Cassidian wins contract for Swiss Army soldier modernisation programme

Cassidian Warrior21™ delivers significant capability enhancement, future viability and modularity in the infantry sector

Cassidian has won a contract from the Swiss defence procurement authority Armasuisse for the advanced production engineering of the IMESS programme (Integrated and Modular Engagement System for the Swiss Soldier). The volume of this order is in excess of 20 million Swiss francs. Switzerland expects Cassidian Warrior21™ product to deliver significant capability enhancement, future viability and modularity in the infantry sector.

It will give the Swiss Army one of the world's most powerful advanced soldier systems. It will fit smoothly into the Swiss Army joint reconnaissance, command and action forces. It can also be integrated with systems already in use.

IMESS prototypes based on Warrior 21™ have been proving their worth since 2007 in numerous field tests and in presentations to high-ranking representatives of the Swiss Army. The present contract takes this experience as a basis for upgrading the existing systems to production standard and supplementing them with further, production-ready IMESS soldier systems. To ensure command-and-control capability on high-mobility operations, the contract also provides for the equipping of combat vehicles - including the tactical military vehicle DURO and the armoured assault vehicle PIRANHA - and their integration into the IMESS network.

The advanced production engineering contract will optimise various capabilities of the Warrior21™ IMESS version by employing more efficient and powerful components, many of which are dedicated new developments. It addresses tactical command-and-control capabilities from company level to individual soldier level, covering combat vehicles, the use of optimised communication media, a significantly improved weight and energy balance through the deployment of new and/or optimised components, enhanced situational awareness and navigation through the use of head/helmet mounted displays, and better night fighting and reconnaissance capabilities through such means as navigation aids and video streaming of night weapon sights (optronics).

A considerably more powerful and energy-efficient ‘electronic backbone' with reduced components and reliable cables and connectors is being integrated to handle the heavy loads encountered in infantry operation scenarios. The Warrior21™ PowerController enables a wide range of energy sources to be connected in order to secure a constant power supply. Thanks to its modular architecture, Warrior21™ provides numerous standard interfaces to sensors, as well as modules for link-up with external systems. With its Warrior 21™ product and its continuous research and development investment in the area of future soldier systems, Cassidian is significantly promoting the advanced development of international soldier modernisation programmes.