Joint Fires Requirement Draws on Combined Expertise

Elbit Systems and Rheinmetall Canada have agreed to develop a co-operative proposal to address the Canadian defence ministry’s Joint Fire Modernisation programme.

The JFM project is intended to give Canadian armed forces the capability to share information about joint fires and effects at the tactical, operational and strategic levels in near real time via a digital network. The project will provide the country’s military with a common operating picture, including targets, friendly locations and C2 information, which can be shared widely and instantaneously.

Rheinmetall Canada is leading the country’s Integrated Soldier System project while Elbit’s UK division is leading Britain’s Dismounted Joint Fires Integrators project. Elbit Systems UK is also involved in Canada’s Airspace Co-ordination Centre Modernisation programme. Together, the firms argue, they are therefore strongly placed to make a successful bid for the JFM contract.

“I believe that developing a joint fires solution for Canada that draws on the experience that both companies acquire in Canada and in the UK will enable us to offer a higher level of technological maturity, clear growth path and robust Five Eyes compatibility,” said Haim Demlar, Elbit’s General Manager for the C4I and Cyber business lines, in a joint media release. Rheinmetall Canada’s President and CEO, Stéphane Oehrli, added: “Rheinmetall Canada has been successful in winning major contracts due to its agility, capability and drive to innovate. Working with Elbit Systems to develop a flexible, robust, and responsive digital joint fire solution would effectively and comprehensively protect the men and women of the Canadian Army.”