Armada International 2016-12 2017-01

december 2016/january 2017. Issue 06.

There’s a line in the Sand. See Beyond It. Assessing potential threats before they reach your border requires vision, flexibility, and connectivity. FLIR’s Commercially-Developed and Military-Qualified solutions offer fixed, mobile, and dismounted rapidly deployable assets. Standalone or networked, FLIR will help you keep watch.

Learn more at flir.com/borders today! 2 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

DECEMBER 2016/JANUARY 2017 www.armadainternational.com

08 sea power

FIRE FROM THE SEA Luca Peruzzi discusses the demand for naval surface-tosurface missiles to improve the punch of combatants large and small.

14 LAND warfare

18 AIR power

22 LAND warfare

30 TURING

34 AIR POWER

38 STIRLING

42 Programme Focus

48 FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

ENHANCING THE MK.1 EYEBALL Optronics for dismounted infantry are employing the very latest technological innovations which industry has to offer, Peter Donaldson explains.

SCALPEL SHARP Joetey Attariwala rounds up the latest technological advances aimed at making air-to-ground ordnance ever more smarter and accurate.

FINDING THE X-FACTOR Procuring the right training aircraft is an important decision for any air force. David Oliver examines ongoing and expected trainer acquisitions.

NO TIME TO SPARE? GO BY AIR! Investment is increasing in aerial delivery systems to get commandos and their equipment on the ground covertly, quickly and safely, Andrew White discovers.

UNDER THE GUN Assault and sniper rifles are in demand. Andrew White explains how lessons learned from operational theatres are migrating into current and future designs.

ALBION AND THE APOCALYPSE The UK is receiving new nuclearpowered ballistic missile submarines. Thomas Withington examines the political and constitutional pitfalls facing this initiative.

WHO GOES THERE? Thomas Withington examines the technological innovations in the identification friend or foe domains, and their implications for air operations.

LET THERE BE LIGHT Gerrard Cowan goes in search of Lidar, and finds a technology with the potential to augment many military situational awareness tools.

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

3

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

december 2016/january 2017. Issue 06.

ON THE COVER: The Northrop Grumman T-38A/C Talon jet trainer family is in the twilight of its years, and its replacement is examined in our ‘Finding the X-Factor’ article in this issue.

BARRETT 27

KONGSBERG 13

COLT 25

LAAD

DSEi 41

LEONARDO 7

D & S THAILAND

MIL AM

FLIR



51 COVER 2

37

ROSOBORONEXPORT

33 COVER 4

IDEX 47

SAAB 17

Published bi-monthly by Media Transasia Ltd. Copyright 2012 by Media Transasia Ltd. Publishing Office: Media Transasia Ltd., 1603, 16/F, Island Place Tower, 510 King’s Road, Hong Kong

IMDS 53

TRIJICON 23

ISDEF 45

UKSPECEXPORT

Editor: Thomas Withington

IWA 54

UNMANNED TECH

Volume 40 , Issue No. 6, December 2016/January 2017

General Manager: Jakhongir Djalmetov International Marketing Manager: Roman Durksen Digital Manager: David Siriphonphutakun Sales & Marketing Coordinator: Wajiraprakan Punyajai Graphic Designer: Khakanaa Suwannawong Production Manager: Kanda Thanakornwongskul Group Circulation Manager: Porames Chinwong

5, 11 COVER 3

THIS MONTH ON ARMADAINTERNATIONAL.COM

Chairman: J.S. Uberoi President: Egasith Chotpakditrakul Chief Financial Officer: Gaurav Kumar Advertising Sales Offices FRANCE Odile Orbec - Promotion et Motivation Tel: +33 1 41 43 83 00, [email protected] GERMANY, AUSTRIA, BENELUX, SWITZERLAND Sam Baird Tel: +44 1883 715 697, [email protected] ITALY, NORDIC COUNTRIES Emanuela Castagnetti-Gillberg Tel: +46 31 799 9028, [email protected] UK, EASTERN EUROPE, TURKEY Zena Coupé Tel: +44 1923 852537, [email protected] RUSSIA Alla Butova - NOVO-Media Ltd Tel: (7 3832) 180 885 Mobile: (7 960) 783 6653 [email protected] USA (EAST/SOUTH EAST), Canada (EAst) Margie Brown Tel: (540) 341 7581, [email protected]



USA (WEST/SOUTH WEST), BRAZIL, Canada (WEst) Diane Obright Tel: (858) 759 3557, [email protected]

■ In ■ Hawkeye

Specifics

for the Kill

More details have reached armadainternational. com regarding the new Mandus/AM General Hawkeye 105mm self-propelled howitzer unveiled at the Association of the United States Army exhibition held this October in Washington DC.

On 10 October, it was reported that BAE Systems had been awarded a contract from the US Navy worth $618.3 million contract for the full rate production of lots five to seven of the APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System) air-tosurface rocket laser guidance kit.

■ Anti-UAV

■ ATL-2

ALL OTHER COUNTRIES Jakhongir Djalmetov Mobile: +66 81 645 5654, [email protected] Roman Durksen [email protected] Tel: +66 2204 2370, Mob: +66 98 252 6243

Controlled circulation: 25,278 (average per issue) certified by ABC Hong Kong, for the period 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2015. Printed by Media Transasia Ltd., 75/8, 14th Floor, Ocean Tower II, Soi Sukhumvit 19, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. Tel: 66 (0)-2204 2370, Fax: 66 (0)-2204 2390 -1 Annual subscription rates: Europe: CHF 222 (including postage) Rest of the World: USD 222 (including postage) Subscription Information: Readers should contact the following address: Subscription Department, Media Transasia Ltd., 75/8, 14th Floor, Ocean Tower II, Soi Sukhumvit 19, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. Tel +66 2204 2370 Fax: +66 2204 2387 Email: [email protected]

4

Developments

In September 2015, Blighter began shipping the first Anti-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Defence System (AUDS) which can detect, track, disrupt and defeat UAVs.

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

Developments

Flight testing of the Aeronavale (French Naval Aviation) Breguet/Dassault ATL-2 Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft, which have been recently upgraded is expected to commence in 2017.

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

5

Editorial WE CAN BE HEROES

A

mong the many notable depar- eventually able to escape almost certain impristures in 2016, two had a particu- onment or death as the battalion was routed by lar impact on your editor: The Gen. Franco’s troops, later finding a ship in the first was the loss of the enig- north-eastern Spanish port of Barcelona. matic singer David Bowie; a creMr. Hilton’s passing has received comparaative mastermind who continues to provide a tively little coverage in the British media, cerfrequent soundtrack in the Armada editorial tainly when compared to the significant coveroffice. The second departure was that of Stan age which the one hundredth anniversary of the Hilton on 21 October, a name many readers will outbreak of the First World War, and its subsebe unfamiliar with. quent battles have received. Compared to other Mr. Hilton was the last surviving British conflicts in which the UK has been involved, such veteran of the Spanish Civil War; a conflict that as the First and Second World Wars, the Spanish raged between July 1936 and April 1939 pitting Civil War is a forgotten conflict. The UK governthe democratic government of the Second Span- ment at the time under Prime Minister Neville ish Republic against a Falangist, nationalist re- Chamberlain had chosen to maintain a neutral bellion led by General Francisco Franco of the position, given that the conflict was involving Spanish Army. Gen. Franco would later become both Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany and the fascist the country’s dictator until the return of democ- regime of Benito Mussolini both of whom proracy to Spain in 1975. vided armed support to Gen. Franco, while the Some historians have seen the conflict as regime of the Soviet Union’s dictator Josef Stalin an overture to the Second World War pitting de- provided similar support to the Republicans. The mocracy against a fascist ideology. Mr. Hilton’s intervening years between the end of the Spanish experience of the war mirrored many of those Civil War and today have not seen any UK governwho went to fight from around the globe in the ments being more vocal in its recognition of the International Brigades who aided the Republi- sacrifices made by Mr. Hilton and his comrades in cans against Gen. Franco’s rebellion. At the age fighting Gen. Franco’s insurrection. of 19, as a merchant seaman Mr. Hilton jumped When dark forces once again threaten to rock ship, and eventually made his way to the British Europe’s political fabric with populist, racially Battalion of the 15th International Brigade, see- driven ideologies, the UK and other nations ing action in the winter of 1937 around the town might be well advised to openly recognise the of Teruel, eastern Spain. As Gen. Franco’s forces struggle against similar forces back in the 1930s. advanced through the regions of Aragon and A struggle which concluded merely months be- Thomas Withington, Catalonia in northeast Spain, Mr. Hilton was fore Mr. Hitler plunged Europe into war. Editor

6

AD

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

7

sea power

FIRE FROM THE SEA Investment is flowing into naval surface weaponry, notably anti-ship and land-attack missiles, plus naval gunnery, the latter of which is experiencing a renaissance as a versatile means of engaging hostile vessels and land targets. Luca Peruzzi

8

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

I

n May 2016, the US Navy completed developmental free flight testing of its next-generation Boeing AGM84N Block-II+ Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile (AShM) onboard a Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The AGM-84N is the latest iteration of the air-, ship-, l and- and submarine-launched versions of the AGM-84 family, which entered the US Navy inventory in 1977 and has since witnessed 7500 rounds delivered. About 20 years later, an advanced upgrade was introduced by Boeing with the AGM-

The AGM-158C is a derivative of the AGM-158B, equipped with ASuW specific guidance and navigation including a data link, enhanced GPS and a multimode sensor/seeker.

84 Block-II, which incorporated a GPS (Global Positioning System) assisted Inertial Navigation System, enabling the missile to have both an anti-ship and a land attack capability. The AGM-84 Block-II missile is employed by 29 foreign militaries, acknowledges the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). The AGM84 Block-II+ provides a rapid-capability enhancement that include a new guidance navigation unit with GPS; enhancements to the reliability and survivability of the weapon; a new data link that enables in-

flight updates, improved target selectivity, an abort option and enhanced resistance to electronic countermeasures. With the US Navy fleet fielding expected in the fourth quarter of 2017 onboard the F/A-18E/F, to be followed by Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in the 2021 timeframe, the new version will join the Raytheon AGM-154C1 Joint StandOff Weapon as the US Navy’s only two air-to-ground network-enable weapons. During the US Navy League Sea-Air-Space symposium in April 2015, Boeing unveiled the AGM-84 Harpoon Next Generation as an upgrade kit for existing AGM-84 family weapons which includes a more fuel-efficient engine, additional fuel and a smaller 297 pound/lb (135 kilogram/kg) warhead. These enhancements, together with the AGM-84 Block-II missile’s data link and missile guidance system, doubles the missile range from 67 nautical miles/ nm (124 kilometres/km) to more than 134nm (248.2km). More recently identified as the AGM-84 Harpoon Block-II Extended Range (ER), this weapon is being proposed to meet the US Navy’s urgent requirement to equip the force’s ‘Freedom’ and ‘Independence’ class Littoral Combat Ships (LCSs) and the force’s new Fast Frigate (FF) programme with an over-the-horizon missile. Boeing has already ‘fundamentally’ demonstrated the in-service AGM-84 Block-1C missile integration with a live firing in July 2016 onboard the USS Coronado ‘Independence’ class LCS. An over-the-horizon missile

capability Request For Proposals (RFP) is slated for release by the end of 2016, with the expected participation of Boeing, Raytheon/Kongsberg and Lockheed Martin. The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has, meanwhile, awarded Lockheed Martin a contract for the final development, integration and early operational capability for the company’s AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). Conceived as a joint Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)/Office of Naval Research programme to prove the concept for an autonomous, precision-guided antiship stand-off missile, the weapon is being developed to meet the US Pacific Command’s urgent need for an offensive anti-surface warfare capability against combatants in a contested environment, with reduced dependence on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms, communication and GPS navigation. The AGM-158C is a derivative of the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSMER) air-launched cruise missile, equipped with a new sensor package specific to the anti-surface warfare mission. With a range of over 200nm (370km) and armed with a 1000lb (454kg) penetrator and blast-fragmentation warhead, the AGM158C employs a data link, an enhanced digital anti-jam GPS, and a multimode sensor/seeker to detect and destroy specific targets within a group of ships.

US Navy

US Navy

sea power

The first launch of the AGM-84C1 Harpoon from the USS Coronado. Boeing is proposing the new AGM-84 Next Generation version as an update kit providing the missile with a range exceeding 134nm.

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

9

Almost 500 examples of MBDA’s MM-40 Block-3 AShM have been sold and are in service or being delivered to eleven customers, with the latest supply contracts awarded to MBDA by the Qatari Navy.

The sensor/seeker package, combining a passive radio frequency long-range sensor for wide area target acquisition and an optronics seeker for terminal targeting, has been developed by BAE Systems. The programme has completed transition from DARPA to the US Navy and is scheduled to complete technology maturation and systems engineering reviews by the end of 2016, while beginning test and integration activities to award production lots from 2017 and to field the AGM-158C on the Rockwell International/Boeing B-1B Lancer strategic bomber by the end of 2018 and on the F/A18E/F by the end of 2019. Lockheed Martin has demonstrated the surface-launched AGM-158C variant from a ship while underway through three test shots; the latest on July 2016 from the USS Paul F. Foster, a ‘Spruance’ class destroyer which now serves as a US Navy test ship. To ensure maintaining its strike capability in the next decade and beyond, the US Navy is working to develop a family of more lethal, survivable, and affordable multi-mission stand-off weapons which can be launched from multiple platforms. The Next Generation Land Attack Weapon (NGLAW) programme, for which the Request For Information (RFI) was released in late October, is expected to provide the US

Navy with a surface and submarine-launched longrange strike capability from 2028 and beyond against surface targets. The NGLAW is envisioned to complement, and then eventually replace, the Raytheon BGM-109 Tomahawk family of surface-to-surface missiles, which will be operational until the 2040s.

