Esercito Italiano empowers Imperio C2 architecture with Systematic’s SitaWare Headquarters

In September 2022, the ‘Army 4.0’ (Esercito 4.0) blueprint document outlined the Army’s efforts to prepare the future doctrinal and organisational challenges. Esercito 4.0 is a well-structured, agile and comprehensive document about modernization and capacitive growth in view of modern ‘peer-to-peer’ conflicts – which will require a multi-domain approach. Hence, the document acknowledges officially that the Army will be called to operate in five different domains (air, land, sear, cyberspace, space) instead of the traditional three (air, sea, land).

Under this approach, the Army clearly states that all vehicles, systems, equipment, and platforms will have to be ‘cyber-native’, highly integrated and connected, and equipped with a series of protection systems (especially active) from threats such as drones, loitering munitions, artillery strikes, etc. Furthermore, all assets “will have to make use of complementary automatic robotic swarms/systems to perform scouting, escorting, monitoring and early warning functions“, the document specifies.

Consequently, the Army needs a new digital Command and Control (C2) architecture to replace its legacy SIACCON ADV. The solution found is the new Imperio C2 architecture, developed using products already available on the market, so as to reduce risks associated with the development of a brand-new software, as well as the procurement timeframe. In effect, in autumn 2023, exercise Cursor 23 saw the Pinerolo Brigade deploying a digitalised multi-asset task force based on the 82nd Infantry Regiment ‘Torino’ augmented with specialised equipment and systems from all over the Army.

During the exercise, different tactical activities were conducted, which were able to exploit all the advantages generated by the digitisation of the Command-and-Control capability thanks to Imperio. In addition, the exercise served as test bed to verify the interoperability and integration objectives of the new C2 systems with the numerous software acquired and/or developed by the Army in recent years.

In addition to the Imperio system for the Command Post component, the new vehicular C2D/N Evo (Evolved Command, Control, Digitisation and Navigation) software was also tested on board the Iveco Freccia AFV (Veicolo Blindato Medio, VBM) and the Iveco Lince Light Tactical Multirole Vehicle (VTLM). Its usage will be extended to the Ariete C-2 MBT and all the new vehicles that will be introduced into service in the years to come.

In February 2024, Systematic’s SitaWare Headquarters has been selected to provide a Common Operational Picture (COP) for static and mobile headquarters units, to be co-delivered with Italian partner Fincantieri Next-Tech. SitaWare Headquarters enables the management and distribution of the COP across the armed forces command. The suite supports increased flexibility in the planning cycle through collaborative construction of both textual and graphical plans and all orders for all staff functions.

The new capability will enable Esercito Italiano’s operational units to easily integrate current and future tactical systems, and further enhance interoperability within the Italian military, NATO, and beyond. According to Systematic’s official literature, “SitaWare Headquarters is the market leading C4ISR platform that enables all levels of command to share situational awareness, track friendly and enemy forces, as well as supporting the development and delivery of operational plans in both deployed and fixed locations.”

In effect, over 50 nations have deployed SitaWare Headquarters, including, among others, the US Army, British Army, German Army, New Zealand Defence Force, and Royal Danish Army.

Systematics SitaWare Suite consists of four different systems, providing critical C4ISR capabilities from the headquarters level down to the deployed troop commander:

• SitaWare Edge is designed for a dismounted commander using an Android device,
• SitaWare Frontline is designed for the vehicle mounted commander;
• SitaWare Headquarters supports headquarters level units;
• SitaWare Insight, integrates the intelligence and planning cycles, while employing technology such as artificial intelligence to provide advanced decision support to commanders.

SitaWare Suite builds one connected network that synchronise COP data automatically between sites and organisations. The system supports a wide range of NATO and US interoperability standards for sharing information. (Photo: Systematic)

Marco Giulio Barone