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Untitled-1 1 9/16/16 9:55 AM Land Surviellance See beyond it Ad.indd 1 3/18/16 3:34 PM APRIL/MAY 2017

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08 air power INSECT REPELLENT Small-sized UAVs are becoming an important capability in the infantry soldier’s toolset, Beth Stevenson explains.

14 18 24 30 TURING SEA POWER LAND WARFARE LAND WARFARE YOU CAN’T DANCE AND CLIMB VELOCITAS ERADICO SOMETHING’S TANKED UP IN THE SAME SHOES Electromagnetic technology offers HAPPENING HERE Stephen W. Miller studies how Waveforms are a perplexing to many. promise to naval operations, both Beth Stevenson examines some contemporary combat operations Thomas Withington demystifies this for armaments and aircraft carrier of the latest technologies being are influencing main battle tank puzzling, yet hugely important, area of catapults, Dr. Alix Valenti explains. adopted to assist soldiers in procurement and upgrades. tactical communications. improving their situational awareness.

AN ARMADA INTERNATIONAL COMPENDIUM SUPPLEMENT

Armada2017 compence Technologyd iuanalysis m 36 38 : The TrusTed source for defen STIRLING FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES COMPENDIUM – MEGA CITY WAR IT’S COLD OUTSIDE BACK TO THE FUTURE Dr. Alix Valenti launches Armada’s first Andrew White details the increasing requirement Laser weapons are back in vogue, yet hurdles ever compendium examining Military for special forces to perform operations in cold remain until such weapons can be deployed Operations In Urban Terrain, and the climates, and accompanying recent technological operationally, Dr. Alix Valenti finds out. technologies and doctrines helping the developments. world’s armed forces fight in urban areas.

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AAR 5 Expodefensa 33 ON THE COVER: Aeronautics 5 FLIR C2 Investment is flowing into arctic warfare capabilities Aimpoint 7 FNSS 13 for commandos, as detailed in Andrew White’s It’s Cold Outside article © US DOD Aselsan 21 IDET 15 april/May 2017. Issue 02. final Armada Cover Apr-May 17.indd 1 3/14/17 5:39 PM Astronics 17 IMDEX 17 AUSA 43 International Summit Cover 3 CanSec Cover 2 on Borders

Volume 41 , Issue No. 2, April/May 2017 Controp 11 ISDEF 35, 39

Published bi-monthly by Media Transasia Ltd. Counter Terror Expo Cover 4 Otokar 23 Copyright 2012 by Media Transasia Ltd. Publishing Office: Media Transasia Ltd., 1603, D&S Thailand 49 Saab 7 16/F, Island Place Tower, 510 King’s Road, Hong Kong Datron Cover 4 Singapore Airshow 45 Editor: Thomas Withington General Manager: Jakhongir Djalmetov DSEI 41 TADTE Cover 3 International Marketing Manager: Roman Durksen Digital Manager: David Siriphonphutakun Dubair Airshow 47 Sales & Marketing Coordinator: Wajiraprakan Punyajai Graphic Designer: Khakanaa Suwannawong Production Manager: Kanda Thanakornwongskul Group Circulation Manager: Porames Chinwong Chairman: J.S. Uberoi President: Egasith Chotpakditrakul THIS MONTH ON ARMADAINTERNATIONAL.COM Chief Financial Officer: Gaurav Kumar

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Out You Go!

he outgoing French Presi- defence and security policy. dent François Hollande said On 23rd June 2016, the UK voted to leave the during an interview pub- EU, following its referendum on membership of lished on 6th March that the the organisation. EU leaders must make it clear United Kingdom should be not only to the UK, but to other EU members Toffered a role in any further integration of which may contemplate a similar withdrawal European Union (EU) defence and security policy. that departing the club has its costs. The UK has Mr. Hollande was prepared to make this of- been strident in its opposition towards greater fer despite the UK’s expected departure from the EU defence and security cooperation, vetoing the “supranational organisation by 2019. The British establishmentAD of a single EU military headquar- Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to for- ters in Brussels in 2011, and resisting increases to mally trigger Article 50 of the Treaty on European the budget of the European Defence Agency; the Union, the formal mechanism for leaving the EU, agency which fosters closer defence cooperation before the end of March. amongst EU members. While Mr. Hollande will not be a candidate in Moreover, the desire of Ms. May to cosy up to the forthcoming French presidential election, the President Donald Trump (she was the first for- first round of which is to be held on 23rd April, his eign leader to visit the US’ new commander-in- successor will play an important role, alongside chief) should be another reason why the UK must the EU’s other heads of government in deciding be kept at arms length in any future convergence what defence and security relationship the UK of EU defence and security policy. Mr. Trump has is to have with the EU once it exits the club. The made no secret of his dislike of the EU, stating in a departure will follow the conclusion of the newspaper interview on 16th January that the EU Article 50 negotiations which are expected to was “basically a means to and end for Germany,” take around two years. and predicting that “more countries will leave,” The UK and France maintain a strong defence the European Union. The closeness of the UK to relationship. In 2010, the two countries signed the the US risks bringing Mr. Trump’s potentially Lancaster House Treaty, which enhances mutual malevolent influence into the supranational or- defence and security cooperation across the de- ganisation at precisely the moment when it must fence industrial, operational, armed forces and work towards deepening its political and eco- nuclear weapons spheres. Yet Mr. Hollande is nomic integration: another reason why the UK, making a mistake in encouraging the UK and the and its potentially malign influence, must be kept Thomas Withington, EU to be involved in any deepening of future EU firmly out of the club once it leaves. Editor

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Untitled-3 1 2017-01-20 15:01:03 air Power

IINSNSEECTCT REREPPEELLLLEENTNT Technology getting ever smaller while needs increase are two phenomena that are found in almost all walks of life. This trend is particularly apparent in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) domain.

Beth Stevenson

he definition of a micro UAVs, ranging from nano to micro and (14.9 inches/in) in length. The Wasp-III UAV remains moveable. In mini, but on the whole they tend to refer to was brought into operation with the US comparison to the larger a family of tactical UAVs that can be rapidly Air Force and US Marine Corps, but was unmanned aircraft that deployed to carry out short endurance subsequently upgraded to the Wasp All have become ubiquitous surveillance. Environment (AE) model in 2012. The Wasp- withT military surveillance and armed The smallest system in known AE is true to the concept underpinning operations, much smaller versions of UAVs routine operation by US forces is the the operation of micro UAVs, having can range from palm-sized up to shoulder- AeroVironment Wasp-III, which is an endurance of just 50 minutes, and launched systems, tend to be electrically- considered a mini UAV, with the first weighing 2.9lb (1.3kg), the aircraft is 760mm powered, and have only an hour or two of iteration of the system having weighed (29.9in) long with a one metre (3.3 feet/ft) endurance at best. A number of different less than 1.1 pounds/lb (0.5 kilograms/kg) wingspan, according to the manufacturer’s terms are thrown around to define small while empty, and measuring just 380mm specifications. The company says

8 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 air Power

agency tasked the company to develop a blanket overview of the acquisition online remotely-operated, life-sized version of a in November 2016: “All generations of the

UK MOD hummingbird. Revealed in 2011, the UAV had Black Hornet offer our Lepton thermal to replicate the hummingbird by being able product to integrate thermal imaging with to fly in all directions while replicating the electro-optical sensors, to provide soldiers creature’s physical appearance, so as not with the ability to see in complete darkness to give away its real role as a surveillance or through smoke or obscurants,” Mr. aircraft. The project won awards for its Tucker said: “This was a critical need by innovation, but since 2011, very little has many customers and the Prox Dynamics been revealed on the progress and viability and FLIR Systems teams have already of a system like this, and AeroVironment formed an extremely effective working was unable to comment on any possible relationship.” He added that the Black ongoing work in this area. The technology Hornet is “revolutionary in many ways,” author David Hambling has stated that the most notably because it is the smallest micro UAV seen in the 2015 thriller Eye in and lightest UAV available weighing the the Sky is a copy of the hummingbird UAV equivalent of three pieces of paper. The developed by DARPA and AeroVironment. Black Hornet uses a single main rotor, and As shown by the Wasp-AE/III, military can fly for some 25 minutes at up to 21.5 UAVs are getting smaller, and the US Army knots (39.8 kilometres-per-hour) over a one and Marine Corps have assessed and mile distance. One system comprises two operated a palm-sized system, in the guise aircraft, so that one can be charged while of the Prox Dynamics/FLIR Systems Black the other is operated: “The Black Hornet Hornet. Most widely associated with the is a flying sensor, rather than a drone, as British Army, which brought the system it is a highly optimised airborne vehicle into its core equipment inventory in 2015, that is designed to carry specific electro- the Black Hornet is a nano single-rotor UAV, optical sensors … It is a true personal sensor that has been praised by UK troops for its system, as the complete kit is easy for one ability to provide short endurance, stealthy, person to carry and have immediately urban surveillance. FLIR Systems, which accessible on the outside of their gear,” provides the aircraft’s Lepton optronics, Mr. Tucker said in a statement supplied to The Black Hornet is the has been notably reserved on sharing Armada. FLIR Systems said that the Black smallest known military information on the acquisition and how it Hornet has been in use by in excess of grade UAV, and it is most will place the micro UAV into new markets, twelve military customers, including the often associated with use by the British Army, although although Kevin Tucker, the firm’s vice US Army and US Marine Corps and the UK Australia, Norway and the president and general manager, issued a Ministry of Defence, but little detail has US have also operated the aircraft in some capacity.

that the hand-launched Wasp-AE is operated “virtually undetected”, and its mechanically-stabilised optronics gimbal AeroVironment payload can transmit imagery in high winds. The aircraft lands through a deep- stall on water or land, and can be operated manually or programmed for autonomous operation using the Global Positioning System satellite constellation. The Wasp-AE/III came about from a project involving the company and the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a portable frontline system that would complement the larger RQ-11A/B Raven system also The Wasp-AE is the smallest UAV in the US developed by AeroVironment. DARPA inventory that is known to routinely be used in operations, benefitting from stabilised and AeroVironment have explored even optronics that can be used in high winds. smaller UAVs together, through the Nano Air Vehicle project, through which the

armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 9 air Power

The demonstration of swarming Perdix UAVs from fighter aircraft shed some light on the US Department of Defence’s vision of future ways to penetrate enemy air defences.

been revealed on all but the British Army, an essential tool of the modern battlefield behaviours such as collective decision- which remains the most prominent of all and other security situations, and making, adaptive formation flying, and customers. Norway and Australia are also customers using them today understand self-healing,” the DOD statement continued. believed to operate, or to have tested, the the value they bring to individual personnel Perdix UAVs are not pre-programmed to fly system. and small teams.” individually, but instead fly as one collective, UAVs such as the Black Hornet Another area that US forces have adapting to each other “like swarms in have traditionally been attractive to explored is the en masse deployment of nature,” SCO director, William Roper, added special forces, but now such aircraft are multiple micro UAVs from an inhabited in the press release: “Due to the complex increasingly rolling out to conventional aircraft. Most recently, in October 2016, nature of combat, Perdix (UAVs) are not forces and border security agencies, FLIR the US Department of Defence’s (DOD) pre-programmed synchronised individuals, Systems said. Mr. Tucker continued that the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), which they are a collective organism, sharing one use of this type of UAV is actually replacing traditionally kept research efforts close distributed brain for decision-making and other variants of unmanned aircraft. UAVs to its chest, revealed information on the adapting to each other,” Mr. Roper added: flying overhead to collect intelligence on a deployment of 103 MT Lincoln Laboratory “Because every Perdix communicates and situation may simply draw attention to the Perdix UAVs from three US Navy Boeing F/A- collaborates with every other Perdix, the fact that forces are nearby, but with a micro 18E/F Super Hornet fighters. Partnered with swarm has no leader and can gracefully UAV like the Black Hornet, information the navy’s Naval Air Systems Command, adapt to drones entering or exiting the team.” can be collected stealthily, without the UAV the two demonstrated: “one of the world’s being observed and without troops actually largest micro drone swarms,” according to a Captain Birdeye having to enter the area: “Rather than US DOD press release announcing the news However, some manufacturers are not entering the village with little information, at the navies’ Naval Air Weapons Station at seeing a requirement to develop very small a solider equipped with a Black Hornet can China Lake in California; a concept which UAVs, and are instead concentrating on deploy it from a safe distance, fly it over could ultimately be used to penetrate enemy mini systems. Israel Aerospace Industries, buildings and obstacles using the visible air defences. This is because large numbers of whose Malat division develops some and/or thermal sensors,” Mr. Tucker added: such UAVs could be used to penetrate hostile well-known UAVs such as the Heron family “They can fly it without revealing their integrated air defence systems to deluge an of Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance location, gather critical real-time video area with aircraft, and hence radar returns (MALE) UAVs, is not focusing on anything intelligence, and then with significantly thus helping to mask attacking aircraft, or smaller than mini unmanned aircraft. better situational awareness finalise their to overwhelm those defences: “The micro Dan Bichman, marketing manager of plan to enter the area … The Black Hornet is drones demonstrated advanced swarm the division, told Armada that the 12.8lb

10 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 air Power

future,” he said: “We are always trying to the basic system is the same.” He added MIT have our hand on the pulse and see what the that within the mini category, customers market is asking for, and we are trying to be are looking for a small system that can as responsive as we can be … We are thinking be carried in a backpack: “and they are of improving the system continuously, and happy with what we have.” The two small adding more capability while staying in systems carry small payloads of between the same size system. Once we are happy 2.2lb (one kilogram) and 2.3lb (1.5kg), and with the UAV, the improvements will be their endurance is between one and a half seen in better payloads and improving the hours and five hours, according to the capability for operational missions.” manufacturer. The Birdeye-400 and Birdeye-650 One area that is reduced in size variants are both electrically-powered is payloads, which Mr. Bichman said, mini UAVs, with the former having been can either allow for more sensors to be in operations for some ten years: “We are integrated onto one UAV, or allows for trying all of the time to keep the systems even smaller UAVs to carry payloads that updated, and through this we have used were previously exclusively reserved for stronger batteries,” Mr. Bichman said: “We larger airframes: “We absolutely feel that started with one hour or less endurance, as technology improves the payloads get and we are now talking about 1.5 hours, but smaller, so we can carry more payloads on a IAI