Exocet Since entering service in 1972, almost 4000 MBDA Exocet family AShMs have been sold to at least 35 countries. Since the first delivery to the French DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement/General Armament Directorate) in December 2010, the latest MM-40 Block-3 version has been sold to eleven customers (including the French Navy), with new supply contracts awarded to MBDA by the Qatari Navy for an undisclosed number of rounds to equip the force’s new corvettes, offshore patrol vessels and new coastal mobile AShM batteries. The latest Exocet variant is designed for high-g manoeuvres, and reduced infrared and radar-cross section signatures. The MM-40 Block-3 features a powerful Microturbo TRI-40 turbojet providing an extended operational range at sea-skimming altitudes of around 108nm (200km). The advanced hybrid

10 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

INS/GPS navigation package allows for the programming of three-dimensional way-points, optimised trajectories and simultaneous terminal attacks employing multiple missiles. Equipped with an insensitive warhead providing high explosive blast and pre-fragmented effects, triggered by an impact fuse with a proximity function, the MM-40 Block-3 version’s terminal guidance is provided by an advanced radar seeker with adaptive search patterns, offering enhanced target selection and countermeasures resistance. In parallel, MBDA has also successfully sold the latest SM-39 Block-II Mod.-II submarine-launched fully-digitised version of the missile to different customers, while the latest air-launched version, the AM-39 Block-II Mod.-II versions are finding new platforms, such as the Brazilian Navy’s Airbus Helicopters H-225M naval support helicopters. Saab The Saab RBS15 missile family has been in service for over 30 years with the Swedish and Finnish navies, as well as coastal batteries demonstrating reliability and performance in operationally-complex littoral scenarios such as Swedish and Finnish coastal and archipelago waters. The latest version of the weapon is the RBS15 Mk.3 and the RBS15F-ER which have been designed to operate in a wide spectrum of threat scenarios, from antiship engagement in blue waters and littoral waters, as well as land attack missions. Marketed by Saab and Diehl BGT Defence,

A target is struck during a missile test involving the NSM. The US Navy has shown interest in the weapon which is in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy.

Kongsberg

MBDA

sea power

TECHNICAL SUPPORT MACHINE MTP-72 PURPOSE Technical Support Machine MTP72 is designed for the most labor intensive maintenance and current repairs of tank T-72 in the field. The structure of the machine includes a trailer with equipment and racks with niches and special boxes for transport and storage of spare parts and consumables for the repair of the tank. SPECIfICATIONS Chassis Trailer type Body type Crew

KrAZ-632207 Full metal, welded 3 (driver - crane operator, locksmith - mechanic, electrician - welder)

Workshop overall dimensions, mm: Length Width Height Total weight of a workshop, kg Maximum speed, km/h Fuel consumption, l/100 km Maximum grade ascending ability, angle degree Fordable depth, m Zar-system voltage, V

14720 2760 3640 22750 80 48 25 1,2 24, 220, 380

STATIONARY CHARGING STATION SZS-U PURPOSE Stationary charging station SZS-U is intended for a charge of acid accumulator batteries, and also alkaline batteries with the rated voltage of 12 and 24 V, with the capacity from 7 to 200 A·h, what is applied in automobile and armored vehicles (personal armored vehicles or tanks) The station represents the stationary boxing of frame type, it is divided into two compartments. There is the chargers block in the front compartment, it’s consisting of twelve independent charging modules. There are niches for laying of 12 charging cables sets and 1 powering cables set (220 V and 380 V) in the rear compartment. Charging modules provide a high long-term charging rate with low fluctuations at the exit, they are interfering to premature wear of accumulator battery’s plates, and also are capable to determine the rated voltage of the charged battery automatically.

SPECIfICATIONS Type Output voltage, V Station voltage, V Number of at the same time charged accumula- tor batteries Time necessary for station expansion, no more, min. Outline dimensions, mm length width height Weight, kg:

36, Dehtiarivska St., Kyiv, 04119, Ukraine Phone: +380 (44) 461-94-27 Fax: +380(44) 461-97-59; 489-07-58 E-mail: [email protected]

Stationary, power supply from external network 12, 24 220, 380 12 5 1000 800 1000 100

sea power

NSM During the Farnborough air show, held in southern England in July 2016, Raytheon

and Kongsberg revealed plans to establish a final assembly, integration and testing facility for the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) in the US. A month later, Kongsberg awarded Raytheon the contract to produce the first NSM launchers the US, as the two companies look to prepare themselves for the upcoming US Navy’s LCS/FF over-thehorizon missile competition (see above). Entering service with the Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) in 2012, the NSM was developed by Kongsberg to meet that force’s requirements for a highly discriminative, low-observable, seaskimming AShM able to operate effectively in blue waters and littoral environments and to penetrate shipboard defences. With a low-observable composite airframe and capable of operational range in excess of 108nm, the NSM features an advanced passive guidance package which combines GPS-aided multi-sensor navigation with an advanced dual-band imaging seeker and autonomous target recognition for terminal guidance. According to Kongsberg, the high-resolution imaging seeker provides autonomous target recognition and a selectable aimpoint for each ship-class. Capable of precision land attack, possessing a high thrust-to-weight ratio, together with programmable endgame manoeuvres provide the NSM a high probability of defence penetration. The NSM is equipped with a 484lb (220kg), combined insensitive blast and fragmentation warhead activated by a programmable fuze. The NSM is in

The new coastal AShM defence system developed by MBDA is focused on the new Marte-ER and MM-40 Block-3 anti-ship missiles.

12 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

Luca Peruzzi

the RBS15 Mk.3 is in service with the Croatian, Finnish, German, Polish and Swedish navies and is reported in open sources to have been sold to the Algerian Navy. With a range of over 108nm using allweather and fire-and-forget capabilities and providing stand-off attack while using over-the-horizon targeting, or a flexible trajectory with multiple three-dimensional waypoints, the RBS15 Mk.3 is equipped with an advanced active radar seeker with a builtin ECCM (Electronic Counter-Counter Measure) which together with a true sea-skimming flight profile, random and evasive manoeuvres, including re-attack, and increased thrust in the terminal phase, provide advanced defence penetration capabilities. For the end game, missile is equipped with a 440lb (200kg) blast and fragmentation warhead triggered by a delayed impact or proximity fuse function. The RBS15F-ER is the latest generation air-to-surface model of the RBS15 family, which thanks to its modular design and standard interfaces, can be easily integrated and installed onboard a variety of platforms, from fighters to maritime patrol aircraft. Designed for a 30-year service life with only one major overhaul, the RBS15F-ER features twice the range of the original RBS15F and an improved capability that puts its on a par with the surface-launched RBS15 Mk.3.

The Saab RBS 15 missile family has been in service for over 30 years with the Swedish and Finnish navies on ships, and also deployed in coastal battery configurations with other customers.

service with RNoN and Polish navies respectively in shipborne and mobile coastal defence applications, and has been selected by Malaysia. On the US market, the NSM was successfully launched from the USS Coronado in September 2014. The NSM is also available as an air-launched weapon called the Joint Strike Missile (JSM), with a modified airframe allowing it to be internally carried and launched from a Lockheed Martin F-35A/B/C Lightning-II fighter. Being developed with Australian participation it is currently in the test phase with the missile expected to be available from 2017. Marte Launched in 2013 as a company-funded project and supported by Italian Government funding during its early development, MBDA’s Marte Extended Range (ER) missile has found a launch customer in the form of the Qatari Navy. The Marte-ER differs mainly from the second-generation of Marte AShM family via the introduction of a Williams International turbojet to achieve an effective range of beyond 54nm (100km).

Saab

KONGSBERG KONGSBERG creates and delivers high technology solutions for people that operate under very challenging conditions – on the oceans, in the deep subsea, in defence, in space

With full-scale development launched at the beginning of 2016, the first ground firings to test the launch phase with boosters and the engine ignition are expected by the end of 2017, with weapons qualification expected by 2020. The Marte-ER includes a 154lb (70kg) semi-armour piercing/ high-explosive insensitive warhead and Leonardo’s SM-1S active radar seekerbased guidance and navigation system, with the addition of a GPS receiver, while providing enhanced evasive manoeuvres in the terminal phase and advanced mission planning features. The helicopter, ship and ground-launched variant of the Marte-ER will be identical with central folding wings, while the fast-jet launched variant differs mainly via its absence of boosters, and fixed central wings. A new technology insertion roadmap currently under development includes RF-guidance enhancements, a more powerful warhead and eventually, a multi-sensor guidance package. Following a series of initial flight release trails in December 2015, the MBDA Sea Venom/Anti-Navire Leger (ANL/Light Anti-Ship Missile) programme has entered its qualification phase, to be completed

with a series of guiding firings by the end of 2018. The Sea Venom/ANL is being procured to meet the respectively Royal Navy Future Anti Surface Guided Weapon (Heavy) and the French ANL requirements for a lightweight helicopter-launched multi-role high-subsonic surface attack missile to replace the existing Royal Navy’s British Aircraft Corporation/MBDA Sea Skua and the French Navy’s Aérospatiale/ MBDA AS-15TT AShMs. While the missile will be capable of flying a fully autonomous profile, operator-in-the-loop control will enable capabilities such as in-flight retargeting, aim point correction/refinement and safe abort. The SAL (Semi-Active Laser) guidance, if enabled, would allow the engagement of targets outside the lineof-sight in concert with third-party laser designation. Suitable for both blue water and littoral operations, the new missile will equip the Royal Navy’s AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 naval support helicopters and the French Navy’s NFH-90 and Eurocopter/Airbus Helicopters AS-565SA Panther naval support rotorcraft. Regarding warships, the weapon can also equip vessels of fast attack craft to corvette sizes.

www.kongsberg.com

US DoD

Land WARFARE

ENHANCING THE MK.1 EYEBALL Dismounted troops face a complex array of tasks that frequently involve making quick, critical decisions under harsh, dangerous conditions. Whether conducting sustained combat, raids, reconnaissance, surveillance or hostage rescue soldiers need all the help they can get to understand their situation. Peter Donaldson

W

hile today’s market is dominated by handheld systems, there is growing interest in larger but still soldier-portable equipment that provide longer ranges, wider fields-of-view, video analytics and the cueing of supplementary sensors and targeting systems. In urban environments in particular, there is a need to see though walls to reduce risks to soldiers whom need to enter buildings that may have armed and hostile occupants. In all cases, the trend is towards multiple sensors, encompassing both radar and optronics, which also provide reliable connectivity: “Many nations around the world are looking to increase the responsiveness and flexibility of their forces, to deal with a broader range of threats”, said Andrew Saxton, FLIR Systems’ director of marketing, surveillance, emerging, outdoor and tactical systems: “The ability to gather actionable information from a wider variety of sources gives commanders that operational flexibility.”

Knowing not only what is around the next corner, but what is in the next building forms a vital part of military operations in urban terrain. Advancements in optronics and radars are enhancing soldiers’ capabilities in this regard.

Pack It In The eternal limitations of weight and power still severely affect dismounted equipment but significant progress is being made even with more complex multi-sensor equipment: “Improvements in optics, materials and power systems all allow us to remove weight, offering greater range performance, more sensors, and longer run-time”, he told Armada: “Even in the past few years, huge strides have been made in this respect. Our weight reduction efforts have enabled us to produce the Recon-V, which has HD (High Definition) thermal long-range imaging, a laser rangefinder, a digital magnetic compass, and a GPS (Global Positioning System), all weighing under 2.2 kilograms (five pounds). This just wasn’t possible five years ago.” Naveh Bahat, director of electro-optics research and development, and business

14 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

development for the systems, missiles and space group of Israel Aerospace Industries’ Tamam division, acknowledges the predominance of handheld systems and comments that there is a requirement in Israel for longer-ranged dismounted observation. In the near future, Mr. Bahat expects their evolution to produce more integrated systems centred on uncooled cameras with laser rangefinders, GPS and target location capabilities. He also predicts that more systems will have friendlier user controls based on computing and graphics technologies developed for smartphones. Other changes he anticipates include more integration of radars and optronics, dismounted and mobile search and track systems, and greater connectivity. Rather

Land WARFARE

Out of the vehicle! Johnny Carni, Controp’s marketing and sales vice president commented to Armada that while the last decade or so has witnessed a great deal of activity in mobile optronics operated from vehicles, the company sees a shift in emphasis toward getting out of the vehicle and operating the equipment at some distance from it, to reduce the risk of being detected, particularly in homeland security and border patrol missions: “What we hear from the users is that once they put up towers with all this sophisticated (optronics) equipment and radars, the bad guys know where the towers are and learn the weak points … It’s not like a coastal position where you don’t have an issue because there is a good line of sight. Inland you always have line of sight issues … Now we see a growing need for portable equipment that enable border patrol units to set up ambushes in different locations at different times.” Mobile and soldier-portable equipment, he emphasised, also helps overcome the limitations of fences and the threat of tunnels. Intruders can dig tunnels under sections of fences that are under observation, adding that once they get more than 15 metres (49.2 feet) from the fence they are beyond the monitored area. This problem can be addressed by small teams of two or three operators with sensors that provide wide-area coverage and radios with which they can call in their colleagues to take control of what they have detected.

enable identification of targets that ground surveillance radars can detect; cameras the company originally developed for use with small UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). The use of active sensors such as radars in higher threat environments also provides an incentive to operate them some distance away: “Because of the risk of the vehicle being hit”, he said, “(soldiers) want to take off the sensors or fit them very high up in order to avoid taking casualties.” Mr. Saxton emphasises the importance of using radar and optronics together: “It’s all about interconnectivity,” he said: “We produce man-portable radars as well as handheld systems, and the true innovation comes in combining the information from both devices into actionable intelligence. This is where we focus, and as each technology improves, the whole system improves.” He again points to the importance of connectivity to enable dismounted reconnaissance troops to make the most of networked information feeds from diverse sources including UAVs, aircraft, aerostats and Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS): “Utilising a common architecture allows several single-point information sources to become one multifaceted surveillance system. Cross-cueing between sensors allows a dismounted person to quickly get eyes on a target found by an aerostat, and vice versa. An aerostat system can take a latitude-longitude data point from a UGS and rapidly interrogate without having to repeat the search process.” Panoramic Twister While portable radars coupled with optronics can get rid of the ‘soda straw’

limitations imposed by most cameras, by which the viewer can effectively be denied peripheral vision due to how their camera may see an object (akin to looking through a soda straw), and the lack of target recognition and identification capabilities in ground surveillance radars, another approach is emerging from manufacturers including Controp and Elbit. Both offer portable high performance optronics with very wide fields-of-view. Designed to be carried, set up and operated by two people Controp’s Twister, launched at the Eurosatory exhibition held in Paris this June, scans through 360 degrees, updates its panoramic image every second and detects moving targets at ranges of up to three kilometres (1.6 miles): “There are a few manufacturers of this kind of equipment worldwide,” said Mr. Carni: “but as far as I know we are the only one that enables it to be portable.” Image processing algorithms automatically detect moving human and other targets, while the thermal imaging camera’s continuous optical zoom lens enables the operator to use it in observation mode for target recognition and identification. The Twister also takes snapshots while continuing to record. With each detection it saves a track file to which the operator can refer for investigation in real time, while the system continues to scan the designated area. The product can be operated locally from a laptop or remotely over an FLIR Systems is leading the charge in reducing the size, weight and power consumption of optronics for dismounted soldiers. To this end, it is now producing systems weighing under 2.2kg. FLIR Systems

than weight and power, he emphasised narrow fields-of-view in optronics sensors as the prime limitation affecting current reconnaissance equipment for dismounts, putting forward the integration of small, lightweight radars as an important part of the solution: “In naval applications, reconnaissance systems have developed to search and track using radars for cueing and electro-optical systems for investigating and aiming,” he continued: “We think that the land battlefield will take the same path. IAI is working on these directions.” Furthermore, optical and mapping technologies will be able to calculate accurate location without using GPS, he said.

