STRYKER MOVES AHEAD Comms and Lethality Upgrades
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tacticaldefensemedia.com | September 2014 STRYKER MOVES AHEAD Comms and Lethality Upgrades Leadership Perspective JLTV COMPETITION SOLID OPTIONS FOR DOD’S FUTURE VEHICLE HON Heidi Shyu Permit #701 Permit Assistant Secretary of the Army Lebanon Junction, KY Junction, Lebanon PAID Acquisition, Logistics, and U.S. Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT Technology | Arlington, VA Nett Warrior Update MRAP Reset Supporting the Joint Force MARCORSYSCOM See the PSDS at Modern Day Marine booth #2052 and AUSA Annual Meeting booth #843. The most effi cient solution for operating military radios in Tactical Operations Centers. PTS HR-117G/152 and PTS SR-4A shown with radios, power amps, LS-671 speakers and handsets Perkins Technical Services, Inc. is commited to building reliable Power Supply Docking Stations (PSDS) to power SINCGARS, Harris or Raytheon tactical radios. Utilizing PSDS equipment offers self-contained solutions for Tactical Operations Centers and numerous other dismounted operations. PSDS eliminates the requirement to deadline tactical vehicles by stripping communications mounting bases, cabling and speakers from the vehicles or to stock batteries and battery maintenance solutions for fi xed site requirements. Made in the U.S.A. ContraGS-3ct5F -0G67S-33J 5F-0673J pts-inc.com [email protected] 256-539-6787 PERKINS TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. MRAP: Resetting for Sustained Success The Army and USMC have chosen the type and quantity of MRAPs they need going forward. Now they must refurbish and upgrade them. By Kevin Hunter 8 Features Recurring Highlights 26 Strategic Leader 6 PEO CS&CSS delivers innovative solutions to Filling the Lethality Gap maximize force effectiveness. Stryker readies for additional By Michael Clow firepower with enhancements to gun and turret. By Christian Sheehy 30 Command Profile MARCORSYSCOM brings improved networking and personal protection to the field. 17 By Wil Williams HON Heidi Shyu 12 Assistant Secretary of the Army Departments Acquisition, Logistics, & Leadership Perspective 2 Technology (ASA/AL&T) JLTV: Test Phase Critical Insights The competition for the DoD’s next Arlington, VA light vehicle enters its last stages. We 20 FutureTech review the options. By Christian Sheehy 32 Ad Index/Calendar of Events COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION 4 22 www.tacticaldefensemedia.com Scan the code to sign up now! Proven Endurance, Enhanced Full-spectrum Integration Network Assurance The Nett Warrior program proceeds The Army’s combat-proven tactical to ruggedizing the commercial-off- wheeled vehicle is getting a high-speed the-shelf equipment used to connect network overhaul. the dismounted soldier. By Amy Walker and Nancy Jones- By Jason Regnier Bonbrest Cover: A Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle is entrenched in the sand during a recovery exercise as part of the advanced MRAP course aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, CA, on 12 June 2013. (Sgt. Michael V. Walters.) tacticaldefensemedia.com Armor & Mobility September 2014 | 1 Insights he rising threats in Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine have led to growing sentiment for American-led response to the increasing specter of transnational terrorists Tcontrolling large swaths of territory and dictators redrawing national boundaries at will. The U.S. military is already involved again in Iraq, and in the face of potentially larger re-commitments to theater, Army and Marine Corps leaders are working tirelessly to plan the long-term sustainment for the current fleet of tactical ground platforms while still pursuing the needed investments in Armor & Mobility ISSN: 2151-190x systems of the future. A working motto might be, “Long-term plans are necessary, is published by but world events don’t always wait.” Tactical Defense Media, Inc. In the September issue of Armor & Mobility, we delve into the world of All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without tactical ground vehicle systems enhancement to meet evolving requirements permission is strictly forbidden. ©2014 for global threat response readiness. Reporting on the state of Army planning for ground vehicle fleet sustainment and future fighting vehicle fleet evolution, Armor & Mobility is free to members of the U.S. A&M offers readers a perspective from the Honorable Ms. Heidi Shyu, Assistant military, employees of the U.S. government, Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA/AL&T), non-U.S. foreign service based in the U.S. and who spoke to an audience at this year’s Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering defense contractors. All TDM publications are sent Technology Symposium (GVSETS) in Novi, MI. electronically to international