The MoD has announced that Thales UK has been successful in their bid to carry out the Assessment Phase (AP) of the Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme.

Alex Dorrian, CBE, Chief Executive Officer of Thales UK said: "The success of being awarded the FIST contract would not have come about without the dedication and expertise of Steve Turner and the FIST Team and I congratulate them for all their hard work throughout all of the programme phases. We can now look forward to working closely with the customer to define and ultimately manufacture a world class FIST system for the UK."
Alex went on to say: "The success of being awarded the FIST contract, further positions Thales as a world leader in the field of soldier modernisation and network enabled capability, not only in the UK but in International markets as well. It also builds on our selection for the CVF and Watchkeeper programmes, further enhancing our prime contracting credibility in the UK."
FIST is a key programme for British forces that will equip dismounted soldiers with an integrated fighting system bringing them into the digitised battlefield. This will provide a quantum leap in their capabilities through advances in C4I, target acquisition, navigation, survivability and lethality and ultimately presents lighter and less bulky equipment which is vital to dismounted troops in order to move, find and engage the enemy more effectively.

The FIST AP will be executed over the next 3 years with a contract value of £15m encompassing an evaluation of products, technologies and solutions. On the successful completion of the Assessment Phase, Thales would be extremely well placed to be chosen for the subsequent Demonstration, Manufacturing and Support (DMS) phases worth approximately £2b. Thales will deliver the FIST Assessment Phase based upon agreed and shared objectives with the MoD and will ensure that the best solution is given to the soldier by conducting competitions for all the equipment that is selected. It is estimated that the DMS contract will sustain or create up to 1,000 jobs at Thales sites and SMEs around the UK and will eventually provide approximately 29,000 FIST systems for the UK infantry.

Thales UK first became involved with soldier modernisation programmes in 1993 with the NIAG studies and continued to be involved during 1996 when the Nightstalker Trials took place. Yet another major milestone was accomplished when Thales Optronics (formerly Pilkington Optronics) was selected as prime contractor for the FIST Technology Demonstrator Programme in 1997.

The FIST Team is drawn from within Thales UK group supported by 'best in class' partner companies from the UK and will help extend UK technology. Focus will be placed upon developing stronger links within the international soldier modernization community with a view to developing common standards and addressing interoperability issues. Building on Thales UK's role as the centre of excellence for soldier modernisation, £3b exports from the UK is anticipated with a further 1,000 jobs created or sustained. The Glasgow, Bristol, Taunton, Staines, Reading and Wells Thales sites will directly benefit from this contract achievement.