Soda Straw Controp provides for these kinds of missions in a number of ways, Mr. Carni continued, providing its small, stabilised uncooled cameras for use with lightweight, soldier-portable radars to

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017 15

Controp

Land WARFARE

Controp’s Twister aims to reduce the tyranny of the so-called ‘soda straw’ effect by which optronics users can experience a reduction in peripheral vision.

Ethernet or radio connection: “Twister provides a significantly more advanced and more cost-effective alternative to the high maintenance methods employed today, which typically rely on a network of cameras distributed along protective barriers, with images displayed on multiple screens”, said: “With the TWISTER, the entire 360 degree panoramic picture is displayed on a single screen, which is much easier and simpler to control in the field.” Elbit’s SupervisIR is similar in concept, but differs in the detail as it has a staring sensor that provides a field-of-view measuring 90 degrees in azimuth and 12.5 degrees in elevation, which is equivalent to about 150 standard thermal imagers according to Shalom Binder of Elbit’s intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance division, who briefed Armada at Eurosatory where SupervisIR was launched. That very large field-of-view is achieved with a single camera containing a single detector. This is new technology, some of which is patented, Mr. Binder said, which enables the system “to extract dozens of megapixels” from that single detector. SupervisIR also records everything and applies a layer of video analytic algorithms to detect and classify targets, marking them with red dots on the panoramic view, opening individual windows for each and enabling multiple operators to zoom in on different targets to investigate them: “It is not only a detection system like a radar”, he

said: “it has inherent visual capability as a thermal imager.” SupervisIR can be supported by external networked sensors, Mr. Binder explained: “For extra resolution you can slew a separate camera such as the (Elbit’s) LVCR-D … Pick an area of interest on the SupervisIR and slew the LVCR-D onto it,” he added: “The nice thing about it is that it’s not rotating, so it has a compact, lightweight, minimal footprint.” Together, the SupervisIR and LCVR-D form key elements of the company’s ISTAR-DS (Dismounted Solutions) concept, he told Armada, containing everything required to detect, locate, classify and identify targets and hand them off to attack platforms for prosecution: “We are aiming for a solution (to equip a) dismounted force; a team that takes all the equipment in their backpacks.” Elbit illustrated the concept with a video in which a target was handed off to an Elbit Skylark-I/II UAV because there was a risk that line-of-sight from the ground observation post would be lost. The UAV provided laser designation: “With this kind of solution, we can use many different kinds of attack options, whether laser guided, GPS-guided or statistical munitions such as artillery or mortars; you just have to get the target data to the weapon.” With its in-house communications expertise, Elbit can provide any radios appropriate to the situation and the distance between the command post, the attacking platform

16 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

and the supervising headquarters, he explained: “It’s modular, so the team can choose communication, observation and designation devices.” Behind The Wall The truism of reconnaissance is that it tells commanders what is over the next hill, but in urban combat in particular it often comes down to what is behind a wall, in the next building or even in the next room. This is where masonry penetrating ultra-wideband radars such as the Xaver family from Camero come into their own and are attracting growing interest from counter-insurgency units in particular, as the company’s vice president for business development, sales and marketing Ilan Abramovich explained: “Because of the current situation, you can see it in Europe and also in the US of course, people are much more aware of the requirements … There is growth in this market,” he added, “but I cannot say that I see anything dramatic.” Operating over a continuous frequency band from three to ten gigahertz at very low power levels (even the most powerful version puts out less energy than a mobile phone), all members of the Xaver family can detect the tiny movements made by all living beings, humans and animals, including breathing and heartbeat through most common wall, floor and ceiling materials including clay, brick, stone, plaster, dry wall, cinder blocks, wood, glass and even reinforced concrete. The thickness it can penetrate varies with the wall material and the radars will not see through a continuous sheet of metal. The family consists of three products: the Xaver-800, which is a large, tripod-mounted, four-antenna system weighing 14.5kg (31.9lb) that provides three-dimensional imaging primarily for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications, the threekilogram (6.6lb) Xaver-400 described as a compact tactical tool and the 0.6kg (1.3lb) Xaver-100, which is small enough to fit into a magazine pouch and can be operated using one hand. Multiple units can be networked wirelessly over the company’s XaverNet and controlled remotely from a tablet computer. Besides size and weight, the main differences between these radars are in the variety and detail of information displayed: The Xaver-100 has the simplest display, showing the presence of life in a room, its distance from the detector on simple range

Land WARFARE

bars and the direction of its movement. Furthermore, it is clearly small enough to be issued as personal equipment, but Mr. Abramovich believes that they are not likely to be provided to every soldier, but rather at the group level for special forces and SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) teams: “If you go to the mass market, which is, let’s say, infantry brigades, it is only those modern armed forces that involve infantry brigades in urban fighting.” With a maximum range of 20m (65ft), like its siblings, the Xaver-100 provides some stand-off capability, Mr. Abramovich emphasised: “If you want to observe behind a wall you can be ten metres (32.8ft) away and still have another ten metres inside the building in which you can tell what is happening,” he said: “Typically, users will reach the wall, detect what is happening and immediately react, in most cases.” The potential value of the radar in the ugly house-to-house and room-to-room fighting with explosive entry common in urban warfare is obvious: “OK, so you are very aggressive going in, but when you are inside you have to search. It could be a

building, an apartment with many rooms, maybe a basement, maybe an attic,” Mr. Abramovich adds: “Somebody can hit you, somebody can jump out of a closet … or wait in the next room. With our system you can get the information. You can actually detect beyond more than one wall.” The Xaver 100 has even been demonstrated on a small UAV to detect people through the roofs of buildings, on which the drone lands and stops its motors to eliminate unwanted movement and vibration so that the radar can detect the tiny movements it seeks. Future Developments With applications like this and microUAVs like the Proxdynamics Black Hornet, which Mr. Saxton noted has proved a game changer for dismounted reconnaissance, small unmanned systems are likely to play an even greater role in the foreseeable future. Asked to anticipate the mix of equipment available to a typical ‘first world’ reconnaissance platoon ten years hence, Mr. Saxton emphasised that the focus will remain on

capturing and disseminating actionable information: “The gear to support that will focus on longer-range imaging, higher definition imaging for greater target detail, improved power systems, and secure communications systems that can handle the massive bandwidth required for sharing high definition video in real time.” Meanwhile, Mr. Bahat expects more compact handheld observation and location devices, integration of laser designators, accurate image-based navigation and location capabilities and new search and track and detection systems. Mr. Carni ventured that video analytics will become a big issue because wide field-of-view cameras capture areas too large for the human brain to process as quickly as necessary. He said that future analytics should enable users to define the kinds of targets and target behaviour they would like to see, and have the system flag up only those targets, eliminating false alarms: “With all these automatic systems the big issue is false alarms; the big challenge is there.”

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017 17

David Oliver

air Power

FINDING THE X-FACTOR

Raytheon and Leonardo have proposed the T-100 based on the M-346 for the USAF T-X competition to replace the T-38A/C Talon.

In a recent assessment of the global market for trainer aircraft, the Teal Group, a consultancy based in Fairfax, Virginia, anticipates a global market for 2737 trainer aircraft, worth $32.3 billion over the next decade. Thomas Withington

T

he group’s assessment is a major increase from the period of 2006 to 2015 when 1876 trainer aircraft were acquired by air forces worldwide, for a total amount of $19.9 billion. A major factor in the Teal Group’s projected increase in trainer sales is the upcoming United States Air Force (USAF) T-X Advanced Pilot Training competition for which it is scheduled to release a final Request for Proposals (RFP) in December 2016. The USAF anticipates awarding a contract in 2017, with an initial operating capability planned for 2024. The T-X Programme to replace the

USAF’s ageing North American/Northrop Grumman T-38A/C Talon jet trainers, more than 500 aircraft, is one of the major USAF procurement programmes of the decade, along with the Lockheed Martin F-35A/B/C Lightning-II fighter and Boeing KC-46A tanker; and the most important ongoing competition in the trainer market. Although an initial 350 aircraft are expected to be ordered to replace the T-38A/C, further purchases are possible. The T-X competition, with an estimated value of $11 billion, has attracted four manufacturers to submit both off-the-shelf developments of existing aircraft and clean-sheet designs. In this regard, Raytheon and Leonardo

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propose the T-100 based on the M-346 Master family while Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) are submitting the T-50A based on the KAI Golden Eagle. Northrop Grumman initially planned to submit a proposal based on BAE Systems’ Hawk jet trainer family, but changed to a new design, built by its subsidiary Scaled Composites. Meanwhile, Boeing has partnered with Saab to also offer a new clean-sheet design. Requirements The T-X requirements are stringent and will be a challenge to all the competitors. In July the USAF released a version of the

air Power

13000ft (3960m) while losing no more than ten percent of its initial speed. The USAF is now incentivising industry to exceed the threshold requirements for specific performance aspects, including high-g manoeuvring, high angle-of-attack manoeuvring and aerial refueling. For the crucial g-capability requirement, for every 0.1g above the 6.5g threshold, and up to the 7.5g objective, a competing manufacturer will receive a bonus. If two or more T-X proposals are the same price, the proposal with the higher sustained-g capability will be rated higher overall. Other T-X requirements include inflight refuelling from both hose and boom

The Boeing/Saab T-X platform built in St Louis is a clean-sheet design leveraging technologies from the F/A-18C/D and JAS-39E.

systems and a ten percent reduction in fuel usage compared to the T-38A/C. The T-X should have a takeoff distance no greater than 6400ft (1950m) using an 8000ft (2438m) runway and a landing ground roll distance of no greater than 7000ft (2134m) on an 8000ft (2438m) runway with a tenknot (1.9 kilometre-per-hour) tailwind. Each airframe must be able to operate for 8000 flight hours, while the fleet should be designed for 22 years of service life assuming a maximum utilisation rate of 30.3 hours-per-month and required aircraft availability will be at least 80 percent. T-100 Raytheon, which replaced General Dynamics, which withdrew from the T-X programme in March 2015, as the prime contractor for the T-100, while Leonardo will provide the aircraft platform; the M-346A turbofan trainer, and Honeywell Aerospace the twin F124 low-bypass turbofan engines. CAE was initially part of the General Dynamics-led T-100 offering as the GroundBased Training System (GBTS) provider, and continued in the team when Raytheon took over. For the T-X programme, the GBTS would consist of weapon systems trainers, operational flight trainers, unit training devices, aircrew ground egress trainers, ejection seat trainers, plus part-task and desktop trainers. CAE plans to leverage the design and development already done for M-346 GBTSs delivered to Italy, Israel, Poland and Singapore. One of the key advantages of the T-100 aircraft and the Lockheed Martin

Boeing

full RFP after issuing several iterations of the requirements for industry review and comment. That document identified three key performance characteristics for the new aircraft: sustained ‘g’; simulator visual acuity and performance, and aircraft sustainment. The sustained g requirement is to perform a specific manoeuvre in which a minimum of 6.5g is sustained through a 140-degree turn. The USAF is requiring a minimum of 6.5g sustained through the turn, with at least 80 percent fuel in the tanks at 15000 feet/ft (4570 metres/m) altitude, and a desired objective requirement of 7.5g. The manoeuvre should start at 15000ft and finish no lower than

Based on the proven KAI T/A-50, the Lockheed Martin/ KAI T-X competitor is the T-50A; two of which have been assembled in the United States.

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017 19

Leonardo

air Power

GBTS is that as a derivative of the M-346A, it is a proven, low-risk integrated training solution Although the T-100 is not supersonic, Raytheon officials believe they have covered the key performance parameters stipulated by the USAF, including high-g manoeuvring and high angle-of-attack manoeuvring. The air force has also requested the accommodation of boombased Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR), meaning this would have to be accommodated on the T-100 in addition to the M-346’s standard probe-and-drogue system. According to Rick Yuse, president of Raytheon’s space and airborne systems division, if selected, the T-100 will be built and tested at Meridan, Mississippi in the United States. T-50A Based on the proven KAI TA-50 Golden Eagle jet trainer, which is service with the Indonesian Air Force to replace its Northrop Grumman F-5E fighters, as well at those of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), the T-50A offering is powered by a single General Electric F404 turbofan with afterburning, the T-50A is the only off-the-shelf supersonic design that, according to the team, can fulfill, or exceed, all the high performance requirements of the draft RFP. The modified T-50A features an optional dorsal AAR capability, a larger cockpit display that can feature Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter family or F-35A/B/C-style displays, updated training software and embedded sensor training. Lockheed Martin’s facility in South Carolina is where the T-50A’s final assembly will take place and will house

Another contender for European advanced jet trainer/light attack aircraft replacements will be the recently-launched Leonardo M-346FT.

the GBTS. Two aircraft have already been built, and the first has completed all of its subsonic testing, stability and control testing and ground testing. Avionics testing is being conducted on the second aircraft to ensure the new cockpit’s functionality. The Lockheed Martin GBTS contains an array of innovative technologies to provide options for offloading aircraft training tasks into the simulation. Model-400 Unlike the T-50A, the T-100 and the other T-X candidate aircraft discussed in this article, the T-38A/C Talon first flew in 1959, and it has been in USAF service for more than 50 years with 1187 built. The Northrop Grumman-led T-X coalition includes BAE Systems and L-3 which are offering a cleansheet design. The Northrop Grumman T-X Model-400 prototype recently seen during taxi trials at Mojave Air and Space Port in California was manufactured by Northrop Grumman subsidiary Scaled Composites, which has a history of producing experimental designs. The date of the Model400’s first flight is yet to be announced. The Model-400 is powered by a single General Electric F404-GE-102D turbofan and shares a number of similarities with the T-38A/C, and Northrop’s F-5 fighter family with a long slender fuselage, twin engine inlets and a large vertical tail. Boeing/Saab The Boeing/Saab T-X offering is focused on an all-new advanced pilot training

