British Army to Receive Six Detect and Destroy Systems for $140M

The UK government has awarded a 102-million-pound ($140 million) contract to the local subsidiary of Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems to supply six “sensor-to-shooter” systems to the British Army.

The system, called Dismounted Joint Fires Integrator (DJFI), uses thermal sight technology to help soldiers locate and identify targets on the battlefield, the UK Ministry of Defense said.

Once the system locks in the target, it immediately alerts a designated offensive weapon system, be it a fighter aircraft or an artillery gun, leading to a precision strike on the target.

Because DJFI passes the target information digitally to the weapon system, the system operator can remain hidden from an enemy retaliatory strike.

We’re investing £102m in a high-end surveillance system which allows frontline soldiers to detect and engage enemy targets in seconds. 🇬🇧

This will:
✅ Support existing jobs
✅ Create 40 new highly skilled engineering jobs
✅ Provide our army with state-of-the-art technology pic.twitter.com/LsYpT7NcnS

— Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) January 22, 2021

Rapid and Accurate Target Engagements

“It is essential for our Armed Forces to be able to operate swiftly and accurately in hostile environments…,” said Martin Fausset, CEO of Elbit Systems UK, in a company statement.

“The D-JFI solution will provide operational advantage to the British Armed Forces in an increasingly complex battlefield.”

The artificial intelligence-driven system interfaces with the radio communication systems of the British Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Marines and is designed to be integrated with and used alongside similar equipment used by allied forces.

Under the contract, the manufacturer will provide six distinct Fires Integration equipment suites, each tailored to specific battlefield mission roles – to be integrated with existing hardware and software.

Systems to Be Delivered By 2026

 The contract runs through until March 2026, with an option to extend for another two years.

“DJFI will enable rapid and highly accurate target engagements. In addition to being fielded across the Army to our fire support teams and joint terminal attack controllers, DJFI will also deliver capability to 3 Commando Brigade, the RAF Regiment and our special forces,” said Colonel Kieran Sheldon, Assistant Head of the Army Joint Effects Delivery team, in the ministry of defense statement. 

“This is a key system that will contribute directly to modernizing our forces to face future threats.”