16 December 2019

UK eyes Dismounted Joint Fires Integrator contract in 2021

by Rupert Pengelley

The future Dismounted Joint Fires Integrator (D-JFI) for UK joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) and artillery fire support teams (FSTs) is on track for a main gate business case approval in September 2020, officials have said.

The D-JFI equipment suite encompasses communications, computing, and target acquisition aids intended to supersede the in-service FireStorm ensemble, which was originally acquired (from then Rockwell Collins) in 2007 in response to an urgent operational requirement for service in Afghanistan.

The D-JFI requirement has been set at 350+ systems, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Smith, SO1 Joint Effects (Integrate), Support Directorate, Army HQ, said during a briefing at the 2019 Omega Close Air Support (CAS) conference in November. This makes it a Category B acquisition project (those with a value between GBP100 million and GBP400 million, not needing direct ministerial and Treasury approval).

The FireStorm joint fires integration system suite used by UK forces’ FSTs and JTACs is being augmented and prolonged in service, pending delivery of its D-JFI successor. (Rupert Pengelley)

Initial gate business case approval was granted by the Defence Equipment and Support Investment Board in December 2016, since when the prospective prime contractor list is understood to have been reduced to three: Collins Aerospace (soon to be part of Raytheon), Elbit Systems, and General Dynamics. Tender evaluation is expected to be approved “shortly”, according to the Lt Col Smith.

The official programme schedule calls for a contract award not later than 25 January 2021, in time for system deliveries to begin in the second quarter of calendar year 2023, and initial operational capability (IOC) to be achieved 12 months later. Completion of fielding and full operational capability is set for 2027.

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