SOF Overseer. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) Member House Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee

Transcription

1 World s Largest Distributed Special Ops Magazine 2011 Special Operations Tactical Vehicle Review SOF Overseer Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) Member House Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee July 2011 Volume 9, Issue 5 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MERRIFIELD, VA PERMIT # 620 Sniper Detection O Parachutes Perfected O Combatant Comms TACLAN O Diving Gear

2

3 Special Operations Technology Features July 2011 Volume 9 Issue 5 Cover / Q&A 6 Combatant Comms A vast array of communications gear brings critical information to combatants when they need it, in the thick of combat, helping to clear away the fog of war. By Steve Goodman 2011 Special Operations Tactical Vehicle Review 11 We examine a lavish variety of tactical vehicles and the innovations found in them, ranging from hefty armored vehicles to hot rod rides that can fill every mission requirement. By Dave Ahearn Sniper Detection Systems warn personnel when enemy snipers are shooting at them, and provide information on the shooter s location that saves critical time when seconds count all in systems that are lightweight. By Peter Buxbaum The TACLAN $500 Million Prize As the years-old igov IT contract with SOCOM is about to expire, rival firms line up to challenge igov s move to win the new contract. With a $500 million prize at stake, competition is formidable. By Dave Ahearn Diving Gear We slip beneath the waves to examine the cutting-edge technology in special operators undersea gear, tough stuff that can stand up to the unforgiving environment of the ocean. By Steve Goodman Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla. Member House Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee Departments Editor s Perspective Whispers/People Black Watch Calendar, Directory Industry Interview 32 Parachutes Perfected We live in a golden age of military parachute design, with contemporary advancement in personal jump technology allowing for higher and longer distance jumps, significantly increased landing safety, and precision landings guided by automated GPS monitoring and servo-steered systems. By Christian Bourge 36 Chris Heavens Vice President and General Manager AR Modular

4 Special Operations Technology Volume 9, Issue 5 July 2011 World s Largest Distributed Special Ops Magazine Editorial Editor Dave Ahearn davea@kmimediagroup.com Managing Editor Harrison Donnelly harrisond@kmimediagroup.com Online Editorial Manager Laura Davis laurad@kmimediagroup.com Copy Editor John Marth johnm@kmimediagroup.com Correspondents Adam Baddeley Christian Bourge Peter Buxbaum Henry Canaday Steve Goodman Leslie Shaver Art & Design Senior Graphic Designer Jittima Saiwongnuan jittimas@kmimediagroup.com Graphic Designers Scott Morris scottm@kmimediagroup.com Jennifer Owers jennifero@kmimediagroup.com Eden Papineau edenp@kmimediagroup.com Kailey Waring kaileyw@kmimediagroup.com Advertising Account Executives James Eget jamese@kmimediagroup.com Hitch Nelson hitchn@kmimediagroup.com KMI Media Group Publisher Kirk Brown kirkb@kmimediagroup.com Chief Executive Officer Jack Kerrigan jack@kmimediagroup.com Chief Financial Officer Constance Kerrigan connik@kmimediagroup.com Executive Vice President David Leaf davidl@kmimediagroup.com Editor-In-Chief Jeff McKaughan jeffm@kmimediagroup.com Controller Gigi Castro gcastro@kmimediagroup.com Trade Show Coordinator Holly Foster hollyf@kmimediagroup.com Office Coordinator Diamond Matthews diamondm@kmimediagroup.com The Senate unamiously confirmed the nomination of Vice Admiral William H. McRaven to be commander of Special Operations Command and to receive a fourth star after the Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously backed McRaven s taking the top special ops post. In a committee hearing lasting more than two hours, where senators of both parties praised him, McRaven forthrightly made some key points: McRaven said huge demand for special ops missions imposes pressure on special operators, adding that he will aggressively pursue any recommendations that a task force makes for reducing that strain. If we don t get on top of this, I have great concern for what might Dave Ahearn Editor happen 10 years from now, McRaven warned. His predecessor at SOCOM, Admiral Eric T. Olson, recently warned of fraying at the edges in the special ops community, predicting some special operators may be war weary after 10 years of combat operations and may decide not to serve for another decade. In written responses to questions from senators, McRaven said he doesn t expect any easing of demands on personnel. The [accelerated] pace of the last 10 years is indicative of what we expect for the next 10 years, he said. The Afghan government is weighing something that would be highly detrimental to U.S. special operations efforts: halting night missions. Afghan leaders have expressed displeasure that there have been some collateral civilian deaths in such missions. Stopping night raids would certainly be detrimental to [SOF] operations, McRaven cautioned, noting that out of some 2,000 operations conducted in recent times, 85 percent were at night. Civilian casualties are a rare exception in special ops missions, not a commonality, he noted. He also said special ops programs face a major funding challenge as the off-budget funding used during two wars dries up, and as armed services face cuts in their budgets the same armed services that provide aircraft and more that special operators require for their missions. The very limited SOF budgets can t be used to replace money that services lose in cuts, he stressed. It also is critical that SOCOM and its units continue their special ability to purchase SOF-specific hardware. KMI Media Group Magazines and Websites Operations, Circulation & Production Manager, Circulation & Operations Toye McLean toyem@kmimediagroup.com Distribution Coordinator Duane Ebanks duanee@kmimediagroup.com Data Specialists Sharisse Hill sharisseh@kmimediagroup.com Tuesday Johnson tuesdayj@kmimediagroup.com Sasha Scott sashas@kmimediagroup.com Summer Walker summerw@kmimediagroup.com Geospatial Intelligence Forum Military Advanced Education Military Information Technology Military Logistics Forum Military Medical/CBRN Technology A Proud Member of: Special Operations Technology ISSN is published nine times a year by KMI Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly forbidden. Copyright Special Operations Technology is free to members of the U.S. military, employees of the U.S. government and non-u.s. foreign service based in the U.S. All others: $65 per year. Foreign: $149 per year. Corporate Offices KMI Media Group Crabbs Branch Way, Suite 300 Rockville, MD USA Telephone: (301) Fax: (301) Web: Ground Combat Technology Military Training Technology Special Operations Technology Tactical ISR Technology U.S. Coast Guard Forum

5 Introducing THE STRONGEST, LIGHTEST RACKMOUNT CASE ON THE PLANET Carbon Armor cases leverage the unique characteristics of CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic), an advanced composite utilizing continuous fiber in a thermoplastic matrix, with a proprietary manufacturing process. Our processing techniques and materials science combine to yield a family of products that are without peer. FEATURES Rugged CFRP exoskeleton with molded-in embossments High tensile strength-to-weight ratio Low coefficient of thermal expansion Lightweight fixed or removable rackframe Newly designed, two-stage latches Innovative 180-degree articulating handles Optional cross-industry interstacking features Natural carbon fiber, powder coat or CARC Custom EMI/RFI shielding available Simply put, when it comes to shock, vibration and structural integrity, the Carbon Armor rackmount case will outperform any composite case on the market today. See our ground breaking case at SOFIC 2011, Booth No STRONGER» LIGHTER» CARBON IT'S ELEMENTAL. Actual case color black, photo lightened to highlight product features. DISTRIBUTED EXCLUSIVELY BY CASES2GO CARBONFIBERTACTICALRACKS.COM PATENTS PENDING

6 Compiled by KMI Media Group staff Marines Ordering Hundreds of Vehicles The Marines are obtaining hundreds of MaxxPro vehicles from Navistar Defense LLC. Navistar received a $357 million delivery order for an additional 471 International MaxxPro Dash vehicles with DXM independent suspension. The order from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command follows a delivery order for 250 MaxxPro Dash mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) ambulances. Navistar has quickly grown its fleet of MaxxPro vehicles to more than 8,700 units by leveraging its current commercial capabilities and assets, which include the proven commercial International WorkStar platform. First, the company added the DXM independent suspension solution capability to new production vehicles. This was followed by orders for the new MaxxPro Recovery vehicle and most recently the MaxxPro Dash ambulance. The company has also developed a MaxxPro flatbed truck. We have nine major MaxxPro variants in or on their way to theater today thanks to the flexibility of our proven vehicle platforms, said Navy to Receive Thermal Imaging Systems The Navy awarded FLIR Systems an $11.5 million firm-fixed price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for Recon III handheld long-range thermal imaging sensor systems. FLIR also will provide spares, repairs, shipping cases and upgrades. The handheld long-range thermal imaging sensor systems are to provide support for the ground-based operational surveillance system. The mission of this system includes intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and assessment of threats. It also provides situational awareness of close proximity and travelled routes of personnel while conducting missions. Work will be performed in North Billerica, Mass., and is expected to be completed by June This contract was a sole-source procurement and solicited via Navy Electronic Commerce Online. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity. Correction A picture that appeared on page 48 in SOTECH 9.4 was misidentified. The picture showed a Mark V Special Operations Craft. Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. The MaxxPro Dash was the first MRAP to be modified specifically for the Afghan terrain and we have continued to enhance its capabilities all along the way. Keeping our warfighters equipped is priority one. While the MaxxPro family of vehicles has contributed to Navistar s growth into new markets, the company has fielded more than 32,000 vehicles since This includes sales of the MaxxPro, International MXT, as well as vehicles based on the International PayStaR and WorkStar platforms. Production of the new units will occur in Garland, Texas, and West Point, Miss. Deliveries will be completed by September. MaxxPro Dash vehicles are powered by MaxxForce 9.3D engines. people Leon Panetta The Senate Armed Services Committee recommended, and the Senate then unanimously confirmed, President Obama s nomination of CIA leader Leon Panetta a former congressman, Office of Management and Budget director and White House chief of staff to be secretary of defense, just as major defense budget cuts are being proposed. Air Force Major General Bradley A. Heithold has been nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and for assignment as vice commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Heithold is currently serving as commander, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency/deputy chief of staff, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Army Major General John F. Campbell has been appointed to the rank of lieutenant general and for assignment as deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, U.S. Army. Campbell is currently serving as commanding general, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. Army Colonel James B. Linder has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Linder is currently serving as chief of staff, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. Army Colonel Richard D. Clarke Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Clarke is currently serving at Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. Army Colonel Duane A. Gamble has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Gamble is currently serving as assistant chief of staff, G-4, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C. Army Colonel Paul A. Ostrowski has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general. Ostrowski is currently serving as executive officer to the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. 4 SOTECH 9.5

7 SENSE. EXECUTE. PREVAIL. L-3 s Ruggedized Command & Control Network (RCCN) Putting Situational Awareness and Mission System Management Back Into the Hands of the Warfighter L-3 integrates its proven sensors, controls and displays into a rapidly reconfigurable data distribution and control system. The RCCN is a deployed, digital vehicle backbone network that provides C 4 ISR and sensor connectivity on any fighting vehicle. By offering the benefits of modularity, scalability and true plug and play operation, the RCCN enables vehicles to be configured based on your mission. To learn more, visit L-3com.com/rcc. RCCS L-3com.com

8 Personal communications gear gives special operators the edge. 6 SOTECH 9.5

9 There is a lot we may never know about the heroic and historic operation that took down America s most wanted terrorist, Osama Bin Laden. But what we do know is that the helmet cams and other comm gear employed by SEAL Team 6 were critical elements of the mission s success. The White House and U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) will neither confirm nor deny that live video from the team s helmet cams were being fed to the president and others in the White House Situation Room during the raid. However, we have seen the famous picture of a concerned Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and we do know that she, and the others gathered in the room, were able to monitor the situation in real-time and were given regular updates as the operation proceeded. In a statement released to the press following the successful raid, Lieutenant Commander Fred Kuebler, a public affairs officer with SOCOM, said, With today s technology, it s not uncommon for cameras to be carried into combat operations. We do know for sure that some of the members of the raid were wearing such cameras. Whether they were used to stream live video remains unconfirmed, but we do know they did record and document the entire mission. By Steve Goodman SOTECH Correspondent goodmans@kmimediagroup.com SOTECH 9.5 7

