Last week, 4 Military Intelligence Battalion, part of 3rd (UK) Division, organised a field training exercise focused on the assembly of a full Battalion built around four ARZ 30 inflatable tents. This configuration follows military standards and reflects real operational requirements in modern military environments.
The system was deployed as a fully integrated shelter solution, designed to support command and control functions in the field. It included a dedicated entrance module, connecting modules which link the tents and, when needed, connect tents to vehicles, RIS inner liners for thermal and acoustic performance, separation walls to divide functional spaces and modular flooring installed across the entire setup.
Each tent was assigned a clearly defined operational role: entrance and access control, planning, briefing and ops room/execution; creating a cohesive, mission-ready headquarters. Together, these four modules facilitate scalable and rapidly deployable disaggregated C2 (Command & Control) Nodes with the ability to seamlessly regroup and provide a fully functional Battalion HQ or Commando HQ in a traditional BHQ (Bravo HQ) laydown, enabling military teams to plan, coordinate and execute the whole sphere of military operations efficiently.
A key advantage of these specific ARZ tents lies in their modular connectivity. All tents can be linked in multiple configurations, both to each other and directly to vehicles, allowing units to adapt quickly to changing mission requirements. This flexibility reduces setup and dismantling time, easing logistical pressure and improving mobility.
Military shelter systems should make hard jobs easier, not add to the complexity.
On the second day of the exercise, we had the pleasure of working alongside Saab UK, whose team joined us on site to deploy their lightweight camouflage net system, Barracuda ULCAS, over the assembled setup. Seeing our ARZ tents paired with Saab’s multi-spectral solution was a practical demonstration of how two complementary capabilities can come together to enhance the survivability of command posts in the field.
The collaboration came together smoothly, and we’re grateful to the Saab UK team (shoutout to @Daniel Cole and @James Scott) for the constructive, hands-on spirit they brought to the day.
The feedback we received during the training sessions was rewarding. We repeatedly heard the phrase „we need more of these” during the two days we’ve been there.
Proud to be part of the UK Army’s operational infrastructure. And a big thank you to 3rd (UK) Division for having us along.