The BirdEye-400 is the smallest (5.8kg) Birdeye-400 is the smallest system offering of IAI’s, which it it will offer, because it is meeting all says sufficiently covers the market requirements: “For the military market, arguing that there is no and paramilitary market, I think the requirement for an even smaller Birdeye-400 is the smallest one we’ll lead system at present. with, and it looks like we’ll stay there in the

armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 11 air Power DJI

Small technology may benefit friendly forces, but in the wrong hands commercial systems can be a weapon exploited by insurgent groups, most notably the Phantom that has been adapted by ISIS to drop grenades. Syria, most notably by the General Atomics organisation. According to the Combating Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper MALE Terror Centre (CTC) based at the United UAV, but ISIS has become wise to the States Military Academy in New York State, particular system, or use them on a benefits of using such technology against an October 2016 use of an armed UAV by the smaller system,” he said. Excluding the the coalition, albeit on a much smaller group was the first lethal attack of its kind: nano systems, mini and small-sized scale. Images released by the insurgent “In early October 2016, the group … killed two UAVs are not exclusive to the military, as group on social media this January show Kurdish soldiers with an explosive device many commercial and hobby systems fall homemade grenade mechanisms attached hidden inside a drone,” the Centre reported: into similar weight categories. Take the to the underside of Phantom UAVs, which “While (insurgent) groups have long had a DJI Phantom family of UAVs: the firm’s have been used to drop the weapon on fascination with drones and experimented quadrotor UAVs have become synonymous ground forces and civilians in the areas with their use, the incident was a first for with both professional and amateur of Iraq and Syria over which the group (such a) group, and it potentially represents non-governmental use of uninhabited is trying to consolidate its control. This the leading edge of a wave of similar aircraft being an accessible yet capable means that not only are coalition forces incidents that could follow in the months, small UAV that can be bought for around trying to counter ISIS’ infrastructure years and decades ahead.” ISIS is therefore $1000. However, the accessibility of and the militants themselves, they are the only organisation employing political such technology means that it is open to also having to locate, track and neutralise violence known to have killed using a UAV, exploitation, and in the wrong hands can makeshift armed mini UAVs. the centre claimed. While the Iraqi and essentially be used as a weapon. Notably, ISIS’ use of UAVs to carry Syrian armies, for example, are claiming that Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) explosives is a negative shift for Western they are successfully countering this threat, militants are being targeted by US and forces deployed on the ground in Iraq and and the hobbyist technology itself is not coalition armed UAVs in both Iraq and Syria helping to combat the insurgent sophisticated enough to defend itself from

12 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 air Power

attack, the possibilities the technology offers NATO, could benefit from a technology that One trend that is emerging in this could be far more serious. aids urban operations so greatly. market is the replacement of other While grenade deployments are The fact that these nations are not types of UAVs with these much smaller dangerous in themselves, the deployment operating them could point to the cost aircraft, which is a generational shift from of chemical or biological weapons from a associated with using a technology that unmanned systems merely replacing small UAV could be devastating, and ISIS is now packaged into such a small casing, conventional aircraft. While some may is an organisation that seems willing to use although the commercialisation of other still not see the appeal of unmanned anything it can to achieve what the group technology into smaller forms, take the systems taking over the dangerous roles considers to be a battlefield success. The effective incorporation of the computer that manned platforms have traditionally CTC continued that ISIS’: “use of drones has into the ubiquitous smartphone, which carried out, on the whole autonomy is now certainly complicated some conflicts, but the shows that it can be made accessible. commonplace within militaries the world use of this technology by (insurgents) has yet Another reason for the lack of micro, nano over, and operators are not simply accepting to change or significantly alter the direction and mini UAV use could be the shortage of that the UAV they have in their fleet is the of any conflict, and so the broader impact of systems. These three categories are often limit of their capability, but are instead this tool thus far has been quite limited.” clumped together, but the capabilities looking at new ways of making it more While micro and mini UAVs have been between the Black Hornet and Birdeye-400 effective. The size and relative stealth of a used in certain operations for some years, (see above) can vary, possibly pointing to an micro UAV is central to its appeal, as it offers notably during the US-led interventions absence of viable options to cover the entire conventional and special forces alike the in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to open market. The Black Hornet, for example, is ability to quickly provide surveillance over sources, it seems the possibilities they offer designed to be used by special forces and a contested area that would be dangerous have not yet been fully exploited. Only the ground troops wanting a quick picture of to enter without carrying out a prior more sophisticated NATO (North Atlantic a potentially dangerous environment that reconnaissance. Micro UAV technology Treaty Organisation) nations seem to be they are about to enter, while the Birdeye- may yet gain momentum in its adoption operating the palm-sized military grade 400’s 90-min endurance allows for a more by armed forces around the world as such systems like the Black Hornet, although prolonged, albeit still relatively short, technology becomes more accessible and many more, both within and outside of overwatch of an area. more affordable.

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YOU CAN’T

DANCE AND MESIT Defence CLIMB IN THE SAME SHOES

MESIT Defence’s offerings including the WF40 MANET waveform which can handle data at rates of up to 240kbps.

This headline encapsulates the importance of waveforms for Raison d’Etre tactical radios. Each task that a radio executes must be performed in Michael Fraebel, director of operational marketing at Rohde and Schwarz’s secure a certain way. This article aims to demystify the oft-baffling domain communications division articulated to of the tactical radio waveform. Armada that a waveform: “encompasses the entire set of radio functions that occur from the user input (when the user speaks Thomas Withington into the radio, or when they use it for transmitting data) to the output of that action as radio frequency energy.” Thus he late tactical custodian of the English language defined the waveform turns the intentions of the communications expert a waveform as “a curve showing the shape user into a transmission. Expanding on Mr. and defence journalist of a wave at a given time.” Eliminating only Fraebel’s definition, Ondrej Sohajek, the Adam Baddeley once told a scintilla of ignorance, this definition chief executive officer of MESIT Defence your correspondent that still left to much to comprehend. Seeking stated that the clearest way to understand tacticalT radios were interesting, but further clarification, Merriam-Webster’s a waveform is to contemplate one’s own their waveforms were even more so. In a respected English Dictionary placed cellphone: “Tactical radio hardware is not moment of conspicuous ignorance, your some more flesh on the bones, stating unlike a smartphone. An entire population correspondent was forced to admit that that a waveform is “usually a graphic using smartphones is like a battlefield full they did not actually know what a waveform representation of the shape of a wave that of soldiers, where different applications was, nor why they were so integral to indicates its characteristics (as frequency running on the smartphones (or as online tactical communications. This conversation and amplitude).” While the latter definition service coming from the internet) give sparked an unwavering desire to understand provided some further insight vis-à-vis the the people the desired functionality (for both Mr. Baddeley’s fascination, and the OED, it remained insufficient to satisfy their devices).” Mr. Sohajek continued waveform’s critical role. The first port- curiosity. With layperson’s sources such as that: “Without any additional application of-call in this quest to understand what dictionaries exhausted, the only available running on a smartphone you can make a constitutes a waveform was the Oxford recourse was to confer with tactical radio voice call or send a text, which is sufficient English Dictionary (OED). This noble experts to answer the above conundrum. for certain people, however most people

14 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 TURING

need more. Using additional television broadcasting, which

applications you can exchange Elbit uses VHF transmissions, as does emails, files, pictures and videos to two-way land mobile radio such as be played offline. Other people want that equipping taxis or emergency to stream video, which requires vehicles: “Different waveforms are different applications or services.” optimised to be very good at certain A written statement supplied things,” observed Jeffrey Kroon, to Armada by Elbit Systems further director of product management expanded some of the above for radio products and innovations explanations, adding that a tactical at Harris. For example: “VHF is radio waveform is like a specific good at handling basic data, while language with each waveform handling megabits of data is the having its own characteristics in preserve of UHF.” High Frequency terms of encryption, data capability transmissions, meanwhile, can (how many kilobits/megabits- reach intercontinental ranges per-second of information the thanks to their ability to ‘bounce’ waveform can carry) and the off the ionosphere; an area of the frequencies over which it is atmosphere residing at between 40.5 transmitted.” Communications nautical miles/nm (75 kilometres/ security is another important km) to 540nm (1000km) altitude. waveform characteristic. A written The ionosphere acts as a naturally- statement supplied by Barrett occurring ‘satellite dish’ across Communications argued that: which transmissions can skip to “Tactical waveforms provide an reach intercontinental ranges unlike assured means to link and transfer V/UHF transmissions that can be digital information such as files and restricted to line-of-sight ranges. pictures,” in additional to enabling Nonetheless, HF communications voice traffic. For this to be achieved, are hampered by the amount of the statement continues that: Elbit’s PNR-1000, a member of the firm’s E-Lynx family, can data that they can accommodate. “Tactical waveforms are typically accommodate the company’s ESRW (Elbit Soldier Radio For example, open sources state those waveforms which exhibit Waveform), capable of carrying hundreds of kilobits-per- that data rates of 19.2 kilobits-per- characteristics of low probability second of data. second (kbps) are achievable using of detection and interception by a HF communications, whereas data third party.” 400MHz waveband, it is primarily intended rates in the realm of megabits-per-second for communications between aircraft are achievable using UHF. Moreover, Examples and also for ground-to-air/air-to-ground the integrity of HF radio transmissions Some examples maybe instructive: The communications. is affected by solar radiation levels and United States armed forces, and several So why are different waveforms such as meteorology which can cause interference. allied nations around the world use the SINCGARS and HAVE QUICK-I/II used? Single Channel Ground and Airborne Elbit emphasised that this is because: Design Radio System (SINCGARS) waveform. This “each waveform has its own advantages Therefore, the frequency choice for the can handle voice and data traffic between and disadvantages,” as there is no ‘one size waveform’s intended task; the encryption radios equipped with the necessary fits all’ for every military communications and communications security it will employ software to receive and transmit this requirement. The firm’s statement continues alongside the bandwidth available to the waveform. It operates in a frequency range that Ultra High Frequency (UHF: 300MHz waveform plus the intended geographical of 30 megahertz (MHz) to 87.975MHz and to three gigahertz) radio communications range the waveform is to serve become key can use either a single frequency within will provide high data rates, but might be considerations in waveform design, Elbit’s this waveband or ‘hop’ across frequencies limited in geographical range. Very High statement continued. The waveform’s in this waveband at a rate of 111 hops-per- Frequency (VHF: 30MHz to 300MHz) intended user becomes another imperative second rendering it all but impossible for transmissions will have comparatively in the waveform’s design, according to Mr. the eavesdropper or jammer to know where smaller data rates than UHF, but might be Kroon: “In the air, aircraft move a lot faster in this waveband the transmission will next able to achieve longer geographical ranges, than vehicles on the ground. Some work hop and preventing them from interfering and also to work in environments which are well with fast moving aircraft, and some with the transmission. The SINCGARS saturated with other VHF transmissions do not work so well.” He continued that: “if waveform is utilised for communications crowding the electromagnetic spectrum as you optimise one waveform for ground-to- between ground units, and between ground their communications occupy a narrower ground communications, it might not work units and aircraft. Meanwhile, US and part of the waveband. This is important so well for ground-to-air communications.” allied nations employ the HAVE QUICK-I/ as the military is not the only user of the This explains the differences between II waveform. Inhabiting the 225MHz to VHF waveband. They must share it with the SINCGARS and HAVEQUICK-I/II

armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 15 TURING Elbit

Elbit’s MCTR-7200 tactical radio family, part of the firm’s E-Lynx radio range, uses the company’s Multi-band Channel Waveform. This supports MANET and also includes robust protection against jamming.

waveforms discussed above, designed as to increase in tone, and then decreases in is particularly important if the waveform they are for different applications. For tone once the car has driven past them. In will need to transmit images or streaming example, the SYNAPS V/UHF tactical air platforms, this can mean that the shift video, both of which are traditionally ‘data radio range which Thales launched in 2016 in frequency between a transmitted and heavy’. Other aspects needing to be satisfied includes several waveforms optimised for received radio signal can see a Dopplar Shift will include the size of the network that their intended tasks namely the Manoeuvre which can be considerable given the high the waveform will serve both in terms of waveform for ground-to-ground voice and speeds of the aircraft. users and physical area. Additional criteria data communications, and the Airborne Mr. Kroon added that other pertinent will include the waveform’s required level waveform for air-to-ground/ground-to-air questions will include the quantity of data of encryption. Designing a waveform, voice and data communications. that the waveform will need to handle. This Mr. Sohjek asseverated, is one of the most When tactical radio engineers are contemplating a new waveform, Mr. Kroon added, several questions will be asked such as the user’s expected velocities; the circa 59 kilometres-per-hour (37 miles-per-hour) on road top speed of a BAE Systems’ FV4034 Challenger-2 main battle tank, or the Mach 2.2 (2400km/h) maximum speed of a Panavia Tornado-GR4 fighter, for example? Air communications are instructive in this Barrett Communications regard. Mr. Fraebel stated that, because of the high speed of an airborne platform, those waveforms which are used for such communications must have Dopplar Shift Barrett Compensation. In layperson’s terms the Communications’ PRC-2090 HF Dopplar Shift, also known as the Dopplar tactical radio Effect, is the change in frequency for employs the firm’s an observer vis-à-vis a moving object. A waveforms which traditional means of explanation is the can enable voice, phenomenon witnessed by a static person messaging and hearing a police car driving past: As the high speed data police car approaches the person, the transmission. sound frequency of the car’s siren appears

