Integrated Battlefield Awareness System

An Acrean soldier with the in-development VISR-F system in 2022.

The Integrated Battlefield Awareness System (Nordic: Integrerad Slagfält Medvetenhetssystem, abbreviated ISMS) is a situational awareness and data network used by the Acrean Armed Forces. Originally conceived as a means to connect infantry leaders and vehicles to connect to the Acrean Army's tactical network, ISMS came to refer to the entire network itself. Designed as a system-of-systems, ISMS provides situational awareness (SA) to infantry commanders and combat vehicles, including aircraft. Critical parts of ISMS's functionality come from its advanced navigation, and information and data sharing. In addition to providing situational awareness via maps and overlays, ground-based versions of ISMS systems also allow for video streaming from drones and connected devices. The Acrean's military's stated goal with ISMS is "to integrate 21st century mapping and information sharing capability with improvements in end-user accessibility and hardware advancements".

Overview

ISMS access systems are varied depending on the platform and level of command. In order to avoid information overload, ISMS systems are designed such that connectivity to the wider network can be adjusted to correspond to the level of communication a particular leader has. While a command post may have access to the entire network, platoon leaders and other tactical leaders will only view information relevant to their situation. As stated by Chief of Defence Staff Eirik Stordalen, the objective is not to "increase communication or place more men in the loop" but to "provide clear situational awareness from a variety of platforms".

Vehicles

Vehicle and aircraft systems are referred to as ISMS-R and ISMS-LF respectively. While ISMS-R is designed as a terminal installed into a vehicle and integrated with its systems like fire control systems and communications, ISMS-LF is integrated into an aircraft's onboard avionics and accessed via multi-function displays. ISMS-R has been mounted on a variety of ground vehicles from main battle tanks to trucks, though is most commonly only used on combat vehicles. ISMS-R allows vehicle commanders to manage communications through the system, as well as view feeds from reconnaissance drones. Development is ongoing to use head-mounted display technology, augmented reality, and externally mounted sensors to allow crews to see "through" their vehicle, but has been plagued by reliability and budgetary issues.

ISMS-LF is directly integrated with the onboard avionics of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, though is not linked to the aircraft's sensors. It is primarily used by aircrews for positional reference data, and as part of an aircraft's satellite navigation system. Due to potential task saturation, updating and information sharing via ISMS is not done in single-seat aircraft and is instead the responsibility of ground controllers or AEW&C aircrews who can obtain information from single-seat aircraft via datalink. ISMS is highly regarded for its improvements to close air support missions, where the positioning data available makes carrying out CAS missions safer for troops on the ground, and can enable them to be conducted in low-visibility conditions with a reduced risk of harm to friendly forces.

Infantry

ISMS is most well-known for its dismounted infantry applications. The infantry system is called VISR and comes in two variants, VISR-F and VISR-A. While VISR-F is still in development, VISR-A is currently fielded by the Acrean Army and Royal Acrean Marine Corps. Both systems allow access to an interface combined with visual augmentation displayed via headsets that allow enhanced vision (achieved through combined night vision and thermal devices) and information overlays connected to ISMS. VISR-F consists of a full mixed-reality headset and more powerful soldier-worn device, with the entirety of ISMS's functionality displayed and accessed through the headset. It is intended for both day and night use.

Acrean soldiers with VISR-A systems.

An infantryman with a VISR headset and a chest-mounted UAD.

Acrean soldiers equipped with VISR.

VISR-A is a stripped-down system consisting of separate enhanced vision goggles and access device (referred to simply as a user access device or UAD). The helmet-mounted enhanced vision goggles serve as a replacement for older head-mounted night vision solutions and combine thermal and night-vision capabilities. They are used as a display mechanism by a combined computer and battery mounted to the rear of the helmet used in place of a helmet balancing weight. Each eyepiece is able to be manipulated separateThe computer is connected to the soldier's own UAD or a nearby soldier's, and allows for object outlining, waypoint overlays, and positional information to be displayed through the goggles. VISR-A is less expensive and simpler than VISR-F, and allows for an entire infantry squad to be fielded with the goggles while connected to a squad leader's UAD. Visual displays are relatively customisable, with soldiers able to customise the position of various overlays and change the colour of the thermal view and object outlines.

View through a first-generation VISR-A headset in 2021.