Malaysian Future Soldier

The Malaysian Army currently has a soldier modernization program called the Future Soldier System. Malaysia’s Future Soldier Systems is being built around concepts familiar to all similar programmers. It is driven by the need to respond to and realize the benefits of the revolution in military affairs, which foresees that future warfare will be dynamic and cover both the physical and cyber domains, although certain aspects remain absolute to the infantryman, namely the dimensions of war such as fear, fatigue, uncertainties and danger. Other features include an increase in urban terrain and more extensive lines of communication resulting in non-linear warfare, continuous operations, and increased connectivity amongst network centric forces with an increased integration between units, arms and services.

The future soldier systems

One of the objectives in the Development Plan for the Malaysian Army is to be in line with the concept of the future soldier and embark on the development of the Future Soldier Systems which consist of a network of systems designed to function as a single integrated system.

The capabilities designated and required to do this are in five categories. The first is Situational Awareness which represents the core of the soldier system, permitting information sharing in real time and providing the soldier with awareness of nearby friends. The Force Protection element covers protection and weapon impacts and environmental factors, equipment and combat uniforms that allow the soldier to survive as well as to provide enhancements to force protection through electronic means. In Lethality terms, the scope of the Future Soldier System is to achieve the desired affects against selected targets, the ability to detect recognize and destroy enemy targets, Sustainability is the ability to maintain the soldier in the tactical environment and a mobility enhancing device which allows soldiers to navigate the battlefield more easily.

Under the FSS, The Malaysian Army plans to equip all soldiers with Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) such as Kevlar helmets, Kevlar vests, Oakley goggles and ear protection equipment. The program also includes arming all the standard issue M$ carbines with SOPMOD kits, as well as equipping soldiers with a Glock series pistol. Sapura, a Malaysian electronics company, is offering their SAKTI soldier system concept via work in three areas: Head Sub-System (HSS), Body Sub-System (BSS) and Weapon Sub-System (WSS). The HSS consists of a Helmet–Mounted Micro Camera and night vision capability with a data output, helmet-mounted display and earpiece and microphone; the WSS consists of a the Rifle Control Unit consisting of a five-button wireless controller for one handed use with key features including push to talk for the radio, switching the HMD on and off, turning the HMD brightness up and down as well as video transmission to friendly forces. The BSS consists of a controller system, energy unit with a power pack for the communication interface, micro-camera and HMD with a single polymer lithium ion battery for up to ten hours of operation; a communications interface for secure IP based radio which from the image is a Thales St@rmille radio and finally a navigation unit with a display for blue force tracking and situational awareness, colour digital mapping and terrain and urban profile analysis. The system displayed is visually similar to the Kord Defence SmartGrip RIC developed in partnership with Thales Australia.

Malaysian Future Soldier Prototype

The Malaysian military have identified four major challenges in realizing the future soldier vision: budget, technology, human capital and operation environment. In budget terms, affordability will remain the ultimate challenge with the Malaysian soldier modernization program focused on its core business and to optimize the availability of operating expenditure. Limited allocations in the development plan mean that key areas in the plan have to be prioritized. In terms of technological advancement, it is recognized that while there is a start to investment, it won’t stop and that the plan must take into account technological advancement in any plans for upgrading. Human capital development will require the improvement of entry qualifications into the Army and the introduction of new doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures to exploit the system to its full potential. The Malaysian Army is already addressing these factors through the K-Force program. In terms of the operational environment, the Malaysian SMP will have a huge impact on the operational environment notably the chain of command and decision making. To share the common operating picture and situational awareness, mission tempo will increase and commanders at all levels must be able to exploit this advantage. The present command structure must also be reviewed and the consequences that come from the introduction of the future soldier system will change the way that soldiers think, behave and conduct themselves in a mission. All these changes must also be managed and directed for units to be effective in achieving their goals.