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taxing elements of realising a waveform: “The hardest part is technology is constrained by the limits of bandwidth,” articulated figuring out the right design considerations. There are not always Barrett Communications’ statement. The HF and V/UHF bands enough requirements available, or the deployment context is not inhabited by tactical radios are not their exclusive preserve. Tactical stabilised when the waveform is being defined.” He continued radios must inhabit their respective parts of the spectrum in a that so-called MANET (Mobile Ad Hoc Networking) waveforms neighbourly fashion (i.e. not provoking interference) with other provide an instructive example of the challenges faced by waveform military and non-military users alike. For example, military and developers. Put simply, MANET networks serve to reduce the line- civilian radar can use both respective VHF and UHF frequencies of-sight disadvantage inherent in V/UHF communications (see in the 133-144/216-225MHz and 420-450/890-942MHz wavebands. above). While a transmission across UHF from the ground-to-the- Likewise, UHF satellite communications use a frequency range air and back can have a comparatively long range as, for instance, of 240-270MHz. As noted above, other VHF occupants include it is easier to see across a long distance from the top of the Eiffel television broadcasting and two-way land mobile radio systems, Tower, when being used for ground-to-ground communications alongside amateur radio, air traffic control radio and maritime their range can be restricted to the visible distance, which on clear, communications. UHF, meanwhile, is employed for TV broadcasting flat ground can be restricted to the horizon, although shortened and includes the frequencies used by the satellite-based Global further if undulating terrain or buildings stand in the way. Positioning System, domestic wi-fi and even cordless telephones. MANET offers one means by which this disadvantage can be Like VHF and UHF, HF is used for radar, in addition to shortwave mitigated. MANET enables each radio to behave as a transmitter radio broadcasting and amateur radio, to list just three users. across which a transmission can ‘skip’ to arrive at its destination. Thus the room for manoeuvre vis-à-vis tactical radio within A deployed division may be separated by tens of kilometres, yet these three wavebands is restricted in terms of growth. To further MANET transmissions can reach from one side of this division to complicate matters, the military is under pressure to vacate parts of the other by using such techniques. An analogy is a frog crossing a the radio spectrum to allow this to be auctioned off by governments pond: The frog cannot reach the other side of the pond in one jump, for civilian use. For example, in June 2010, the administration of but can reach the other side by jumping from one lily pad to the next. US President Barack Obama announced plans to make available The crucial aspect of waveform designs for MANET networks is the up to 500MHz of radio spectrum occupied by the US military and “maximum number of active nodes” in a network, remarked Mr. federal agencies by 2020. Mr. Obama’s initiative formed an intrinsic Sohjek. These nodes are analogous to the lily pads discussed above. element of the ‘Connecting America’ National Broadband Plan to The more nodes on a MANET network, the larger the network can be greatly extend internet coverage across the country. Illustrative and the more users and larger geographical range it can cover. of the appetite for spectrum encouraged by the proliferation Increasingly, interoperability is a prerequisite in waveform of smartphones amongst the US population, figures produced designs. Multinational operations have been a hallmark of by AT&T Mobility, an American company providing wireless military activity since the start of the 21st Century, as well as communications, stated that usage of the firm’s data network had before, note the US-led multinational coalitions which performed, increased by 8000 percent between 2007 and 2010. That tomorrow’s and are performing, combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. waveforms will require frequency flexibility is therefore asine qua In a written statement supplied to Armada, Rafael Advanced non, to ensure that they can perform their core functions, while Defence Systems which provide both wideband and narrowband adopting new capabilities like those inherent in waveforms such waveforms for their BNET tactical radio family, stated that: as ESSOR (see above), all the while in an increasingly spectrum- “modern battlefields are comprised of coalition forces and large constrained environment. arrays of users that need to have the ability to communicate.” To this end, new waveforms are in the offing that will progressively facilitate this. Commencing in 2010, the ESSOR programme is managed by OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en Matière d’Armement/Joint Armament Control Organisation); a European intergovernmental organisation managing collaborative defence programmes involving Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. The ESSOR (European Secure Software Defined Radio) initiative aims to develop a high data rate wideband networking waveform for software defined radios which can be made available to the participating nations of Finland, France, Italy, Poland, Spain and Sweden. This aims to improve interoperability by providing a waveform for use with tactical radios across the participating nations, and other third party countries. ESSOR waveforms are expected to become available in the circa 2020 timeframe. As the ESSOR initiative shows, waveform technological development is by no means static with work ongoing to develop tomorrow’s tactical radio waveforms. Arguably, one of the most vexing challenges faced by tactical radio experts is ensuring that their waveforms can operate in the most efficient way possible in an increasingly crowded electromagnetic environment: “Waveform

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This diagram depicts the amount of bellow-deck space that the EMALS equipment could occupy onboard an aircraft carrier. General Atomics

Velocitas Eradico

report written by Ronald The headline translates as ‘I, who is speed, eradicate’; an apt slogan O’Rourke in October 2016 enti- employed by the US Navy for its research into electromagnetic tled Navy Lasers, Railgun, and Hypervelocity Projectile: Back- railguns. Electromagnetic technology is advancing in the naval ground and Issues for Congress, domain, offering promise for offensive weapons and aircraft carrier forA the US Congress’ Congressional Research operations. Service (CRS), a research institute based in Washington DC, stated that: “although navy surface ships have a number of means for defending themselves against Anti-Ship Dr. Alix Valenti Cruise Missiles (ASCMs) and Anti-Ship Bal- listic Missiles (ASBMs), some observers are concerned about the survivability of navy

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surface ships in potential combat situations explained that: “Energising the beam 25 pounds (approximately eleven kilograms) against adversaries, such as (the People’s segments in sequence creates a magnetic and is non-explosive. Instead, the shell is Republic of China/PRC), that are armed with wave that (travels along the beams) and encased in an aluminium alloy casing that advanced ASCMs and with ASBMs.” The propels the shuttle and hence the attached sheds away once the projectile leaves the PRC’s China Changfeng Mechanics and Elec- aircraft down the beam length at a barrel, and is filled with tungsten pellets. tronics Technology Academy’s DF-21D ASBM designated speed necessary for a successful The sheer speed of the impact of the shell has been extensively discussed in the global launch from the carrier.” This process with its target, coupled with its tungsten sea power community, and the weapon was requires several megawatts of electrical pellets, causes significant destruction shown in Beijing on 3rd September 2015, at power, the company continued. without the need for additional explosives. a parade commemorating the end of the An electromagnetic railgun functions Second World War. Meanwhile, reports note in a similar fashion to the EMALS; by Magnetic Pull that the Russian Navy continues to deploy generating several megawatts of energy The steam-powered catapults that the the Novator Design Bureau 3M-54 family of that is then sent along two rails (in a similar EMALS is being designed to replace have satellite-guided/anti-radar homing anti- fashion to the two beams of the EMALS) to been in service on aircraft carriers around ship and land attack cruise missiles. create a magnetic field. As explained by John the world since the 1950s. They were As countries such as the PRC and Russia, Finkenaur, the next generation technologies deemed the most efficient technology to continue to arm their ships with powerful lead for Raytheon’s advanced technology be able to accelerate a 60000 pounds/lb weapons such as these, the US Navy is business area: “After the system stores a (27272 kilograms/kg) aircraft to 130 knots among many navies with a corresponding certain amount of energy, the capacitors (241 km/h) from a 984 metre (300 feet) concern for the survivability of their surface (which store the generated electrical charge) long deck. To do so, these catapults needed combatants. Decreasing human resources send an electric pulse down two long rails, approximately 1353lb (615kg) of steam in particular, are forcing navies around the one negatively charged and one positively for each aircraft launch, plus hydraulics world to do more with less. For example, charged, generating an electromagnetic equipment, water to stop the catapult as well according to the globalsecurity.org website, field.” Once this field is created, a projectile as pumps, motors and control systems. In active personnel strength across the US can be fired by being pulled out of the armed forces is expected to reduce to 1.28 barrel containing the two long rails at very million by the end of 2017 from 1.3 million in high speeds. Open sources note that these This diagram depicts the ability of the 2016. In this context, significant developments speeds can reach Mach Seven (circa 8600 EMALS to easily equip aircraft carriers in the application of electromagnetic kilometres-per-hour). The projectile weighs of various sizes, and to launch aircraft technology to defence systems are emerging of varying weights. as a promising solution to the challenges posed by the weapons of potential adversaries and personnel reductions. From aircraft carrier catapults to railguns, these technologies are promising to be more cost-

effective and less manpower intensive than General Atomics current conventional systems.

Electricity and Magnetism Electromagnetic energy is the combination of electric and magnetic fields. According to the definitions posted on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) website: “Electric fields are created by differences in voltage: the higher the voltage, the stronger will be the resultant field. Magnetic fields are created when electric current flows: the greater the current, the stronger the magnetic field.” The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) is a being developed by General Dynamics to replace steam- powered catapults to launch fixed- wing aircraft from aircraft carriers. It comprises two parallel beams made up of segments containing wire housings that are positioned within a carrier’s flight deck, as well as a carriage that attaches to the aircraft’s nose wheel. Meghan Ehlke, spokesperson for General Atomics (GA),

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to other weapons (such as Surface-to-Air Missiles/SAMs) used for defence on surface US Navy combatants.” Mr. Chang continues. The CRS report noted that, at the moment, the two railgun prototypes built by Raytheon and General Atomics for the US Navy: “are designed to fire projectiles at energy levels of 20 to 32 megajoules, which is enough to propel a projectile 50nm (92km) to 100nm (185km).” As a point of comparison, The OTO Melara/Leonardo 76mm naval gun has a muzzle velocity of circa Mach 2.6 The HPV promises (3294km/h), achieving a maximum range of great improvements circa 21.6nm (40km), according to publicly- in range, thanks to available sources. Mr. Finkenaur stated that a highly efficient “The (railgun) can be used for naval surface aerodynamic design. fire support where there is a need to launch The munition is currently hundreds of nautical miles downrange, or it undergoing testing. can be used for shorter-range engagements and anti-missile defences.”

Challenges ahead other words, while it is an efficient system two. Moreover, the variable acceleration The technology behind the EMALS is the traditional steam catapult is large, heavy, of the EMALS, adapted to each type of already at the production stage. The US requires significant maintenance and the conventional or unmanned aircraft’s Navy, which has chosen this system built sudden shock provoked by the launch has weight, will contribute to increasing by General Atomics to propel aircraft been found to shorten the airframe lifespan the aircraft airframe lifespan: “With from its new ‘Ford’ class aircraft carriers, for carrier-based aircraft. They are also a smaller footprint, greater efficiency has carried out the first load testing on limited in relation to the variety of aircraft and flexibility, and less manning and the first-in-class, USSGerald R.Ford, they can launch, especially as these are maintenance requirements, the EMALS in November 2016, by which a dead getting heavier, therefore limiting altogether offers significantly improved capabilities weight representative aircraft load was the potential for navy fleet modernisation and cost reductions to support naval fleets.” catapulted into the sea. According to Ms. on those aircraft carriers. As an example, the Ms. Ehlke concluded. Ehlke, production and installation is also Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet flown by the Railguns also present a number of underway for the USS John F. Kennedy, US Navy has a Maximum Take-Off Weight advantages, according to Alexander Chang, scheduled to be commissioned in 2020, (MTOW) of 66000lb (29937kg), according an associate at Avascent, a consultancy and the firm has been selected as the single to official US Navy figures, whereas the based in Washington DC: “chiefly amongst source production contractor for EMALS erstwhile Douglas A-4F Skyhawk, which was those is that they can fire the projectile technology onboard the USS Enterprise for finally retired from US Navy service in the at high speed, that is around Mach Seven, which construction is scheduled to begin mid-1980s had an MTOW of 24500lb (11136kg), without using any explosives.” As the in 2018. Ms. Ehlke indicated that: “We are open sources add. railgun is powered from a ship’s overall also seeing interest in our electromagnetic For Ms Ehlke: “aircraft today are electricity supply, this eliminates the launch and recovery systems from the increasingly heavier, faster, and more risks associated with carrying explosives international community, as they advance diverse, requiring launch systems with or propellants, on surface combatants. their naval fleets with new technologies more efficient power capabilities and The high velocity of the railgun, which is and aircraft capabilities”. It is nevertheless greater flexibility to control and manage approximately twice that of conventional worth noting that, while the EMALS is the different launch speeds necessary naval guns, leads to shorter engagement production ready, the design will not be to get each aircraft type off the deck.” In times and enables ships to deal with able to be fitted to a vast majority of aircraft comparison to steam-powered catapults, multiple threats almost simultaneously. carriers at the mid-point or end of their the EMALS will be 30 percent more This is because propellants do not have lives due to the amount of power it requires efficient, General Atomics states, and will to be loaded with every new shell which to function, the company has stated. require much less space and maintenance is fired from the gun’s barrel. Ms. Ehlke The Railgun, on the other hand, still than its predecessor, facilitating its pointed out: “By eliminating the need for faces one key challenge in the form of installation on various ship platforms propellant and high explosives, re-supply available power. According to Mr. Finkenaur: with differing catapult configurations, is simplified, reducing the logistics burden, “One challenge for the application of according to Ms. Ehlke. For example, the US while (the railgun’s) small size provides electromagnetic technology in defence Navy ‘Nimitz’ class aircraft carriers have (for a) high capacity (deep magazine) and is getting the weapon’s barrel right and four steam catapults, whereas the French a low cost per engagement … It also offers reducing the wear and tear on the barrel Navy’s solitary FS Charles de Gaulle has a much higher range advantage compared from each projectile launch.” Indeed, the

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of circumventing the issue of retrofitting ships to accommodate the railgun. Thus,