readers. From overarching programs strategy to individual system enhancements, this issue takes a look at ongoing upgrades to two battle-tested platforms: Mailing Address Stryker and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle. Advances in Tactical Defense Media, Inc. integrated networking and lethality are keeping Stryker relevant and ready. As Leisure World Plaza platform redeployment from Afghanistan continues, we also cover a joint effort PO Box 12115 currently underway to reset and refurbish some of DoD’s MRAP multi-variant Silver Spring, MD 20908-0115 USA platforms. The addition of power-actuated doors for better egress assurance and Telephone: (301) 974-9792 blast-protected seating, along with re-standardization to meet original and post- Fax: (443) 637-3714 deployment requirements specifications, are at the heart of reset for this heavy www.TacticalDefenseMedia.com tactical asset. [email protected] Looking ahead, A&M provides readers with a report on the state of the [email protected] competition for the next-generation ground tactical platform, the Joint Light [email protected] Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV, which will eventually replace a significant number of Humvees. With less than one calendar year remaining until slated Low Rate Tactical Defense Media Initial Production contract award, the JLTV program is entering the critical Limited User Test phase, putting those soldiers and Marines, for whom the Publications vehicle is being fielded, behind the wheel. Be sure not to miss a look at the state of the Army’s Nett Warrior program and current mission and programs focus from the Program Executive Office for Combat Support and Combat Service Support. In a special to A&M from Marine Corps Systems Command, readers can also get insight into the amphibious variant of a successful joint USMC and Army command and control program, along with the latest in ballistic-resistant combat helmet design. As always, we look forward to your comments and thanks for the continued readership, enjoy! Sincerely, Christian Sheehy Sonia Bagherian Managing Editor Publisher Tactical Defense Media Tactical Defense Media WITH 8X ZOOM, THE MARK 8® 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 [email protected] [email protected] IS THE ULTIMATE PRECISION RIFLESCOPE. Kevin Hunter George Jagels The Mark 8® provides the precision, flexibility, and power serious shooters need Editor Assistant Editor for success at any distance. With its wide zoom ratio, illuminated front focal plane Armor & Mobility Armor & Mobility [email protected] [email protected] reticles, incredibly wide field of view at lower magnifications, and unmatched optical clarity at higher powers, it’s the ultimate blend of rapid target acquisition and extreme long-range performance. Learn more at Leupold.com. Proud Members COMPLIMENTARY U.S.A. ★ DESIGNED ★ MACHINED ★ ASSEMBLED 1-800-LEUPOLD » www.leupold.com » ©2014 Leupold & Stevens, Inc. SUBSCRIPTION www.tacticaldefensemedia.com | Scan the code to sign up now! 2 | Armor & Mobility September 2014 tacticaldefensemedia.com WITH 8X ZOOM, THE MARK 8® 3.5-25x56mm M5B2 IS THE ULTIMATE PRECISION RIFLESCOPE. The Mark 8® provides the precision, flexibility, and power serious shooters need for success at any distance. With its wide zoom ratio, illuminated front focal plane reticles, incredibly wide field of view at lower magnifications, and unmatched optical clarity at higher powers, it’s the ultimate blend of rapid target acquisition and extreme long-range performance. Learn more at Leupold.com. U.S.A. ★ DESIGNED ★ MACHINED ★ ASSEMBLED 1-800-LEUPOLD » www.leupold.com » ©2014 Leupold & Stevens, Inc. Stryker Upgrades Networking the SBCT PROVEN ENDURANCE, Enhanced Network Assurance After providing a “one-two” punch of survivability advanced communications capabilities, near real-time situational and tactical mobility to the field in Afghanistan and awareness, and faster position location information, allowing Iraq, the Army’s combat-proven Stryker vehicle is SBCTs to send and receive the data they need on the move from geographically separated locations. now getting a high-speed network upgrade. The two capabilities complement one another across a By Amy Walker and Nancy Jones-Bonbrest, PEO C3T BCT, with WIN-T Increment 2 providing the on the move reviously relying on the line-of-sight, radio-based communications network backbone down to the company level Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS) for to support mission command and advanced communications Pcommunications, select Strykers are now being equipped capabilities and the BFT 2 network enabling situational awareness for the first time with the satellite-based network communications of friendly forces and digital command and control down to the capabilities of Warfighter Network Information-Tactical (WIN-T) platoon and squad