Where are investment opportunities going to come from for soldier modernisation?

Feb. 16, 2012 - PRLog -- We’ve seen at defence events and heard from soldier modernisation programmes themselves that there is likely to be some impact. However, the outlook doesn’t seem as grim as first thought – i.e. when US Army completed withdrawal from Iraq and when coalition forces stated aims to exit Afghanistan by 2014.

The main theme that run through a recent event focused on soldier equipment in January in Washington DC was that US Army, and to an extent, the British Army are preparing for a smaller infantry but a better equipped and optimally trained force.

This means that the need for the right, and most cost effective equipment and training is more pertinent than ever.

I recently spoke with over twenty-five soldier modernisation program managers from around the world about their top challenges and priorities for the next 12 months and what I learnt was of great interest.

With budget cuts and the streamlining of new acquisition strategies due to change of leadership in national programs, there are fewer contracts and increased competition for budget.

However, the good news (for soldier modernisers at least) is that large scale capital projects are being side-lined in favour of smaller projects that pose less risk.

When speaking with programme managers from these nations I also found they are having to take new approaches to supplier selection. The main goals of doing so being to:

•   Increase efficiency to avoid needless cost
•   Make stronger business cases for the same budget
•   Pursue new solutions from new suppliers in new market sectors

But they are frustrated because they have to:

•   Bear the cost and time of outsourcing R&D when businesses could be doing this themselves
•   Identify partners willing to include end user input from the earliest stage to help them build a strong business case for investment
•   Evaluate kit that is a quick fix and not necessarily interoperable with legacy systems
   
Opportunities still exist in traditional markets where budget for soldier equipment modernisation is being ring-fenced including the following programmes: MARKUS – Sweden, TYTAN – Poland, VOSS – Netherlands, IdZ – Germany, Project Land 125 – Australia, ACMS – Singapore, ISSP – Canada, NORMANS – Norway, ANOG – Israel and Warrior 2020 – Finland.

Although several contracts have been awarded and the scope for opportunity reduced in the programmes above, there are new and exciting programmes developing in new regions. Examples of this include: Future Soldier - South Korea, Future Soldier – Malaysia, Future Soldier - New Zealand,
SFT 21 – Thailand, Future Soldier – Turkey, F-Insas – India, Combatiente Brasiliero - Brazil and
Advanced Combat Infantry Equipment – Japan.

So, much like the wider economic climate, the soldier modernisation community are facing a sustained period of reduced investment. However, there still lies opportunity for those who can adapt quickly and identify the right, most cost effective solutions.

More information on this subject will be discussed at the Soldier Technology Conference in May. Details can be found at www.soldiertechnology.com

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