New version of AFATDS

Raytheon Company has received a $US81 million contract from the US Army to develop and produce a new version of the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS).

It will provide general and fires command and control capabilities to ground forces, from mission planning to execution.

The contract extends over a 24-month period, with an $18 million, 12-month option.

AFATDS is designed to integrate and use information from a variety of sources to create a common operational picture.

The system utilises the information and common operational picture to plan, coordinate and control battlefield elements, including mortars, close air support, naval gunfire, attack helicopters, offensive electronic warfare, field artillery cannons, rockets and guided missiles.

"Our system brings the network to the battlefield and to front-line personnel, providing them with complete and accurate information about their environment," Kim Kerry, vice president of C4I Systems for Raytheon's Network Centric Systems business said.

"Soldiers in the line of fire will be able to select the right weapons for the right targets at the right time," Kerry added.

Version 6.8X of the system will focus on improving and simplifying the user interface while enhancing speed and capabilities.

Under Land17 Phase 1A , along with four batteries of M777A2 Lightweight Towed Howitzers, the ADF is also acquiring the networked Battle Management System – Fires, based on the Raytheon developed AFATDS. Presumably the version procured for the ADF can be tweaked to 6.8X?