GDMS-UK building info gateway for Dutch MoD

General Dynamics Mission Systems–UK is designing a next-generation tactical information gateway for the Netherlands under a collaborative demonstration programme with the country’s Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The gateway is being developed under an initial contract awarded earlier this year, for a short study phase during which detailed requirements and design for the gateway will be developed. The contract will also develop a proof-of-concept gateway for use in technical testing and user validation trials in March 2017. 

The gateway is being developed as part of the Netherlands Improved Operational Soldier System (VOSS) programme.  

Based on the NATO STANAG 4677 standard, the gateway will enable the exchange of information between the New Integrated Marines Communications and Information System (NIMCIS), the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps tactical C4I system, and the Smart Vest soldier system that is also in development as part of VOSS. It is being designed to field with NIMCIS, which is based on the ComBAT Infrastructure and BCIP 5.5 system used by British armed forces. 

Smart Vest is a co-operative programme intended for implementation by the Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg (Benelux) armed forces. The Netherlands are the single contracting nation for the Smart Vest capability, which sits at the core of its own VOSS programme. Smart Vest systems will be deployed to soldiers and marines, primarily aimed at infantry platoon level and below, and will provide improved situational awareness and superior protection for the individual soldier. 

The gateway software is derived from General Dynamics Mission Systems–UK’s NetLink product, which is the datalink translation technology that is also used as the core of the Interoperable Gateway for Universal Access Networking Applications (IGUANA).