US Navy the US Navy will be able to use the HVP on its ‘Ticonderoga’ class cruisers and ‘Arleigh Burke’ class destroyers, which have two Mk.45 guns apiece. Additionally, while the railgun may not yet be ready to be operationally deployed on the ‘Zumwalt’ class destroyers, the first of which was BAE Systems is also in commissioned by the US Navy in October the railgun business, and 2016, the new destroyer will still be able to has developed its own fire HVPs from its two 155mm Advanced design as part of ongoing Gun System weapons. Reports in January US Navy efforts. stated that the US Navy had commenced test-firings of the HVP using a US Army howitzer. There is no word from the US speed at which the projectile leaves the barrel according to BAE Systems, is an ultra-low Navy as to when the HVP could enter causes such erosion of the gun that in early drag design which eliminates the need for service onboard US Navy warships. tests the barrel had to be rebuilt completely a rocket motor to extend the projectile’s after each shot. Mr. Finkenaur also added range, compared to conventional shells. Industry developments that: “The pulse power itself comes with the When fired from a Mk.45 weapon, the In 2013, BAE Systems was awarded a challenge of releasing an immense amount projectile may achieve only half of the speed $34.5 million contract by the ONR for the of energy and coordinating the pulse power it would achieve when fired from a railgun, development of the electromagnetic railgun modules to work together in concert for that is Mach Three (circa 3704.4km/h), under Phase Two of the Navy’s Innovative one shot.” These modules are required to however that remains twice the speed of Naval Prototype (INP) programme. During release their electricity at exactly the right a conventional shell fired from a Mk.45, Phase One, engineers from the US Navy’s moment to create the magnetic force and according to the CRS report. Based on a Naval Surface Warfare Centre successfully pull the projectile out of the barrel. Finally, media release on the US Navy website, fired Raytheon’s EM Railgun prototype the energy necessary to propel a projectile dating from 5th August 2015: “The HVP, achieving tactical energy levels of 33 at such speed poses the challenge of having combined with the Mk.45, will support megajoules. Under Phase Two, according to to pack the necessary components required various mission areas including naval BAE Systems’ news release of 1st July 2013, to make the railgun function into a small surface fire support, and has the capacity the company aims to move from a single enough physical footprint that can easily to expand to a variety of anti-air threats, shot to a multi-shot capability for its design, fit on different sizes of surface combatants. anti-surface threats, and could expand the and to incorporate auto-loading as well as For these reasons, Mr. Finkenaur believes navy’s engagement options against current thermal management systems to cool the that small-scale railguns have the potential and emerging threats.” railgun after each shot. In 2013, BAE Systems to become operational in the next five For Mr. Chang, the decision of the also won a $33.6 million contract from the years, while a full-powered railgun using 32 Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), the ONR to develop and demonstrate the HVP. megajoules of energy will likely be mounted Department of Defence (DoD) research and General Atomics started railgun on a ship in ten years time. development arm, to invest significantly technology under President Ronald Reagan’s into the development of the HVP is a way Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), initiated Hyperactive According to Mr. Chang: “Lately the USN has been putting less pressure on maturing railgun technology and has, instead, also been investing on the development of the HVP (Hyper Velocity Projectile) which, it

discovered, can easily be fitted in existing General Atomics conventional guns.” A technical document published in September 2012 by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) on the HVP describes it as: “a next generation, common, low drag, guided projectile capable of completing General Atomics’ Blitzer multiple missions from different gun rail gun undergoing systems,” which include, in addition to testing. The weapon has the railgun, the US Navy’s standard BAE demonstrated that a rail Systems Mk.45 family 127mm weapon and gun could feasibly be used BAE Systems 155mm Advanced Gun System. to equip vehicles. The ‘secret sauce’ in the HVP design,

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in 1983. The SDI aimed to “develop a space- demonstrated the transportability of the defence, Bob Work, emphasised that: “Both based missile defence programme that Blitzer railgun, having disassembled the Russia and China, are improving daily in could protect the country from a large-scale railgun, transported it from Dugway Proving their ability to operate on the sea, in the nuclear attack,” according to US Department Ground test range in Utah to the Fort Sill, air, and on land their special operations of State archives. The SDI became obsolete Oklahoma test site, and reassembled it for forces. And they’re also becoming quite with the end of the Cold War, and was quickly a series of successful test firings during the good in cyber, electronic warfare and in abandoned as being too expensive. The early US Army’s Manoeuvre and Fires Integration space.” The threats that these developments version of the railgun, however, required so Experiment event in 2016.” could cause to the US, and NATO (North much energy to power the gun that it could Raytheon has also been actively Atlantic Treaty Organisation) countries at only have been housed in a warehouse, contributing to the development of railgun large prompted the US to develop the Third according to Ms. Ehlke, therefore: “During technology through the realisation of Offset Initiative (TOI). As announced by the last eight years we scaled down the an innovative pulse power network. Mr. the then US secretary of defence Charles microelectronics and the semiconductors, Finkenaur explained that: “The network ‘Chuck’ Hagel in 2014, the TOI seeks to and built smaller, high power density is comprised of multiple pulse power match or exceed the military capabilities capacitors.” More details regarding laser containers; 6.1m (20ft) long, 2.6m (8.5ft) being developed in the PRC and Russia weapons can be found in the author’s Back to tall boxes, that hold and connect dozens of through the application of technology. This the Future article in this issue. smaller units called pulse power modules. concept arguably adheres to William Lind’s Today, General Atomics has already The job of these modules is to draw in definition of manoeuvre warfare of gaining developed a 30 megajoule railgun system energy over several seconds and release an “advantageous position relative to the and the ten megajoule Blitzer multi-mission it in an instant.” If enough modules are enemy,” as articulated in his monograph, medium range railgun. Meanwhile, a put together they can generate the power the Manoeuvre Warfare Handbook. In this capacitor that will facilitate the storage of necessary to operate a railgun. context, rail guns and HVPs in particular energy for the firing of railguns on land represent key capabilities for countering vehicles was successfully demonstrated Offsetting threats or neutralising the potential threats posed in July 2016 in open-range conditions. In a speech delivered in Brussels on 28th by PRC and Russian weapons such as those Ms. Ehlke adds: “We’ve also successfully April 2016, the US deputy secretary of discussed in the introduction.

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SOMETHING’SSOMETHING’S HAPPENINGHAPPENING HEREHERE

While the most prominent multinational military campaign that is currently underway, namely US-led efforts against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) insurgent movement, is primarily an air-led operation, an awareness of what is on the ground below is of paramount important.

Beth Stevenson

aving a higher level of emerge from anywhere, robust SA can to be mobile and easily deployed, while Situational Awareness help militaries better defend personnel, having the ability to perform at a standard (SA) compared to one’s infrastructure and even civilians. While that benefits the operator. One advantage adversary can lead to situational awareness can just as easily be that soldiers can enjoy, particularly over mission success. In an human intelligence-based, technology plays insurgent opponents, is the high-level epochH which is witnessing insurgency in its part, and a variety of different sensors are ability to see in the dark. Operations do not Iraq and Syria, and acts of political violence being utilised to give a better idea to soldiers cease at night, and tactical advantages can at home, such as the ISIS-led attacks in of the happenings around them. be achieved by advancing under cover of Paris in November 2015, when threats can On the tactical level, these systems need darkness, but this tactical advantage is only

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of use if such an action is facilitated by night for what would be called Gen-IV, and vision technology. we use the US Army as an identifier for The US Army is considered the leading generations of night vision goggles, and operator of such systems, with the force’s the standard is still around a Gen-III,” BAE Systems BAE night vision laboratory at Fort Belvoir, Darrell Hackler, senior director of global Virginia historically defining the standards business development for night vision for NVGs (Night Vision Goggles). The US at Harris, added: “So we’re doing some currently operates so-called Gen-III (Third development into what we believe may be Generation) NVG technology; a standard the Generation-IV, and we will push our that was defined by the US government own capability and listen to our customers through its work at the Ft. Belvoir facility: and incorporate (their requirements) into “This is recognised around the world, our development programmes.” and this technology (Gen-III) is the latest and greatest, because it requires both Augmented Reality an architectural change in the way the Harris launched the latest incarnation of (night vision) tubes are constructed, and its night vision technology in October 2016, a significant performance increase in the which is a lightweight binocular known as upper end scale of capability,” Eric Garris, the F5032, that has the increased ability to night vision/dismounted platforms product operate in low-light conditions. The F5032 line manager and chief technologist at has a 250mm (0.9 inches/in) close-focus Harris, told Armada: “Gen-III is the latest, range, that has fixed and adjustable diopter and I have not seen a true Gen-IV capability, lenses which removes the need to change or that the US Army recognises such static lenses for personal or mission specific capability.” requirements. It also includes an infrared Gen-III is distinguished by the illuminator integrated into the binocular, performance and lifespan of the systems which reduces the need for a separate comprising the NVGs, plus the use of illuminator to be carried. The F5032 is gallium arsenide, a material which boasts competing in the sub-0.5 kilograms/kg a good resistance to heat, and hence can (1.1 pound/lb) category of night vision handle comparatively high electrical power binoculars, Mr. Hackler added, noting that levels. Moreover, Gen-II systems are no the close range of some 250mm products longer operated by the US armed forces, sets it apart from other competing systems: Through the CLASS programme, a which sets them ahead of adversaries: “There has been a lot of interest since our lightweight, handheld sensor has “Nobody has written a requirement launch in October, and we’ve proposed the been developed by BAE Systems, goggles for several large tenders, in both that is designed to help the operator the US and international market, and it’s understand RF signals and increase been a good goggle for us,” he said: “We’re situational awareness. Harris’ new F5032 lightweight binocular has a 250mm, close-focus continuing to see a lot of movement in it.” range, and is competing in the Harris took the line of systems designed sub-0.5kg category of night vision for aviation use and ruggedised the binoculars, and the company is eyeing technology for use by ground troops, Mr. a couple of tenders in both the US and Hackler said: “This has transitioned to a internationally for the system. lightweight binocular, designed specifically with the soldier in mind,” he added: “Lessons learned on the battlefield over the last ten

Harris years are that infantry soldiers facing the enemy head on prefer binocular night vision, so that’s where we’re seeing the transition from a monocular to a binocular, and that is the market we’re looking at.” The company is also bringing to market a night vision google integrated with both a head-up display and the company’s tactical radio products, in the guise of its Integrated Soldier System (ISS): “The ISS has been in development for several years, and it is really based around our tactical mobility night vision goggle, which has a head- up display that can provide situational

armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 25 LAND WARFARE Harris

Harris has taken its tactical mobility night vision google product line and incorporated it with a head-up display and tactical radio, to form the Integrated Soldier System, and it hopes to bring a daytime surveillance option to market in the next twelve months. Mr. Garris observed: “It’s so the soldier new intruder detection system dubbed can keep eyes on the mission, handle the Twister, which allows operators to scan weapon, and have the information coming for targets and anomalies at a rate of one awareness to the soldier,” Mr. Garris said: to the integrated head-up display.” scan per second. It was developed to be “We have now integrated that with a broad This is augmented reality capability easily deployed, and can be carried in line of Harris radio solutions, so that we can is currently only available as a night time backpacks, detecting human targets at a send and receive that information securely system, but Harris is looking to add a plug range of four kilometres (2.4 miles), and to the soldier. We have an integrated and play daytime capability to it, so that vehicles at eight kilometres (4.9 miles): Android end user device, that allows us to it can be operated throughout the day: “The challenge that we had a few years send and receive information to the soldier “Right now, we have a night time … and we ago posed by customers of ours was a joint and back to command, and show that in the are looking over the next year to develop a effort to develop a new system that takes head-up display.” daytime capability for that so that we can our scanning and auto-detect capability An augmented reality capability provide that in a 24-hour capability,” Mr. based on electro-optic radar (see below) has also been added, which fits onto the Garris added: “It’s going to be a plug and and take it one step forward,” Hagay Azani, soldier’s helmet and provides head tracking play system so that the soldier doesn’t have Controp’s vice president for marketing and overlay of three-dimensional icons to to change the (equipment) from what they and sales, told Armada: “The main mission the soldier: “So instead of looking down use at night to what they use in the day.” The was to make it portable for troops to carry at the Android or end user device … you company hopes to bring this augmented on their back … We utilise electro-optical have that information relayed directly to reality product to market over the next capabilities into an electro-optical ‘radar’. that head-up display, so that you can see twelve months, in line with the availability If a rotating system revisits the same spot navigation target identification, blue force of the ISS, for which the firm is also in an area once in half a minute, then there tracking, (and) if on a JTAC (Joint Terminal completing development. is an updated picture once every thirty Attack Controller) operation, you would seconds.” Twister can carry out focused be able to track aircraft well beyond line of Optical Radar surveillance of particular targets while also sight as they’re (approaching the target),” Controp, meanwhile, has developed a continuing to survey the wider area, and

26 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 LAND WARFARE Controp

The Twister intruder detection system developed by Controp can scan for targets at a rate of one scan per second, and can carry on searching the wider area while also concentrating on areas of interest.

armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 27 LAND WARFARE RADA

RADA developed its family of tactical radars after recognising that the asymmetrical battlefield is full of very soon we realised that there is a gap in develop tactical weapons that will enable three-dimensional threats including the radar spread in the battlefield. the tactical force to protect itself on the mortars, and that radar can help Tactical radars are either small, man- move,” Mr. Sella asserted. defend against such dangers. portable and can detect people and cars, For the active protection application, or there are other smaller ones for active the radars can be put on the whole of a protection, but they are different to the convoy or just one vehicle, depending on can track particular targets as it continues ones for ground surveillance. From there this mission: “Then suddenly battlefield to scan: “Each second the system carries you have nothing until you reach the large surveillance and tactical situational out a panoramic observation of the entire (radars for air surveillance and weapons awareness gets another meaning,” Mr. perimeter, over 360 degrees, giving a new location).” Sella said. The radars can also be used for detection map,” Mr. Azani said: “It refreshes RADA recognised that in the fire detection, tracking it at the source and the entire map of detection, and it also asymmetrical operations that militaries locating it: “so you can eliminate the source maintains track files on detections that are now find themselves in, such as those of fire and then carry on with the mission.” progressing; if anybody moves it doesn’t involving the US in Iraq and Syria, are full The modern platforms being offered now tell the operator that it’s a new track when of three dimensional threats, including were brought to market in 2012, but they it’s the same track. It enables the operator short-range weapons like mortars and have naturally evolved to meet new threats, to record and investigate post-operation UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), for Mr. Sella continued: “When the UAV threat what happened, and during the detecting which radar was previously overlooked: emerged, we immediately adapted our it enables the operator to make a detection “Radars were perceived as too heavy and transmitters, and now you can detect the enquiry while the system is still rotating. You too expensive, and maybe the technology plastic drones that you can buy on the don’t have to stop the detection while you was not able at that time to do what was internet, from only a few metres,” he said. want to enquire into something.” Controp needed,” Mr. Sella added: “But we have a RADA’s S-band (2.3-2.5/2.7-3.7 launched the system in September 2016, and very sophisticated design in our radars, Gigahertz/GHz) Compact Hemispheric is in the process of marketing the product to that make them multi-mission, small Radar (CHR) is part of Israel Military potential customers, and is eyeing a couple and compact, software-defined, and Industries’ Iron Fist active protection of programmes that it will bid. providing any necessary coverage. Our system, which the Royal Netherlands Army RADA Electronics, meanwhile, has radar platforms can potentially detect has acquired for testing and verification developed a family of tactical radars that every threat, although sometimes not for use on its BAE Systems CV-90 vary in range, and that came about as a simultaneously.” Now the company is tracked armoured fighting vehicle, it was result of a noted gap in the market: “We addressing the total range of threats for the announced in January. If this is successful, started about ten years ago, dealing with manoeuvre force, Mr. Sella added, and they then a full-scale production contract is compact tactical radars, after we realised have been designed to be used while the expected to follow. Furthermore, the CHR that there is a need for such radars for force is mobile. They can also be operated is integrated into Artis’ Iron Curtain active active protection systems on vehicles,” Dov from a stationary position, but using them protection system, and integration and Sella, chief-executive of the company, told on the move is more difficult, and they testing of this is underway to this end. Mr. Armada: “We started dealing with a radar have been designed to meet this harder Sella said that the company is protection dedicated purely for active protection, but requirement: “The holy grail today is to system-agnostic, and is open to integrating

28 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 LAND WARFARE

the radars with other systems of this kind: Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA): communications waveforms, that are “We are trying to stay ahead of market “The Computational Leverage Against difficult to recover without knowledge and needs,” he confided. Surveillance Systems (CLASS) programme understanding of the signals themselves; Another significant technology that seeks new ways to protect our signals from spatial diversity, which uses distributed can help solders increase their levels of increasingly sophisticated adversaries and communications devices and the situational awareness is a radar system to do so in a way that can be maintained as communication environment to disguise that can effectively see through walls. The technology advances,” DARPA said. Through and dynamically vary the apparent location Xaver family of systems from Camero are the CLASS initiative, a lightweight, handheld of the signal. This is alongside interference portable radars that can detect the presence sensor has been developed by BAE Systems, exploitation, that makes use of the inherent of people on the other side of a wall. Using that can help an operator understand local RF clutter in the RF environment to make a multichannel and micro-power ultra- signals to improve situational awareness: “By it difficult for an adversary to isolate a wideband sensor that operates at high radio using cognitive processing algorithms, this particular signal from such background frequency bandwidths, to enable detection handheld Electronic Warfare (EW) technology noise: “The objective of the programme is to and high object resolution. While it can can quickly detect and identify multiple make modular communications technology be used to monitor threats the other side interfering signals, such as jammers or that is inexpensive to incorporate in of a wall, it can also be used in emergency enemy communication signals, across a wide existing and emerging radio systems,” roles to detect if people are trapped in an spectrum and in changing and challenging DARPA said, adding that to such systems area: “Mathematical image reconstruction environments,” BAE Systems said. will have a sub-$100 incremental cost, but algorithms are used to cope with cluttered The new technology is easily will push adversaries to need more than environments resulting in a high quality transferred, and can be integrated into 1000 times normal processing power at and intuitive image,” the company said. a variety of EW systems, both large and “supercomputer” level to electronically “Simple operation and compact packaging small, the company noted: “By drastically outflank such technology: “This new are key features of the design.” Multiple reducing the size, weight, and power of this handheld EW capability improves on customers in Scandinavia are known to use new cognitive EW system, we’re making today’s portable spectrum analysers, the systems, but further details regarding it easier for our (soldiers) to be aware of, which are often bulky, power hungry, and their identity is not available. classify, and manage a wide range of signals unable to handle interference or classify in the battlespace, which is crucial for the RF signals they detect,” BAE Systems Cognitive Approaches tactical situational awareness,” Joshua said of its new handheld system: “By using BAE Systems, meanwhile, is exploring using Niedzwiecki, director of sensor processing advanced signal processing algorithms, cognitive programming algorithms to detect and exploitation at BAE Systems, told BAE Systems radically reduced the time Radio Frequency (RF) jamming signals Armada: “Better situational awareness on and the computing power needed to process through a project ran by the US Defence the battlefield means superior protection detected signals to such an extent that for our troops and a greater ability to defeat the new system uses only one low-power hostile threats.” chip … The result is a ten-times reduction DARPA says that three techniques in size, weight, and power compared Camero’s portable detection systems are being developed for CLASS, namely: to conventional spectrum analysers.” can determine the presence of people from the other side of a wall, by using waveform complexity, which uses advanced During field tests, the system detected and a multichannel and micro-power identified in excess of ten RF signal types ultra-wideband sensor that operates across a wide bandwidth, in the presence of at high bandwidths. interference. The company said it expects to continue to mature this technology for Camero eventual deployment within its EW and tactical communications families of systems. The range of systems being applied to help operators increase situational awareness is evidently vast, and demonstrates the number of ways this issue is being approached. Industry is seemingly taking often commonplace sensing technology and adding another layer of sophistication to it, that both increases the range of such systems, but also makes their deployment in the tactical environment swifter and more manageable. If an operator can access just a snippet more information on a situation than their opponent in a timely manner using this technology, that can provide the tactical advantage.

armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 29 Land WARFARE

Tanked up Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) continue to offer the most effective means for providing mobile protected firepower against a range of targets in both offensive and defensive actions, and new technologies continue to be applied to the MBT to enhance its combat effectiveness.

Stephen W. Miller

o this end, firepower and their immediate tactical locale. Supacat, Thales, Pearson Engineering lethality have increased Outwardly, some MBTs appear and BMT). The upgrade, according to open through digital ballistic unchanged because many of these above sources, is expected to include adding computing, improved optronic capabilities are subtle despite their panoramic commander’s sights, upgrading target acquisition, and higher revolutionary impact. Of importance is thermal imaging equipment and other fire performingT ammunition. Survivability is that many improvements readily fit into control improvements to be rolled out onto increasing through better, often lighter existing platforms. Thus, although few new the MBT. Rheinmetall is also likely to include armour, threat detection sensors and MBT designs have appeared in the last two its Situational Awareness System which active protection systems. Mobility has decades, MBTs in service have substantially provides 360 degree thermal cameras, plus been maintained through the realisation greater capabilities, compared to the MBTs alerting sensors such as laser detectors, of higher horsepower power packs (the of 20 years ago. Globally, the MBT trend has gunshot detection and battle management vehicle’s engine and transmission) coupled been to modernise and upgrade existing system integration as part of its offering. with more efficient suspensions and lighter vehicles. For example, on 2nd November A Rheinmetall spokesperson suggested track. Plus, overall combat effectiveness 2016, several firms were down-selected by that the company could also propose the has been positively impacted by networking the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the replacement of the FV4034’s current Royal that provides for the integration of on- assessment phase of the British Army’s Ordnance/BAE Systems L30A1 120mm rifled board vehicle systems. This last point may BAE Systems FV4034 Challenger-2 Life gun with its L55 120mm weapon which can well be the most valuable advancement as it Extension Programme (LEP) initiative. use its programmable ammunition. The final can be a capability multiplier allowing the These companies include BAE Systems upgrade contract could cover 227 MBTs and integration and distribution of information (teamed with General Dynamics’ UK be worth up to $748 million. Prototypes of to all crew members about not only their division, Safran, QinetiQ, Leonardo and the proposed, upgraded MBT are expected vehicle’s health and performance, but also MOOG) and Rheinmetall (teamed with to be built within the two years of contract

30 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 Land WARFARE

enhance its Krauss Maffei Wegmann/ miles). This round significantly increases Rheinmetall Leopard-2 family MBTs. the gun’s effectiveness against a range of

UK MOD Poland’s acquisition, from 2002, of targets including troops, light vehicles, Leopard-2A4/A5 MBTs from the Heer is helicopters, fortifications and buildings. representative of many recent Leopard-2 It is ideal for neutralizing ATGM (Anti- MBT acquisitions. Initially, the MBTs Tank Guided Missile) teams, destroying were purchased from Heer surplus stock bunkers, military operations in urban to achieve an immediate capability. These terrain and engaging moving targets such as MBTs are now being upgraded to the ‘technicals’; armed pick-up trucks beloved Leopard-2PL status. The work is initially of insurgents. being done by Rheinmetall as part of a The French GIAT/Nexter AMX Leclerc $507 million effort begun in February family MBT, already highly automated, 2016 to upgrade 128 tanks. The company is being ‘renovated’ under a 2015 contract also provides know-how to Poland’s ZM worth $349 million to Nexter. A member of Bumar-Labedy for subsequent work, as Nexter’s Leclerc engineering team shared well as, subcontracting 50 percent of the with Armada that: “Fitting of the Scorpion contract value to local suppliers, according Information and Command System (SICS) to reports regarding the programme. The will allow data exchange between various Leopard-2PL has improved turret armour elements of the joint tactical groups which using IBD Deisenroth Engineering’s are the core of future French ground force Advanced Modular Armour Protection battle command and control.” SICS is a (AMAP) system, which is built locally Battle Management System (BMS) under under license by Rosomak, while the development by Atos which is expected to upgrade adds an electric turret drive replace a range of existing French Army and a new fire suppression system. BMSs over the next five to ten years. In Regarding the turret, the Leopard- addition, the Nexter official explained that 2PL retains the Leopard-2’s baseline the improvements will also enhance the Rheinmetall L44 120mm smoothbore MBT’s survivability and protection, while The FV4034 Challenger-2, the gun, but this weapon is modified to be ensuring that the vehicle’s GIAT/Nexter current British Army MBT, is compatible with Rheinmetall’s DM11 CN120-26/52 120mm gun is compatible with on the road to a major upgrade programmable projectile, and DM53 and programmable ammunitions. with two contracts awarded DM63 armour-piercing rounds. The DM11 The level of international collaboration in late 2016 to design upgrades for the tank expected to be high explosive round offers a particularly in MBT upgrades has been already delivered in 2019. valuable capability as it can perform point mentioned, however, the cooperation detonation, delayed detonation or airburst between Otokar and Hyundai Rotem to a maximum range of five kilometres (3.1 has aimed towards the development of an entirely new MBT called the Altay. award. A decision on which company will In April 2016 Ali Koç, the chief executive perform the upgrade is expected to be taken The Leopard-2 has been adopted officer of Otokar, said that the Altay was by the MOD in circa 2019, according to the by over 17 armies worldwide. Most UK government. The primary objective have been upgraded and modernized. The most recent version in German of the LEP is to allow the MBT to remain service is the Leopard-2A7 shown here. KMW ‘competitive’ through to 2025 and beyond KMW (2035 is widely viewed as the ultimate goal), according to reports. In addition, some new developers and manufacturers have entered the market offering modernised versions of earlier designs: In May 2016, Raytheon announced that it had introduced an upgrade package for the legacy Chrysler M60 MBT family, which would add a new power pack, electrically-powered turret, and vehicle electronics.

European Union/NATO Most European Union/NATO forces have focused on the modernisation of existing MBT fleets. TheHeer (German Army) has continued its programme to

armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 31 Land WARFARE PLA

The People’s Liberation Army’s most advanced MBT is the Type -99. However, it has seen limited fielding and is likely not to be the primary MBT of the army.

