A Russian military delegation will attend a presentation of the Italian version of “future soldier” gear during a three-day visit to Italy, Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Col. Sergei Vlasov said on Monday.
“A military delegation, headed by Deputy Commander of the Russian Ground Forces Lt. Gen. Nikolai Bogdanovsky, is on a three-day working visit to Italy to exchange experience in the development of combat gear,” Vlasov said.
“The delegation will attend a presentation of components of the ‘future soldier’ gear,” he said.
The gear will be shown in field conditions and on a static display at an exhibition.
Italy’s Soldato Futuro system’s pivotal element is the command and control system whose software runs on a Larimart computer using a standard 4-inch touch-screen, which allows the user to receive and send pre-formatted and free text messages and to show digital maps, navigation menus and GPS grids.
Body armor provides stab protection and protection against 9-mm rounds, while the helmet has two visors, a splinter-proof visor and a bullet-proof visor, and laser protection goggles.
Various versions of “future soldier” systems are being introduced as standard infantry soldier gear in NATO member states, including the United States (Land Warrior and Mounted Warrior), Germany (IdZ), Great Britain (FIST), Spain (COMFUT), Sweden (IMESS), France (FELIN), and some other countries.
The Russian Defense Ministry said last year it was holding talks with France on the purchase of FELIN advanced “future soldier” equipment for “testing purposes.”
Yury Borisov, first deputy chair of the Russian Military-Industrial Commission, said in December that Russia may develop a domestic version of “future soldier” gear in the next three years.