10 This Isn t Your Father s Helmet Today s helmet worn by special forces is a lot more than simple head protection; it is an extension of the operative s eyes and ears, equipped with a myriad of sophisticated communications gear. The helmet worn by SEALS and other special operators is known as the Modular Integrated Communications Helmet (MICH), and it is much more than the typical K-pot. The MICH incorporates lightweight yet superior ballistic protection with the ability to interface with the sophisticated tactical communications headsets, microphones and other gear utilized by special operations forces. Special forces need to communicate for the execution of their missions, often in remote or austere environments, but they also have to be sure not to be encumbered by the gear. According to retired Army Colonel Mike Bradley, with Lockheed Martin Advanced Development & Ventures Business Development, communications gear used by SOF must be lightweight, able to withstand extreme changes in temperatures and be very rugged in order to survive in the types of environments in which special forces operate. Any wearable gear system must be easy to put on and take off, not have a lot of wiring that will get tangled up while the operator is moving or crawling around, and be easy to operate in a hands-free mode. The components must be tightly sealed so that no water can penetrate into the electronics or battery compartment. According to its original specs, the MICH provides 9 mm handgun and fragmentation protection across all operational environments. The helmet also allows for maximum sensory awareness for the user by providing an unobstructed field of view and ambient hearing capabilities. Most importantly for today s high-tech special operator, it has been designed to allow mounting of night vision devices, cameras and a communications sub-system, as well as gear such as oxygen masks to protect personnel from chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. The communication sub-system provides sound suppression protection, as well as a dual channel communications capability. Communications apparatuses include: omnidirectional hearing, dual channel ear-specific communications, low-profile microphones, microphone adapters for mask microphones, multiple radio and intercom adapters, and push-to-talk access. Communications headsets may be worn alone or with the ballistic helmet retention system and pad suspension system. According to Natick Soldier Systems operations, where the MICH was designed and developed, The MICH communications suite is fully compatible with all 30 radio systems used by the special operations forces and Marine Corps. This is accomplished by using modified commercial off-the-shelf impedance matching technology with a version for land and maritime operations. Land Warrior integrates computers, lasers, and radios, in a system of systems approach, providing unprecedented tactical awareness and significant improvements in lethality, survivability, mobility, and sustainability for the dismounted soldier. [Photo courtesy of PEO Soldier] Headsets can be worn alone or inside the helmet. Depending on the operation, the warfighter can use high- or low-noise headsets. High-noise headsets go completely over the ears and have unidirectional microphones built into the front of each earphone to pick up and amplify ambient sounds up to 150 meters away. These headsets double as aural protection. If sound from concussion or gunfire exceeds 85 decibels, the point where ear damage can occur, the microphones shut off automatically, and the headphones become hearing protection. High-noise headphones are meant for use in close-quarters battle or forward positions such as lookout points. The headphones also completely hold in any radio chatter or static, allowing special operators to move in stealth and silence. Low-noise headsets would be used during patrol or recon operations; they do leave the ears somewhat less protected, but allow the warfighter to monitor ambient environmental sounds from all directions. The MICH has seen several improvements and is now known as the ACH, or Advanced Combat Helmet. The standard issue for all troops deploying to the Iraq/Afghanistan theater, the ACH TC-2000 is manufactured by MSA. Based in Pennsylvania, MSA was the contractor for producing the original MICH, on which the MSA TC-2000 is based, and continues to produce most of the ACH helmets worn by warfighters today. The Comm Gear So just what are today s increasingly networked warfighters plugging those microphones and headsets into, and wearing under and with ACH? A key piece of personal communications gear that was critical in improving situational awareness in Afghanistan was the Thales AN/PRC-148 radio used by special forces. Known as the Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio (MBITR) it is a lightweight squad radio that many believe was a game changer in the overthrow of the Taliban. According to Thales, teams in the field said the MBITR significantly extended their operating range and proved extremely reliable in the hot and dusty conditions of the Afghan desert. Some said this was simply the best SOF communications system they had seen in years. According to Thales, the MBITR compresses over 60 pounds of equipment into approximately 2 pounds, without losing any functionality. Ground-based SOF in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom also rely on the Multiband Multimission radio, (MBMMR) AN/PRC-117F, manufactured by Harris Corp. Also known as the Falcon, it is a secure two-way tactical radio covering the MHz frequency range. The MBMMR is NSA certified for transmission of voice and data traffic up to the Top Secret level. This ultrahigh frequency satellite communications 8 SOTECH 9.5

11 radio proved very useful for transmitting locations of high-value al-qaida and Taliban targets to various operations command centers, which were then able to call in drones or manned aircraft to engage those targets. In 2010, L-3 Communications, headquartered in New York, was awarded a five-year $170 million contract by SOCOM for portable satellite communications gear to provide high-speed transmission of voice and data communications. The system known as the Panther very small aperture terminal (VSAT) represents two years of R&D to reduce the size of a VSAT terminal to the point that it can fit into a rucksack. According to L-3, the Panther is the smallest, most rugged VSAT terminal of its type, and provides 1-4 Mbps data rates for transmit, depending on satellite beam, and multi-mbps for receive. The custom flat panel antenna design provides the operational simplicity of commercial satellite services while providing significantly higher throughput and lower operational cost. Amplifiers provide more power to boost an otherwise weak signal. AR Modular RF s KMW1031 is a fourth generation product and the latest version in a line of tactical booster amplifiers that date back to the founding specifications for the MBITR PRC148 radio and a 20W tactical booster amplifier to give this then-new radio concept a significant increase in range covered. Subsequent versions of the booster amplifier have focused on complete automation to allow the operator to focus on the mission rather than fiddle with a bunch of radio knobs. Additional design changes have been made to the unit to make it compatible with new modern waveforms and run more efficiently so that it lasts a long time on a single battery pack. This 20W booster has been for the past seven years or so one of the cornerstone amplifier designs in the market, and like all good ideas has often been imitated by others. The innovative circuit designs used in the latest generation KME1031 have spawned higher power amplifiers like the AR-50, which offers 50W output power with only a few watts input from a radio like the PRC148 or the PRC152, with the ability to run on 12/24V vehicles, and has a separate satcom antenna port and control of a low-noise amplifier with co-site filtering. AR Modular RF is continually developing new products to meet the advancing market needs. AR s next generation 20W tactical amplifier, the AR20, will release later this year and have all of the feature set of the highly popular AR50 but in a form factor smaller than the original KMW1031. Other Wearables Helmet cams and communications interfaces are not the only ruggedized personal electronics utilized by SEALs and other SOF. Nor is the helmet the only place they are worn. The idea of a truly networked soldier a warfighter literally wired into the situational command of the battlefield network with a wearable hands-free system actually began 20 years ago with the then-mostly science fiction concept, Land Warrior. Some $500 million dollars later, the Land Warrior program was cancelled in 2007, but not its vision. Bits and pieces of Land Warrior tech continued to be used successfully over the years and the quest for an integrated wearable computer/radio continued. Land Warrior itself morphed into the Ground Soldier Ensemble, which is now known as Nett Warrior. When it was cancelled, the prototype Land Warrior vest was a wearable Enhance land mobile communications with new wireless systems from david clark David Clark Wireless Communication Systems provide military personnel with greater freedom, mobility and safety for a variety of light armored vehicle applications. Wireless systems interface to mutiple mobile radios while providing rugged durability and reliable performance. For more information call or visit David Clark Company Incorporated Green headset domes are a David Clark registered trademark. Made In USA SOTECH 9.5 9

12 computer/gps/radio combination, inlaid into an improved body armor design. Nett Warrior was tested in 2010 in Afghanistan. Like Land Warrior, the heart of the system is a wearable, networked computer that weighs about five pounds, with an eyepiece for the display and a handheld, wrist-mounted keyboard. The eyepiece display can show anything a computer can, but is usually a heads-up display map showing the constantly updated position of the wearer in relation to other friendly troops and the most recently reported location of the enemy. Battery life is about 24 hours. The test for the most part was a success, but the still relatively bulky system faces many of the same challenges that its predecessor did. Nett Warrior may also be in danger of being scrapped, and its biggest competition may be coming not from something wired into the lining of a soldier s body armor, but carried in his pocket. The dream of the networked soldier, which began decades ago, may actually become reality via an app on a cell phone. The replacement for the five to 10 pounds of gear that makes up Nett Warrior is not exactly available as an iphone app yet. However, top brass is seriously looking at smartphones and their use on the battlefield. A program called Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications, within the Army s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), is dedicated to how iphones, Droids and other smartphone technology can be most useful to the Army. Long-time military contractor Lockheed Martin has responded to this interest with the Monax system, a solution that delivers the versatility of a smartphone with the security and ruggedization needed in the SOF environment. The 4G wireless system uses a proprietary portable Monax Lynx sleeve that connects touch-screen commercial off-the-shelf smartphones to a Monax base station infrastructure, offering uninterrupted service to warfighters in the field. Monax uses a secure RF link protected through strong exportable encryption, enabling transfer of pertinent and sensitive information with speed and ease. Not all special forces missions require highly specialized communications equipment, LM s Bradley said. Special forces can take advantage of commercial or slightly modified commercial equipment such as cellular technology to assist in some of their missions such as foreign military training and assistance. They can use smartphone technology in these types of missions as well as in other support requirements without the need for expensive communications gear. The challenge in leveraging existing smartphone technology for the needs of SOF primarily had to do with range. Bradley explained how Monax gets around that. Using a modified standard waveform, we developed a system that provides increased range and connectivity than [is] currently found in typical commercial cellular systems. This reduces the amount of equipment and support requirements needed to establish a cellular system on the battlefield. This means that Monax does what Nett Warrior does not: It provides a way for the warfighter to use low-cost commercial smartphone and tablet devices to provide voice, data and streaming video capabilities down to each individual at the tactical level. Motorola, whose Droid platform is giving the iphone a run for its money in the consumer electronics world, is also responding to DoD s increased interest in smartphone technology. According to a recent U.S. Army press release, the Army is planning to deploy a new handheld known as the Joint Battle Command-Platform, or JBC-P. The two-pound JBC-P is essentially a military-friendly smartphone designed to run on a variety of existing radio networks, while supporting the full suite of forthcoming apps. Under the soon-to-be-operational new Army framework known as the Mobile/Handheld Computing Environment, third-party developers will be able to create and submit tactical Android apps using the military s Computing Environment Product Developer s Kit that is expected to be available in late summer. Northrop Grumman, another well-known name across the board in military contracts, also sees the value of the networked soldier, and of leveraging existing technologies. Northrop Grumman is investing in affordable, mature technology to allow soldiers to have full situational awareness and voice and data communication capabilities down to the squad and individual rifleman, said Bill Clingempeel, director of Northrop Grumman Information Systems, Battle Management Business. Given the operational environment in Operation Enduring Freedom, this capability provides tremendous advantages. It enables situational awareness by allowing other friendly units to track their positions in near real-time. It also allows them to receive actionable intelligence such as biometric data and full motion video from unmanned air and ground sensors. Moving Ahead The routing of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the successful mission that closed the book on Osama Bin Laden are prime examples of the effectiveness of the networked soldier. Special forces have been leading this charge toward more network-centric warfare in the 21st century. The success of these and similar operations could be largely attributed to increased shared situational awareness and extremely robust real-time communications capabilities that allowed SOFs to maximize their efforts. As Northrop Grumman s Clingempeel put it, Extending the network to the tactical edge will allow U.S. dismounted formations conducting stability operations to dominate the enemy as decisively on the ground as our forces currently do in the air and on the sea. This is all part of SOCOM s decision several years ago to redouble emphasis toward improved battlefield situational awareness. Working with vendors, Natick Soldier Systems and other developmental arms of DoD, a push was made to acquire new systems and leverage new technologies. Fielding these advances has proved their worth time and again, and they are making the vision of the networked soldier a reality. As always, special operators have the uncanny ability to adapt to changing situations on the battlefield that has forever been their hallmark. However, they are now able to do that even more effectively with significantly improved battlefield awareness and an unprecedented ability to link operationally with conventional forces from all the services, thanks to personal electronics. O For more information, contact SOTECH Editor Dave Ahearn at davea@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at 10 SOTECH 9.5

13 [Photo Courtesy of Force Protection]

14 a new vehicle in the rugged force protection family; the first purpose built tactical vehicle of its kind. HigH performance off road modular design for rapid field level mission configuration changes narrow track configuration certified in the v-22 osprey wide track configuration for the ch-47 chinook scalable armor packages multiple weapons mount options scalable open electronic architecture our vehicles get the job done and our global support infrastructure is there when you need it. learn more about the jamma s capabilities and our global support infrastructure: forceprotection.net

