Future Warriors: Launching the Next-Gen European Dismounted Soldier System

The European Commission has granted a €40-million funding to the ACHILE (Augmented Capability for HIgh-end soLdiErs) consortium for the advancement of cutting-edge solutions for next-gen dismounted soldier systems in Europe. ACHILE stands as one of the pivotal projects under the European Defence Fund 2021.

ACHILE aspires to bring about a significant transformation for soldier systems, utilizing an open architecture developed under the Preparatory Action Plan on Defence Research (PADR). The initiative will aim to showcase improved interchangeable capabilities enhancing all facets of dismounted combat: survivability, sustainability, mobility, localization and navigation, perception and situational awareness, lethality/smart engagement, and communication.

ACHILE will cultivate specific capabilities in four key domains: Soldier Core and Soldier Extension for capabilities at the individual soldier level, along with Team Core and Team Extension focusing on squad-level networking abilities, as well as robotics and weapon interactions at the team scale. ACHILE is expected to yield:

• Superior protection for soldiers, featuring lighter gear, enhanced ergonomics, a modular design, and optimized Size, Weight And Power (SWAP) capabilities up to the system level.
• Elevated soldier performance, especially in visual and auditory perception, as well as individual situational awareness.
• Augmented team functionalities enabled by network connectivity, collective situational awareness, and coordination among all units on the battlefield.

Safran Electronics & Defense (France) is at the forefront of this consortium of 30 partners, receiving strong support from Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH (Germany) for technical coordination, Indra Sistemas SA (Spain), and Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy). In the upcoming four years, the consortium will:

• Examine and provide unified operational concepts, alongside synchronized user and system requirements at the European level.
• Create a standardized open soldier system architecture envisioned with GOSSRA(*).
• Devise advanced soldier systems and enhanced capability suites, and evaluate them via technological demonstrators and proofs of concept, including innovative navigation units, head-up displays for augmented reality, weapon sights, and exoskeletons.
• Craft networking capabilities and assess them through large-scale demonstrations utilizing Battlefield Management Systems (BMS) and communication frameworks.
• Test full-sized demonstrators and prototypes in representative scenarios and expansive demonstrations.

ACHILE incorporates entities from nine EU nations and one associated country (Norway). This consortium encompasses the entire soldier system value chain, including a diverse range of small and medium enterprises, mid-caps, research institutions, universities, and larger entities.

Safran Electronics & Defense will oversee the ACHILE initiative, bolstered by the core team, to fulfill the technical and contractual obligations established between the European Commission and all participating entities. Through the ACHILE project, the consortium aims to enhance the standardization of criteria proposed to member states, thereby contributing significantly to European cooperation.

(*) Generic Open Soldier System Reference Architecture

Disclaimer: This project is co-funded by the European Union. The information within this press release reflects the author’s viewpoint, and the European Commission is not liable for any application that may arise from the content provided.