“ready.” This culminates the joint efforts Morozov developed an export version of protection and NII Stali upper hemisphere which took advantage of the technologies the T-84 Oplot MBT. Known as the Oplot- protection systems, and that it will also developed for the Republic of Korea Army’s BM, this MBT is equipped with a KBA-3 track multiple targets. Both composite K-2 Black Panther MBT (see below). As 120mm smoothbore gun which can launch armour and Malachit dual-Explosive such, Altay prototypes show similarity the Tula Machinery Design Bureau 9K119M Reactive Armour (ERA) are used on the hull to the K-9. That said, the Atlay has a Reflex laser-guided surface-to-surface and turret. The question remains if this is different, wheel, suspension and turret missile as well as conventional rounds. the next Russian primary MBT? arrangement, compared to the K-9. It uses The 9K119M was designed to be employed The recent Russian unveiling of an a MKEK 120mm smoothbore gun, itself against helicopters and vehicles that could updated version of the Uralvagonzavod a locally-manufactured version of the not be effectively engaged by conventional T-90 family MBT, called the T-90M Proryv-3 Rheinmetall L55 120mm smoothbore gun rounds, as well as against MBTs. The first suggests that the Russian Army mainstay and is equipped with modular and reactive export sale to Thailand was to deliver 49 MBT fleet may continue to be based on armour from Rocketsan. The Altay has been vehicles worth $240 million but to date only traditional designs, as opposed to the new shown with an Aselean-developed STAMP 20 have arrived. Nevertheless, it is reported T-14. Improvements equipping the T-90M commander’s remote weapons station. that the Ukrainian government has assured Proryv-3 replace the MBT’s previous SSM, Turkey’s defence procurement agency, the Thais that remaining vehicles would be protection using composite armour with anticipated a production contract in 2015 for received by March 2017. a built-in Relikt ERA which is extended 250 tanks worth over $1 billion. An Otokar to the vehicle’s side skirts. It is reportedly press release indicated it had submitted its Russia effective against both chemical and kinetic final offer to SSM in August 2016 however, The Uralvagonzavod T-14 Armata MBT energy projectiles. The T-90M Proryv-3 may no contract has been announced. The total has captured much attention. The T-14 also have a new automatic target tracker Turkish Army requirement is for 1000 MBTs has a new 2A82-1M 125 mm smoothbore and fire control computer, as well as, a and a number of foreign armies including gun that fires a new anti-armour round 1300-horsepower engine. The T-90 family Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have expressed reportedly with a 900mm long penetrator. itself continues to find further fielding. It interest in the Altay. Armament, autoloader and fire controls surfaced in combat with the Syria Army in The Ukrainian combat vehicle industry, are carried in a remote turret with the 2016. Algeria received 200 in December 2016, the only location outside Russia that as crew of three in the hull. The MBT is also and it is possible that there are orders from part of the Soviet Union manufactured outfitted with Ka-band (33.4-36 gigahertz/ Peru. In addition, India’s Defence Acquisition combat vehicles, has been seeking to expand GHz) radar. Speculation is that this is part Council approved in September an order for its markets. With this in mind, Kharkiv of the vehicle’s Afghanit hard-kill active 464 more T-90MS MBTs at a cost of $2 billion.

32 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017

Land WARFARE Stephen W. Miller W. Stephen

The M1A2 is being upgraded though SEPs which are packages of improvements. Here General Dynamics displays its SEP V.2 at the October 2016 Association of the United States Army exhibition in Washington DC. Asia-Pacific China (PRC) has continued its process K-2 production continues even as product of iterative improvements to its MBT improvements are being finalised. The designs. The Norinco Type-99/A is the most United States manufacturing consortium lead by Hyundai advanced and capable but is only fielded with The United States continues to rely on the Rotem, has delivered 241 K-2s. The total regiments in the PRC’s Shenyang and Beijing General Dynamics M1A2 Abrams MBT, requirement is reported as 680 to be achieved military areas in northeast China. It mirrors but as Major General David G. Bassett, the by the early 2030s. Suspension upgrades Russian armament designs, notably with its programme executive officer for combat are being rolled out across the fleet, as is a 125mm gun and gun-launched ATGMs, and vehicles told Armada during a November hard-kill active protection system and non- reflect many Western inspired protection 2016 meeting; “the (M1A2) of today is explosive reactive armour. The K-2 already approaches, notably through the use of nothing like the one first introduced.” has a unique capability jointly developed welded armour and ERA. Norinco, though, The army approach to keeping the M1A2 by the Republic of Korea and Diehl as its has developed and presented advanced ‘first class’ assumes it is an assembly L55 120mm smoothbore gun can launch MBTs for the export market. Its MBT-3000 of: “a mobility system, lethality system the Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition (also known as the VT-4) has a crew of three (and) communications systems.” By (KSTAM). It has a range of between two and uses an auto-loaded ZPT98 125mm developing, adopting and integrating new and eight kilometres (1.2 miles to 4.9 miles) smoothbore gun, a coaxial machine gun and technologies within these systems on the and can attack targets behind hills and in a roof-mounted 12.7mm remote weapons existing vehicle, “you don’t have to build defilade. Once fired the projectile is semi- station. The tank is outfitted with composite a whole new vehicle,” Maj. Gen. Bassett autonomous. The warhead deploys by armour and ERA on the turret and hull front. continued. This fact has seen the M1A2 parachute over the target which is sensed by The first export order came in April 2016 from fleet implement block improvements the munitions’ multi-sensor detector that the Royal Thai Army. Under the contract 28 over its history, with the most recent, the initiates an explosively-formed penetrator to tanks were to be delivered in September 2016. System Enhancement Package (SEP) V.3 attack the top of a vehicle. Following trials, an additional 19 could be led by General Dynamics Land Systems. Meanwhile, the Peoples’ Republic of requested for 2017 delivery. The SEP is a programmed upgrade of the

34 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 Land WARFARE

SEP V.3 upgrade is being tested the US The K-2 Black Panther, reflected some Army and General Dynamics is working requirements that have resulted in unique on the SEP V.4 initiative which it aims to

features, these include an adjustable MOD ROK field from 2021. The SEP V.4 upgrade could suspension and a gun-launched smart include third generation thermal imagers, projectile that can attack targets behind hills. a new laser rangefinder, perimeter colour video cameras, laser warning receivers and improved digital communications. An off-the-shelf active protection system expected to be tested later this year could also be added. A contract was awarded in February to Orbital ATK for the firms’ 120mm AMP (Advanced Multi-Purpose) round to equip the MBT.

Moving Forward The MBT, though similar in form to its predecessors, is changing its spots again in response to new battlefield challenges. current M1A2 through the introduction of have already been provided for test” SEP Technology and innovation are transforming selected demonstrated technologies and V.3 tanks could begin to be delivered to the platform to meet the challenges of subsystems. General Dynamics shared the US Army in 2017. The improvements asymmetrical warfare. That said, speed, with Armada that the: “V3 is developed as rolled out as part of the SEP V.3 upgrade firepower, and protection continue to remain an ECP (Engineering Change Proposal). include improved communications, at the heart of MBT design considerations, This will permit it to more rapidly enter armour enhancements and reducing the both in terms of new products, and upgrades production. Six production prototypes MBT’s maintenance burden. Even as the to legacy platforms.

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IT’S COLD OUTSIDE As attention continues to focus on current special forces operations in the Middle East to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the international special forces community is being forced to prepare for operations across a much wider spread of environments.

Andrew White

ccording to defence sources demands it to be operationally ready to across the Arctic Circle and Antarctica: within the NATO (North deploy for counter-insurgency missions in “Will rising energy consumption in emerg- Atlantic Treaty Organisation) the Middle East. This puts enormous strain ing nations impact the strategic landscape?” Special Operations on commanders to divide up resources and the publication asked: “Continued growing Headquarters (NSHQ), such time for training, rest and recuperation as global demand for resources strains current Adevelopments require commands to not well as operations.” distribution capabilities and depletes known only plan, prepare for and execute direct reserves. Other changes in the energy and action, special reconnaissance and military Arctic Focus natural resources strategic environment may assistance operations in relevant theatres CWOs remain a sensitive subject for the also impact the international order, per- but also to maintain the skills associated international special forces community, petuating old struggles and possibly conflict with more diverse environments including which continues to work hard globally among a new set of global actors,” a JSOU jungle warfare and cold weather operations. to counter political violence as part of spokesperson explained to Armada. As one source explained to Armada, its domestic responsibilities as well as Oil exploration across the Arctic Circle, these Areas of Interest (AOIs) require not expeditionary missions, as is the case with for example, has seen significant invest- only the correct materiel and equipment but Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, the US- ment injected into the relevant special also mature and rehearsed Concepts of Op- led initiative to counter ISIS in northern forces commands of Canada, Norway, eration (CONOPS) and Tactics, Techniques Iraq and Syria. According to the US Joint Russia, Sweden and the US, as they seek to and Procedures (TTPs): “Take Cold Weather Special Operations University’s (JSOU’s) assert influence across this region. A report Operations (CWOs) for example,” the source Special Operations Research Topics 2017 published by the US Geological Survey in stated: “For a special forces unit to maintain publication, the harvesting and consump- 2009 estimated that there is a 95 percent currency in order to respond effectively tion of energy will significantly alter the probability that up to 44 billion barrels of to a task, it must keep on top of delivering global security environment in the near oil, and 770 trillion cubic metres (27.1 qua- specialist training to forces over the same future, posing difficult questions for armed drillion cubic feet) of natural gas is beneath annual or bi-annual training cycle which forces seeking to employ special forces the Arctic. On 25th May 2016, the Russian

36 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 STIRLING

Ministry of Defence (MOD) revealed plans Arablet-2 special purpose parachute sys- to acquire a fleet of five Russian Helicop- tem. Designed to carry a total payload of

US DOD ters/Ulan-Ude Mi-8AMTSh-Va Terminator 350 pounds/lb (159 kiliograms/kg), accord- medium-lift utility helicopters during this ing to its manufacturer, the Arablet-2 can year, specially designed to enable special be deployed in a static-line configuration forces operations in the Arctic environment for low level insertion or military free fall as well as other CWOs. According to compa- configuration insertion up to 13000 feet/ft ny officials, the Mi-8AMTSh-Va is capable (3962.4 metres/m) above mean sea level, the of being operated in low temperatures down company’s literature continued. to -40 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees Fahr- A company spokesperson for Zvezda enheit) as well as in low light conditions, informed Armada how the ram-air tech- making it suitable for the covert insertion nology-based parachute provided opera- and extraction of Russia’s KSO Special tors with a glide ratio of 2:1 (the horizontal Operations Command. With the capabil- distance of an object divided by its change in ity to travel up to 701 nautical miles (1300 altitude) and ability to steer onto designated kilometres) without refueling, according to drop zones. The Arablet-2 has also been media reports, the Mi-8AMTSh-Va retains designed for operation in adverse weather the capacity to carry up to 36 personnel. conditions, including the strong crosswinds The news coincides with the Rus- associated with CWOs in the Arctic Circle. sian MOD’s decision on 6th January 2017 Due to the sparse terrain of the Arc- to stand up multiple Special Operations tic as well as cold temperatures, special Aviation Commands to support each of forces teams generally rely upon low level the country’s geographic military districts (Western, Northern, Southern, Central and Eastern). Designed to initially support GRU Spetsnaz (Special Purpose) Brigades with US DOD Mi-8AMTSh-V and Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters, confidential sources explained toArmada how it remained unclear as to whether the incoming Mi-8AMTSh-Va Arctic helicop- ters would be included in the published orders of battle for these commands. Similarly, Russian special forces have The rigid hull inflatable boat remains been evaluating parachute technology for a platform of choice for maritime CWOs in the Arctic Circle. During an un- NATO and Russia continue to interdiction operations in the Arctic consider next-generation parachute disclosed period in 2016, sources explained Circle although alternative platforms insertion designs, specifically providing more cover from the elements to Armada how Spetsnaz teams had been developed for cold weather remain available to special forces. testing the Zvezda Research, Development operations and high altitude descents. and Production Enterprise-manufactured Norwegian MOD

NATO special forces met in February 2016 to conduct Exercise COLD RESPONSE in Norway and to increase interoperability and cooperation across various force elements.

armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 37 STIRLING

on the development of its MS-Series parachutes, specifically designed to insert US Navy special forces teams in hazardous condi- tions. According to the company’s informa- tion, its products include the MS-360-M4 which can be deployed in static-line and MFF configurations. The MS-Series models are also currently used by special forces worldwide with a capability of landing in tight areas using braked approaches. The freefall and static line capable MS-360-M4 US Navy SEAL Teams is the improved glide version of the MS-M2. have admitted Glide performance has been substantially they must focus improved, by more than 33 percent, result- more on CWO and ing in a (glide ratio) of between 3.5:1 and 4:1, Arctic warfare depending on configuration and load. capabilities following CPS remains focused on the enhance- their recent concentration on ment of parachute technology to assist counter-insurgency special forces seeking to insert into AOLs operations elsewhere such as the Arctic Circle with increased around the globe. capacity to handle stronger cross winds; cold weather; and oxygen deprivation or hypoxia. Capable of carrying a maximum payload of 450lbs (204.5kg), the MS-360-M4 has a minimum delivery altitude of 3000ft (914.4m) parachute insertions to reduce exposure to up to 17500ft (5334m) above mean sea level, while it remains more suited to higher the elements as well as to minimise the risk with a particular emphasis on the insertion altitude insertion at altitudes close to 35000ft of detection. These TTPs, as explained to of ‘K-9’ military working dogs and other (10668m), the cruising altitude of an airliner, Armada by NSHQ sources, require aircraft specialist (non-special forces trained) per- Mr. Bast asserted: “Our developmental and parachute materiel capable of low level sonnel. Tests include operating the firm’s programme demonstrated that a few subtle flights and insertion of operators at alti- TP460 and Special Operation Vector-3 Tan- design revisions to the existing MS family, tudes as low as 600ft (182m) above mean sea dem Sigma parachutes with the additional primarily changes in airfoil shape and line level. Upon landing, parachutes can then be integration of K-9 Jump Bags. Such TTPs trim, improved the lift-to-drag ratio,” Mr. ‘cached’ or buried under the snow or in tree allows special forces teams to insert into Bast described while explaining to Armada lines to avoid detection during the conduct AOIs with the support of personnel who how special operations teams can use such of a mission, the source added. might be experts in non-traditional fields systems to insert from higher altitudes to Alongside Russia, there has been a including explosive ordnance disposal, sig- not only keep aircraft out of enemy radar and renewed interest in CWO capabilities by nals intelligence and chemical, biological, ground-based air defence system ranges, but NATO and non-NATO partners with access radiological and nuclear protection. also steer themselves onto targets in a much to the Arctic Circle (principally Finland This is particularly prevalent across more covert fashion, again reducing the and Sweden). Similar airborne insertion the US Joint Special Operations Command chances of compromise. capabilities are being considered by the US (JSOC), a component of the US SOCOM, Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which examines special forces requirements Tactical Ground Environment including Complete Parachute Solutions’ and techniques, where US special forces On the ground, special forces continue to (CPS) technology which has been tested in units such as so-called ‘Tier-1’ special forces seek technology to further enhance tactical cold weather and high altitude/high angle including the US Navy’s SEAL (Sea, Air, mobility across CWOs and in the Arctic Cir- environments including the Himalayas. Land) Team Six, continue to tailor their per- cle. More traditional CWO specialist units, Explaining the current popularity for CWO sonnel mix upon specific mission require- such as Sweden’s Special Operations Group, parachute insertion for the special forces ments. According to NSHQ sources, multiple rely upon a mix of snow shoes; motorised community John Blas, an account executive other NATO special forces remain hesitant mobility such as snowmobiles; as well as at CPS, highlighted how a recent company to deploy on the ground in a tactical scenario traditional skis: This latter option requires evaluation conducted close to Mount Ever- with personnel who lack the same levels of the fitting of skins to allow operators to not est on the Sino-Nepalese border, provided training: “What we are seeing with the evolv- only ski downhill but also to gain enough integral information to further enhancing ing contemporary operating environment, is traction to climb gradients. Nevertheless, the airborne capabilities of special forces in a requirement for special forces to rely upon many forces are considering upgraded ver- this particular environment. other specially-trained personnel who might sions of ski technology. On 30th September Performed in November 2016, the CPS be capable of being forward deployed in the 2016, Denver-based ski specialist Romp Skis evaluation saw a variety of parachutes de- tactical environment,” the source explained. was awarded a $160,000 contract by the US ployed at altitudes between 12400ft (3779m) Additionally, CPS has concentrated Department of Defence (DoD) to supply