15 In the enormous consolidation of the defense industry over the past two decades, some have said the military no longer can get real competition from the few huge firms left standing, or that their offerings lack innovation. But that s untrue, as our annual Tactical Vehicle Review shows: Special operators have an enormous wealth of tactical vehicle options, and those rides are brimming with innovations that adapt to a swiftly changing battlefield threat. For special operations leaders, there is a vast array of choices in vehicles: there are widely differing power, weight, speed, capacity and other parameters. And many vehicles have robust protections for crew and passengers against the threat of IEDs, a feature that most U.S. vehicles lacked just a decade ago. Come with us as we examine this panoply of platforms moving the military in a war against a tough, persistent enemy. Aerco The Phobos light strike vehicle looks like a high-speed dune buggy, agile and quick. And small wonder. It is being developed as a militarized version of the FilthyBoy buggy that is a fixture in extreme motorsports. Able to attain 37 mph on its diesel power, it can carry two to four personnel on recon missions, hit-and-run raids, border security patrols, counter insurgency missions and more. Its massive 16 inches of wheel travel make it ideal for offroad travel in rough terrain. It weighs just 3,748 pounds, a fraction of the heft of many military vehicles, giving it speed and agility. AM General The HMMWV, the workaday warhorse for personnel in theater, was seen fading fast when the armed services saw that its flat bottom and other features were critically vulnerable to IEDs. HMMWV But this venerable vehicle just may be headed for a new life, with innovations that will protect personnel from the No. 1 killer of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. There will be plenty of competition for the work. In May, the deadline passed for companies to submit responses to the Army request for information for ideas on how the HMMWV can be transformed into a better ride. Big names including BAE Systems and Textron showcased HMMWV recap vehicles at the AUSA Winter conference and exhibition in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. HMMWV maker AM General also has a kit that can upgrade the vehicle. What the new HMMWV iterations will provide, it is clear, is better protection against IEDs. That might involve features such as V-shaped armored hulls, and better armor elsewhere, perhaps with blast chimneys, that would deflect the blast away from the occupants. Further, vehicles may be fitted with shock attenuating seats, and special harnesses to protect personnel. It is clear that both recapitalized existing vehicles and newly-built or rebuilt vehicles will both protect special operators better, and also meet their SOF-specific needs. For example, as the military moves toward the Ground Mobility Vehicle of the future, some key points are clear. In FY 2010, SOCOM began a recapitalization effort to replace 60 to 80 percent of the multi-configured, less capable legacy GMV fleet with a standardized vehicle that includes kitting to enable warfighters to tailor the vehicle based on unique SOF requirements. Vehicle kits include, but are not limited to, auxiliary fuel bladders, ammunition storage racks, rear floor reinforcement, roll bars, rear bench seats, smoke and grenade system, recovery strap kits, jacking and skid plates, spare tire carriers, side rails, and various types of weapons mounts, the gunner protection kit and cargo bed armor. Additionally, vehicles are equipped with an A-kit to accept a C4ISR suite. Armor Works The Hyena vehicle can haul on down the road, exceeding 80 miles an hour thanks to a turbodiesel power plant. With a hull designed for the IED age, it carries five persons. ArmorWorks developed this fast attack vehicle on its own dime, so that it exists and works now Special Operations Tactical Vehicle Review SOTECH

16 It offers something different: While many vehicles are disguised, the Hyena provides 3-D camo. It also has camo fabric over extendable masts. BAE Systems BAE Systems extols the MRAP, or mine resistant ambush protected vehicle, as a transport that is highly survivable in a combat area filled with IEDs. A V-hull, solid armor, shock mitigating seats and quality fire suppression extinguishing system make the MRAP a safe place for combatants. MRAP The vehicle offers a brawny 370 horsepower, propelling it up to a top speed of 77 mph. Weighing in at 60,740 pounds, it has a huge 21.9 inches of ground clearance, vital in offroad maneuvers. It can carry a crew of two and eight troops as well. MRAPs offer the right combination of needed mobility, ease of handling, crew comfort and mine protection, but most importantly they save lives, said Chris Chambers, vice president and general manager of BAE tactical wheeled vehicles. Special operators have used HMMWVs for years in theater, and found the vehicle to be a reliable daily driver. While it has weak points, such as struggling to carry heavy add-on armor and a vulnerability to IEDs, those problems can be fixed with the HMMWV recapitalization. For example, the BAE Integrated Smart V, or ISV, proposal for the HMMWV recap has improved power and a better suspension. It offers a V-shaped hull, and a lighter-weight monocoquesegmented body that can fly into three sections when struck by an IED blast, to help absorb the impact of the explosion, and more. The BAE Systems HMMWV recap vehicle of tomorrow also boasts improved means of vehicle occupant egress after taking enemy fire, or after a highway accident, such as a hatch that can open in a jammed door, or a windshield that can open. While some in Congress are skeptical about renovating the HMMWV, recalling its history of vulnerability to IEDs, it clearly costs less to recap the vehicle using many of its old parts than to build an entirely new ride with a totally different design. Using old body panels also helps to disguise the brand-new, superior vehicle. If it seems to be a typical old HMMWV, terrorists may not make any special effort to target it. The BAE Smart V reuses about 40 percent of each old HMMWV that is recapped. Further, the Smart V battery is moved safely beneath the hood of the vehicle, while the gas tank is moved to the rear of the Smart V, keeping dangers away from the driver. The Smart V weighs just 13,900 pounds, modest for a military vehicle, and has a generous 17 inches of ground clearance. It can fit into a CH-47, and carries two to four personnel plus a gunner. It also can carry up to 1,800 pounds of cargo. The RG35 RPU offers 340 horsepower, pushing it to a 56 mph top speed. The vehicle weighs 26,680 to 46,300 pounds, and takes off-road rambles in stride with a 16.3-inch ground clearance. Its armored capsule protects the crew in an IED blast. It carries a crew of one and nine personnel. For special operators, the RG33 AUV has a muscular 600 horses and moves at 62 mph. Tipping off at 53,363 pounds, it has a generous 19.5 inches of ground clearance. The V-hull design protects the four passengers. It can hold 20,600 pounds, and tow another 64,000. The RG33 and other BAE vehicles have been credited with saving many lives through the vehicles outstanding mine resistance and protection against improvised explosive devices and ballistic threats, Chambers emphasized. BCDS Inc. Generally, few would confuse a military vehicle with a sports car. But the SM-TRV by Anvil Rock, provided by BCDS, can move. With a 300 horsepower diesel engine or 350 hp gasoline power plant, the SM-TRV can haul down the road at 90 mph, or at 120 mph with the optional overdrive. If special operators wish to move in fast and strike with the element of surprise working in their favor, this is it. The vehicle weighs just 3,600 to 4,200 pounds, and holds two to four personnel. Chenowth The Scorpion DPV, with 130 to 200 horses under the hood, can move faster than 60 mph (perhaps much faster). It weighs just 1,499 to 2110 pounds, and comes with a 16-inch ground clearance. Boasting a range of 210 to about 1,000 miles, it carries up to three personnel and up to 1,500 pounds of materiel. Force Protection The Ocelot, despite its 16,535 to 17,637 pound gross vehicle weight, can move at up to 68 mph thanks to its six cylinder 14 SOTECH Special Operations Tactical Vehicle Review

17 turbodiesel engine. The Ocelot has a 13.3-inch ground clearance, and can be sling-carried by a CH-47 helo. OCELOT With a V-hull crew pod, improved ballistic survivability seats and safety harnesses, it is a safe place in an IED-infested world. Its diesel engine provides 373 miles between fill-ups, and it can transport two to six personnel. It carries 4,409 pounds. There is room for two to six personnel. The boxy vehicle was developed in cooperation with Ricardo PLC. The JAMMA (Joint All-terrain Modular Mobility Asset) is unique. It was clean-sheet designed to be a rugged, tactical fighting vehicle that is easily transportable in frontline aircraft, that has a skateboard chassis for unparalleled modularity, and that has better off road performance than any other vehicle in its class. The Force Protection Industries Inc. (FPI) JAMMA is a robust weapons system platform with proven military-grade components and technologies that have been rigorously tested by the U.S. government and FPI. While other vehicles began as recreational or utility vehicles, the JAMMA has been purposebuilt around critical tactical vehicle design considerations such as: transportability, durability, situational awareness, mobility, scalability, armor attachment and lethality. For example, the JAMMA is internally transportable in the CH-47 Chinook and also in V-22 Osprey aircraft. Because of its unique modularity, the JAMMA can easily be expanded to maximize the cargo space of the larger CH-47. The vehicle s crew compartment can be enlarged to increase internal seating, stowage and weapon mount options, and, the JAMMA suspension can be widened. When the JAMMA s suspension is widened, not only does the vehicle s lateral stability increase, the vehicle s wheel travel is also significantly increased greatly enhancing vehicle performance on the ground. The skateboard weapons system platform design allows for remarkable mission flexibility. The JAMMA can be configured as a gun truck with a 360 degree field of fire from a single weapon station and for missions such as special reconnaissance, rescue/casevac and tactical resupply. Configuration changes can be made without any need to modify the existing, mature powertrain, suspension, and base chassis. A 6-cylinder turbo diesel/jp8 engine allows the JAMMA to be equally adept at traversing steep ATV width mountain trails, skimming over sand dunes, screaming down a highway fully-loaded at over 85 MPH, or negotiating narrow alleys and rubble strewn streets. The state of the art, open architecture, digital electronics backbone with CANBUS communication allows the integration of a wide variety of C4I solutions and the easy integration of emerging technologies as they mature. The JAMMA is also available with a hybrid drive capable of generating 21kW of continuous export power. Force Protection Industries JAMMA was created to be a force multiplier in virtually any mission scenario and to be as tough, adaptable, agile and versatile as the operators who use it. General Dynamics The Flyer is one of the most easily transported military vehicles, capable of being internally carried on the CH-53 and CH-47 helicopters and the V-22 Osprey tilt rotor. It also can be carried externally by the UH-60L helo. FLYER When it reaches the fight, the Flyer s 150 horsepower can propel it at speeds up to 85 miles an hour. While it weighs 4,000 to 5,500 pounds, it can roll 450 miles on a tank of fuel. It has armor to protect its passengers, up to four personnel, and it can carry 3,500 to 5,000 pounds of cargo. Offered with Flyer Defense, the vehicle provides leading C4ISR capabilities and can handle rugged off-road terrain. Indigen Armor The Non-Standard Tactical Truck (NSTT) has a hefty 325 horsepower diesel that also can use JP8 fuel, a powerplant that Special Operations Tactical Vehicle Review SOTECH

18 can send the vehicle flying along at 103 mph. Easily transported, the NSTT can be carried by the CH-47 or MH-47. It protects passengers with features such as an armored cell and special seats to provide safety in IED-infested areas. The NSTT carries up to four personnel. International The MXT-MV offers a combination of size and speed, with a 340 horsepower diesel engine able to drive the vehicle to 84 mph despite its weight of 14,000 to 19,000 pounds. It also is able to do things at low speed, such as head off-road, with a ground clearance of 11 to 12 inches. It can have armor in response to customer needs to protect against IEDs, and there are special seats as well. The MXT-MV has a range of more than 400 miles, and it can hold three to five persons. It also can haul 3,500 to 8,500 pounds of payload, while still providing highly maneuverable handling. Want to give the MXT-MV some combat capability? It can be equipped with a state-of-the-art, extended range, Raytheon air defense system based on the combat proven, dual-use AIM The system consists of the fire distribution center, the AN/ TPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar, and multiple launchers. That system is deployed today in four NATO countries and as a component in the U.S. National Capital Region homeland defense architecture. Jankel The Guardian tactical vehicle is provided by Jankel with the solid underpinnings of a Ford F-450 Super Duty truck 4x4. This is a multi-role armored vehicle. It can be equipped with a massive gasoline 6.8 liter Triton V10 engine with Torqshift 5-speed gearbox pumping out 310 horsepower. Or it can go with a 6 liter diesel PowerStroke V8 turbo engine boasting 325 horses. The spacious vehicle seats the driver and commander, and six troops. It has sniper/observation ports on all sides. It weighs 7,050 kg, with a curb weight of 6,080 kg and a payload capacity of 970 kg. JEEP J8 LPV And it s a versatile vehicle: it can carry two to eight personnel, or it can be fashioned to carry casualties. Or it can have an overhead weapon system: a 7.62 mm machine gun, a.50 caliber machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. John Deere The M-Gator A-2 provides what many special operators need: a nimble, quick, maneuverable transport with fast acceleration that can go over rugged terrain, thanks to an 11-inch ground clearance, or through narrow spaces. It has an 8-inch travel on the front suspension, and a 9-inch travel on the rear. Jeep The Jeep J8 has a proud history dating back to World War II, where it was the main transport vehicle of choice. Now, the Jeep wants a second chance, which is bound up in a 194 horsepower vehicle that can move down highways at 87 mph. While it can weigh up to 8,515 pounds, and can carry 2,787 pounds payload, it is highly nimble, and able to go off-road with a 9-inch ground clearance. Transportable, the Jeep can be carried by the MH-47 or CH-53 helicopters. An armored version is available. The turbocharged 2.8 liter diesel engine sips fuel, so the Jeep can provide an imposing 391 to 578 mile range. It also provides many features that would be expected on well-equipped passenger cars, such as ABS brakes and optional driver and front passenger airbags. M-GATOR A2 Its 25 horsepower diesel engine (JP8 compatible) can run the two-passenger vehicle at up to 32 mph. Weighing just 1,640 pounds, the vehicle boasts go-cart-like handling. 16 SOTECH Special Operations Tactical Vehicle Review

