Testing of new future BFT technologies

In the autumn of 2011 and the spring of 2012, FOI has carried out FMV-commissioned field trials with in-house developed test systems for BFT (Blue Force Tracking). The purpose of the trials is to acquire some basis in the form of measurements to be able to develop more robust and militarily better adapted system solutions for BFT. The typical case is found in buildings where GPS coverage is not to hand. In the field tests which were performed essentially in the Armed Forces' new combat training grounds at Spång (The Land Warfare Centre, Kvarn) three different test systems were put through trials: a foot-mounted system based on inertial navigation, a helm-mounted system based on SLAM technique and, finally, a system for silent localization of soldiers based on RF technique. Of the collected test data only a minor part has been analyzed to date. Continued analysis with associated system improvements will instead take place within the FoT projects Surveillance systems and Robust positioning for effective command. The project has also enabled improved contacts with the Armed Forces' personnel at the Land Warfare Centre, which in its turn has created the opportunity to participate in forthcoming training sessions in the spring, when urban combat is trained.