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system designed specifically for the USAF that includes trainer aircraft and a GBTS developed together from the ground up. The first two Boeing/Saab T-Xs already built in St Louis, Missouri, are production aircraft, not prototypes. The new flexible design meets all the USAF requirements and can evolve as technologies, missions and training needs change. The aircraft is powered by a single General Electric GEF404 afterburning turbofan giving it high g and high angle-of-attack capabilities to mimic flight in modern fighter aircraft, with twin tails, ‘stadium’ seating (the aft seat higher than the front seat) and an advanced cockpit with embedded training. The T-X design incorporates technologies found in Boeing’s F/A-18C/D Super Hornet as well as Saab’s JAS-39E Gripen fighter. The first flight will take place before the end of this year. Saab’s Eddy de la Motte, the deputy T-X programme manager told Armada that Saab and Boeing have been working together for years regarding the T-X programme. Talks about teaming for the upcoming T-X initiative began in 2011 and an agreement was reached in 2013. Mr. de la Motte said: “with Saab’s long experience of designing and

The winning T-X aircraft will be in a prime position to replace more than 100 ageing Alpha Jet family trainers operated by the French, Belgian and Portuguese air forces.

air Power

Target Europe Boeing’s teaming with Saab and Raytheon’s with Leonardo are both clear signs that the manufacturers involved in the jet trainer aircraft market are focusing on lower development costs, and targeting both T-X and worldwide export contracts. Whichever aircraft is selected for the T-X requirement, variants of it could also perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, light attack and close air support missions, opening new capabilities for potential foreign customers. The T-X contract will also provide the winning team an inside track to any number of international customers that have acquired the F-35A/B/C, particularly in Europe. There are currently more than 1200 trainer aircraft in European air force inventories; several hundred of which will be due for replacement in the next decade. These include several European F-35A/B/C customers. The Aeronautica Militare (AM/ Italian Air force) is already taking delivery of the Leonardo T-346 Master as its lead-

in fighter trainer for both the F-35A and Eurofighter Typhoon F-2000A fighter and the Royal Air Force (RAF) will use the BAE Systems Hawk T.2 to form the advanced jet trainer segment of the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) to train Eurofighter Typhoon-F/GR4A and F-35B pilots. The AM, Luftwaffe (German Air Force) and the RAF all have two-seat Typhoon variants in their fleets. Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have selected the F-35A to replace their F-16 family fleets, and all three will have to re-organise their advanced pilot training programmes, as there are no two-seat variants of the F-35A. Royal Danish Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force and Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNAF) pilots currently receive advanced flight training in the United States with the Euro–NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) programme at Sheppard airbase in Texas using the Northrop Grumman AT-38B Talon. The RNAF F-16 MLU Fighter Training Squadron (FTS) with two-seat F-16Bs is actually based at Tucson Air National Guard airbase in Arizona. It is unclear if the ENJJPT, that also trains Luftwaffe pilots, will continue if it replaces its AT-38Bs with the T-X winner or if and when the RNAF’s F-16 MLU FTS will be closed. An Advanced European Jet David Oliver

building single-engine fighter aircraft we formed a joint management team in St. Louis and set out to design an advanced training system with a clean-sheet design. Saab is responsible for building the aft fuselage built at Linköping in (southern) Sweden.”

Pilot Training programme has been under discussion for many years but faced with a shortfall of advanced flight training for European air forces in the United States, it may become close to reality possibly using the T-X winner procured from the United States? Two of the biggest prizes for a newgeneration advanced jet trainer will emanate from Turkey and France. Not only does the Turkish Air Force operate a fleet of more than 60 T-38Ms and F-5Bs but it also sends up to six pilots a year to the ENJJPT programme at Sheppard airbase. The F-5Bs are being upgraded to the T-38M standard by Turkish Aerospace Industries to include the introduction of hands on throttle and stick controls, and the capability of simulating weapons stores. The last T-38M will be delivered in 2017 and the upgrade programme will extend the aircraft’s service life until 2030, nearly 70 years since the type first entered service with USAF. France is looking at the T-X programme with interest as it will soon have to make a decision for the Armeé de l’Air (ADLA/ French Air Force) light trainer replacement for its venerable Dassualt/Dornier Alpha Jet-E jet trainer fleet under ‘Project Cognac.’ Entering service in 1978, a total of 447 Alpha Jets of various versions were produced and some 80 remain in the ADLA inventory. Even if the Raytheon/Leonardo T-100 fails to win the T-X competition, Leonardo is expected to offer an advanced trainer/light attack variant of the M-346 for Project Cognac. The M-346FT, launched at the 2016 Farnborough air show in southern England, has a multi-role capability that integrates a wide range of systems and sensors for tactical support and air defence. Other European nations on the brink of replacing their air forces’ current trainer fleets include Sweden and Austria; both of which operate versions of the Saab 105 jet trainer. This aircraft has been in service nearly as long as the T-38 family having entered service with the Royal Swedish Air Force in 1966. Both Austria and Sweden plan to replace the trainer by 2020. In a recent interview General Mats Helgesson, chief of the Royal Swedish Air Force, told Armada: “We will retain flight training in Sweden and our options are open. It could be an advanced turboprop or even the T-X trainer.” Europe is set to be a major sector in the Teal Group’s assessment of the future trainer market, and the T-X programme could have a game-changing influence on that market.

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017 21

Land WARFARE

UNDER THE GUN On 25 October 2016, representatives from across the small arms industry met with military programme managers at the US Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Centre (ARDEC) to consider future technologies to counter emerging threats. Trijicon

Andrew White

T

he ‘Overmatch the Spectrum of Threat’ event was to discuss innovations designed to provide soldiers with the means to overcome adversaries during contacts with enemy combatants; particularly important today as the proliferation of more mature small arms continues globally across insurgent organisations. According to ARDEC director, John Hedderich, the purpose of the event was to extend yet further: “collaboration and partnership between government and industry (to drive) armaments innovation.” Mr. Hedderich added that: “Working together will yield superior weaponry that will overmatch the spectrum of threats, so that our (soldiers) can complete their missions and come home safe,” while describing how the event had witnessed the collaboration of representatives from industry with the likes of the US Joint Centre of Excellence for Guns and Ammunition, based at the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey. Moreover, the event included consideration of existing and nextgeneration assault rifle and sniper system

technologies as well as munitions, directed energy weapons, fire control systems and multi-role armament solutions, which provided: “unprecedented collaboration setting the stage for a great year in armaments innovation,” according to Charles Zisette, the executive director of the National Armaments Consortium, the industrial and academic component of the US Department of Defence’s (DoD) Ordnance Technology Consortium.

22 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

Trijicon's new Machine Gun Reflex Sight, better known as the MGRS, launched in October, offers provides its users with ever-sharper marksmanship.

Sources explained to Armada how industrial consideration is being given to emerging requirements from the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) regarding the design and development of an integrated carbine suppressor (to suppress noise and muzzle flash), known

Heckler and Koch

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Heckler and Koch’s HK-416F comprises a heavier calibre variant of the HK-416, and has been recently selected by the French MoD to replace the FAMAS.

as the Suppressed Upper Receiver Group; as well as the Advanced Precision Sniper Rifle, providing a multi-calibre approach stretching from .300-cal, through .308-cal, up to .338-cal. These types of emerging requirements in line with current operations will be considered in this article. However sources associated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Special Operations Forces Headquarters (NSHQ), based in Mons, Belgium, explained to Armada how current interest in optimising the accuracy, lethality, efficiency, size, weight and power of in-service assault rifles and sniper systems remains heavily weighted to the integration of accessories and ancillaries: “You just have to scan through a whole raft of solicitations on the US Fedbizopps (Federal Business Opportunities) website to see current fashions for small arms upgrades. There are dozens and dozens of contracts and request for information focused on gunsights, fire control systems and bipods as well as alternative training systems and upgraded ammunition,” the source explained.

Assault Rifles According to Colt Defence’s director for international sales, Matthew Fehmel, the small arms market remains incredibly active both in the continental US and internationally: “Colt is very fortunate to have our long standing relationship and continue to work very closely with the US military with monthly deliveries … of the M240 Machine Gun and M4 carbine programmes as well as the sole source M4 FMS (Foreign Military Sales) programme. Internationally, our backlog is very robust and growing. This can be explained not only because of the current global political climate, but also we have worked hard to develop and maintain the highest level of quality and Colt products are renowned for durability, reliability and performance in combat,” he explained. Referring to the ongoing operations, such as US-led efforts against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, and how these might dictate future conflicts, Mr. Fehmel stated that: “We have seen the demands for technical specifications on assault rifles

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Heckler and Koch

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Heckler and Koch’s G-28 sharpshooter rifle comprises a base model for the US Army’s Compact Semi Automatic Sniper System, variants of which will begin trials by the end of 2016.

length the same,” Mr. Fehmel added. A similar capability has been selected by the French Army which, on 22 September announced that it will replace its current Nexter FAMAS assault rifles with Heckler and Koch’s HK-416F 5.56mm x 45mm weapon. This decision can be traced back to 2009 when the French Ministry of Defence (MOD) first considered replacing the FAMAS with a conventional design like the Heckler and Koch HK-416. The $185.8 million contract comprises the delivery of more than 100,000 rifles by 2019 with initial deliveries expected to begin in 2017, industry sources told Armada. A spokesperson for Heckler and Koch explained: “The decision in favour of the HK-416F followed a Europe-wide tendering procedure in which several companies participated with their

24 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

weapon systems. Following over a year of intensive, extensive trials by the French of all the weapons competing…the HK-416F fulfilled all of the French Armed Forces’ requirements for their future assault rifle.” The weapon, used operationally first by units including the US Army Special Operations Command’s 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is understood to have beaten competition from FN Herstal’s Special Operations Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR); Sig Sauer’s MCX; Beretta’s ARX; and HS Produkt’s VHS-2. Half of the French Army’s new rifles will be delivered in SBR (Short

IWI’s X-95 bullpup continues to be used by Israeli special forces for CQB and MOUT missions with its bullpup design and light weight said to be ideal for operations in confined spaces. IWI

go full circle. A few years ago the primary demand was for maximum rail space … to attach the myriad of new and emerging technologies that provided tactical advantages in aiming, sighting and speed of target acquisition … The problem was that (this) resulted in a (2.7 kilogram/six pound) rifle with (2.7kg) of accessories mounted on it. This has forced the demand back to weight reduction and improvements to the weapon that improve accuracy. Capabilities in demand now are less (but well-placed) rail space, ideally modular in nature … fully ambidextrous lower receivers; and full floating barrels (where the barrel is not in contact with the weapon’s stock) ideally through monolithic upper receivers,” Mr. Fehmel continued. In line with such demands, Colt Defence is preparing to launch a new family of assault rifles at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas in January 2017. Although details remain undisclosed, the company did unveil a new weapon at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) exhibition in Washington, DC in October 2016. To this end, the firm’s Sub Compact Weapon (SCW) has been designed as a Close Quarter Battle (CQB) weapon especially relevant for Special Forces and Dismounted Close Combat soldiers conducting Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT). The weapon was exhibited with a red dot sight with a laser designator mounted on the top rail in between the forward and rear emergency iron sights. Firing NATO standard 5.56mm x 45mm ammunition, the rifle features an extendable butt stock which when reduced, allows it to be used in confined spaces: “The SCW was revised to eliminate the folding buttstock in favour of a Maxim telescoping stock that reduces weight while keeping the retracted overall

Land WARFARE

Barrelled Rifle) 279.4mm (eleven inches/ in) configuration to fulfil operational requirements for CQB and MOUT, with the French Army, air force and navy receiving the weapon with an additional 10767 Heckler and Koch HK-269F underslung 40mm x 46mm grenade launchers. The remaining weapons will feature more conventional barrel length weapons, measuring 368.3mm (14.5in). Configurations The bullpup (where a rifle’s firing mechanism is located behind the trigger group) versus the ‘AR’ design (with the firing mechanism based in front of the trigger group) debate continues to rage within the global special operations community still split on which solution provides the optimal capability for CQB and MOUT missions. According to sources associated with the Israeli Army’s Ground Force’s Tier-1 Sayeret Matkal special mission unit, the bullpup designs provide a suitable fusion of compactness and accuracy during COLT Ad.pdf 1 12/13/16 AM operations in confined spaces,11:25 including

clearance operations in subterranean tunnel networks. Speaking to Armada during a recent live fire demonstration in Israel, sources explained how options such as the Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) X95 assault rifle (developed in collaboration with the Israeli Army Special Forces since 2002) provided mobility, a light weight, performance, accuracy and lethality. IWI’s X-95R Flattop 330 model, for example, comprises a 330mm (12.9in) barrel, capable of firing 5.45mm x 39mm, 5.56mm x 45mm and 5.45mm x 39mm ammunition from a weapon measuring less than 580mm (10.9in) in length. Weighing 3.3 kilograms (1.5 pounds), the weapon retains the capability to be fitted with a suppressor, as well as variety of gun sights ranging from red dot, magnification and image intensified/ infrared designs as well as the integration of tactical torches, handgrips, emergency battle sights, bipods, bayonets and laser designators: “The X-95R was designed exclusively for the military, police and special forces, allowing the soldier to use the same weapon platform for a wide array of

scenarios,” an Israeli Army source explained: “It is the ideal weapon for handling complex situations and was created to deal with modern terror threats as well as urban and open area combat with a rear centre of gravity, low recoil for enhanced stability when engaging and ergonomic capability to be fired single handed.” Support for bullpup designs have been expressed by India’s special operations forces, notably the Indian Army’s Para Special Forces (PARA-SF) regiment and the navy’s Marine Commandos (MARCOS), who selected the IWI Tavor (the precursor to X-95) in 2002 as their SBR for CQB operations. Ahead of the procurement of a weapon for the wider Indian Army (up to 300,000 in total), the MOD had been seeking to select 66000 CQB carbines for service with Indian Special Forces and DCC units with participants for the projected programme having included IWI’s ACE; Beretta’s ARX160; Ceská Zbrojovka CZ-805 BREN and Colt Defence’s Combat Rifle. However, the Indian Army appears to have backtracked on a decision to select IWI’s conventional

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017 25

Accuracy International

Land WARFARE

Accuracy International has shifted focus away from its AS and AW series of rifles towards increased levels of modularity, multi-calibre and other capabilities to satisfy requirements.

