Defense Technology International - March 2008 - (Page 16)

DISPATCHES GLOBAL FORZA DIGITALE T in-service platforms and equipment rather than procuring everything new. The policy calls for legacy platforms to be upgraded, then replaced gradually, according to schedule. This way, the army benefits from procurement delays involving new tracked and wheeled combat vehicles. The speciﬁcations for this equipment can now be modiﬁed beItaly wants no gaps in its fore the vehicles are produced and enter network-centric land force service. This will a ect the new Freccia 8 X 8 armored ﬁghting vehicle, some of the Dardo tracked vehicles and most of ANDY NATIVI•ROME the Puma light wheeled vehicles. In some cases, as with the Ariete he Italian army plans to main battle tank and Centauro arhave three network-centric mored ﬁghting vehicle, network-cenbrigades activated by 2015. tric capabilities will be added during Combined with a brigade-size joint planned life-extension upgrades. army-navy landing force and combat The FoMeD digital brigade will support and service units also ﬁeldhave wheeled Freccia and Centauro ing full network-centric capabilities, armored ﬁghting vehicles. The brigade the brigades will form a division-size will also use AgustaWestland A129 joint expeditionary force called Forza Mangusta attack helicopters, new NEC, or network-capable force, army Boeing CH-47F and NH90 helicopo cials say. ters from NH Industries, plus at least Forza NEC is the first building two classes of UAVs. All of the aviation block of a comprehensive effort to equipment will have network-centric transform the Italian army into an capabilities. Requirements are being integrated land force by 2025. Adddeveloped for adding digital capabiliing network-centric operations and ties to unmanned ground vehicles, and related capabilities that are compatthese will enter service with the briible with those of NATO partners is gade later. essential if Italy is to maintain a viBoth the army and Italian defense able presence in the alliance. industry are looking to share the exThe first brigade, called FoMeD pense of interoperability with their (Forza Media Digitale, or digital main NATO partners. This is a key medium-size force) is to be ready by requirement at every level, starting 2010 together with the amphibious with system architecture, sources force. The ﬁrst regimental-size test say. The active participation of other unit will be equipped by early 2009. countries in the program will help reThis unit, the 31st Regiment of the duce costs and speed development. Pinerolo Brigade, based in southern Funding, though, could be a showItaly, will include a mechanized in- The Italian army wants its future fantry company, motorized infantry soldiers fully linked to network-cen- stopper. The current, relatively modest plan—modernizing three company and tank platoon. The regi- tric operations. brigades over a seven-year period ment will integrate every prototype The army has chosen a route to net- with only a limited number of new platsystem that the Italian defense industry work-centric development that combines forms—still exceeds the army’s regular is making available for the program. As such, the regiment will be the elements from the U.S. Future Combat procurement budget, so there is a need core of an integration testbed linked Systems program and Britain’s Future for supplemental funding. The army is trying to spread out through a ﬁber-optic network to Italy’s Integrated Soldier Technology effort. Joint Modeling and Simulation Center Forza NEC calls for modernizing virtually nonrecurring costs over many years, in Civitavecchia, near Rome, and to the every component simultaneously, includ- but these cannot be extended. AccordSoftware Integration Platform being es- ing army aviation, following a spiral ap- ing to initial estimates, just the FoMeD tablished in Anzio. Industry will also be proach toward two sequential technology brigade and the amphibious force modintegrated into the network, so future releases that are to be implemented in the ernization plan will require around €10 billion ($14.6 billion), while the whole operational systems can be included in ﬁrst three digital brigades. To achieve this, the army is building Forza NEC will cost approximately the network-centric program as soon as a joint project team with the defense €25 billion. they are ready. And these figures may prove low At the same time, the army is working industry, a ﬁrst for Italy. Finmeccanica on long-term requirements for the inte- and its Selex Sistemi Integrati subsid- considering the delays that the Fugrated land force, with the defense minis- iary are assuming responsibility for the ture Combat Systems and Future try funding several technology risk-reduc- development and coordination of the Integrated Soldier Technology programs—among other network-centric tion e orts, while industry is investing its e ort. The army has decided to transform e orts—have experienced. I own R&D resources, o cials conﬁrm. ANDY NATIVI/DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 16 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL MARCH 2008 AviationWeek.com/dti http://www.aviationweek.com/dti

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Defense Technology International - March 2008 Contents Sweden Cancels SEP; Israel Launches Imaging Satellite; Geotextiles Secure Ammo Dump U.S. Navy Taps Neural Architecture Software to Assure Job Satisfaction Shrapnel-Like Pieces of Reactive Materials Increase Explosive Force of Bombs Technology is Rapidly Closing the Gap Between Sensors and Shooters Italian Army Program Aims to Develop a Fully Networked Land Force Political and Military Uncertainties Plague U.S. Defense Budget Democrats Put Pentagon on Notice Over Spending and Policy at DTAR Conference Russian Combat Vehicle Protects Tank Formations from Anti-Armor Weapons European Battlelabs Use Simulation to Verify Technologies and Stretch Defense Funds Malaysia Accelerates Fleet Modernization to meet Long-Term Goals U.S. Navy Says Composite Raiding Boat May Reduce Injuries From Wave Shocks Seeing Isn’t Believing When it Comes to Deciphering Funds for Secret Projects Advances in Sensors and Propulsion Make Torpedoes Ever More Lethal FAA is in No Rush to Approve Rules that Let UAVs Fly in Civil Airspace USS Truman Carrier Strike Group Patrols a Rough Neighborhood 24/7 U.S. says Sino-Russian Space Disarmament Plan is Riddled with Pitfalls Hyperspeed Projectile; “Sound Cloak” Hides Subs; Improving Nuclear Forensics Dutch Air Commodore Theo ten Haaf Analyzes the Impact of Rotary-Wing Operations One Soldier’s War is a Behind-the-Headlines Look at Russia’s Campaigns in Chechnya Black Budgets are Huge and Growing, and Often Conceal Amazing Failures

Defense Technology International - March 2008

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