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Norway continuing to consider a variety of ingress, egress and interdiction vessels for its special forces. In October 2016, the Nor- wegian MOD announced it was procuring a hat-trick of coastguard vessels expected Norwegian MOD to enter service between 2021 and 2023, and capable of supporting special operations across the region. Finally, the sub-surface environment continues to generate strong interest from the special forces commu- Norwegian special nity with submarines providing a stealthy forces already enjoy method of entry for special operations a close relationship teams into target areas and AOIs. with other government agencies for insertion On 26th January, the US Navy an- and extraction to and nounced it would be holding an industry from the Arctic circle, day to discuss the development of its Dry as illustrated here with Deck Shelter (DDS) concept. According to military units and coast the notice, the industry day will be held on guard assets working 28th February 2017 at Naval Special Warfare together. Group 3 at Little Creek, Virginia. Integrated on the hull of a host submarine, the DDS is designed to: “provide the capability to sup- the US Army Special Operations Command This programme had been devised to port various Special Operations Forces mis- with the next-generation in cross-country enhance special forces mobility across the sions,” according to the navy. In particular, skiing technology. The contract will see a Arctic Circle and elsewhere although it was this would allow US Navy SEAL teams, for total of 350 ski sets supplied to the US Air terminated in 2014 due to undisclosed rea- example, to use Dry Combat Submersibles Force’s 10th Special Forces Group, based at sons, sources confirmed. Should it receive (DCS) to access an AOI without exposing Fort Carson, Colorado. Prototype skis are the go ahead, a request for information for operators to sub-zero temperatures in Arc- being designed to allow special forces teams the NGFV programme could be published in tic waters. In July 2016, USSOCOM ordered to traverse across mountain ranges as well 2017. The programme is intended to replace the first DCS platforms from Lockheed as to ski downhill, with the selected solution legacy Hägglunds/BAE Systems’ BV-206 Martin and Submergence Group with initial providing a pair of skis suitable for both tracked all-terrain vehicles, and AM Gen- deliveries expected to be made in 2018 and beginners and experts. eral High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled beyond. The navy continued that three Ski dimensions must be no greater Vehicle general purpose four-wheel drive DCSs will be operated by US Navy SEAL than 1640mm (64.5 inches/in) in length and platforms. The CANSOFCOM expects Teams as part of a $166 million contract. 136mm (5.3in) wide at the front end, the these new vehicles to enter service by 2025, Capable of supporting special forces teams USAF solicitation on the Federal Busi- sources explained to Armada. in maritime counter-insurgency, special ness Opportunities website reads. Other Elsewhere, special forces continue to reconnaissance and other irregular warfare requirements, USAF sources explained to seek hardened infrastructure capable of be- mission sets, the DCS has the capability Armada, stipulate that the skis must be able ing relied upon for forward operating bases to deploy from a submarine and travel up to carry a 100kg (220lb) commando with up and weather-proof cache facilities in Arctic to 60nm (111.1km) at a maximum depth of to 100lb (45.5kg) of equipment to glide across conditions. Options include AAR Mobility’s nearly 200ft (61m), company sources from the surface of the snow, with enough trac- 3:1 expandable six metre (20ft) shelters, which Lockheed Martin explained to Armada. tion to allow an operator to pull a ‘pulk’ or company sources explained to Armada, had sled. In some CWO environments, without already been tested to: “withstand harsh cli- Conclusion skis or snowshoes, operators can step into mates in Alaska, Germany and the Republic of The international special forces commu- snow up to their waist or higher, making the Korea.” Comprising an integrated mechanical nity remains overstretched at present with execution of any type of special operation element, the shelter can be expanded three- uplifts in demand for counter-insurgency extremely difficult. Additionally, skis must fold and inserted by aircraft such as Lockheed duties both at home and abroad. However, as be agile enough to allow soldiers to conduct Martin C-130J turboprop freighters. Special suggested by the JSOU research paper (see fire and manoeuvre should it become neces- forces sources described to Armada how such above), these forces will be required to operate sary to ‘shoot and scoot’ from a situation, payloads could be used for resupply caches as across multiple terrains and environments in sources added. well as the housing of specialist equipment the future as the character of conflict further Elsewhere, the Canadian Special Opera- such as chemical, biological, radiological and evolves. Resource rich areas such as the Arctic tions Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) nuclear protective equipment. Circle, therefore, present a strategic impor- continues to consider future CWO mobility tance to interested state actors and their as part of its Next Generation Fighting Vehi- Maritime Options respective special forces are already consider- cle (NGFV) concept, which has replaced the Surface platforms also remain highly prev- ing improvements in materiel, training and cancelled Marginal Terrain Vehicle (MTV). alent in the Arctic domain with the likes of doctrine to this end.

40 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 Images courtesy of www.defencephotography.com

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Laser weapons can immobilise a target by US DOD burning a hole through the target’s skin to cause damage. The capability of lasers in this regard is graphically illustrated in this image.

BACK TO THE FUTURE Although a few remaining hurdles are pushing the operational advent of laser weapons to the mid- 2020s, they promise to bring cost-effectiveness and efficiency to the future capabilities equipping the world’s armed forces.

Dr. Alix Valenti

pon hearing the words ‘laser against Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Once these photons are absorbed by the weapons’ one cannot help but rockets and small boats. Some challenges atom’s electrons, the atoms return to picturing Luke Skywalker, the have yet to be overcome, but industry their standard energy rate, by themselves hero of director George Lucas’ is confident that the technology will be emitting photons. These photons then move 1977 epic Star Wars, fiercely operationally ready by the mid-2020s. around the inside of the gain medium and Uwielding his light sabre at his antagonist every so often collide with an atom which Darth Vader. The green light beam, the The force Awakens is at that moment at a higher energy level. whirring sound as it moves and the way it ‘Laser’ stands for ‘Light Amplification by This causes the excited atom to product a retracts into the handle have all populated the Stimulated Emission of Radiation’. A photon (see above), thus we now have two the dreams of generations of children, and laser includes a gain medium, primarily a photons where we would have had just one, science fiction geeks, alike. Today, as the film solid, liquid or gas material that contains and thus the original light has now been celebrates its 40th anniversary, we know electrons that can be stimulated. For amplified. A mirror placed at one end of that the light sabre will remain a figment of example a red laser, such as the type used the laser tube causes these photons to keep our imagination: science has proven that to produce a red dot on a screen during a bouncing around inside the gain medium the amount of energy necessary to generate powerpoint presentation, may contain a producing yet more photons. Meanwhile the light beam cannot be stored in a small ruby as its gain medium with a flash tube a partial mirror located at the other end of handle, which would surely melt from the wrapped around it. In simple terms, an the laser tube allows some of the photons to heat of the laser. electric current makes the flash tube, or escape. These are the photons that form the However scientific research has brought another light source illuminate. Every laser light which escapes from the tube, and a new hope. While far from being readily time this light source is illuminated light thus appear as a red dot on the presentation. available to armed forces around the energy is pumped into the gain medium When a laser beam is pointed at a world, a select number of countries, such as in the form of photons. Atoms comprising target, it can cause damage by heating Germany, the People’s Republic of China, the gain medium absorb these photons and, consequently, burning a hole into it, Russia and the United States have been by using their own electrons which forces hence why laser technology is used to cut successfully testing laser weapons to use them to increase to a higher energy level. cloth. The more energy pumped into the

42 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017

FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

gain medium, the stronger the laser beam Technology Strikes Back instantaneous. Moreover, lasers allow for will be and the more damage it will cause, Mr. Chang points out that: “in the last ten graduated responses to a threat, ranging especially if applied over a sustained period years we have seen a resurgence of interest from monitoring targets to causing disabling of time. The strength of a laser is expressed in the development of laser weapons”. damage by burning through the skin of in terms of the electrical power it consumes, According to him, this is due to the fact aircraft rendering them aerodynamically ranging from milliwatt (a typical laser that the technology has now matured to unstable. Karen Pachot, a spokesperson for pointer will produce around five millitwatts a point that overcomes a large number of MBDA, concludes: “The level of damage to of light) to megawatts worth. the challenges previously preventing the any target would be dependent on the dwell According to Alexander Chang, an weaponisation of the laser technology: “One time of the laser beam on the target, as well as associate at Avascent, a consultancy based of the key advantages of laser weapons is their the laser power.” in Washington DC: “Military applications favourable cost exchange ratio,” Mr. Chang of laser technology have been around added. A US Congressional Research Service Phantom Menace? for several decades, however, they have (CRS) report entitled Navy Lasers, Railgun, Despite the progress made in the last ten been subject to cyclical interest.” In the and Hypervelocity Projectile: Background years, a number of challenges remain to be US, for instance, research around laser and Issues for Congress published in 2016 and able to scale the power of laser weapons to weapons received a major boost during written by Ronald O’Rourke, a specialist in a level where they can do serious damage President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic naval affairs, stated that: “Unfavourable cost to aircraft, ships or armoured vehicles. Defence Initiative (SDI), initiated in 1983. exchange ratios refer to the fact that a SAM Mr. Chang points out that for now, one of This initiative aimed to: “develop a space- used to shoot down a UAV (Unmanned Aerial the biggest challenges left to overcome based missile defence programme that Vehicle) or anti-ship missile can cost the navy is: “adaptive optics, that is, adapting the could protect the country from a large- more (perhaps much more) to procure than it technology to deal with the loss of laser scale nuclear attack,” according to the US cost the adversary to build or acquire the UAV power incurred by air molecules and Department of State archives, including a or anti-ship missile.” The US defence budget particulates to make sure that the beam is space-based laser system, which earned it for the year 2016 includes procurement costs still strong enough to damage its target.” the nickname of the ‘Star Wars’ programme, for SAMs ranging from $900000 to several Essentially, as a laser beam passes through causing elements of the popular press to million dollars per missile, according to the the air, it loses power because of interference call its initiator ‘President Ray-Gun’. With report. Conversely, Mr. Chang continues: caused by air molecules and water droplets, the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, “navy officials estimate the laser cost-per- for instance. This causes the laser beam the SDI became obsolete and was quickly shot to be at less than $1.” to scatter its light, therefore resulting in abandoned on cost grounds. Another key advantage of laser weapons a loss of power. It is therefore imperative Since then, militaries around the world is the absence of ammunitions. As indicated to ensure that the laser light maintains have been using lasers mainly for targeting by Dr. Rob Afzal, senior fellow at Lockheed its destructive power when it reaches its and blinding missiles, waiting for the Martin’s laser and sensor systems division: target. Consequently, in environments with technology to mature enough to be able “a laser weapon can continue to fire as long high humidity, a laser beam with originally to weaponise these systems. For example, as it is powered.” Compared to the storage 30 kilowatts (kw) of power might reach a Northrop Grumman’s AN/AAQ-24(V) space required for SAMs, for instance, this is target four kilometres (2.5 miles) away at a Directional Infrared Countermeasure uses a significant gain both in terms of room on- diminished power of 15kw. laser light to protect aircraft by blinding an board the platform housing the laser and in The amount of energy necessary infrared-guided Surface-to-Air or Air-to- terms of time needed between reloads to fetch for powering lasers also constitutes a Air Missile (SAM/AAM) using the aircraft’s the ammunition: “The fact that there is no challenge. Currently, the laser weapons engine exhaust as its aim point. need to store dangerous explosives on-board that have been tested only reach a limited a platform also considerably amount of kilowatts, such as Lockheed plays in favour of laser Martin’s ALADIN 30kw fibre laser, which weapons versus traditional successfully disabled the engine of a

MBDA ones,” adds Mr. Chang: small truck during a field test in early 2015; “Overall, laser weapons considerable amount of electricity needs have a distinct advantage in to be channelled through the resonator terms of tracking and hitting to create this kind of power. This is not targets, as the beam moves at a problem for aircraft or ships which the speed of light,” concludes can harness the power of their engines Dr. Afzal. Compared to other to generate the necessary electricity. It weapon systems, such as remains, however, more limiting for ground anti-aircraft guns, which vehicles, where the power source may have need to aim ahead of an air to come from a generator, which would take One promising application target in order to account for up precious space. Moreover, as indicated for laser weapons could the aircraft’s speed as well by Dr. Afzal: “Managing the residual heat be for ground-based air as the time needed by the generated from power that is not converted defence against UAVs. projectile to reach the target, into the high power laser beam tends to laser weapons are close to be a limiting step.” Again, this could be