19 The cargo box that is able to act as a power dump body can take 1,000 pounds of payload, and the M-Gator also can tow another 1,500 pounds. Yet another 150 pounds can ride on a front cargo rack. The sides of the cargo box can fold down to accept large, awkward loads. The compact asset has a heavy duty bumper and brushguard, skid plates, and a rifle mount system. The M-Gator A-2 is just 62 inches wide, useful in slipping through tight spaces, useful when loading it on an aircraft. Granite Tactical Vehicles (Textron) This survivable combat tactical vehicle technology is integrated into the HMMWV. The vehicle is rotary wing transportable. It has an armored V-hull blast protection enhancement, and special seats with a harness system. Millen Works The company offers two interesting vehicles. One is the HTTV, with 200 horses from a diesel power plant and a weight of around 4,900 to 7,350 pounds that can be transported on the MV-22 Osprey. Also, the company offers the ETTV, a hybrid electric drive version that has a 150-mile range. Ceradyne detachable armor can help protect the two to four passengers in IED detonations. A Prowler can carry 1,400 to 1,600 pounds internally, and it can tow 2,550 to 3,000 pounds. Polaris The RZR-SW can move at 68 mph, weighing just 1,112 pounds. It has a 13-inch ground clearance, and runs on 87 to 89 octane gasoline. Carrying two persons, it also can haul 1,000 pounds of payload, and can tow 1,500 pounds. Supacat The Supacat 6x6 MKIII all-terrain mobility vehicle can float on water. Its 78 horsepower diesel engine can move its 3,800-plus pounds at 40 mph. It has an 8.5-inch ground clearance, and carries two crew and up to eight personnel. Able to haul up to 3,200 pounds of payload, it can also tow 4,800 pounds. Oshkosh The M-ATV is a survivor in a rough world of roadside bombs. Its 370 horsepower diesel engine gets 320 miles per tankful and runs the vehicle at 65 mph. Weighing 25,000 to 32,500 pounds, the M-ATV has a 13-inch ground clearance. To deal with IEDs, the M-ATV has a V-hull and armor, along with run-flat tires to get away from bad guys when they open fire. The M-ATV can seat four personnel, plus a gunner. And it can carry 4,000 pounds of payload. The SandCat is quick, and quickly transportable by air. It has a 325 horsepower diesel, and moves at more than 80 mph. Weighing 11,020 pounds, it has a 13-inch ground clearance. The SandCat can be carried by the CH-53 and the CH-47 and MH-47 helos. Able to carry four personnel, the vehicle also can lug 5,071 pounds of payload. Phoenix International The Prowler LTATV, or light tactical all-terrain vehicle, is quick and nimble, with a 45 horsepower engine able to move it at 50 to 75 mph. The fuel choices include gasoline, heavy fuel and a diesel in development. It can go 115 to 125 miles, or deliver a range of 300 miles with spare tanks. A 12.5-inch ground clearance aids off-road maneuvering. The Prowler weighs 1,250 to 1,500 pounds, and is sufficiently compact so that it can be carried by a CH-53, CH-47 or CH-46 helo, or by a V-22 Osprey. It also can be carried by an AW101 or a Merlin HC3A. SUPACAT Supacat also makes several other vehicles. TMV The Military Special Forces Vehicle has 200 diesel horsepower to move its 16,530 pounds at up to 85 mph. Its ground clearance is adjustable: low clearance for a low center of gravity at highway speed, to provide stability, but a high ground clearance for navigating rough terrain off-road. Its V-hull and armor are among the features protecting occupants against IEDs. The vehicle provides an impressive 696 miles range, and it carries a crew of two plus four personnel. There are several variants. O For more information, contact SOTECH Editor Dave Ahearn at davea@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at Special Operations Tactical Vehicle Review SOTECH

20 Compiled by KMI Media Group staff Unit Dries Boots, Gloves Peet Shoe Dryer Inc. is offering technology that dries boots and gloves. One version of the Peet Dryer uses electricity, while another version using propane can work while on a mission in a remote area. The electric unit draws just 36 watts, while the propane unit will run for more than 40 hours on a single 16-ounce bottle of gas. The original Peet dryer boasts these features: Silent thermal convection technology dries naturally and removes perspiration Neutralizes contaminants that cause odor and deterioration Extends the life of footwear, ideal for all types of materials (e.g. leather, canvas, synthetics) Silent safe operation Uses only 36 watts Made in USA The propane dryer offers these advantages: Remote adventures can include PEET Dry Great for camping, fishing and hunting cabins Runs over 40 hours on one 16-ounce propane bottle Extends the life of footwear and gear Ideal for all materials (e.g. leather, rubber, synthetics, etc.) Made in USA New System Will Signal Approach of Belt-Bomb Terrorists A new system to be developed by Science, Engineering and Technology Associates of Arlington, Va., will signal the approach of suicide bombers. The Army awarded the company a $48.2 million firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to develop the counter-bomber system. Hundreds of military personnel and civilians have been killed by suicide bombers over the past decade, including volunteers wishing to become native police officers, women and children in crowded markets, and relatives attending funerals of loved ones who were killed in earlier attacks. The Science, Engineering and Technology Associates system will be designed specifically The Iron Curtain active vehicle protection system by Artis LLC is expected to enter production by the end of next calendar year, the company predicted. To defeat incoming enemy fire, a C-band radar spots the threat (a visual system also identifies the threat, to reduce false alarms), arms the system, selects the aim point and also selects the countermeasure to take out the enemy threat. Then the countermeasure fires downward to destroy it, so there is minimal collateral damage to personnel, civilians or property. In action, the system destroys the enemy warhead without detonating it, so that the incoming round bounces off the side of the protected vehicle. Thus far, the Iron Curtain system has been tested on an uparmored HMMWV, and is being integrated onto MRAP all terrain vehicles, or M-ATVs. The Iron Curtain system recently completed Office of the to detect suicide bombers before they reach crowded check points. Many belt bombers target controlled access sites, because many people may have to queue up waiting to be processed by security personnel. Work will be performed in Arlington, Va., with an estimated completion date of June 20, The U.S. Army Contracting Command at Natick, Mass., handles the contract. This system to detect suicide bombers targeting civilian pedestrians will complement other research programs that are aimed at devising systems to detect improvised explosive devices targeting vehicles. IEDs are the No. 1 killer of military personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq. Active Vehicle Protection System Seen In Production Next Year Secretary of Defense testing, the Live Fire Test & Evaluation, and passed it successfully. Iron Curtain provides more protection than conventional approaches such as bar armor and is easier to integrate, according to Artis. While the Iron Curtain system fires downward to neutralize the threat, it can take out incoming from any angle, 360 degrees, including enemy fire directed downward at the top of the vehicle. Electro-Optical/Infrared Imaging Turret Launched L-3 WESCAM launched its MX-10GS electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) imaging turret. The MX-10GS integrates L-3 WESCAM s field-proven MX-Series technology into vehicle mast or tower-mounted turret configurations. That provides force protection, border security and ground combat mission crews with a trusted solution to help identify, track and deter threats 24/7 from the ground. Our new MX-10GS has been engineered utilizing field-proven technology and leverages an established history of high performance, said John Dehne, president of L-3 WESCAM. This newest-generation turret incorporates advanced imaging capabilities, HD resolution and a 360-degree vantage point that enables long-range missions to unfold whether crews are stationary or on the move. The MX-10GS can be configured with up to six leading imaging and laser sensors. Its patented stabilization, passive isolation design and high optical magnification support covert range performance outside the audible range. In addition, the system s rapid zoom technology provides a wide field-of-view and pinpointed capability to identify urban and asymmetrical threats, increasing warfighter survivability in engagement areas. At 37 pounds, the MX-10GS is the lightest product offering in its class, which minimizes the impact on both armored vehicle and mast weight constraints. 18 SOTECH 9.5

21 Hydration System Permits Personnel to Slake Thirst In CBRN Danger A new partnership means that warfighters will be able to drink water from a CamelBak system, even while the combatants are wearing Avon Protection gas masks to shield themselves from a CBRN threat. Avon Protection has entered into a formal partnership with the world-leading CamelBak hydration equipment brand. This will enable Avon to complement its CBRN mask range with a uniquely engineered hydration system and further extend Avon s market reach into the military, law enforcement and first responder protective equipment arena. Core to the new Avon Protection hydration system is the CamelBak chem/bio resistant three liter flexible reservoir. This has been specifically engineered to fit directly to any Avon Protection CBRN mask and will provide a new dimension in refreshment support and comfort for task forces and first responders operating in a CBRN environment. CamelBak reservoir technology will offer Avon Protection s customer base one of the most advanced hydration systems available. Supported by the company s position in hydration system development for both the sporting and military markets, Avon Protection is complementing its own CBRN protective equipment catalog. BAE Systems has developed the Brownout Landing Aid System Technology (BLAST) to permit pilots to see the ground and nearby objects when landing in obscured conditions. The problem is that a pilot in a helicopter or V-22 that attempts to land in a dusty, snowy or smoke-filled area may not be able to see the ground, resulting in a crash. The BLAST asset employs sensors that permit the pilot to see through fog, dust, smoke, light rain and blowing snow. BLAST was developed with both a simulator and a test bed at a BAE laboratory. Designed to offer on-the move hydration in a chem/bio environment, the new Avon Protection/ CamelBak (Model CBR50i) hydration system provides protective performance that can withstand the rigors of daily use, making it easier and safer to stay hydrated in a chem/bio threat environment. The CBR50i reservoir holds approximately three times the capacity of a standard water canteen. In conjunction with any Avon Protection CBRN mask it is designed to be fully operational in lethal gas and liquid chemical environments after being thoroughly tested at independent U.S. and international testing sites. With a sufficient water supply to last many hours, this new Avon Protection/CamelBak hydration system will negate the need for teams to exit contaminated zones and undergo time-consuming decontamination procedures for hydration breaks. According to John Penton, Avon Protection s market development manager, Our market agreement with CamelBak is an exciting development for Avon Protection and our military and law enforcement customers. CamelBak s hydration technology pedigree is globally acknowledged and so will significantly boost our leading position in providing trusted CBRN protection solutions. System Permits Pilots to See When Landing in Obscured Conditions First, the system has to process a huge amount of millimeter wave radar data, using it to prepare a picture of the landing area below the helo. Moving objects must be displayed, as well as those that remain in a fixed location. Then the picture of the scene must be presented to the pilot, on a screen or in a helmet-mounted visor picture. This can be critical in extraction missions, when the aircraft is landing close to the personnel who require removal from a dangerous location. Pilot training in snowy or brownout conditions also can help to reduce accidents. New Green Laser Diode Weapon Sight Technology Unveiled Power Technology Inc. (PTI) announced the availability of green laser diode modules for weapons sight applications. The 517nm 5mW Green Laser Diode modules offer unmatched brightness compared to other diode laser products. PTI s solution has four distinct advantages: It operates from a single CR123 battery It provides 10 times the operating time of competing DPSS products The solution is robust and rugged unlike competing products that use delicate crystal assemblies It maintains brightness over wide operating temperatures These new laser modules have been engineered specifically to address the needs of high-end sighting applications requiring superior optical quality and stable output powers. The modules produce a small beam that does not expand significantly over long distances. Modules are available for both shortrange and long-range sighting. The optical head measures only 7 mm in diameter by 19 mm in length with electronics located remotely. Optional red and IR wavelengths can be integrated for day/ night sight performance. Walter Burgess, vice president of sales and engineering, stated, The solution we are offering solves many of the integration issues that sight manufacturers face every day, he said. Current green laser diode technology is not compatible with the infrastructure found in today s red and green laser sights. PTI s approach solves this problem by offering a platform containing laser, lens and electronics compatible with a single CR123 battery. SOTECH

22 TM PELICAN > digital protection laptop and portable electronic protection solutions > tactical lights led technology weapon mounts > specialty products rackmount server cases field desks > night Vision and ir tools night vision tools for stealth operations stack With authority The new ISP Case from Pelican-Hardigg virtually eliminates load movement with its lid patent pending Inter Stacking Pattern (isp). Base The system is designed to cube out perfectly across standard logistics platforms for speed and load efficiency. Cross-stacking builds incredibly tight loads that can save time while strapping and netting. Features n 6 sizes from 4 to 25 cf n Watertight with pressure purge valves n Lightweight with load bearing rib design n Casters on select cases n Optimized for: JMIC container 463L pallet 40 x 48 pallet 1000 x 1200 euro pallet Pelican Products, Inc Early Avenue, Torrance, CA (TOLL FREE) Tel Fax All trademarks are registered and/or unregistered trademarks of Pelican Products, Inc., its subsidiaries and/or affiliates.

