Belgian company FN Herstal got their MK3 Fire Control Unit selected for the Bundeswehr’s Infanterist der Zukunft - Erweitertes System (IdZ-ES) or the Infantry of the Future. This was announced last 27 February as we prepared for the Enforce Tac and IWA Outdoor Classics in Nuremberg, Germany.

The FCU MK3 was developed to increase the hit probability of the 40mm grenade which is launched from either standalone launchers or launchers slung under rifles such as the FN SCAR EGLM. Using advanced electronics the FCU MK3 simplifies range finding and elevation corrections for the operator no matter how severe the combat conditions are.

According to the Bundeswehr, the The IdZ-ES empowers infantry, armored infantry and even the infantry forces of the German Air Force and Navy to be able to perform their mission with significantly improved chances of success and reduced risk. In order to achieve these the required capabilities, the IdZ-ES is a modular system that have components that can be fully match and optimized to meet mission objectives and has the following subsystems:

• Clothing, protective and carrying equipment (BST)
• Weapons, Optics, Optronics (WOO)Command, Control, Computers, Comm
• unications and Information (C4I)

Overview of the IdZ-ES (Source: Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH)

Press release from FN Herstal below:

FN Herstal’s Fire Control Unit: Part of the Infanterist der Zukunft - Erweitertes System (IdZ-ES) for the German Army

(Herstal, Belgium) – February 27, 2018. FN Herstal is pleased to announce that its FN® FCU Mk3 Fire Control Unit has been selected to be part of the Infanterist der Zukunft - Erweitertes System (IdZ-ES) program for the German Army. The FN® FCU Mk3 Fire Control Unit makes target engagement fast and very accurate , day or night - and dramatically increases the hit probability of the 40mm grenade system.

The FN® FCU Mk3 takes into account a number of complex factors: the range to the target, slope angle, temperature, grenade type, cant and drift effect and automatically indicates the correct point of aim to the user. This is particularly helpful when faced with extreme stress situations in defense or security operations.

Additionally, FN Herstal’s Fire Control Unit is easy to use, light and compact, and can be fitted onto a wide range of underbarrel and stand-alone launchers. Last but not least, the FN® FCU Mk3 has several laser safety features for enhanced training capability.

FN HERSTAL: Over 125 Years of Technological Innovation, Unique Know-How, and Talented People FN HERSTAL, S.A., a subsidiary of the Herstal Group that also includes Browning (Hunting and Shooting), is based in Belgium and provides military, security, law enforcement and special forces customers over the globe with a complete range of state-of-theart, groundbreaking solutions developed around small caliber firearms and associated ammunition. FN HERSTAL product lines include portable firearms, less lethal systems, integrated weapon systems for air, land and sea applications, remote weapon stations, small caliber ammunition, as well as modern and cutting-edge solutions to provide enhanced combat, logistics, maintenance and communication capabilities. FN Herstal is the parent company of three fully owned entities: FN America in the USA, FNH UK in the UK and Noptel in Finland. For more information on FN HERSTAL, visit www.fnherstal.com.

Top photo: FNH FCU MK3 (Source: FN Herstal)