Safe systems distinguish friend from foe
With safety functions developed by Saab Systems and Combitech, the armed forces’ new command and control systems will guarantee their own forces do not open fire on each other by mistake.
Sy stem safety is important in most systems but when it comes to defence systems, this can literally be a matter of life or death. In this instance, the command and control systems must be capable of distinguishing between their own and enemy forces to ensure friendly fire is avoided. There is no room for error.
When the Swedish Armed Forces ordered a new command and control system, BMS (Battalion Combat Management Systems), from Saab, system safety was a high priority. They knew that Combitech had consultants with great expertise in the field and therefore hired Combitech already in the tender phase.
Combitech has basically worked on two fronts with system safety in BMS . Both creating systems that distinguish friend from foe and taking responsibility for ensuring the systems meet the Armed Forces’ system safety requirements. Combitech also wrote a manual on how to use the system safely, including instructions for soldiers on how to handle situations where the system in a vehicle stops working.
The system is now used in command centres and combat vehicles in Battlegroup 2008. The soldiers can see on screen which other vehicles in the vicinity belong to their own forces. The idea is for BMS to also be included as a management system for Battlegroup 2011. There, Sweden together with troops from Ireland, Estonia, Norway and Finland will form a rapid reaction force ready for deployment in 2011.