23 SOF Overseer Q&A Biometrics Systems an Invaluable Aid to Special Operations; Portability Is Key Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) Member House Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee United States Representative Jeff Miller was sworn in as the Congressman of the First Congressional District of Florida in October of In 2010, the people of Northwest Florida sent Congressman Miller back to Washington for a sixth term. Congressman Miller serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where he is a member of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee that oversees special operations programs. He also is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Veterans Affairs. Since coming to Congress, Miller has established himself as one of the staunchest conservatives in the House. In 2011, Miller became the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. The Committee on Veterans Affairs is responsible for authorization and oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA is the second largest department in the federal government with over 300,000 employees and a budget of over $119 billion. He has championed numerous tax relief and veterans measures and fought for less government, less taxes, and more personal freedom. Q: Admiral Eric Olson, USSOCOM commander, has said he sees some fraying at the edges among special operators who have seen a sustained high OPTEMPO. What is the best course of action to reduce the pressure on the force? A: It is truly remarkable what our armed forces continue to accomplish after nearly 10 years of continuous combat operations. Even with the president s decision to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, our special operations and conventional forces will continue to operate under considerable strain. One option proposed by Admiral Olson to relieve that strain included increasing the size of our special operations forces by 3-5 percent annually. Smart integration of our special operators with our conventional forces will make for more effective operations, and will reduce strain on the total force. Q: What emerging technologies do you think show great promise for SOF warriors? A: I have heard great things about certain advances in biometrics. Especially when applied in counterinsurgency environments, these technologies can be invaluable tools for monitoring population movements and identifying threats. Making them more portable and more effective in field environments will enhance our special operators ability to achieve mission success. Q: Will or should special operations expand their reach in cooperative engagements with special operations forces of friendly nations as part of the global fight? A: Integration and engagement in wartime and in peacetime are critical to our successes in current and future operations abroad. Our integration with friendly partners expands their capabilities and enables them to contribute more effectively to ongoing efforts. Engagement in peacetime builds the relationships necessary for executing coordinated contingency operations wherever and whenever they arise. Q: The House Armed Services Committee, and its Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, provided full funding of Pentagon requests for special ops programs in the upcoming fiscal How would you characterize the request and what are some of the most important takeaways in both procurement, and research and development? A: The authorizations included in the National Defense Authorization Act, as passed by the House, are an acknowledgement of the importance of special operations forces to our national defense. The dramatic success of special operations forces in eliminating Osama bin Laden earlier this year was a high-profile reminder that SOTECH

24 investing in special operations capabilities is a highly cost-effective way to pursue our national security goals. Q: Alenia, at the recent Paris air show announced they were investigating the modification of the C-27J to a gunship an idea USSOCOM looked at some time ago. Do you think that USSOCOM should reopen consideration of a lighter gunship option? A: Our AC-130 gunships and their crews have performed marvelously in operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond. I have the utmost faith in the leadership at USSOCOM, and in their ability to plan for the needs of our special operations forces in the future. When our military s leaders approach the Congress with requests for new capabilities, we always take those requests seriously. Q: What can you share with me on the status of the special operations helicopter that was lost in the bin Laden raid? How serious is the possibility that technologies were shared with China by our Pakistani ally? Have we recovered all or any of the elements? A: I don t wish to speculate about what Pakistan may have done with the helicopter in the time before they returned it to the United States government. What is clear is that the United States asked for the return of the helicopter, and Pakistan obliged. Members of 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) conduct maritime training operations onboard MH-47 Chinook helicopters from 4th Battalion 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Solo Point, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. [Photo courtesy of U.S. Army/Major Matthew R. Gregory] Q: What advice would you offer to the new incoming commander of USSOCOM? A: I don t think I should be giving Admiral [William] McRaven any advice, but would welcome any advice he could impart to me. As a member of Congress and as chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I look forward to working with him to serve our warfighters, and to further enhance our special operations capabilities. O Hard Surface International Training Inc. Unimproved Road Course 22 SOTECH 9.5

25 High-tech systems save lives when enemies open fire. By Peter Buxbaum SOTECH Correspondent SOTECH

26 Shot. Two o clock. Three-hundred meters. These or similar words are familiar to generations of warfighters. In the past, it may have taken a few seconds, or even a few gunshots, before a shooter s position could be ascertained. These days, this information is communicated to warfighters almost instantaneously, sometimes by voice through an earpiece attached to a dismounted soldier or through a graphic display on a vehicle-mounted system. These kinds of capabilities are being provided by a number of sniper detection systems that have been designed and developed for use by ground forces. The current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have made personnel particularly vulnerable to sniper fire. U.S. forces face small bands of hit-and-run insurgents with endless places to hide in rural mountainous terrain or densely populated urban environments. Vehicle and environmental noise often prevent personnel from hearing the report of sniper fire or from localizing its source. They might not be aware they are under attack until they hear the ding of a round bouncing off a vehicle or worse. The prevalent sniper detection system used by the U.S. military, called Boomerang, was developed by Raytheon BBN Technologies in 2004 in response to an urgent request from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, better known as DARPA. Boomerang is acoustic-based, meaning that it is equipped to listen through an array of microphones for the bang and crack of sniper gunfire. The U.S. military is currently evaluating other acoustic systems, all of which process signals collected from sensors, alert users to the presence of incoming fire, and provide an indication of the direction and distance of that fire. Warfighters also are testing infrared-based systems that detect the heat signature of a weapon s muzzle flash, systems that claim to offer a more accurate indication of the location of a shooter. These assets range from vehicle-mounted systems to soldier-worn gadgets and are increasingly being used for fixed-site perimeter protection at observation posts and forward operating bases. Boomerang is a passive acoustic system that activates on the shock wave of a supersonic round and, if available, the muzzle blast to pinpoint the location of a hostile shooter. Because the system focuses on the shock wave, there are no false alarms caused by extraneous noises such as door slams or backfires, and line of sight is not required, said Mark Sherman, Raytheon BBN s Boomerang chief. The system has been deployed in both mobile and static environments. It has been successfully deployed on HMMWVs, mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles, Stryker vehicles, light armored vehicles, as well as various other types of military and commercial vehicles. The system s sensors consist of an array of microphones mounted on a mast at one corner of a vehicle. The system has proved to work effectively on vehicles moving at speeds up to 60 mph. BBN has sold over 10,000 Boomerang systems to the U.S. military, according to Sherman. There has been a shift in the use of Boomerang to protect fixed-site locations, Sherman added. The ability to locate a shooter in an urban environment or mountainous terrain is important for self-preservation. Earlier this year BBN was awarded a $54 million contract to provide security against gunshots at sites in Afghanistan. The technology associated with the fixed-site system provides the location of the shooter with greater accuracy than the vehicle-mounted system, Sherman explained. The system installed in vehicles provides a relative o clock positioning of the shooter, he said. The fixed-site system provides precise grid coordinates. Multiple systems can be networked together and information provided to a central command location. The fixed-site system provides an alert to users by pinpointing the location of hostile sharpshooters on a map display. PDCue, another acoustic-based gunshot detection system developed and marketed by AAI Corp., identifies the two signatures associated with a round moving at supersonic speed: the initial muzzle blast, or bang, and the crack as the round pierces the sound barrier. Most sniper weapons fire supersonic rounds such as the 7.62 mm or.50 caliber. We delivered 50 PDCue systems to the U.S. Army that were deployed to Iraq, said Michael Paturzo, managing director, business development, for AAI Test & Training. We understand they were since moved to Afghanistan and that the Army is still evaluating the systems. We haven t heard much more than that and we have not heard any negative feedback. PDCue differs from Boomerang in that it utilizes a distributed array of sensors at four separate points of a vehicle as opposed to the collocated Boomerang sensors mounted on a single corner mast. PDCue s groups of six sensors are arrayed in four small cubes that are mounted at or below the roof line at multiple locations on a vehicle. The system uses the length and width of the vehicle as the aperture to generate target information. The system determines where the shot is coming from by measuring the different timing of the sensors in detecting the shot. The sensors feed data to a processing unit inside the vehicle. The targeting output of PDCue is displayed graphically in the form of a bulls-eye on the vehicle-mounted tablet computer equipped with the proper software. PDCue systems have been mounted on Strykers, HMMWVs, and MRAPs, as well as on helicopters and small boats. PDCue was recently updated so that it can be run on a vehicle-mounted Windows-based computer. We did this to meet the Army s preference for open architecture systems, said Paturzo. If you already have a PC in a vehicle running Windows for another application, you can use the same PC and don t need a unique screen to display PDCue data. This also increases processing speed. Sniper detection systems also come in soldier-wearable variations. QinetiQ set out to develop a miniaturized version of a sniper detection system that was designed from the beginning to be soldier wearable. The system, called SWATS, for Soldier Wearable Acoustic Targeting System, is part of the company s Ears family of products, which now also includes vehiclemounted systems, Ears-VMS, as well as systems for fixed locations, Ears-FSS. SWATS is an acoustic system that uses four microphones contained in a small package measuring 20 cubic inches, including the graphic display of the shooter location. The microphones detect the bang and crack of incoming rounds. Ears is the smallest, lightest, lowest power and lowest profile gunshot localization system available, according to 24 SOTECH 9.5

27 GUNSHOT DETECTION YOU CAN COUNT ON. PDCue FOR WARFIGHTERS AAI s family of PDCue gunshot detection systems is the fastest, most complete and accurate solution on the market. AAI Corporation s highly versatile Projectile Detection and Cueing (PDCue) gunshot detection system (GDS) instantaneously locates and updates the source of single-shot, burst fire, and multiple-shot events in both urban and rural environments. It operates effectively from fixed sites, as well as static and moving platforms. The result is a rugged, all-purpose, all-weather, day/night gunfire detection system that is theater proven and cost effective. To learn more, us at RSC_AAIReg@aai.textron.com or call aaicorp.com 2010 AAI Corporation. All rights reserved. AAI is an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company. AAI and design is a registered trademark of AAI Corporation. PDCue is a registered trademark of AAI Corporation. Photo courtesy U.S. Army.

28 Mike Halas, business development manager for the technology solutions group at QinetiQ North America, with the shoulder-worn system, SWATS, weighing less than one pound. SWATS has become the Army s system of choice for soldier-wearable gunshot detection, he said. The military has ordered several thousand of these systems. Before long, 20,000 will be deployed in theater. SWATS has been integrated with the Land Warrior Program, an integrated fighting system for infantry soldiers that includes weapons systems, helmet, computer, digital and voice communications, positional and navigation systems, protective clothing, and individual equipment. The vehicle mounted and fixed location variations of Ears were developed in collaboration with QinetiQ customers, who realized that the soldier-worn technology could be adapted to other situations. The advantage of mounting a small Ears system on a vehicle, Halas noted, is that it saves space and power, both of which are at a premium. The Ears family of systems is built in a modular fashion so that the same sensor mounted on a soldier s shoulder on a dismounted patrol can then be placed in the vehicle and later in a fixed location when the patrol returns to a forward operating base. The same kit provides gunshot detection for all of these operational phases, said Halas. I m pretty sure no other system moves from the body to the vehicle to the FOB as seamlessly as ours. Boomerang Warrior is a soldier-worn version from Raytheon BBN that provides the same shooter location technology provided by the conventional Boomerang system to individual dismounted soldiers. Boomerang Warrior is integrated into tactical vests and situational awareness systems. The user wears a small ear bud and a small display is attached to the vest. The system provides the o clock position of the shooter and can work with the earpiece, the visual display, or both. Within one second of detection, the soldier hears an immediate alert through an ear piece and can get additional details such as azimuth, elevation and range from the wrist display, said Sherman. It utilizes the same technology as Boomerang to locate and announce shooter locations but is dramatically scaled down in size and weight. The 11-ounce Boomerang Warrior fits on a soldier s shoulder. It presents a very small footprint, said Sherman. When you do that you give up a little on performance, but it meets or exceeds all government requirements for soldier-borne systems. Boomerang Warrior is currently undergoing U.S. military evaluations. A system that boasts a robotic element, as well as a few more bells and whistles than its cohorts, comes from BioMimetic Systems (BMS). Dubbed RedOwl, the system was originally incorporated into an irobot android but has since also been adapted as a soldier-wearable system. The system has been acquired by the U.S. Navy for specialized missions, but has yet to be deployed. The robotic version listens autonomously for sniper fire. When incoming fire is detected, the robot turns toward the source and aims zoom optics and thermal optics laser illuminators on the target. The shooter is put in light that can be seen only through night vision equipment, said Socrates Deligeorges, chief technology officer at BMS. That way we can light up the shooter without him actually knowing it. The system relies on research originally conducted at Boston University that allows the signal processors to mimic the functionality of human Socrates Deligeorges hearing. The difference between our system and other acoustic systems is that our specialized processing is based on the human neural system, said Deligeorges. It processes the signals the same way as the brain. This nontraditional method of processing allows our system to do things other systems can t do, particularly in noisy environments. Within the last year, research on the soldier-worn RedOwl system has advanced so that sensors are networked and warfighters become nodes in a network. Shooter data can be processed centrally to gain more accurate information. The system has also been integrated with command and control and situational awareness systems such as Blue Force Tracker. RedOwl will be undergoing live fire demonstrations later this year. Another system currently being evaluated by the U.S. military in Afghanistan uses infrared technology, and not acoustic sensors, to detect, characterize and locate enemy snipers. Pete Weiland, chief engineer at Radiance Technologies, which makes the WeaponWatch system, noted that acoustic systems typically provide a direction and a distance for a shooter; the infrared sensor, which detects the heat signature of the muzzle blast, he said, is able to pinpoint the exact location of a sniper. An acoustic system will tell you which side of the street the shooter is located on, said Weiland. Infrared sensors will tell you which window he is perched at. One advantage of IR technology is that the sensor does not have to see a flash from a weapon nor hear the discharge of the round. It just has to pass through the sensor s field of view. The technology consists of a sensor camera and processor, said Weiland. The sensor picks up the signature of the gunfire and distinguishes that from possible false alarms. We are also able to classify the type of round such as small arms fire, RPG, or mortar. WeaponWatch has been tested on ground vehicles with good results, according to Weiland. U.S. special operations forces in Afghanistan have acquired dozens of WeaponWatch units for outpost perimeter protection. They have mounted the system on towers, said Weiland. WeaponWatch is good for base protection because the sensor can stare out over a wide area to pick up the flash of a weapon. Weiland also suggested that WeaponWatch could be integrated with Boomerang, with the latter providing a warning and the former pinpointing the location of the shooter. O For more information, contact SOTECH Editor Dave Ahearn at davea@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at 26 SOTECH 9.5

