Rheinmetall AG said it formally transferred its new IdZ-ES future soldier system to the German Bundeswehr on March 7.
The Future Soldier-Expanded System, or IdZ-ES also is known as the Gladius.
“The new IdZ-ES is an original, comprehensive, innovative solution,” Garbe said. “For the first time ever, it proved possible to implement an entirely new design for a solder system and get it to the troops. Thanks to Gladius, as we call it at Rheinmetall, German infantrymen can now play an active role in network-enabled warfare,” said Bodo Garbe, a member of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall Defense. He symbolically handed Gladius over to Lt.-Gen. Bruno Kasdorf, chief of staff of the German army, and Harald Stein, president of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw).
Garbe said “the availability and flow of information on the battlefield are at least as important as firepower, protection and mobility. IdZ-ES automatically furnishes each soldier with this information in near real time.”
After praising the system’s technical features and the excellent cooperation between the Bundeswehr and the defence industry, Garbe also said Rheinmetall completed the project on time and on budget, “not something that can be taken for granted in complex defense projects.”
The Düsseldorf, Germany-based Rheinmetall Group was awarded the contract to develop the IdZ-ES expanded system in 2006. The German government ordered a first lot of 30 systems in 2012, which Rheinmetall is currently delivering according to plan.
Each Gladius system is designed to equip a 10-man section. The troops now have until June 2013 to practice using the new systems before deploying to Afghanistan.
Rheinmetall received a follow-up order in January 2013 to supply a further 60 systems.
This order is worth approximately $108.8 million and encompasses equipment for 60 infantry sections, or 600 soldiers. Delivery will take place in two lots of 30 systems each, the first in mid 2013, the second at the end of the year. This ensures that the next two Bundeswehr contingents to deploy to Afghanistan will receive the new equipment in time to become familiar with it.
Gladius gives the Bundeswehr the world’s most advanced soldier system. Fielding it is a major step in the process of improving the equipment of infantry forces in future deployed operations, thus enhancing the survivability of the individual soldier.