Tel Aviv: The Israeli Ministry of Defence has completed another phase of adapting top technologies to the operational needs of the IDF. To demonstrate the concept, the Directorate of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D) in the Ministry of Defence and Elbit Systems have unveiled the ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ program: the combat soldiers of the future.
‘Edge of Tomorrow’ is an innovative program that strengthens the synergy between dismounted combat soldiers and their teams and enables optimal operational value through numerical and empirical processes based on research, simulation, live field scenarios, and more. Cutting-edge technologies are integrated to improve a range of mission capabilities including lethality, situational awareness, survivability, stamina, cognitive load, enemy exposure, performance analysis and simulation, command and control, and more among combat soldiers in the IDF’s Dismounted Corps.
The ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ program incorporates networked warfare technologies including communications for the soldier and team level as well as TORCH-X-based applications for team and platoon levels. The various technologies include augmented reality goggles, a computerized assault rifle system, a digital head-mounted display system, hostile fire detection technology, a location-tracking system in GPS denied environments, tactile sleeves for navigation and command transmittance, and a voice command system (similar to systems used on smartphones).
The DDR&D’s Department of R&D together with Elbit Systems, the program’s integrator, and additional defence industries recently demonstrated the program’s capabilities at an IDF training centre. The demonstration incorporated networked warfare technologies and included a simulated force-on-force operational scenario. IDF soldiers from elite units incorporated the wearable technologies and demonstrated initial abilities in the fields of lethality, survivability, and increased synergy.
Lt. Col. Shlomi Buskila, from the DDR&D said that ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ is an innovative program that is extremely unique thanks to our change in perspective. The program aims to enable optimal operational value for the dismounted combat soldiers by strengthening the synergy between them and their team. °The program incorporates a wide array of advanced technologies used by the soldiers and their teams, leading to a whole much greater than the sum of its parts.”
Haim Delmar, EVP & General Manager of C4I & Cyber at Elbit Systems Ltd said, “The purpose of this program is to equip combat soldiers, teams, and platoons with innovative capabilities that will significantly improve their survivability and transform their mission effectiveness. The technological solution that we have put in place is based on open architecture which enables the maximisation of proven technology by Elbit Systems as well as by additional companies. The program will also incorporate technologies that were developed and adapted to address the needs of the future battlefield with special emphasis on urban warfare. We are proud to lead this important effort together with the Ministry of Defence and the IDF.”
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