29 The TACLAN $500 Million Prize SOCOM contract for Tactical Local Area Network attracts rivals. By Dave Ahearn, SOTECH Editor Scores of companies are angling for a major IT contract that SOCOM intends to award. The Tactical Local Area Network (TACLAN) contract has been held by igov Technologies Inc. since 2005, a pact that was to have expired on March 31. But the company was awarded a $20 million, upto-six-month extension to September 30 to continue work while SOCOM moves toward a re-competition. That brings the current igov contract up to a total of $470 million, a hefty sum being eyed by many companies. TACLAN provides a network linking troops and higher echelons, including operations planning and reporting, readiness and unit status monitoring, mission rehearsal and execution, planning and analysis, logistics planning, orders dissemination and force execution, and much more. If knowledge is power, knowing what your enemy is doing on the battlefield can be critical to victory for special operators. And TACLAN provides those warfighters with access to an enormous trove of information. This is a major system, so it is easy to see why dozens of firms crowded into a daylong TACLAN pre-solicitation conference that SOCOM held at the Tampa (Fla.) Convention Center March 30. Those companies also are scanning a request for proposals that SOCOM issued. Clearly, as the incumbent in this fight, igov has an edge. But not too much of an edge, according to a government finding that the company doesn t hold an organizational conflict of interest (OCI), an unfair competitive advantage or impaired objectivity. In other words, igov does not have an OCI that would prevent it from competing on the TACLAN procurement. The government will re-examine this issue if questions are raised by other offerors. When the new TACLAN contract is awarded, it will be an indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity pact with a three-year base period and two one-year options, meaning the contract could total up to five years and amount to as much as $500 million, conference attendees were told. SOCOM hopes to award the new TACLAN contract by August 15. Each bidder must ensure support for mission and operational requirements. And that is no small consideration: IT in the 21st century is absolutely essential to the functioning of any business (the magazine you are reading now was written on computers and laid out with artwork on other computers). But when the IT system belongs to SOCOM, it is critical, perhaps controlling whether special operators have everything they need to perform a mission without loss of life. The TACLAN winner should show an ability to enable and improve IT to support mission operations, while increasing control, transparency and accountability over IT operations, according to documents. Keeping costs in check is another goal. TACLAN includes substantial IT hardware, involving routers, hubs, switches, servers, network management and information assurance tools, printers, scanners, cabling, and workstations, all interconnecting deployed users. Users may have light and small, but fully ruggedized, laptops. Radio over Internet protocol capability and video distribution also will be provided. Attendees were told they should provide a plan for a 45 to 60 day transition period from igov handling the program to the winner. Of course, if igov wins, that won t be a problem. The new contract will be awarded to the bidding company that provides best value to the government, considering technical/management factors, past performance and price. Technical/management factors will be given more importance than past performance, while in turn it will be given more importance than price. Some of the firms attending the conference later were asked to evaluate the competition. As the incumbent, igov can argue that it knows the existing system best, and can bring that knowledge and years of experience to the table at no extra cost, whereas another vendor would have to enter a learning curve. But 77 other firms have expressed at least some interest in the TACLAN contract by showing up for the pre-solicitation conference, whether they want to have a go at snaring the main prize as a prime contractor, or are interested in becoming subcontractors to whomever wins the award. This has been a lengthy process that began with the issuance of an original synopsis on November 23. A draft TACLAN proposal was issued at that time. Since then, there have been a score of changes, many involving multiple documents amending the original items. (Please visit for full details, using solicitation number H R-0010.) This is a total small business set-aside contract. However, a small business may partner with a larger business that offers advice, supplies needed hardware or acts in some other role. Aside from igov, these are just some of the companies that sent one to three representatives each to the pre-solicitation conference: BAE Systems CSC Cases2Go Dell DRS Technical Services Inc. EMC Corp. General Dynamics Hewlett Packard Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc. IBM L-3 Northrop Grumman Panasonic Solutions Co. Rockwell Collins SAIC Symantec Corp. O For more information, contact SOTECH Editor Dave Ahearn at davea@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at SOTECH

30 Diving Gear Under the gun and under the sea: SEAL and SOF dive gear is impressive. By Steve Goodman, SOTECH Correspondent When the movie Thunderball came out in 1965, fans may have been amazed by the underwater gadgetry used by secret agent James Bond. Today, in the real world, the elite Navy SEALS and other SOF dive units employ a range of tactical underwater gear that would make even 007 jealous. Recreational and commercial diving equipment is designed to allow divers to operate comfortably underwater for some period of time, said Bruce O Bannon, vice president of Irvine, Calif.-based RJE International Inc. Swimming with the fish, taking photos of coral reefs, exploring a wreck or even having to stay at depth to work on some subsea construction jobs, the design criteria is to make the experience somewhat pleasurable. For SEAL and SOF combat swimmers, the water is only a means of getting to the mission and back again covertly. This makes the approach to designing equipment fall under different and unique parameters. And of course, it has to be reliable under the most extreme conditions. All special forces require special gear. But water is a harsh mistress. Special operators conducting combat or ISR operations in and below the water face the most demanding of conditions. Navy SEALs, Army combat swimmers and divers, and all SOF dive teams train hard. They must be physically and mentally prepared to face not only the enemy, but also anything Mother Nature can throw at them in a deadly and unpredictable environment. Dive commandos rely on their skills and specialized equipment, which must be durable and battle-tested for the sake of their own lives and the lives of their comrades. Eric Heid, former combat diver with both the 7th and 1st U.S. Army Special Forces Group, said, The equipment we use to train with and to dive needs to be virtually indestructible. The advantage we have as combat divers is that we get to procure gear globally. We can get the best equipment available from anywhere in the world. For example, there are great regulators that are U.S.-manufactured, some that are French, or Swiss or German. Currently Heid is director of military operations, foreign and domestic, for Oregon-based USIA. Rebreathers A traditional scuba tank, or aqualung used by most recreational divers, is an open circuit breathing system. A rebreather, on the other hand, is a closed circuit system in which exhaled air, instead of being expelled into the environment with the familiar accompanying trail of bubbles, is reclaimed, reprocessed and made safe for the diver to rebreathe. Rebreathers allow for not only more stealthy dives, critical in SOF operations, they also significantly increase dive time. Navy SEALs use two types of rebreathers for shallow and deepwater dives. The LAR V made by Draeger, headquartered in Germany, is a 100 percent oxygen rebreather, designed for shallow water dives, with a maximum depth of around 70 feet. U.S. Army combat divers also use the LAR V for shallow water dive ops. But the real beauty of rebreather technology is that rather than the compressed air found in ordinary scuba tanks, military rebreathers use 100 percent oxygen, or for deepwater operations, nitrox or some other combination of oxygen-enriched gases. These mixed gas rebreathers have a greater oxygen content and a lower nitrogen content than normal air, which allows for extended dive times and deeper maximum depths. The MK16 mixed gas rebreather used by the Navy SEALs allows divers to reach a maximum depth of 1,800 feet. The MK16 is supplied by Cobham and their U.S. affiliate, Carleton Life Support Systems Inc., located in Davenport, Iowa one of the best-known suppliers of rebreathers for SEALs and other SOF dive teams. Cobham military rebreathers are in service anywhere there are SOF divers, from the Arctic to the equator. Cobham has a full line of MK16 electronically controlled rebreathers and derivatives designed to fulfill a variety of special ops roles. Another well-known supplier of all types of military dive gear including closed-circuit rebreathers, is Aqualung/U.S. Divers. In 2000, the parent company of the Aqualung group, Aqualung International, formed the International Military & Professional Operations Department. The division was designed to bring together the wealth of knowledge within the company in development of equipment for military and professional diving, and leverage that experience exclusively for the research, development and distribution of specialized military products. According to the company, Aqualung has generated about $1 billion in annual revenue since 2005, and about 15 percent of that, or $150 million, has come from global military sales. The military division in the U.S. is based in Vista, Calif. Aqualung s 100 percent oxygen rebreather, the Full Range Oxygen Gas System (FROGS) was recently tested by NATO, and chosen as a replacement for the LAR VI by French Navy special forces divers. British special forces divers also use the LAR V rebreather for shallow water operations; however, when deeper water operations are called for, UKSF divers turn to the Stealth Rebreather made by Divex. Divex operates from its global headquarters in Westhill, Aberdeen, U.K. After undergoing rigorous side-by-side testing with other offerings including the MK16, the Royal Navy began using the Stealth CDLSE (Clearance Divers Life Support Equipment) in Today the RN has over 50 units in service. According to a Divex press release, the Stealth CDLSE is a state-of-the-art compact and highly sophisticated electronically controlled rebreather, adding that the CDLSE is capable of being used in multi-mission diving profiles. It has been developed utilizing modern materials and new technologies. Its extremely low WoB (Work of Breathing) surpasses international standards, and, crucial to mine clearance diving operations, it surpasses all NATO non-magnetic and low acoustic standards. Dive Suits Diving suits worn by SEALs and other SOF divers are not your typical wetsuit; they also differ from the drysuits used by commercial 28 SOTECH 9.5