AR-design ACE after reports emerged it had beaten competition during protracted periods of environmental testing in India over the past few years. Industry sources associated with the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) in India have suggested to Armada that the MOD is now considering referring back to the development of the OFB Excalibur assault rifle to satisfy a huge requirement to equip the wider Indian Army. A trials and evaluation programme is expected to begin by the end of 2016 with SBR options at the forefront for DCC and counter-insurgency special mission units, the sources explained. Sniper Rifles In the sniper rifles market, demand appears to be strong globally for both bolt-action and semi-automatic rifles available in a variety of calibres, as highlighted by Accuracy International director, Tom Irwin: “This is driven by the continuing threat of (political violence). As has been the case in the past and will be in the future, the threat is everchanging based on emerging new equipment and tactics so as we look forward we have to be ready to develop sniper rifles with different calibres and integrate electronics into the emerging platforms,” Mr. Irwin explained to Armada. Such a capability could be utilised for programmes including the USSOCOM’s Advanced Sniper Rifle concept which is seeking a multi-calibre weapon: “I see the sharpshooter rifle moving

toward (a semi-automatic configuration) with the changing threats and operational environment where urban battles occur more regularly. I also see the benefit of a multi-calibre rifle not just in operations but in training. With a multi-calibre rifle, training on a common platform can take place using lower cost ammunition, .308cal versus .338-cal, for example. In addition a system can be set up for a particular operation without carrying several rifles: Barrel, bolt and magazine changes are all that is required,” he continued. In 2013, Accuracy International discontinued its range of AW and AE rifles to concentrate on its latest families of variants, the AX and AT, from 2014: “The main feature (of these new weapons) was a quick change barrel and the patent is pending for this unique design feature which allows for calibre changes in less than two minutes,” Mr. Irwin revealed while referring to the AX series: “The AX Series also features a front rail with our Keyslot feature for adding accessories like night vision, laser designators, as well as a folding stock to reduce the width for carriage,” he added: “The AT was also introduced and that is really a life extension of the combat proven AW Series, again with a quick change barrel (the weapon) comes in a very basic form with the ability to easily add accessory brackets to take night vision systems, for example. We are going to extend the AX calibres to include .50-cal and the new AX-50 will have the same quick change barrel capability, allowing other calibres but also to make it

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easier to carry a .50-cal rifle by removing the barrel and spreading the load,” Mr. Irwin concluded. Bolt-action AX rifles are currently available in .308 Win and .338 Lapua Magnum calibres and also feature the capability to integrate suppressors for special missions. Bolt-action AT options, meanwhile, come in .308 Win calibre with an all up weight of 6.3kg (13.9lb). In the US, the army is preparing to receive an inventory of 15 modified Heckler and Koch G-28 sniper rifles for test and evaluation following its selection as the Compact SemiAutomatic Sniper System (CSASS) in April 2016. According to Steve Galloway, director of creative services at Heckler and Koch, the M-110A1 selected to fulfil the CSASS semiautomatic, short-stroke piston gas-operated weapon fires 7.62mm x 51mm ammunition. Featuring a 419mm (16.3in) barrel, the rifle itself measures 997mm (38.9in) with a fully extended stock and 927mm (36.2in) when retracted. The weapon has a maximum effective range of up to 800 metres (243 feet), Mr. Galloway added. Sources associated with the programme informed Armada that testing will feature

*Rifle shown with optional accessories.

AD: JH Job Number: BARR0079 Job Name: Model 98B Print Date Produced: 11/16/2016 Troy Defence SNIPER RIFLE OVERVIEW Live Area: N/A Trim: 2.440” X 10.236” Bleed: N/A Color: 4C

Convergence Finally, industry observers are witnessing the continued fusion of sharpshooter and sniper requirements into single products with Mr. Fehmel explaining to Armada: “We have seen demand for medium-range sniper weapons in semi-automatic configurations with many of the same features that are in demand for assault rifle platforms … Although using larger calibres, these design features are very similar and show an opportunity for Colt to move into new markets with weapons that still fit our core capabilities. A key example of this is the new Colt Semi-Automatic Sniper System … With a state-of-the-art Leupold scope and ergonomic furniture, this weapon is

already gaining traction … in the medium sniper rifle market both domestically and internationally.” However, wary of overburdening troops with new technology, Mr. Fehmel warned that: “There are some tenets that have remained consistent through the years: The international elite military establishment demands a platform with repeatable performance on a simple weapon with consistent features allowing for muscle memory and instinct in a high stress environment.” Despite the lack of any groundbreaking technologies emerging in the assault and sniper rifle markets regarding operating systems, the international community looks set to continue with modifications to enhance weapon capabilities in the future. However, as special operations technology continues to filter down to conventional armed forces, current fashions for integrated suppressors such as those being considered by USSOCOM and designed by the likes of Sig Sauer, could provide a significant change in direction for the small arms market.

Client: BARR Publication:

extensive counter-insurgency scenarios for which semi-automatic sniper rifle technology remains highly relevant. NSHQ sources explained how the ability to rapidly engage multiple targets during such missions continue to be used for domestic security operations as well as expeditionary campaigns currently being conducted by NATO special forces in Syria, Iraq and North Africa.

Troy's M10A1 rifle boasts both a robust, yet lightweight, construction. The weapon has been designed to US Army specifications.

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US DoD

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An MIM-104F SAM launcher similar to the type that shot down an RAF Tornado-GR4A in March 2003 during the opening stages of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

WHO GOES THERE? Identifying friends and enemies is a problem as old as warfare itself. The risk of inadvertently attacking one’s own side is an ever-present danger for military operations, particularly those involving aircraft, where the speed of warplanes and missiles makes the timely determination of identity absolutely vital. Thomas Withington

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ast your mind back to 2003: It is 0248 local time on 23 March. US-led forces, including the armed forces of the United Kingdom, had two days earlier commenced their campaign to remove the erstwhile dictator Saddam Hussein and his regime from power in Iraq. High above Kuwait, a Royal Air Force (RAF) Panavia Tornado-GR4A ground attack aircraft, numbered ZG710, from the RAF’s 9 Squadron is returning to Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait, having completed a mission in support of combat operations, as part of a package of two Tornado-GR4A jets. As ZG710 approaches the airbase, the crew descend to an altitude of 17938 feet/ft (5467.5 metres/m). Their aircraft is then struck by a Surface-toAir Missile (SAM) fired by a US Army MIM104F PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3) battery. The SAM kills both Tornado-GR4A

crewmembers; Flight Lieutenants David Rhys Williams and Kevin Barry Main as the missile hits their aircraft. According to the official report from the RAF Board of Inquiry convened in cooperation with the US Army, to examine the events which caused the loss of the aircraft, the MIM-104F battery was watching the skies for incoming Iraqi tactical ballistic missiles aimed at Kuwait. When the Tornado-GR4A appeared on the radar screens of the MIM-104F crew, the battery’s Raytheon AN/MPQ-65 C-band (5.25-5.925 gigahertz/GHz) ground-based air surveillance/fire control radar classified the aircraft as a hostile Anti-Radiation Missile (ARM); displaying the appropriate symbol for an ARM to the crew, the report continued. An interrogation was transmitted to the Tornado-GR4A’s Cossor/ Raytheon Identification Friend of Foe (IFF)

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interrogator/transponder. This, the Board of Inquiry determined, had been: “checked by the ground crew and confirmed to be working correctly,” that the IFF-3500’s “switches were set correctly,” and that this had been checked and noted by the aircrew as the Tornado-GR4 approached Ali Al Salem airbase. Yet, the report adds that the MIM-104F battery crew received “no response” to their IFF interrogation: “Having met all classification criteria, the (MIM-104F) crew launched the (SAM) and the (Tornado-GR4A), mistaken for an Anti-Radiation Missile was engaged in self defence.” The report continued that: “the (MIM-104F) crew had complied with extant self-defence Rules of Engagement (ROE) for dealing with (ARMs).” The Board of Inquiry attributed blame for this ‘blue-on-blue’ incident, so-called as friendly forces are depicted with blue

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A Tornado-GR4A of a similar type to that shot down by a US Army MIM104F battery in March 2003. This loss of the aircraft was partially blamed on the serviceability of the aircraft’s IFF-3500 system.

pennants on NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) maps, to a number of factors: These included the classification and ROE criteria used for ARMs by the MIM-104F; MIM-104F SAM firing doctrine and crew training; the autonomous operation criteria for the MIM-104F, and aircraft routing and airspace control. Of particular interest to this article, the report also apportioned blame to the IFF procedures used by the MIM-104F and the serviceability of the IFF-3500 system used onboard the Tornado-GR4A. IFF Defined In use since the Second World War, the IFF systems used by aircraft and groundbased air defence installations responsible for protecting airspace, work using a relatively simple principle: A radio signal is transmitted from the ground or from another aircraft which is received by an aircraft’s IFF system. This triggers a second radio signal transmitted as a ‘reply’ to the original ‘interrogation’ which denotes that the aircraft is friendly. The aircraft is then depicted thus on a radar screen. Civilian Air Traffic Control (ATC) uses a similar system by which a transponder onboard an aircraft transmits details of an aircraft’s identity and altitude, which is then displayed alongside the aircraft’s radar track. Contemporary IFF systems use several operating ‘Modes’: During Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, military aircraft supporting the US-led coalition employed IFF Modes-1 and -4. NATO has enshrined the requirements for the respective IFF modes into its Standardisation Agreements (STANAGs)

intended to harmonise operating procedures across the alliance. Mode-1 uses a cockpitselectable two-digit unencrypted code which is reserved for use by military aircraft. Mode4, meanwhile, which is also reserved for use by the military, provides an encrypted reply to an encrypted interrogation. The RAF Board of Inquiry articulated that the MIM104F battery’s Mode-4 IFF interrogation capability was working correctly during the engagement of the Tornado-GR4A, but that the Mode-1 codes had not been loaded into the AN/MPQ-65’s computer system. To aggravate matters, the MIM104F battery in question was working in an autonomous capacity: “without voice and data connections to and from (its) battalion headquarters.” This, the report continued, could have: “contributed to the difficulty the Battery had in receiving the Mode-1 IFF codes.” Alongside the inability of the MIM104F battery to be able to employ Mode-1 IFF interrogation, the report laid blame on the Tornado-GR4’s IFF-3500 equipment: “There is no firm evidence that (the TornadoGR4A) responded to any IFF interrogations throughout the entire mission,” adding that the IFF-3500 had both been checked by ground crew, and by the aircrew during the mission. For all intents and purposes, it seemed to these individuals that the IFF system was working correctly. Nevertheless, as the report noted, the MIM-104F battery had transmitted a Mode-4 interrogation which had obviously never been replied to by the Tornado-GR4A, leaving the way open for its engagement by the SAM: “The Board concluded that (the aircraft’s IFF) had a

fault, as an IFF Mode-4 response would have prevented the Patriot (ARM) classification and engagement.” The Board added that possible power failures suffered by the IFF may not have been displayed to the aircrew and that: “the most likely explanation for the absence of an IFF response was that there had been a power supply failure.” Mode-5 The loss of Flt. Lts. Main and Williams, and their Tornado-GR4A illustrates not only the split-second decision-making necessary in the conduct of any air campaign to determine whether an aircraft is friendly or hostile, but also the overriding importance of robust and secure IFF systems for military aircraft. While it is probably almost impossible to completely eliminate the danger of future blue-on-blue incidents during air campaigns, ongoing evolutions in the airborne IFF domain could help to significantly reduce the chances of such tragic incidents happening again. Central to these efforts is NATO’s work in realising the Mode-5 IFF standard. Mode-5 can trace its lineage back to a US Joint Chiefs of Staff requirement issued in 1995 for a new IFF waveform to replace that used by the Mode-4 IFF protocol (see above). This was followed in 2002 with NATO ratifying STANAG-4193 which stipulated that the Mode-5 IFF protocol would be rolled out across the alliance. Mode-5 is essentially a cryptographically secure version of the civilian Mode-S Ultra High Frequency (UHF: 300 megahertz/MHz to three gigahertz) aviation transponder interrogation protocol. Like military aircraft, civilian aircraft ‘squawk’ a UHF radio transmission in response to an ATC Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) interogation. Eurocontrol explained to Armada in a written statement that SSRs work: “along the principle of interrogation and reply (also called question and answer). An interrogator transmits messages that are received and decoded by a transponder onboard an aircraft. In response, the transponder transmits reply messages containing information (such as identity and altitude) requested in the interrogations. The interrogator determines the range of the replying aircraft by the round-trip time of the interrogation and reply, and uses its’ receive antenna to estimate the azimuth from which the reply was transmitted.” SSRs are distinct from an ATC primary

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017 31

Thales

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radar which determines the position of an aircraft using conventional radar techniques which involve transmitting a radio pulse which bounces of an aircraft as an echo. The radar then measures the time difference between the transmission and reception of the radar pulse and its echo to determine the position of the aircraft, and the frequency change between the transmitted pulse and its echo to determine the aircraft’s speed. However, the disadvantage of primary radar for ATC is that, while it provides a physical representation of the aircraft’s location and velocity, it does not provide information regarding the aircraft’s identify. Thus primary radar antennae are often fitted with an SSR antenna to populate radar track data with identity and altitude information. Mode-S The Mode-S protocol was developed as a result of a joint American and British initiative from the early 1980s to answer deficiencies in the existing civilian Mode3A (identity) and Mode-3C (altitude) protocols mandated for civil aircraft by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO); the United Nations organisation supervising civil aviation standards and techniques. Mode-3A was judged to be increasingly insufficient regarding the number of aircraft identity codes used to display an aircraft’s call sign on the radar picture, while Mode-3C, which provides altitude measurements in denominations of 100ft (30.4m) was not judged to be precise enough for use in increasingly congested airspace. The resulting Mode-S protocol was first articulated by ICAO

The IFF interrogator used to determine the identity of aircraft in the locale of this Thales GM400 ground-based air surveillance radar can be seen here, mounted above the radar’s main antenna.

