UK Contracts Elbit Systems for AI-Powered Detect and Destroy Battlefield System

 

The British Army has invested $137 million (£102-million) in an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered surveillance system built by Elbit Systems which allows frontline soldiers to detect and engage enemy targets.

The contract will be performed over a five-year period.

Elbit Systems UK (ESUK) will deliver the ‘sensor to shooter’ system to the Army. Utilising thermal sight technology, the Dismounted Joint Fires Integrator (DJFI) will enhance soldiers’ ability to find and identify targets on the Battlefield. It then provides the crucial targeting information necessary to fire more quickly and accurately than ever before, the UK Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Using specialist software on a tablet, information gathered by the DJFI is sent digitally to an artillery system or aircraft to instantly engage the target, while the soldier operating the system remains hidden.

ESUK has also confirmed all five subcontractors will also be UK-based.DJFI will deliver six distinct Fires Integration equipment suites – each tailored to specific battlefield mission roles – to be combined with existing hardware and software. The technology is designed to be integrated and used alongside similar equipment used by allied forces, meaning the UK can play a pivotal role in joint overseas operations.The D-JFI solution is a networked, passive and active target acquisition solution that acquires, generates and communicates target information to effector systems for effective engagement of joint precision and non-precision fires. The solution is empowered by Artificial Intelligence and will interface with the radio communication systems of the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines.

The solution draws on the Company’s operational experience in providing dismounted network combat solutions. It integrates several of its technologies, including: the TORCH-X Battle Management Application; the Hattorix system for undetectable generation of high-precision targets, the CORAL Multi-Spectral electro-optical payload for enhanced target acquisition in day and night and the Rattler XR long range laser designator.