44 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 SA18_Exhibitor01_Armada_213x286mm.pdf 1 3/3/2017 11:32:59 AM FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

operational on board the USS Ponce since then. Additionally, between 2010 and 2011, Northrop Grumman installed its Maritime Laser Demonstration (MLD) on the navy’s Self Defence Test Ship, the USS Paul F. Foster, Lockheed Martin Lockheed to test it on small moving targets. According to the company website: “the high energy laser demonstrator successfully tracked and defeated multiple moving small boat targets at operationally significant ranges”. As a follow-on effort to the AN/SEQ-3 and During tests, Lockheed MLD, in 2012 the navy’s Office of Naval Martin’s ALADIN laser weapon Research (ONR) initiated the Solid State has demonstrated its ability Laser Technology Maturation Programme to disable the engine of land (SSL–TM). According to the ONR website, vehicles, which it achieved the SSL-TM: “will develop and mature high- during field tests in 2015. energy laser technologies into a prototypical weapon system for use and installation on the navy’s surface combatants.” In December overcome on aircraft, which can use their turbofan freighter with a chemical pumped 2015, Northrup Grumman won the SSL- natural airflow, or for ships, which can laser. The YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed, TM competition, signing a contract worth accommodate the bulk of cooling systems, as the aircraft came to be known, was used approximately $53 million, according to but it is again limiting for vehicles. by the US Department of Defence’s (DOD) the report from the CRS, to develop a laser One final issue relates to the potential Missile Defence Agency, and carried a producing between 100kw and 150kw of collateral damage done by a laser that chemical oxygen iodine laser that could power. The author contacted Northrup misses its target. Although laser weapons track and destroy a ballistic missile during Grumman for more information regarding significantly increase precision for hitting its boost phase, after the missile has been this initiative, but received no response by targets, there is always the possibility launched, but before the missile reached the time Armada went to press. of a mistake. As Mr. Chang asks: “what its peak velocity. Unfortunately, while The AFSOC, on the other hand, is would happen, then, if the laser beam successfully destroying targets during the working to develop a laser to be fitted on reached the atmosphere and hit a satellite, test phase, the YAL-1 only ever achieved board its Lockheed Martin AC-130 family for instance?” As such, at present laser a very limited range for the destruction fixed-wing gunships. Military scientists weapons are unlikely to become an of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles aim for the programme, known as the Self- imminent offensive menace, and will (ICBM) during their boost phase, typically Protect High-Energy Laser Demonstrator instead continue to be conceived and at a range of up to 162 nautical miles (300 (SHIELD), to develop a laser pod validated used primarily as defensive weapons. kilometres) according to US DOD figures in a laboratory environment by 2017, and According to Paul Shattuck, director for a significant cost of $100 million per year have a prototype ready for 2021, according and chief engineer of directed energy for the YAL-1’s development programme. to the US DOD’s Request For Information systems at Lockheed Martin: “we expect The range problem meant that the YAL- notice pertaining to this initiative. Finally, laser technology will be a force multiplier: 1 would potentially have to place itself under the High Energy Laser Mobile (troops) will use laser weapons together within range of an adversary’s SAMs when Demonstrator (HELMD) programme, the with kinetic weapons to disable threats engaging an ICBM. The US DOD took the US Army is developing laser weapons that like UAVs, small rockets, mortars and decision to discontinue the initiative in can be mounted on armoured vehicles. To lightweight ground vehicles.” 2011 due to the high cost of the programme this end, by late 2017 Lockheed Martin will compared to the limited range achieved deliver a 60kw laser to the army, according United States thus far. It is also likely that this coincided to Dr. Afzal and Mr. Shattuck. By 2022 the Although the SDI (see above) did not succeed with a general loss of interest in the US Army expects to scale-up to a 100kw in its original endeavour, the US military industry for chemical lasers, deemed too system, although it has yet to be determined has, throughout the years, continued to dangerous to be carried on-board planes or who will develop it. invest in the development of laser weapons. ships according to Mr. Chang. According to Mr. Chang: “the navy has Since then, between 2009 and 2012 the Europe been the most aggressive of all military US Navy has tested, initially on land and Away from the United States, in September arms in the US to develop the laser weapon, then on board the USS Ponce, ‘Austin’ class 2016, the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), followed closely by the US Air Force Special amphibious assault ship, the 30kw AN/ announced that it had finalised a $37 Operations Command (AFSOC), primarily SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System (LAWS) from million deal with UK Dragonfire, a UK because (on aircraft) there are less issues August 2014, with the vessel equipped to this industrial team led by MBDA, for the regarding space and cooling.” end deploying to the Persian Gulf. where development of a new laser demonstrator. A first attempt at testing a laser weapon the laser successfully destroyed UAVs and According to the MOD announcement, began in 1996 equipping a Boeing 747-400F other targets in test shots. It has remained the Laser Directed Energy Weapon

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Physics in Sarov, central Russia, deputy defence minister Yuri Borisov said that the MBDA Russian armed forces were in the process of commissioning and even adopting several types of laser-based weapons.

Conclusion Mr. Chang concludes that: “It is difficult to say with certainty when laser weapon technologies will be operationally deployed, and there is still a lot of scepticism from people who have seen interest grow and wane over the decades.” Mistakes in the past Vehicle-based applications for laser weapons that have led to loss of interest, however, are developing. Challenges faced by engineers in may have been the result of industry and this regard are ensuring that there is sufficient policy makers aiming too high from the space on a platform to accommodate the laser. start, rather than fundamental flaws in the technology itself. The string of successful tests, from the US to Germany, clearly shows (LDEW) Capability Demonstrator: “will the ‘geometrical coupling’ of multiple that, according to Mr. Chang: “Laser weapons assess how the system can acquire and laser beams.” This means that a number of need to develop incrementally, scaling up the track targets at range and in varying individual high-power fiber laser beams energy to meet progressively larger threats.” weather conditions over land and water, are combined together using one common Progressive development also allows with sufficient precision to enable safe beam director telescope. industry to progressively address challenges. and effective engagement.” Ms. Pachot Meanwhile, in 2013, Rheinmetall Lockheed Martin, for instance, is working specifies that: “MBDA will bring prime demonstrated its High Energy Laser on the development of fibre lasers, which weapon system delivery experience and Effector (HEL). In 2013, the company use fibre optic technologies to create the advanced weapon system C2 (Command and demonstrated the HEL at its Ochsenboden laser beam. It successfully demonstrated Control) and image processing capability, proving grounds, in east Switzerland, where the firm’s ALADIN, a 30kw spectral beam and will coordinate the efforts of QinetiQ the system was mounted on an ARTEC combining fibre lasers in early 2015 see( (laser source research and demonstration Boxer family eight-wheel drive armoured above). According to Mr. Shattuck: “this expertise), Leonardo (advanced optics, fighting vehicle, a modified United will allow laser weapons to put more pointing systems and target tracking), GKN Defence/BAE Systems’ M-113 family tracked energy on target and compensate for (innovative high power storage capability); armoured personnel carrier, and a Tatra changes in air temperature and other BAE Systems and Marshall Land Systems eight-wheel drive truck. The laser power atmospheric variables that hampered (maritime and land platform integration ranged from 1kw to 50kw and, according to earlier laser technologies.” Increasing advice respectively), and Arke (independent the company’s press release: “demonstrated the precision of laser weapons also leaves support to through life costings how radio antenna, radars, ammunition, room for the progressive development of and Defence Lines Of Development power supply systems and entire weapons a technology for which the rules of war consideration).” The first prototype will be systems can be neutralised or destroyed have yet to be established. Currently, the presented in a demonstration in land and with minimum collateral damage.” only international document pertaining to maritime environments in 2019, which will laser weapons is the 1980 United Nations’ include initial detection and engagement Asia-Pacific Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions planning, handover to the beam director, As with all things Russian and Chinese, little on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons pointing and tracking, engagement, battle information is readily available regarding which may be deemed to be Excessively assessment and follow-on engagement the types of laser weapons that are currently Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects. capability, according to Ms. Pachot. being developed in these countries or, for However, this convention only addresses low MBDA Germany is also working that matter, the power of these weapons power laser weapons: “specifically designed on a concept combining the use of or when they will become operational. as their sole combat function or as one of commercially-available high power laser Nevertheless, various local sources indicate their combat functions to cause permanent sources and a self-developed pointing that programmes are on going. Russia has blindness to unenhanced vision.” Over and tracking, beam forming and beam been working on the development of laser the long term, laser weapons may become direction system. The ensemble is expected weapons since 1964, conducting tests at a reality on the battlefield: “Practical and to be deployable on different land, air and Terra-3, a Soviet laser testing centre located cost-effective directed energy systems sea platforms, and should be tested by the on the Sary Shagan anti-ballistic missile can be integrated on existing land, sea and end of this year. For target acquisition and testing range in Kazakhstan. In August air platforms beginning in the 2020-25 tracking, the system relies on the use of 2016, speaking at an event commemorating timeframe following concerted technology external sensors, whereas for target hitting, the 70th anniversary of the All-Russian maturation and demonstration efforts,” Ms. Pachot specifies: “MBDA developed Research Institute for Experimental concludes Mr. Shattuck.

48 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017

seamedia power alert

MEDIA ALERT FOR june / july 2017 ISSUE EDITORIAL TOPICS

■ Air-to-Air Missiles We examine how fighter aircraft acquisitions and retrofits are driving innovation in the air-to-air missile world. ■ Armour Aircraft armour, particularly for helicopters, is in high demand, and we examine the products available to this end. ■ Close Air Support Getting ordnance accurately on target in a timely fashion is at the heart of close air support doctrine and innovation.

■ Compendium – Airborne Electronic Warfare Armada’s Airborne Electronic Warfare Compendium returns for the second year running, providing a digest of programme and technological developments in this domain. ■ Naval UAVS Unmanned aerial vehicles are playing an increasingly important role supporting a wide spectrum of naval operations.

■ Stirling – Special Operations Round-Up Catch up with all the latest news from the special forces community in Armada’s regular Stirling column. ■ Turing – Third Party Datalinks We examine the datalinks supporting air and naval operations from military communications suppliers around the world.

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BONUS DISTRIBUTION 08 aIR pOwER ISDEF 6-8 June, Tel-Avis, Israel INSECT REPELLENT Small-sized UAVs are Paris Air Show Paris, France 19-25 June becoming an important capability in the infantry soldier’s toolset, IMDS, St. Petersburg, Russia 28 June-2 July Beth Stevenson explains.

14 18 24 30 Obituary – Jeffrey McKaughan TURING SEa pOwER LaNd waRFaRE LaNd waRFaRE YOU CAN’T DANCE AND CLIMB VELOCITAS ERADICO SOMETHING’S TANKED UP IN THE SAME SHOES Electromagnetic technology offers HAPPENING HERE Stephen W. Miller studies how Waveforms are a perplexing to many. promise to naval operations, both Beth Stevenson examines some contemporary combat operations Thomas Withington demystifies this for armaments and aircraft carrier of the latest technologies being are influencing main battle tank puzzling, yet hugely important, area of catapults, Dr. Alix Valenti explains. adopted to assist soldiers in procurement and upgrades. It was with great sadness that Armada International learned of the passing of our tactical communications. improving their situational awareness. esteemed colleague Jeffrey McKaughan on 17th January, aged 60. MENT NDIUM SUPPLE ONAL COMPE DA INTERNATI AN ARMA Mr. McKaughan, known to many of us as in the defence publishing world simply as ‘Jeff’ was one

aRmada of the most respected figures in our industry. Jeff worked tirelessly to launch, and then manage,

2017ogy analysis COmpEN TechnoldIUm urce for defence 36 38 : The TrusTed so STIRLING FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES COMPENDIUM – MEGA CITY WAR IT’S COLD OUTSIDE BACK TO THE FUTURE Dr. Alix Valenti launches Armada’s first several titles in defence publishing. The appeal of his publications directly reflected of Jeff’s Andrew White details the increasing requirement Laser weapons are back in vogue, yet hurdles ever compendium examining Military for special forces to perform operations in cold remain until such weapons can be deployed Operations In Urban Terrain, and the climates, and accompanying recent technological operationally, Dr. Alix Valenti finds out. technologies and doctrines helping the developments. world’s armed forces fight in urban areas. dedication to his subject areas. His special forces, military training and African defence publications 2 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 3 in particular were widely read and appreciated throughout the defence world and beyond.

Content & Editorial Apr/May 17.indd 3 3/14/17 4:07 PM His knowledge of the defence industry was exemplary. In press conferences and meetings, Jeff’s questions would be pertinent, relevant and challenging, yet always delivered in the same courteous fashion. Similarly, his writing style combined an enviable command of his subjects with clarity and succinctness. Alongside his dedication to these publications, Jeff travelled the world to regularly attend defence exhibitions as well as field trips organised by the defence industry and armed forces. Despite his BOOKING DEADLINES busy schedule, Jeff always had a warm smile, and a calm, easy-going manner. The author fondly Advertising Order Confirmation…. 14 May remembers sharing anecdotes with him at a trade fair in Tel Aviv in 2015, over a delicious lunch of Advertising Material Due………… 16 May Israeli cuisine in the sunshine. As recently as May 2016, Jeff joined his colleagues in France for a week-long trip to visit elements of the French defence industry and defence community. As always, Jeff was a picture of unflappable calm, despite the gruelling agenda.

Defence exhibitions and industry events will just not be the same without him. We have lost a true friend and comrade. Thomas Withington

www.armadainternational.com

50 armadainternational.com - april/may 2017 JUNE 13-14, 2017 ARMY AND NAVY CLUB | WASHINGTON, DC

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Datron_LAAD-2017 213 mm x 286 mm.indd 1 3/8/2017 9:52:03 AM