Circular 174-AN/110 published in 1983. All Mode-S transponders have a unique 24-bit address assigned by the ICAO. A Mode-S response can be triggered by legacy Mode-3A/C interrogation and, as well as providing information to an SSR, the response can be received by TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) receivers onboard nearby aircraft, and the Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) system currently being introduced worldwide to enhance ATC. ADS-B determines an aircraft’s position using the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite navigation system, with Mode-S transmitting across the ADS-B network and providing the aircraft’s GPS position. The advantages offered by Mode-S include more accurate details regarding an aircraft’s position and altitude, thanks to the GPS functionality offered by the protocol, and the number of identification codes which the 24-bit address enables; over 16.7 million, according to a UK Civil Aviation Authority document published in 2013. The first commercial flight using the Mode-S protocol occurred in 2008, with the European Union (EU) requiring all new civilian aircraft to be equipped to handle the Mode-S protocol by 2017, with Mode-S to be retrofitted on all aircraft using EU airspace by 2020. Meanwhile, the US Federal Aviation Authority requires all aircraft using US airspace to employ the Mode-S protocol by the same year. Put simply, Mode-5 is a cryptographically secure version of Mode-S which is reserved

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by NATO for military use. Rob Saracino, technical director for identification and processing solutions at BAE Systems explains that: “From a security perspective, Mode-5 adds better encryption and does not transmit any unprotected data.” The company is hard at work providing interrogators and transponders which are Mode-5/S compatible, such as the AN/ DPX-7 transponder which has the option of including an embedded GPS card to support the ADS-B system (see above). The Mode5 protocol achieved an initial operating capability with military aircraft in the United States in 2014. NATO is following an aggressive timetable to ensure that its aircraft are equipped to use the Mode-5 protocol. Fabrizio Boggiani, marketing and sales director for Leonardo’s airborne and space systems division, states that: “The most important driver for Mode-5 will be the NATO mandate requiring all member countries to move to this standard by 2020.” In July 2016, the firm was selected by the UK Ministry of Defence, alongside Airbus’ defence and space division: “as preferred bidder to upgrade the IFF systems on more than 400 operational platforms, spanning the land, air and sea (domains),” to handle the Mode-5 protocol. Beyond the UK MoD, the firm is also supplying its Mode-5 compatible M-428 IFF transponder to the Swedish and Brazilian air forces for use onboard the respective, forthcoming Saab JAS-39E Gripen fighters. The firm offers a significantly-sized IFF product family under the M-428 banner. Regarding IFF interrogators, Leonardo provides the M-426/S product which is used alongside the firm’s E-Scan X-band (8.5-10.68GHz) fighter aircraft radar which outfits the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter family, and its M-434/5 interrogator which is used by air surveillance aircraft and, although not confirmed by the company, maybe installed onboard the Aeronautica Militaire (Italian Air Force) forthcoming Gulfstream G-550 business jet outfitted with Israel Aerospace Industries’ EL/W-2085 S-band and L-band (2.3-2.5/2.7-3.7GHz/1.215-1.4GHz) air surveillance radars. These aircraft are expected to enter service with the Italian Air Force in the coming two years. Compared to legacy IFF protocols, such as Mode-4, Mode-5 offers a number of important improvements. According to Christophe Dress, strategy and marketing director for radio communications activities at Thales, these include

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better resistance to Radio Frequency (RF) jamming, a higher probability of correct identification, and improved communications and transmission security due to encryption. While Mode-5 uses the same 1030MHz to 1090MHz frequency range as Mode-4, Mr. Dress adds that the former uses a spread spectrum RF transmission approach. This means that Mode-5 can transmit across this frequency range, and rapidly change between frequencies. This avoids any specific frequency being constantly occupied by a single IFF system, even when it is not transmitting. Mr. Dress continues that to use the Mode-5 protocol, military aircraft require a new IFF transponder and/or interrogator, and an accompanying cryptographic computer. This ensemble, he states, then has to be linked to the aircraft’s computer and avionics systems, with cockpit controls and displays which can depict Mode-5 information also installed. To reduce costs, Mr. Dress says: “in almost all countries Mode-5 and Mode-S modifications have been implemented simultaneously,

reducing the cost and the duration of the modernisation.” This is the case for the Finnish Air Force which obtained Thales’ TSA-3520 IFF interrogator installed on its twelve Thales GM-400 S-band ground-based air surveillance radars which the country acquired from 2013. Moreover, as Mr. Saracino notes: “Mode 5 also incorporates a random reply delay component which eliminates the legacy issues of aircraft flying in formation having their replies interfere with each other.” Essentially, Mode-5 includes two distinct approaches, known as Level-1 and Level-2. Eurocontrol states that: “Level 1 employs the traditional interrogation and reply technique to identify and track friendly platforms (aircraft, ships). Level 2 enables an equipped platform to report its identity and position either autonomously or in response to an interrogation.” A written statement provided to Armada from Indra Sistemas notes that Level-2 transmissions will provide the aircraft’s 24-bit identification number, its national origin, mission code and its position in

terms of speed, bearing and altitude. Moreover, it will be used constantly: “Mode5 is to be used across the full range of NATO operations, during peacetime and conflict, from crisis response to major conflicts, in all environmental conditions.” The Prussian military strategist Carl von Clausewitz, writing in his seminal work Vom Kriege (On War) published posthumously in 1832 argued that: “three quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty.” From 2020 onwards, Mode-5 may well help to lift some of this fog and no doubt help to avoid tragic incidents such as the RAF’s loss of their TornadoGR4A on that fateful night on 23 March 2003. The sheer quantity of information which Mode-5 can impart regarding an aircraft’s identity, position and mission should help to reduce the chances of such accidents occurring in the future. This will be achieved by giving those tasked with air defence, either in the skies or on the ground, as much information as possible about the friendly aircraft in their locale.

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Joetey Attariwala

air Power

Boeing’s Joint Direct Attack Munition Extended Range (JDAM-ER) is now in service with the Royal Australian Air Force. The JDAM-ER demonstrated significant range of this while maintaining the accuracy expected by the GPS-guided munition.

T

Dumb Bombs with graduate degrees From the early days of air power, air forces around the world have sought ways to increase the accuracy and lethality of air-delivered ordnance, but it was not until advances in microchip technology that air forces were able to use precision guidance kits which could be attached to dumb bombs. Joetey Attariwala 34 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

oday there are two primary types of guided bombs; Laser Guided Bombs (LGBs), and GPS (Global Positioning System) guided bombs; each employ their own unique type of precision guidance kit technology. LGBs are the most common and widespread type of guided bombs. Essentially dumb bombs augmented with a semi-active stabilized laser seeker unit on the nose, coupled to a Computer Control Group (CCG) containing guidance and control electronics, a battery, and a pneumatic control augmentation system. Each bomb has front control canards and a rear airflow group for stability. These weapons use their electronics to track targets that are designated by laser (typically in the infrared spectrum) and adjust their glide path to precisely strike the target. Since the weapon is tracking a light signature and not the object itself, the target must be illuminated from a separate source, either by a laser targeting pod on the attacking aircraft, by ground forces, or by a support aircraft ‘lasing’ the target. Leading the LGB pack is Lockheed Martin and Raytheon’s Paveway series, comprising the Paveway-II, Paveway-III, and the Paveway-IV; the newest variant. Joe Serra, precision guided systems director at Lockheed Martin’s missiles and fire control division, explained the workshare split for Paveway precision guidance kits: “The US government had a lot of interest in bringing in competition for LGBs … So, in 2001 we were qualified for Paveway-II laser guided bomb kits by the US Air Force and the US Navy … One of the big drivers that competition has brought is affordability. I think the Paveway system is recognised as being a very affordable way of delivering conventional ordnance.” Lockheed Martin is a qualified provider of all three Paveway-II variants to equip the Mk.80 freefall dumb bomb family; namely the GBU-10 Mk.84, GBU-12 Mk.82 and GBU16 Mk.83. In its most common configuration, the Paveway-II is fixed to the Mk.82 500 pound/lb (227.2 kilogram/kg) dumb

air Power

Adding Capability In mid-2016, Lockheed Martin tested the new Paveway-II Dual Mode Plus LGB which incorporates new optronics and a GPS/INS (Inertial Navigation System) ensemble. Effective against fixed and moving targets, the Paveway-II Dual Mode Plus LGB improves mission effectiveness by providing precision strike capabilities in all-weather conditions (given that laser guidance can be degraded by precipitation or smoke particles) at extended standoff ranges. This Paveway-II LGB configuration easily integrates with aircraft employing legacy Paveway-II LGBs. On 19 September, Lockheed Martin received an $87.6 million contract from the USAF for follow-on production of Paveway-II Dual Mode Plus LGB kits. The Paveway-IV, meanwhile, is a dual mode GPS/INS and laser guided bomb manufactured by Raytheon’s UK subsidiary. The weapon is a guidance kit based on the existing Enhanced Paveway-II Enhanced Computer Control Group (ECCG) with increased penetration performance. The new ECCG contains a Height of Burst sensor enabling air burst options, and a Selective Availability Anti Spoofing Module compliant GPS receiver. It can be launched by Inertial Measurement Unit only, given sufficiently good transfer alignment, or by using GPS guidance. Terminal laser guidance is available in either navigation mode. The Paveway-IV has entered service with the Royal Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force. GPS Lessons learned during Operation DESERT STORM and during US-led interventions in the Balkans in the 1990s showed

Joetey Attariwala

bomb resulting in the GBU-12, providing a cheap lightweight PGM suitable for use against vehicles and other small targets. The Paveway-III family has a considerably longer glide range and greater accuracy than the Paveway-II series, but it is substantially more expensive and therefore tends to be limited in use against high-value targets. Paveway-III kits have been used on the larger Mk.84 and BLU-109 2000lb (909kg) weapons, resulting in the GBU-24 and GBU27 combinations. Paveway-III guidance kits were also used on the GBU-28/B penetration bomb, which used the BLU-109B hardened penetrator bomb during the US-led Operation DESERT STORM in 1991 to evict Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Raytheon is the sole provider of Paveway-III variants.

Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) weapons technicians load a GBU-12 PavewayII while on the ramp at Trapani, Italy. The RCAF supported United Nations efforts to protect civilians during the Libyan civil war.

the value of precision munitions, yet also highlighted the difficulties in employing them: specifically when visibility of a target was degraded due to weather or smoke. The solution was to develop GPS-guided munitions. Such weapons are dependent both on the precision of the measurement system used for location determination, and the precision in setting the coordinates of the target; the latter critically depends on intelligence information. Satellite-guided weapons like Boeing’s Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) family were designed to negate the issues faced by laser guided munitions. JDAM-equipped dumb bombs are guided by an integrated INS coupled to a GPS receiver. The JDAM family can be employed in all weather conditions, without any need for additional air or ground support. Standard configuration JDAMs have a published range of up to 15 nautical miles/nm (27.7 kilometres/km). Satellite guided munitions work very well, however operational experience proved that guidance to a set of GPS coordinates does not allow flexibility for mid-course correction to prosecute moving, manoeuvring or maritime targets. In 2007 the US Navy and USAF identified an urgent need during ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq for a Direct Attack Move Target Capability to enable the precision engagement of high speed moving targets. Supported by Boeing, the services rapidly fielded an add-on laser kit for the JDAM family, thereby creating the dual mode Laser-JDAM (LJDAM) to address this gap. The laser seeker is a cooperative

development between Boeing and Elbit Systems. The Precision Laser Guidance Set (PLGS) consists of a DSU-38B laser seeker and a wire harness fixed under the bomb body which connects the DSU-38B with the tail kit. The LJDAM is now in widespread use with the US Navy and Marine Corps. According to Captain Jaime Engdahl, US Navy precision strike weapons programme manager: “The preferred weapon for (the US Navy) is currently the Laser JDAM because of the flexibility to employ either a precision GPS guided weapon through the weather against fixed targets or laser-guided (weapons) against high speed moving targets.” Boeing has also developed a new wing kit which when connected to the JDAM guidance kit increases the bomb’s range from approximately 12.9nm (24km) to more than 38nm (72km); this variant is dubbed the JDAM-ER (Extended Range): “The JDAMER kit takes advantage of the conventional JDAM aircraft interface and Boeing GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb glide technology,” said Greg Coffey, director for Boeing JDAM programmes: “With the JDAM-ER customers have the increased standoff range needed to neutralise current and future threats.” The Royal Australian Air Force is currently the only operator of the JDAM-ER. Current US Navy capabilities in development include a dual mode capability (see above) for 2000lb hard target penetrator weapons. Further enhancements to US direct attack weapons are not currently funded but in the future may include a precision navigation capability in a GPS-denied environment,

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017 35

Joetey Attariwala

air Power

Seen adjacent to a Pakistani JF-17 Thunder, is the Chinese made LS precision guided bomb (right), also known as the Thunder Stone Gliding Guided Bomb. The LS is an upgrade kit to modernize dumb bombs with precision laser guidance.

additional weapon sensors, extended range variants of current direct attack weapons, or the addition of network capabilities to enable flexible targeting of weapons in flight: “At this time the tactical value, or need, for additional capabilities in the current threat environment has not been cited in recent engagements and no requirement exists to further improve our direct attack weapon inventory,” Capt. Engdhal continues, although he added: “The Navy is closely following the development and fielding of extended range variants of JDAM by our international allies although we currently do not have a requirement for JDAM-ER.” SPICE Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defence Systems started working on precision-guided, airto-ground munitions in the early 1960’s, which produced the Popeye, a precision human-in-the-loop guided missile. Rafael’s first precision guidance kit for dumb bombs was developed in the 1990s and are marketed as the SPICE (Smart, Precise Impact, Cost-Effective) family. The SPICE family comprises stand-off, autonomous, air-toground weapons capable of hitting and destroying targets with pinpoint accuracy and at high attack volumes. SPICE kits use state-of-the-art navigation, guidance and homing techniques to achieve the accurate and effective destruction of high-value enemy targets with a CEP (Circular Error Probable) of three metres (9.8ft). SPICE’s Automatic Target Acquisition capability employs unique scene-matching technology that is able to discern scenery changes,

countermeasures, navigation errors and target location errors. The technology works by comparing a real-time image received from the dual Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) and infrared seeker to a reference image stored in the weapon’s computer. SPICE has day, night and adverse weather capabilities, based on its advanced seeker and scene-matching algorithms. SPICE weapons are combat-proven and in service with the Israeli Air Force and several international customers. The first kit to be developed was the SPICE-2000, which was designed for 2000lb general purpose or penetration warheads such as the Mk. 84, RAP-2000 and BLU-109. The SPICE-2000 has a stand-off range of 32.3nm (60km). The next kit to be developed was the SPICE-1000, which as the name denotes, is mated to 1000lb (454kg) general purpose or penetration warheads such as the Mk.83 and RAP-1000. The SPICE-1000 has a stand-off range of 53.9nm (100km). The Israeli Air Force will reach full operational capability with the SPICE-1000 by the end of 2016. During a mission plan, whether in the air or on the ground, target data consisting of target coordinates, impact angle and azimuth, imagery and topographical data are used to create a mission for each target which the pilot allocates to each weapon before release. Mission parameters are defined according to target type and operational requirements, such as a steep dive angle for deep penetration. The SPICE munition is released outside a threatened area, and per-

