Rheinmetall to Modernise the German Army’s “Future Soldier – Expanded System”

Rheinmetall has been awarded a contract to modernise the command and control equipment of the German Bundeswehr’s soldier systems, the company writes in a press release. A total of 14 “Future Soldier- Extended System” platoon systems are to be delivered to the troops. These comprise equipment for 476 individual soldiers. Worth a figure in the mid-double-digit million-euro range, the order was booked in December 2022, shortly after the budget committee of the German Parliament appropriated funding from the country’s EUR 100 billion special procurement fund.

The VJTF 2023 version of the “IdZ-ES” soldier system links dismounted troops to the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, which serves as their “mother ship”. For the German Army, the “System Panzergrenadier” represents a significant step in the process of digitisation. According to Rheinmetall, it offers two essential advantages. First, it is now possible for all mounted and dismounted personnel to access the same information. Second, they can share this information more precisely, more quickly and in a more robust manner.