Hanwha Systems to develop individual battlefield visualisation system for South Korean military

Hanwha Systems has secured a KRW14.5 billion (USD12.5 million) contract to develop a smartphone-based individual battlefield visualisation system by 2024 for use by the South Korean military, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in Seoul announced on 31 August.

The individual battlefield visualisation system will link a soldier's weapon sight with smartphone-based information processors, personal radios, and tactical multiband multirole radios (TMMRs) to provide better battlefield situation awareness and enable soldiers to acquire and share battlefield information in real time, not only among team members but also with command posts, DAPA noted in a statement.

On 30 August Hanwha Systems secured a KRW14.5 billion contract to develop a new individual battlefield visualisation system for use by the South Korean military that is expected to be completed by 2024. (DAPA)

“The individual battlefield visualisation system is the first weapon system that uses commercial smartphones in battlefields,” noted Choi Jong-yeop, head of DAPA's science system project team. According to the agency, the use of a smartphone-based information processors improves team-level combat ability and increases soldier survivability. A soldier's direct exposure to enemy fire is reduced as information on the combat situation is shared in real time and this can be used to quickly engage targets while under cover, DAPA added.

The new individual battlefield visualisation system will be particularly useful for frontline search general outpost (GOP) units and special forces conducting search and counter-terrorism operations near the Korean Demilitarised Zone, DAPA added.