SitaWare Frontline to take on new role with Lithuanian Land Forces.

The integration on the ‘Vilkas’ platforms sees Frontline equipping yet another advanced armoured vehicle.

Lithuanian Land Forces ‘Vilkas’ infantry fighting vehicle. (Photo: Leva Budzeikaite/Lithuanian Land Forces)

Systematic’s SitaWare Frontline command-and-control l (C2) solution will be rolled out across the Lithuanian Land Forces’ fleet of future armoured vehicles. Lithuania is the first customer to order an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) variant of the Boxer and SitaWare Frontline will feature on all of the Land Forces’ platforms - designated Vilkas (‘Wolf’) in Lithuanian service. Its fleet will operate in four different configurations: squad, platoon, company commander, and command post.

“The SitaWare suite is already in service with the Lithuanian Land Forces, and the addition of Frontline to its latest IFVs will provide advanced C2 capabilities at the tip of the spear,” notes Merja Annala, President of Systematic Oy Finland, “Frontline addresses real-world challenges and has been designed by and for commanders operating in challenging environments, where a clear operational picture with rapid updates of friendly force tracking is absolutely essential. It has also been built with deployment and in-theatre management in mind”.

A total of 88 Vilkas platforms are being procured from the German-Dutch ARTEC industrial group, as well as trainers. The vehicles will be delivered through to 2021.

Testing of the SitaWare Frontline solution on the Boxer platform has taken place with vehicle manufacturer KraussMaffei Wegmann (KMW). The ARTEC group consists of KMW and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles on the German side, and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Nederland.

“Vilkas represents a step-change in the modernisation of the Lithuanian Armed forces. The introduction of new, advanced IFVs into service for the ‘Iron Wolf’ brigade will bring new capabilities to the Lithuanian Land Forces,” explained Land Forces spokesman, Captain Donatas Suchockis, “The integration of SitaWare Frontline on Vilkas will give commanders a comprehensive overview of the battlefield, from headquarters to tactical levels. Importantly, it also brings interoperability, which as a NATO country is key for us,” Capt. Suchockis added.

SitaWare Frontline is capable of providing friendly force tracking information and an automatically updated situational awareness picture that features the disposition of forces, danger areas, point of interest, and intelligence on an enemy. Further functionality includes tactical chat, support for high performance mapping, and the ability to make and display plans directly on a touchscreen interface. SitaWare Frontline is an operationally proven system and equips a number of armed forces, integrated on both vehicles and at forward-deployed infrastructure.

The Danish Army is fitting all of its tactical land vehicles with SitaWare Frontline; among other users are the armed forces of the UAE, for whom the solution forms part of its Emirates Land Tactical System, and the Slovenian Army, who have recently selected the Boxer as the basis for two new mechanised infantry battlegroups.