31 L3pc.com/water or call

32 and professional divers. When diving with any kind of rebreather, a SEAL or other underwater special operator is required to wear a drysuit. Unlike wetsuits, which allow a small portion of water to get into the suit, drysuits have been designed to keep all water out, providing a layer of protection and thermal insulation between the skin of the wearer and the surrounding water. This is accomplished with a form-fitting design and the use of watertight seals at all possible entry points, i.e., the wrists, neck and ankles. Another distinctive feature of drysuits is that since they seal completely, they can be inflated via an inflation valve. This way the wearer can make adjustments to the buoyancy of the suit. On some drysuits, the vent valve will work automatically, as the diver descends or ascends, while on others the diver has to operate the valve manually. Military drysuits usually add further protection against cuts and abrasions to the suit. USIA provides drysuit technology to many branches of DoD. The company was recently awarded a contract by the Department of Homeland Security for delivery of their light suits, and has recently introduced a line of operator systems designed exclusively for the unique needs of SOF divers. USIA is one of the top designers and manufactures of drysuits, said Heid. We are using some of the newest fabrics; we have some new technologies on the horizon. We feel that our bag suit, or the single cover suit, is the best option for combat divers, and a lot of combat divers agree with that. A bag suit has been designed to be a single garment that can be worn by the combat diver in the water and once he arrives on land to carry out his mission. They are tear and impact resistant and can even be interwoven with ballistic panels. Viking Diving, a division of Trelleborg Protective Products, also is a battle-proven supplier of military dive suits, as is San Diego-based Diving Unlimited International. DUI s drysuits are in use by SEALs, U.S. Army combat divers and USCG rescue swimmers. Northern Diver is the exclusive contractor with the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MoD) for military dry suits. All Northern Diver drysuits are built to exceptionally high standards, and are used by the Royal Marines and all U.K. special forces. Several Northern suits used by UKSF are proprietary. According to the company, Our ability to adapt to specific requirements has helped the MoD improve their range of suits, which are used by U.K. forces worldwide. Nav Gear Portable underwater navigation devices have been designed specifically for Navy SEALs and other tactical divers to be individually worn, or used with submersible vehicles. RJE International specializes in the supply of diver navigation systems, acoustic marking and relocation equipment, and diver sonars for subsea mine location and salvage, O Bannon said. Our diver navigation boards or combat swim boards are standard issue with SEAL and SOF divers, both here and worldwide. We also supply underwater acoustic beacons for marking subsea vehicles like SVDs and DPDs or cache equipment for recovery later by divers. For subsea mine location, we supply a non-mag diver sonar that has become a standard with military EOD [explosive ordinance disposal] divers worldwide. According to O Bannon, the company is poised to introduce the next gen in diver navigation. We are just a few months away from introducing a new diver navigation platform that will operate like a true underwater GPS platform. It will allow a diver to navigate autonomously underwater while providing real-time situational awareness. Small and lightweight, it will be supported with mission planning software and the option to assist in hydrograph beach surveys by creating subsea maps. U.K.-based technology innovator QinetiQ has developed and demonstrated their Diver Reconnaissance System (DRS). The DRS was specifically designed for use in shallow littoral waters, for EOD dive teams working mines countermeasures operations. The DRS is based on a handheld swim board concept. It can receive various sensor data and log and display mission critical information. According to a company press release, the DRS incorporates a high frequency, forward looking sonar search capability with highly accurate navigation technologies, a data recording facility and userfriendly display. Also based in the United Kingdom, BAE Systems has deployed the Divers Electronic Beach Reconnaissance Aid (DEBRA). DEBRA is used by the Royal Navy. It consists of a durable, corrosionresistant swim board and incorporates an electronic compass, a Doppler velocity log, and GPS. DEBRA also automatically logs depth and height above the seabed, making it an ideal tool for beach reconnaissance. Dive Masks SOF divers typically are forced to conduct missions in areas of extremely poor water visibility, such as harbors, rivers and coastal zones. Reading critical life support status of a rebreather, and/ or any number of other underwater NAV devices or wrist displays can be nearly impossible under such conditions. Not to mention that SOF divers often have their hands full with underwater survey or other gear. This prompted development of the Combat Data Display Mask (CDDM), a joint project between San Leandro, Calif.-based Oceanic, and the U.S. Navy Coastal Systems Station in Panama City, Fla. The project led to development of Oceanic s DataMask. Basically a heads-up display for the diver, it allows true hands-free diving. According to company specs, the DataMask contains a miniature liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, proprietary digital optic system, microprocessor, depth transducer, wireless cylinder pressure receiver, diver replaceable battery and controlling software. The mini LCD provides views of depth, bottom time and tank pressure information, while the diver s eyes can remain focused on the dive environment at all times. The Naval Sea Systems Command has authorized purchase and use of the CDDM by Navy/Marine Corps diving units. The DataMask is currently commercially available from Oceanic Worldwide. Another SOF dive mask, the Combat Divers Full Facemask, (CDFFM) was recently fielded by the Marine Corps. The CDFFM was designed by Kirby Morgan Dive Systems, based on their KMS-48, a commercially available dive mask. The CDDFM was specifically designed to make it easier for Marines to communicate underwater. With the previously used half masks, Marines had to use hand signals, or other com gear, but the CDFFM allows them to simply talk underwater, just as they would on the surface. The mask can be used with a number of diving systems, including standard scuba and MK class rebreathers. 30 SOTECH 9.5

33 Dive Vehicles In 2000 USSOCOM issued a request for proposal for a new diver propulsion vehicle (DPV). Stidd Systems of Greenport, N.Y., was issued a production contract for their diver propulsion device (DPD) as a result. Ever since, Stidd has been developing and delivering highperformance submersible boats and diver propulsion vehicles for all U.S. special operations forces. The DPD is still the most widely used military-grade underwater propulsion device in the world. But do not confuse the DPD with recreational underwater scooters. This is a rugged, battle-tested device that, according to the company, enables SOF divers to travel farther and faster with more payload than with any other diver propulsion vehicle. The DPD has an operating depth of over 80 meters, and an onboard mission planning and submerged navigation system. SEAL teams not only use one and two-man DPVs, they still employ a mini-sub. First introduced in the 1970s, the swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV) has gone through a few incarnations. The current and only model deployed is the Mark VIII Mod 1. It is an electrically-propelled torpedo-like craft, which typically operates from a dry deck shelter fitted to a full-size U.S. nuclear submarine. Four SEALs and two crewmen can ride in the SDV, wearing rebreathers. Once the sub mothership has reached its deployment point, the dock floods and the SDV is launched. After a mission, it returns to the docking bay. The Mark VIII is outdated and reaching the end of its operational life. It was slated to be replaced with the Advanced SEAL Delivery System mini-sub, which would have allowed SEALs to travel without the need to wear diving gear. But the only prototype was destroyed in a fire, and funding to the program was cut. In 2009 an RFP, solicitation number H R-0005, was issued by USSOCOM to replace the Mark VIII with a more modern mini-sub that they refer to as a shallow water combat submersible (SWCS). According to the RFP, SWCS will require development of an integrated bridge system with a commercial off-the-shelf open architecture, a power and signal distribution system capable of integrating various electronic systems and sensors, and the capability to display operational data to the vehicle pilot and navigator. No Safe Harbor Navy SEALs, Army combat divers, and other SOF divers operate in the most demanding and unforgiving element of any engagement or rescue operation. As manufacturers, said USIA s Heid, it s not our job to tell the customer what they want and what they need to use. Our job really is to ask them OK, how do you want something done, and we ll start working from there. Not always will you meet the customer s dream, but you can try real hard to get there. It is only through the unique combination of training, skills, peak physical condition and commitment by manufacturers to provide them with the most durable, most reliable gear available, that SOF combat divers are able to guarantee there is not a safe harbor anywhere for our nation s enemies. O Compromise Elsewhere! AR-75 Vehicle-Mounted Booster Amps 75 watts of power Fast automatic switching Separate antenna ports for line-of-sight & satellite communications Switchable LNA and co-site filters Waterproof AR-50 (JITC Certified) 50 watts of power Fast automatic switching Switchable LNA and co-site filters Small size KMW2030 (JITC Certified) 125 watts of power Automatic band switching option UHF co-site filtering eliminates interference from nearby transmitters Protection against VSWR, antenna mismatch, over temperature, excessive current draw and DC power mismatch KMW1031 Kit The lightest 20-watt amplifier kit on the market at less than 2.5 lbs. Fully automatic band-switching No VSWR fault or reset required Single battery full spec operation Waterproof Kit includes amplifier, MHz antenna, RF cables, battery cable & tactical vest pouches for both the amp and the antenna. All AR products are backed by the 3 year no nonsense warranty. These state-of-the-art amplifiers support tactical waveforms including DAMA, SINCGARS, HAVEQUICK, HPW, IW and ANW2. GSA Contract Number GS-07F-0371U. Call us at or visit us at For more information, contact SOTECH Editor Dave Ahearn at davea@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at modular rf Other ar divisions: rf/microwave instrumentation receiver systems ar europe Copyright 2011 AR. The orange stripe on AR products is Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM. Off. The Battle Tested logo is Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM. Off. # 3,821, SOTECH

34 Chutes maneuver and target landings to let paratroopers down gently. By Christian Bourge SOTECH Correspondent It s been centuries since the Chinese first used rudimentary parachutes in the 1100s and Leonardo da Vinci designed his pyramid frame tent roof chute sometime between 1483 and Comparatively, it s only been 92 years since Army Major E.L. Hoffman was given command of the U.S. military s first parachute development team that included J. Floyd Smith, the pioneering inventor of the manually operated parachute. In more recent years, significant advancements in military parachute design have provided technological leaps and bounds that are taking parachuting into areas impossible to think of when Smith tested his 28-foot parachute ripcord deployment model from 1,500 feet and began the modern age of parachuting. In many ways we live in a golden age of military parachute design, with contemporary advancement in personal jump technology allowing for higher and longer distance jumps as well as significantly increased landing safety. In the aerial deployment arena, technological advancements now allow for precision landings guided by automated GPS monitoring and servo-steered systems that provide relatively accurate drops of everything from medical supplies and water to ammunition and robots. Richard Benney, who leads the Aerial Delivery Equipment and Systems Division of the Warfighter Protection & Aerial Delivery Directorate at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center, told Special Operations Technology that Department of Defense interest in and development of both cargo and personnel parachute technology for wartime use has not only grown in the last decade and a half but continues unabated. 32 SOTECH 9.5

35 We re still on a major growth curve, said Benney. It s [the latest parachute technology] proving its reliability and proving it every day. Both individual jumps and cargo airdrops have increased DoD-wide over the last decade, particularly as a result of operations in Afghanistan, according to DoD and parachuting industry officials. Recognition grew that more advanced individual personnel airdrop delivery systems could help place soldiers more directly where they are needed. Precision airdrop cargo delivery systems can not only ensure supplies reach deployed soldiers right off aircraft in difficult conditions, it also can help offset the need to put fixed wing and rotor-based aircraft on the ground, thereby lowering potential threats and increasing the often clandestine nature of troop activities in hostile areas. With increased use and technological advancement also came the realization that parachutes can not only continue helping the U.S. military do more and more things once thought impossible, they can continue to ensure soldiers on the ground and their supply units are doing it faster, better and with greater levels of precision. If funding is any indication, interest in us as an institution remains high, said Benney. We have been growing personnel-wise, technology-wise and have had more interest and more customers now for 10 to 15 years. JC Berland, chief technology officer for Pennsauken, N.J.-based parachute design and manufacturing firm Airborne Systems Inc., told SOTECH that while parachute technology is found military-wide, from a development standpoint his firm is really focused on developing parachuting tools for special operations forces because they adopt the most advanced technologies. They are very, very receptive, said Berland. We have a very symbiotic relationship with them. They know what they want and they are open minded in terms of solutions. Special Operations Latest Chute Technology While there are a host of companies that supply parachuting technology based on military spec, such as the T-11 systems used by the Army for regular troop jumps, others push the technological envelope. One of the largest is Airborne, a subsidiary of Solon, Ohio-based HDT Global. They provide the MC-6 steerable system for special operations use. Developed through the Special Operations Forces Tactical Assault Parachute System (SOFTAPS) program for precision infiltration, the MC-6 replaced the MC-1 steerable parachutes in U.S. military use, particularly for big Army and utilizes the SF-10A modified round parachute, which has been in use by special forces for more than 10 years. Airborne s Berland told SOTECH that while reliable and effective, the system will surely be eclipsed in the not too distant future for special operations use by ram air-based airfoil systems, rectangular or tapered parachute designs that control speed and direction much in the same way as paragliders. It s not really the most ultimate parachute, said Berland said of the MC-6. Special operations ram air parachutes are the way of the future. The next generation ram [air] is really going to make a big difference. Airborne already has 700 of its Raider High Glide ram air units in Marine Corps service. Berland said it provides a much higher level of maneuverability and the highest glide performance in the industry. He noted that while competing products offer less than four feet per second descent glide, the High Glide is designed to descend at six feet per second from as high as 35,000 feet with a high level of maneuverability that is key to more precise landing in high mountainous terrain such as Afghanistan. This is the highest performance parachute in terms of glide, said Berland. There is no equivalent. We re definitely a generation ahead of everybody. This system is about innovation. Despite the superiority of ram air parachutes for many uses, Ted Strong, the owner of Orlando, Fla.-based Strong Enterprises and a long-time player in the military parachute arena, cautioned against counting out the venerable round parachute just yet. He argued that there are a nearly infinite number of ways to approach chute construction, from fabric choice to size and opening design, that have helped keep in the engineering matrix all these years. Strong has been in the parachute design and production business since the early 1960s, building the first tandem jumping system in 1983, and his firm still produces the first 26-foot round canopy system that received FAA approval for use as an emergency parachute some 20,000-30,000 units later. Even through round parachutes have been around for close to 100 years, there are still different unique things you can do with them, said Strong. The Future of Air-Dropped Cargo Delivery One of the significant limitations for placing small groups of special operations forces on the ground in hostile environment via parachute is not only the potential enemies they meet but the limited amount of equipment they can carry. No matter how robust, current personnel parachute system designs can only carry so much. This is where the state of the art in aerial cargo delivery systems comes into play. Benney said that while they still pale in comparison to the use of old-fashioned dumb parachute drops, special operations units as well as big military are increasingly taking advantage of specialized, GPS-guided drop systems to provide needed supplies to deployed troops. Strong Enterprises up-to-2,000-pound delivery Screamer GPS-guided system, which relies on scaled-up parafoils that are based on sport parachute design, was first used in Afghanistan in Though still produced, they are now being phased out of use, largely being dropped into combat areas and not retrieved and being replaced with next generation systems implemented through the Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) program. That program combined the Army s Precision and Extended Glide Airdrop System program with the Air Force s Precision Airdrop System (PADS) into a joint standards requirement for industry partners. Strong has followed the Screamer with several precision cargo efforts, including the 20- to 500-pound AGU-based GPAD system called the Mosquito that is in the last stage of development for Army use. Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Atair Aerospace Inc. is one significant player in the industry/ military precision cargo partnership as the result of a new Marine contract. In April, the firm received a $45 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity pact for the Joint Precision Air Drop System Ultra Light Weight (JPADS-ULW) with Boeing subsidiary Argon ST. That calls for procurement, testing, delivery, training and logistical support from the Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Va., for its Onyx UL system. The ultralight steerable canopy system can deliver cargo loads from 250 to 700 pounds from up to 25,000 feet using an automatic hardware and software based altitude control, glide management system to resupply small units on the ground. Rick Zaccari, Atair chief operating officer, told SOTECH that the reusable system s SOTECH