36 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

forms midcourse navigation autonomously using its INS/GPS to home in on the exact target location with the predefined impact angle and azimuth. While approaching the target, SPICE’s unique scene-matching algorithm compares the optronics image received in real time via the weapon seeker with mission reference intelligence data stored in the weapon’s computer memory. In the homing phase, the system locates the target using scene-matching technology, and uses the tracker to hit it. As a result of this capability, SPICE overcomes target location error and GPS jamming, and dramatically reduces collateral damage. A spokesperson for Rafael told Armada: “Trends which I see include how precision for fixed targets is now evolving into a requirement for moving targets. I believe there will be new homing techniques that allow precision attack for GPS environments, and I see increased stand-off range in order to overcome the risk to the aircrew due to the increased capabilities of air defence systems.” Worldwide Evolutions Nations such as India, the People’s Republic of China, South Africa and Turkey are manufacturing their own precision guidance kits for dumb bombs. For example, in October 2010, India developed its first Sudarshan LGB with the help of the Aeronautical Development Establishment, a lab of India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The project aimed to develop an advanced laser guidance kit to improve the accuracy of 1000lb dumb bombs. The guidance kit consists of a computer control group, canards attached to the front of the warhead for steering, and a wing assembly attached to the rear end to provide lift. The kit can guide a bomb within ten metres (32.8ft) CEP, and if dropped from normal altitude, it has a range of around 4.8nm (nine kilometres). A programme to extend the precision guidance kit capability to further increase its range and accuracy is ongoing. Similarly, Turkey’s TÜBİTAK Defence Industries Research and Development Institute has developed the HGK guidance kit which converts 2000lb Mk.84 bombs into a precision guided munition. The kit consists of a GPS/INS guidance kit with extendable wings. It enables long range precision strike in all weather conditions with a CEP of six metres (19.6ft). Moreover, South Africa’s Denel Dynamics has partnered in a joint venture with Tawazun Holdings of the United Arab Emirates to develop and

Joetey Attariwala

air Power

Seen here in green is a Raytheonmanufactured dual mode Enhanced Paveway-II laser guided bomb. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon both produce the Paveway-II precision guidance kits.

manufacture various precision weapons. A version of Denel’s Umbani kit, known as the Al-Tariq is now being manufactured. The Al Tariq provides the user with all-weather, day or night operational capabilities, utilising GPS/INS guidance or infrared, with a complete Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) capability, or a semi-active laser seek-

er. The system can also be fitted with a radio frequency proximity fuse for area targeting using a pre-fragmented warhead. Depending on configuration, it has autonomous target acquisition with a stand-off range of over 53.9nm (100km). A wing kit, or motors, can be added to increase stand-off range and a low-level (straight and level) launch capability. The weapons’ reported accuracy is as low as three metres CEP. Finally, Safran’s AASM adds precision guidance and propulsion kits to standard bombs, entering operational service in 2008, and in use with the French Air Force in ongoing operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria insurgent organisation. The AASM has a stand-off range exceeding 32.3nm (60km) and allows operators to conduct allweather, day/night precision ground strikes against fixed and moving targets. Conclusions According to the US Navy, the majority of navy weapons being employed in combat are 500lb (227kg); 1000lb and 2000lb JDAM variants, namely the GBU-38/32/31,

against fixed targets. Capt. Engdahl shared the following with Armada: “The dual mode Laser-JDAM has been operationally fielded since 2010 and has provided welcome operational flexibility to engage either moving, or fixed, targets with a single weapon variant. The US Navy, US Air Force, and our international partners will continue to procure modular JDAM tail kits and LJDAM sensor kits for the foreseeable future.” Precision-guided dumb bombs, both GPS- and Laser-guided, combined with highly effective intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and improved targeting capabilities have been the key enablers for dramatically increasing warfighting effectiveness and minimising civilian casualties over the past two decades. Munitions like the JDAM family and LGBs are key enablers to provide precision strike capabilities. The future will see continual development of these systems employing multiple modes, new sensors, an increased focus on range, and the ability to operate in GPS-denied environments.

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Airborne Systems

STIRLING

Airborne System’s Maritime Craft Aerial Delivery System is being tested by French special forces to insert military inflatable boats for the conduct of an assortment of missions.

NO TIME TO SPARE? GO BY AIR! Airborne operations continue to remain a critical element of special operations capabilities, particularly in the Middle East where rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft are routinely relied upon for intelligence-gathering, troop delivery and re-supply missions. Andrew White

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t the Eurosatory defence exhibition held in Paris this June special operations airborne insertion technology remained highly prevalent with Armada informed of multiple requirements from NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) special forces to enhance capabilities in this area. First, the French and United Kingdom Ministries of Defence (MoDs) both revealed plans to begin an initial test and operational evaluation of Airborne Systems’ Maritime Craft Aerial Delivery System (MCADS). In France, special forces are trialling equipment to insert Zodiac Milpro ECUME Military Inflatable Boats (MIBs) from fixed-wing aircraft for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions as well as surveillance and reconnaissance, and direct action tasks. This could provide SOF (Special Operations Forces) units with an extended operating range in comparison to

rotary-wing insertions which are limited in the amount of payloads that helicopters can carry, be they underslung loads or internally-transported. Meanwhile, UK special forces are evaluating the same MCADS technology to insert Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) into the maritime environment for maritime counter insurgency and homeland security operations. Inserted from the cargo bay of Royal Air Force (RAF) Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules aircraft, tests have been conducted in Wales where exercise scenarios have seen the MCADS Platform Rigid Inflatable Boat Aerial Delivery-21 (PRIBAD-21) system used to deploy Holyhead Marine Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC) into the St. George’s Channel in the Irish Sea. The ORCs are used to conduct maritime interdiction operations although Airborne Systems sources explained to Armada how the PRIBAD-21 could insert vessels up to 12 metres/m (39.3 feet/ft) in length if necessary.

38 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

PRIBAD-21 Defence sources explained how a total of eight insertions had been completed between this June and August which could lead to the UK MoD procuring a total of 14 PRIBAD-21 systems over the next 24 months. The MoD is seeking to replace legacy Platform Universal Rigid Inflatable Boat Aerial Delivery (PURIBAD) systems which only have a capacity to carry 8.5 metres/m (27.8 feet/ft) long boats. The PURIBAD-21 is also certified to be dropped from the Airbus A400M Atlas turboprop freighter and Boeing C-17A Globemaster-III turbofan freighter; both of which are flown by the RAF. According to Rick Allamby, business development manager for aerial delivery systems at the company, MCADS technology allows Special Forces to achieve maximum distance by fixed-wing aircraft in order to shorten longer transit routes on the surface; as well as provide an extraction method for troops seeking to egress

from a target. Additionally, he explained to Armada how such a concept of operations could be used for maritime CSAR exercises. Mr. Allamby also explained how during live operations, the PURIBAD-21 could be programmed to sink without a trace so as to minimise any surface evidence of any incursion into enemy territorial waters. The PURIBAD-21 relies upon the deployment of an extractor parachute from the back of the aircraft which then drags the platform out of the cargo hold. A main parachute is then deployed by static line enabling safe entry onto the surface. Typically, maritime SOF teams deploy the MCADS before following the cargo load via amphibious static line or military free fall parachutes. Concurrently, the UK MoD is participating in the evaluation of a programme to upgrade cargo parachute insertion equipment used to drop tactical ground vehicles. Legacy equipment used for this purpose includes Airborne Systems’ Medium Stress Parachute (MSP) which is also deployed from fixed-wing aircraft. According to Mr. Allamby, UK special forces are interested in the upgraded capability allowing them to insert greater combat loads (from 6000 pounds/2727.2 kilograms to 7000 pounds/3181.1 kilograms) including a variety of tactical ground vehicles such as Polaris Defence’ MRZR-2 and MRZR-4 all-terrain vehicles as well as other vehicles including the Jankel Al-Thalab long-range patrol vehicle and Supacat’s series of HMT (High Mobility Transporter) vehicles. Upgraded MSPs will replace the in-service Medium Weight Aerial Delivery System (MWADS), both of which rely upon a similar mechanism for extraction from the aircraft as the PURIBAD-21. Combat loads are secured on board a modular airdrop platform with an extractor parachute designed to extract the load from the back of the aircraft and a secondary, main parachute designed to land the cargo safely. Additionally, air bags can be fitted to soften the landing should sensitive electronic equipment be carried on the vehicle. The Royal Air Force’s 47 Squadron Special Forces Flight, which supports UK SOF operations, is also considering the procurement of improved cargo parachutes. Sources close to UK special forces explained to Armada how future plans were considering upgrading cargo parachutes yet further to accept 16000 pounds/lb (7272.7 kilograms/kg) combat loads. One option open to the UK MoD is the introduction of

Airborne Systems

STIRLING

Airborne Systems’ ATAX product which is already certified to conduct operations with the A400M. This system has a maximum payload of 16000lb although with the addition of extra modules and parachutes, it could manage combat loads as heavy as 32000lb (14545kg) Mr. Allamby confirmed: “Two triple modules can be configured for sequential aerial delivery with a load capacity of 9.6 tons on each,” he explained while highlighting how the ATAX could be used for ground-based and maritime special operations as well as wider support of more conventional forces seeking re-supply. Freefalling Meanwhile, the international SOF community continues to rely upon airborne insertion via parachute as a unique covert and discreet method of entry into areas of operation. Military Freefall (MFF) continues to be used extensively for the insertion of small surveillance and reconnaissance teams offset from targets, allowing them to infiltrate in under the cover of darkness, for example. However, speaking to the community as well as industry partners, research and development continues to be driven forward in order to extend parachute capabilities in line with emerging requirements. Now equipping forces across the USSOCOM (US Special Operations Command) is the Airborne Systems’ Ram Air-1 (RA-1) system, which according to the company’s international business unit manager, James Hart, comprises the Intruder-360 main parachute which has been designed for jumpers carrying: “heavy loads into rough, unfamiliar drop zones at night.” Speaking to Armada, Mr. Hart explained that: “These conditions demand a canopy that provides superior glide performance for maximum offset and

The UK and French MoD are currently testing capabilities to air drop vessels and vehicles behind enemy lines for special forces teams.

performance characteristics to minimise the potential for injury on landing … For (special forces), it allows a small team to insert behind enemy lines to provide eyes on a target to gain valuable human intelligence. It also provides the ability to get a team on the ground without being compromised. Again, allowing the team to perform followon missions, such as Close Air Support for bombing missions taking out key targets.” Describing the capability now being enjoyed using the RA-1 by US Navy SEALS (Sea, Air, Land), US Army Green Berets, MARSOC (US Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command) Raiders and Air Force Special Operations Teams, Mr. Hart explained the biggest gain the RA-1 has over its successor, the Airborne Systems MC-4 Ram Air Parachute System, is the ability to carry additional equipment and have a much further offset from the intended target: “US SOF soldiers have an increased need for weight. This is mainly due to body armour that was not traditionally used in the past and for specialised equipment that did not exist in the past. Having a further standoff can allow soldiers to exit the aircraft inside controlled airspace and fly their parachutes into denied airspace with little to no chance of being compromised … With future technological advances in parachutes, it would be a viable option to have a team perform an offset of over 80 kilometres (50 miles). Keeping the aircraft and troops well out of hearing or visual distance from the enemy,” Mr. Hart continued. On 21 June, the US Army continued its procurement of the RA-1 from Airborne Systems, with another $99 million contract placed

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017 39

STIRLING

Supacat

altitudes. Arising out of US-led combat operations in Afghanistan, CPS continues to expand the flight envelope of its Military Silhouette (MS) series of parafoils which now have the capability to be inserted from higher altitudes while carrying larger payloads in comparison to legacy systems. To date, CPS has achieved a maximum drop altitude of 16850ft (5135m) above sea level, amounting to more than half the maximum altitude of commercial airliners. Defence sources associated with NATO special forces remain in no doubt what such a capability would bring to the special operations community. As one such source explained to Armada: “Imagine the possibilities? Teams would be able to covertly insert personnel from commercial aircraft providing the ultimate disguise. But there’s still a long way to go and plenty of issues regarding oxygen intake and velocity before this can happen.” CPS has conducted tests around Mount Everest in the Himalayas, where company officials explained: “We continue to develop our equipment and address our customer needs which are constantly changing. We continue to test our parachutes as customers like to use them with the same operational parameters. We know for sure our canopies will do what they want them to do.” These recent tests involved the MS-360 M3 and M4 parachutes featuring several upgrades to allow them to cope with significant shifts in weather patterns and the thinner air at higher altitudes. Enhancements included reinforced rigging lines, bar tacks and line attachments: “The MS-Series M1 and M2 models are also currently used by (special forces) worldwide with a capability of landing in tight areas using braked approaches,” the company explained to the author with reference to capability for both MFF and static-line descents: “The freefall and static line capable M4 is the improved glide version of the M2. Glide performance has been substantially improved, by more than 33 percent,” company officials added. In order to deal with higher altitude, which in turn, result in longer transit periods for operators, CPS has highlighted a series of upgrades designed to make para-

Contemporary theatres continue to highlight the need for special operations vehicles such as the Supacat HMT Extenda illustrated here.

for the delivery of approximately 7000 parachutes and spare parts, due to be distributed across the various component commands of USSOCOM. Additionally, defence sources highlighted to Armada how multiple NATO SOF were in the process of acquiring the parachute following its acceptance into service with the USSOCOM although many of these deals remain covert in nature due to strict rules regarding the procurement of materiel and operational security. Capable of inserting soldiers from altitudes ranging from 12000ft (3657m) up to 25000ft (7620m), the RA-1 also features an enhanced glide ratio compared to legacy models. This allows troops to exit an aircraft and conduct MFF ahead of the deployment of the main parachute while travelling extensive distances at comparable ground speed. The RA-1 also features improved steering, anti-stall technology, and enhanced canopy control through the introduction of pressurised stabiliser systems. Finally, anti-vibration systems have been integrated into the main canopy to reduce noise during flight and landing, thereby making the RA-1 even more suitable for covert drops into populated areas. Finally, the payload has been increased from 360lb (163kg) to a maximum load of 450lb (204kg) including the soldier and their equipment. Military Silhouette Elsewhere, Complete Parachute Solutions (CPS) is responding to another special operations requirement; the capability to deploy parachutists from very high

40 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

chute openings more consistent and less dangerous while improving flight stability and manoeuvrability, and managing safe landings: “Our developmental programme demonstrated that a few subtle design revisions to the existing MS family, primarily changes in airfoil shape and line trim, improved the lift-to-drag ratio. (Both) the M3 and M4 are built using hybrid construction, and by retaining polyester suspension lines, unwanted trim line variations due to line trim creep was eliminated which can potentially affect glide performance. In addition, polyester line provides suitable elasticity which helps to reduce the transmission of excessive shock loads to the jumper and canopy that are often associated with the more unyielding low-drag line types,” company officials continued. Capable of carrying an all up weight of 450lbs, CPS’ family of MS-360 M3 and M4 models do have a maximum deployment altitude of 35000ft (10668m) although sources confirmed it was human factors that currently restricted such insertions. Rates of descent can fall anywhere between 9.5ft (1.9m) 12.5ft (3.8m) per second, amounting to an equivalent “forward speed” anywhere between 21.5 knots (39.8 kilometres-per-hour) and 27 knots (50 kilometresper-hour), the company added. However, CPS continues to pay particular attention to controls required by operators to execute descents safely and efficiently. This includes detailed studies regarding the carriage of equipment in the form of rucksack loads as well as varying levels of oxygen accepted during higher altitude flights. Another NATO SOF source warned while explaining to Armada how operators continued to evaluate whether load-carrying containers should remain attached to the lower legs on landing or dropped via a guide line: “Special forces utilise both methods and it is important to test and evaluate equipment in both conditions. If lowered, a parachute tips over and glides steeper and faster due to the drag of the rucksack being exposed as well as causing a jumper to drag upon landing,” they explained. Innovations in the aerial insertion of special forces are continuing with alacrity. Recent special forces operations during the US-led intervention in Afghanistan, and ongoing US-led operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria insurgent organisation in these two countries, underscore the continuing need for rapid, safe and reliable mechanisms for commandos to reach their objectives by air.

