The German defense contractor Rheinmetall will modernize existing and supply additional sets of ‘Infantryman of the Future’ (IdZ-ES VJTF+) equipment for the Bundeswehr.
The contract for 237 platoon systems has a total value of €1.04 billion, according to Hartpunkt.
Deliveries are scheduled for the period from November 2027 to December 2029. In total, this equipment will outfit 8,600 service members, with each platoon system comprising 35 individual kits and additional peripheral equipment.
The main technical change is a new interface box with additional connectors, which is mounted on the back panel of the body armor. This design allowed for the integration of a UHF radio into the back section and freed up space on the sides of the vest for ammunition or other equipment.
The VJTF+ version includes Wingman 105 portable drone warning systems and helmet-mounted laser sensors for radiation alerts. The developers also increased battery capacity by 40%, reducing the number of batteries required per soldier from six to four.
The new system allows the Moskito optics to be used remotely for automatic sector surveillance and target detection.
The kit also now includes the SRoC 7 controller, which enables the planning and control of missions for various reconnaissance and strike drones through a single interface.