36 automated airborne guidance unit (AGU) receives no guidance from inside the launching aircraft or ground units, taking advantage of GPS signals for touch-downs accurate to 50 meters. It basically works like a flying robot, said Zacari. The glide system basically tells the computer how to steer. It s one thing to be able to [maneuver] to a point on the ground where it is highly accurate, but payload survivability is [also] key. It sets down softly every time. Atair is in the process of testing a micro light version of the system, designed to handle 10- to 150-pound drops, intended for sensor or medical equipment deliveries through the Joint Forces Command that can be launched from UAVs as well as more traditional piloted aircraft. Airborne produces competing guided precision aerial delivery systems (GPADS) with its MicroFly, FireFly, and DragonFly technology capable of delivering payloads from 100 pounds to 10,000 pounds. Its 2,000-pound FireFly and 10,000-pound DragonFly systems are currently in use by the U.S. military, particularly in Afghanistan. Still in development, the MegaFly and GigaFly are intended to increase automated payload delivery to over 40,000 pounds. Airborne s Berland, Atair s Zaccari, and Natick s Benney all said they foresee uses of both the micro- and ultra-light systems far beyond the battlefield, such as in disaster relief, particularly in areas or situations where putting troops or aircraft on the ground is not feasible or desirable. Benney noted that one issue with early JPADS systems was that they don t know where the mountains are since this wasn t a design requirement. However, Natick and industry engineers have begun loading geographic elevation data into guidance systems to correct for issues seen in Afghanistan, with plans for it to be a requirement for all systems. Now they swoop into a valley and into tight crevices, said Benney. That has been a significant technology investment for Natick that is transitioning now and being used in operations. Next Generation and Beyond As the geographic data improvement demonstrates, the future of military cargo air drops extends far past the systems currently in use. Airborne s Berland, Atair s Zaccari, and Natick s Benney all pointed to the need for soldiers to recover all or part of current GPAD systems as a major concern. This takes not only time but places special operations as well as other soldiers often receiving payloads in mountainous and other rough terrain in further potential danger. Concerns over enemies capturing the technology and potential for reverse engineering have reportedly at least partially contributed to their limited use. The issue with these systems in combat is the retrograde problem, said Berland. The last thing these guys want to do is retrograde the equipment. One of the reasons that these systems are not used to the extent we would like is the recovery of the equipment. Natick is currently leading an effort to field a removable and reusable modular guidance unit that could be used with multiple systems. Airborne and Atair are participating in the modified airborne guidance unit (MAGU) development, which Benney said could help recover 50 percent of the cost of individual systems by removing key technologies like the GPS, avionics and systems in a self-contained unit. The parachute design industry is keen on the idea of going past this near-term goal of removable guidance systems by producing single-use systems that don t have to be recovered because they self-destruct or are made in a way that is not easily detected and reverse engineered. Atair is currently developing a one-shot guidance system that used very few metal parts, to hinder detection and preclude reverse engineering. Airborne has a 2,000-pound delivery system that Berland said is close to being demonstrated by the end of the summer and can be produced at a fraction of the cost that DoD believes it can be done. When you are fighting a war, the last thing you want to do is mess with equipment, said Berland. One of the major [development efforts] at the moment is to come up with a system that has the exact performance as the current system but is a stand-alone system. My personal view and this is just JC talking the ultimate solution is a one-shot. That s where I see the technology going. The one-shot ideal is already being seen with the firm s development of a single-use ram air parachute for its GPADS offerings as an easy-to-use alternative to the 20-drop recoverable chute that is standard to the system, with the same advertised performance characteristics. Industry-wide, there are efforts to manufacture single-use parachutes from biodegradable material, and Natick is examining the use of dissolvable materials for manufacturing chutes. Ultimately, such design directions are just the beginning of where parachute technology can go. GPADS systems are seen as having a host of other applications. Zaccari noted how Atair is attempting to take its Onyx system to the next level, using a propeller system to enable sustained flight for distributive data or surveillance operations. Natick is also working with industry partners on everything from a means to relay weather and other information wirelessly in real time, to systems improving drop accuracy and ensuring the ability for multiple cargo drops to recognize where they are so they don t collide. They are also examining means for adjusting drag ratio in real-time while in flight. Other potential technological enhancements would improve not only GPAD systems but also personnel drops, include the addition of head- or body-mounted display units and even night vision displays for soldiers. That could provide situational awareness and mission planning data that can be integrated with cargo communication systems to provide information about cargo dropped with troops. There are also efforts to potentially not only integrate weapons into individual parachute systems, but make parachutes themselves stealthier. Airborne s Berland said they are getting a lot of interest in their new high altitude oxygen system, which they believe has great special operations potential. He said the highpressure system increases breathing capacity over existing high altitude jump systems by 40 percent, allowing someone to jump from a high glide at 35,000 feet. With such technological advancements already here and even greater ones on the horizon, Natick s Benney said that the sky still remains the limit on how far parachute technology can be taken. I don t think we ve reached the glass ceiling of how far we can innovate in the technology, said Benney. Hopefully that will continue, because we certainly love to support the warfighter. O For more information, contact SOTECH Editor Dave Ahearn at davea@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at 34 SOTECH 9.5

37 The advertisers index is provided as a service to our readers. KMI cannot be held responsible for discrepancies due to last-minute changes or alterations. Advertisers Index AAI AR Modular RF Cases2Go Cases2Go David Clark Company Force Protection International Training Inc John Deere...C3 L-3 C2S L-3 GCS...C2 L-3 Ruggedized Command and Control Systems L-3 Communication Systems-West...C4 Pelican-Hardigg Calendar July 25-27, th Night Vision Systems Washington, D.C. area August 9-11, 2011 IDGA Military Vehicles Exhibition & Conference Detroit, Michigan August 16-19, 2011 AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America Washington, D.C. August 23-25, 2011 LandWarNet Tampa,Fla. lwn11/public/mainhall.aspx August 29-September 1, 2011 Soldier Equipment & Technology Expo & Conference Fort Bragg, N.C. September 19-21, 2011 AFA Air & Space Conference National Harbor, Md. October 10-12, 2011 AUSA Annual Meeting Washington, D.C. November 1-2, 2011 SOFEX Fort Bragg, N.C. sales@cases2go.com GS-02F-0225P Single Source Foam Fabrication OEM Solutions MILSPEC Compliant ATA 300, CAT 1 NATIONAL PELICAN AND PELICAN-HARDIGG DEALER Next Issue Cover and In-Depth Interview with: Major General Michael Repass Commander Special Operations Command Europe (Invited) Features Rangefinders Get an overview of everything in rangefinders: reticles, adaptability to different rifles, windage adjustments, illumination, accuracy and more. Batteries/Solar Power Systems We examine the ever-increasing electrical power needs of personnel as the amount of electronic gear that each of them carries increases markedly. We also probe the proliferation of vehiclemounted electronic gear. Ammunition August 2011 Volume 9, Issue 6 Special Section Sniper Equipment We focus on a panoply of gear used by special ops snipers, including rifles, ammo, muzzle brake flash/noise suppressors, sights and lights, and more. Join us as we assess the types of ammo being used by special operators now, and what other ammo is available or in development. We scope out relative advantages and drawbacks in various types of ammo: accuracy, range, stopping power and more. Bonus Distribution AUVSI Soldier Equipment and Technology Expo Fort Bragg Insertion Order Deadline: July 27, 2011 Ad Materials Deadline: August 3, SOTECH

38 Industry Interview Special Operations Technology Chris Heavens Vice President and General Manager AR Modular Q: How are you positioned for a future in the military market? A: Technology has never stood still and so we, too, have evolved new designs, using the latest RF devices and always striving to make more power in smaller packages, like our AR-50 50W multiband amplifier system that is about half the size of its predecessor, and units with more efficiency than in the past, like the latest KMW W amplifier that uses half the power of the previous model. Military communications are undergoing changes too, with a move away from the old concept of hub and spoke communications between a few key individuals and locations to a world where everybody needs to be able to reach out and touch someone on the other side of the planet in real time. So networking and big Internet Protocol pipes in the sky are an essential part of everybody s world. Q: What is your product offering specifically keyed to the special operations warrior? A: Smaller and lighter packages are vital for special operations forces warriors. Systems need to be capable of being multi-faceted yet easy to use. AR Modular RF s product line spans much of the VHF, UHF and SHF communications bands [30 to 2000 MHz] with powers from 20W up to 200W in our standard family of communications amplifiers, but customer-specific units of many hundreds of watts have been built for those who need a little more reach than normal. Ruggedness has been key to our success and our ultra-low return rates are proof of our effective designs. The 20W man portable unit our KMW1031 is fully submersible to 60+ feet, and other systems like our vehicle units the bigger 50W and 75W units, the AR-50 and AR-75 have been tested to meet the demanding requirements of SOF helicopters, submarines, SOF Zodiacs and large warships, to name but a few. Satellite access (SATCOM) is key to modern communications, and our units offer switchable low-noise receiver amplifiers with extra co-site filtering. By the end of the year all our products will offer these kinds of features. Q: What s your connection to the defense market and how is your company positioned? A: We work with many of the major prime vendors: for instance, Lockheed, Rockwell, Thales and Harris, as well as system integrators and specialty communications vendors like Sierra Nevada, BAE Systems and Booz Allen Hamilton, all of whom are working on leading edge projects and programs. Sometimes we can offer something from our wide line of standard products, and sometimes we are able to design a ground up new design for a very specific requirement. This keeps us abreast of the market and on our toes from a manufacturing and technology point of view. A few years ago we took on a project for a series of submarine VHF band 400 watt communications amplifiers that needed a ground up new design, and yet we completed the project in less than six months! Q: How do your customers benefit from the years of experience in RF design? A: AR Modular RF has stayed faithful to its core business, which has always been RF amplifier design. Because we ve been doing just that one thing for the past 40 years, we have an immense pool of embedded knowledge several of our staff have been with us years or more that we can bring to bear on a new project or program. Custom designs are often a modification of one of the many designs that we have done in recent years, so we can bring a product into production very quickly rather than starting from scratch each time. A bonus to the reuse of existing design work is that new designs have some legacy and field credibility factor, so our confidence factor is very high. Q: What is the SOF community asking from you for the future? A: Well, obviously more of the same but in a smaller package. That goes almost without saying! But also they want smarter equipment that can deal with the new software-defined radio products with all the new fancy networking like ANW2 and high performance SATCOM performance like IW that enables more capacity over the existing systems. Also, we are moving up band to cover the networking bands up to 2000 MHz with our new designs. Q: Any last thoughts? A: Yes. Although the military market isn t our whole business, it s a very important part of our business not only from a fiscal point of view but from a sense of purpose. It s not just smart technology, it s technology that supports a group of very special people who maintain our freedom. We know that they stand on the line for us all and it makes us very proud to be a small part in their success. Our battle tested logo means a great deal to us and also to the folk who use our equipment! O 36 SOTECH 9.5

39 GATOR VS. Deployments For every Operation: A full line-up of mission capable vehicles. With features like atbed convertible cargo boxes. JP8, diesel and gas engines. Up to 44 mph top speeds. Payloads up to 1,650 lb.* Custom-engineered suspensions. Even a fully autonomous model. All built John Deere strong for when it s wheels up.visit JohnDeere.com/ Military or MilitarySales@JohnDeere.com for more information. *Passengers and cargo. M-GATOR A2 R-GATOR UGV M-GATOR A1 GATOR XUV 825i

40 IT S LIKE HAVING YOUR OWN TACTICAL OPERATIONS CENTER Use of this U.S. DoD image does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. ROVER 4 Receiver ROVER 4 Laptop ROVER 4 Omni Antennas Advanced Network Centric Solutions from L-3 L-3 s ROVER products deliver networking capabilities that are truly seamless and interoperable across all platforms and services. Now all ground, airborne and satellite communications can be integrated to improve situational awareness, accelerate the exchange of information and shorten decision times, including the sensor-to-shooter timeline. Visit L-3com.com/csw to see the difference our network can make to everyone, everywhere, now. Communication Systems-West L-3com.com