehensive solution comes into its own through a considerable improvement in multiple functions, enabling infantry soldiers to carry out their missions more effectively. Despite the improved technology and operational execution, human decision remains at the heart of the system, and the personnel skills are as useful as ever.

The FELIN program allowed Safran Electronics & Defense to expand soldier system innovation, improve processes and to learn from field experience. FELIN has been combat proven in West African operations, against Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and continues to be systematically used in modern warfare environments.

As the threats are evolving and because of the re-emergence of high intensity conflicts, France decided to update its soldier system program including technological evolutions through an incremental innovation processes. This emerging requirement has led to the Centurion Program.

Thus, as part of the CENTURION program, Safran Electronics & Defense is now looking to the next generation soldier system.

French program CENTURION

At the end of 2019, the French DGA launched CENTURION, a seven-year program to “speed-up French innovation” in soldier superiority. CENTURION’s aim is to build the future of French soldier systems by capturing innovations in various fields of interest (positioning and navigation, observation, weaponry, functionalized textiles, innovative interfaces, etc.) across both civilian and military sectors. As industrial architect, Safran Electronics & Defense is working very closely with the French armed forces to solve the problems encountered during military operations. Moreover, Safran is working with fifteen companies (mostly startups, labs and SME’s) to promote innovation, services and expertise, to enhance soldier systems capabilities.

Thus, CENTURION has the potential to solve an emerging problem even before the strict expression of an operational need. The system’s missions are continuously redefined to allow systems innovation and product transformation. The challenge is to create the future soldier by capturing, supporting and financing innovative ideas, and to work in close proximity with operational experts.

The CENTURION program sets up new ways to ensure and develop sovereignty. Then, as well as the CENTURION program, several soldier systems programs adopt a similar strategy: build mission systems one-step at a time, allowing the acquisition process to evolve according to the emerging threats.

Worldwide programs

Under project Land 125 Phase 4, the Australian Government is seeking an industry partner to help deliver an innovative Integrated Soldier System (ISS) capability that is underpinned by a process of continuous augmentation, supplementation, and enhancement of the current and future Soldier Combat System. In response, Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia, has teamed with two partners, BAE Systems Australia and Nova Systems Australia and New Zealand, to form Team SABRE.

Team SABRE (Soldier, Augmentations and Battlefield Robotic Enablers) offers a comprehensive and low risk ISS service that places the soldier at the centre of the modernisation program to deliver a capability edge to the warfighter. Team SABRE provides the Australian Government, including the Australian Army with an industry partner that understands the operational context, project intricacies and provides unbiased assessment of ISS products that meet the modern soldier’s needs. Informed, Independent, Invested are the three pillars that define how Team SABRE will deliver innovative, sovereign ISS services to the Australian Army.

Led by Safran Electronics and Defense Australasia (SEDA) as Prime, Team SABRE brings together experience and expertise from three partners, ensuring unrivalled understanding of the ISS challenge.

1. Safran Electronics and Defense Australasia: As prime contractor, SEDA guarantees the entire system performance. By building partnership with innovative and reliable suppliers, SEDA coordinates the team members and makes sure all parts of the system reach the level of performance set by the armed forces. Based on its experience and expertise in state-of-the-art technologies, Safran Electronics & Defense can evaluate and compare solutions on the market for dismounted soldiers. Safran Electronics & Defense soldier system experience includes a broad and modular ecosystem of integrating high performance equipment for dismounted soldiers operations including portable optronics for daytime and nighttime combat, communications, protection, C2, etc. Safran Electronics & Defense has produced and continuously evolved over 23,000 FELIN soldier systems for the French Army, as well as leading and contributing to soldier modernization programs around the world for decades.
2.  Nova Systems Australia and New Zealand has worked with Defence to deliver major land projects, providing advanced systems engineering programs, project management and integrated logistics support and training skills. Nova Systems Australia and New-Zealand will lead Team SABRE’s Market Surveillance and Acquisition services to ensure independent, informed and product agnostic selection of best of breed ISS equipment.
3. BAE Systems Australia: has over 30 years of experience developing robotic and autonomous platforms and systems in Australia. BAE Systems Australia is an experienced land autonomy capability partner to the Australian Army with a proven track record developing and delivering leading-edge autonomous systems.

Safran Electronics & Defense works on breakthrough technologies for future dismounted combat to provide armies with the best solutions deployed in the field. In doing so, Safran Electronics & Defense is contributing to the sovereignty of the countries it serves and builds a safer future.  Safran Electronics & Defense is proud to offer for the Land-125 phase 4 program a modular soldier system with enhanced capabilities: Robotics; localization, navigation and target acquisition systems in a GNSS denied environment; Communication network; using artificial intelligence and augmented reality to enhance the soldier capabilities.