Images courtesy of www.defencephotography.com

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INTERNATIONAL PAVILIONS

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Programme FOCUS

The Royal Navy's 'Vanguard' class SSBNs, an example of which is pictured here, are now in the twilight of their careers.

ALBION AND THE APOCALYPSE Upon becoming the United Kingdom’s prime minister on 13 July Theresa May was asked to write several letters by the cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, the country’s most senior civil servant. Thomas Withington

E

very prime minister since Edward Heath (1970 to 1974) has performed a similar task, following the UK’s adoption of the Lockheed Martin UGM-27 Polaris A-3 Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), up to 16 of which were accommodated on each of the Royal Navy’s four ‘Resolution’ class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), entering service since 1968. The letters drafted by Ms. May and her predecessors are known as the Letters of Last Resort.

According to open sources, Sir Jeremy would have briefed the prime minister advising her of the destructive power of each of the Lockheed Martin UGM-133A Trident-D5 SLBMs carried by the Royal Navy’s four Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering/BAE Systems ‘Vanguard’ class SSBNs, are be capable of inflicting. Each ‘Vanguard’ class boat can carry up to 16 missiles, according to the UK MoD and one boat is always on patrol in accordance with the UK’s Continuous At Sea Deterrence policy. Open sources differ, but the UGM-

42 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

133A’s Mk.4/4A (also known as the Trident Holbrook) warhead may have a yield of between 80 and 100 kilotons/kt (one kiloton equals 1000 tonnes of conventional explosive), and there has also been some speculation that smaller warheads maybe available for the missile providing a yield of between ten and 15 kilotons. A crude simulation, courtesy of the nuclearsecrecy.com website of a 100 kiloton airburst detonation of such a warhead (all UK warheads are reportedly designed only for airburst detonation) above the Russian city of Severomorsk, in the northwest of the country, shows that 35500 people would be killed instantly, with a further circa 16400 injured. The Letters of Last Resort are written in private by the prime minister. Each letter is handwritten and contains an identical instruction regarding the course of action that the Captain of each ‘Vanguard’ boat is to perform, if they believe that a nuclear attack has destroyed the British government, and killed or otherwise

Programme FOCUS

‘Dreadnought’ class Ms. May’s letters will be placed in the safes onboard the four ‘Vanguard’ class boats as and when they are in port, replacing those of David Cameron, who resigned as prime minister on 13 July in the wake of the United Kingdom voting to leave the European Union. Yet the ‘Vanguard’ class SSBNs are now in the twilight of their years, having entered service in 1993, the four boats; HMS Vanguard, HMS Victorious, HMS Vigilant and HMS Vengeance are expected to retire from circa 2030. These boats will be replaced with a new class of SSBNs built by BAE Systems. On 20 October the UK secretary of state for defence Sir Michael Fallon, revealed that the new SSBNs which had previously nicknamed

the ‘Successor’ class, since May 2011, when the UK government decided to commence the initial assessment phase for a new class of SSBNs to equip the Royal Navy, would be called the ‘Dreadnought’ class. Work on the ‘Dreadnought’ class is continuing. A statement provided to Armada from the UK MoD stated that the “vast majority of the (SSBN) design will be frozen over the next two-to-three years.” The statement added that: “Given the ‘Dreadnought’ class is a completely new submarine design there are a combination of technological advances, for example in electronic systems driven by the civilian market.” Other important design developments include “increased modularity for ease of build, test and commissioning and a design which can accommodate mixed male and female crewing.” Regarding schedules, the UK MoD told Armada that it expects the first ‘Dreadnought’ class SSBN to leave BAE Systems’ construction facilities in Barrowin-Furness, northwest England, “in the late 2020s,” and to enter service in the early 2030s. Follow-on boats are scheduled to be built by the 2040s.” To date, the firm has received $1.6 billion of funding for the SSBN’s construction, the UK MoD continues, and around 100 contracts have been awarded covering the ‘Dreadnought’ class’ development. The UK Ministry of Defence has taken

The UK's Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston, west of London, is receiving investment in the form of new testing facilities.

the decision to retain the same UGM-133A SLBMs onboard the new SSBNs, but to outfit the new SSBNs with a new RollsRoyce PWR-3 pressurised water reactor; the preceding PWR-2 reactor currently outfitting the ‘Vanguard’ class and BAE Systems’ ‘Astute’ class SSBNs and nuclearpowered attack submarines. Alongside the new submarines, the UGM-133A SLBMs will receive modernised warheads. A request under the UK’s Freedom of Information Act regarding the UGM-133A published on the UK MoD’s website in August 2015 stated that an initiative is now underway to upgrade this warhead to the Mk.4A status. The letter continues that: “The Mk.4A arming, fuzing and firing system is a non-nuclear component being introduced into the UK Trident warhead to replace similar (components) which (are) becoming obsolete.” A further clarification issued by the UK MoD stated that: “a replacement warhead (for the SLBMs) is not required until at least the late 2030s or possibly later.” Warhead That said a decision will still be required from the UK Houses of Parliament to give the go-ahead for the development and production of the new warhead. The statement continued that: “Given lead times, however, a decision on replacing the warhead may be required in this Parliament (which will be dissolved by 7 May 2020 prior

AWE

incapacitated the prime minister and their deputy, assumed to be an unnamed member of the prime minister’s cabinet. Once the letters are written they are placed in a sealed envelope, and each letter is placed within a safe, within the control room of each of the ‘Vanguard’ boats. Once the prime minister leaves office, these letters are destroyed unopened. Thus the only person who knows what course of action they would have recommended to the Captain is the prime minister themselves. Whether previous prime ministers would have ordered the Captains to launch all their missiles to deliver a devastating retaliatory strike, to deliver a partial strike, place the submarine at the service of an ally or hold their fire, is unknown. Only one prime minister has given a clue as to the course of action they recommended. James Callaghan, the UK’s prime minister between 1976 and 1979 disclosed in a 1988 television documentary: “If we had got to that point where it was, I felt, necessary to do it, then I would have done it (ordered the missiles to be used).” However, he added that: “I’ve had terrible doubts of course about this. And I say to you that if I had lived after having pressed that button, I would never, never have forgiven myself.” Asking any person to write down their intentions regarding such explosive power concentrates the mind to say the least. According to Professor Peter Hennessy, Attlee professor of contemporary history at Queen Mary University of London, speaking in the 2008 radio documentary The Human Button, when prime minister Tony Blair (1997-2007) was asked to write his four letters; “he became quite quiet.”

armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017 43

Programme FOCUS

the political challenges which the ‘Dreadnought’ class programme still faces. Unsurprisingly, the UK’s possession of nuclear weapons is a controversial subject. A poll commissioned by The Independent newspaper this January revealed that 51 percent of those interviewed backed the renewal of the Trident weapons system (submarine, missiles and warheads). Yet, Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, remains opposed to the UK’s possession of nuclear weapons. In September 2015, he told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) “I am opposed to the use of nuclear weapons. I am opposed to the holding of nuclear weapons. I want to see a nuclearfree world, I believe it is possible.” The opinions of his party are more nuanced.

44 armadainternational.com - december 2016/january 2017

On 19 July, Members of Parliament (MPs) voted on whether the UK should renew the Trident weapons system. Ms. May’s government won the vote with 472 MPs supporting the government’s plans, with 117 voting against, including Mr. Corbyn. Interestingly, 140 of Labour’s 230 MPs voted in favour of replacing the weapons system. Should a vote be taken before the end of the current parliament on whether to replace the Mk.4A warhead, Ms. May’s government might rely on similar levels of support from the Labour opposition in the House of Commons to ensure that this initiative goes ahead. The Scottish Question Yet challenges to the Trident renewal also come from other quarters. As Dr. Nick Ritchie, a senior lecturer and expert in the UK nuclear deterrent in the Department of Politics at the University of York, northern England notes: “There are two outstanding issues that have shaped the debate (regarding the replacement of the Trident weapons system). The first is the independence of Scotland.” The Scottish National Party (SNP) is resolutely against the UK’s ownership of nuclear weapons. The SNP’s website states that: “the case for Trident is non-existent … It’s wrong, morally and financially.” Of the 117 MPs voting against the Trident renewal on 19 July, 58 of the MPs were from the SNP, with the party stating that: “56 percent of those living in Scotland oppose the renewal of Trident.” The position of the SNP, which is the largest party in the Scottish Parliament, is highly significant to the future of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. Scotland is home to Her Majesty’s Naval CND

to the General Election) or early in the next.” The UK MoD told Armada that: “A replacement warhead will not be required until at least the late 2030s, possibly later.” Any replacement warhead is expected to include some design enhancements such as the capability to hit targets with an accuracy in excess of the current 80 metres (262.5 feet) which the existing Mk.4/4A warhead is believed to be capable of achieving, according to David Cullen, a researcher at the Nuclear Information Service, a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) based in Reading, western England. Evidence given to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, which overseas the UK MoD and the country’s armed forces, by the Nuclear Information Project, an initiative of the US Federation of American Scientists, based in Washington DC in February 2007 estimated the UK to be in possession of between 150 and 170 warheads, and 58 UGM-133A SLBMs according to open sources. The ‘Dreadnought’ class will continue to carry the UGM-133A SLBM. The UK MoD statement provided to Armada states that: “Like the ‘Vanguard’ class SSBNs, the ‘Dreadnought’ class will carry the current Trident-D5 missile and there are no plans to replace these.” That said, the lifespan of these missiles are expected to be increased and: “The UK is working with US partners in a programme to extend the lifespan of the D5 missile to the 2060s.” The parliamentary decision which will be required regarding the replacement of the Mk.4A warhead underscores

UK MoD

The UK government has taken the decision to replace the Royal Navy’s existing ‘Vanguard’ class SSBNs with the new ‘Dreadnought’ class boats, one of which is depicted in this artists’ impression.

The UK's nuclear weapons are moved around by road convoys from the Royal Navy's bases in Scotland to the Atomic Weapons Establishment in southern England.

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Base (HMNB) Clyde to the west of Glasgow on the River Clyde, which is the home base of the ‘Vanguard’ class, and the Royal Naval Armaments Deport (RNAD) Coulport on Long Loch, western Scotland which is where the Mk.4A warheads are stored and loaded into their UGM-133A SLBMs before and after an SSBN patrol. The future of the UK’s nuclear weapons in Scotland is now complicated by two distinct, but related factors. The first being the future of Scotland in the United Kingdom: A referendum on independence for Scotland held on 18 September 2014 saw 55 percent of Scottish voters reply ‘no’ to the question: “Should Scotland be an independent country,” posed to them. Meanwhile, the referendum on whether the United Kingdom should remain in the European Union (EU) which was held on 23 June saw 51.8 percent of British votes cast expressing a preference to leave the EU. Nevertheless, Scotland voted 62 percent in favour of remaining in the EU. The second outstanding issue shaping the debate, Dr. Ritchie adds, is the “nature of the Brexit (as the UK’s decision to leave the European Union is dubbed) settlement.” The SNP is strongly supportive of the EU and its leader, and Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of the Scottish government, has stated in the past that: “the EU is not perfect, but Scotland’s interests are best served by being a member.” Ms. May is now expected to trigger Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, which forms the constitutional basis of the EU, to initiate the UK’s formal departure from the supranational organisation in March 2017.

Speaking in February, Ms. Sturgeon told the BBC that: “if … we find ourselves, having voted to stay in the EU, being taken out against our will, I think there will be many people, including people who voted No in 2014, who would say the only way to guarantee our EU membership is to be independent.” Following the June EU referendum result, Ms. Sturgeon revealed during the SNP’s annual conference in Scotland that she was prepared to introduce draft legislation to hold a second referendum on Scotland’s independence within two years. The results of three polls published by the Financial Times in late July stated that support for Scottish independence had risen from 45 percent to 54 percent since the 23 June EU referendum. Should support continue to increase, and should a second referendum on Scottish independence see voters asking for Scotland to leave the UK, this could have serious ramifications for the UK’s nuclear deterrent, and “could make life incredibly difficult for the Westminster government,” Dr. Ritchie adds. It would arguably become politically untenable for the UK to maintain its nuclear weapons facilities at HMNB Clyde and RNAD Coulport as the UK’s nuclear deterrent would based in an independent nation opposed to having nuclear weapons on its soil. This would necessitate the relocation of these facilities into the rump of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Such a move could create significant local opposition in areas where new facilities to accommodate the UK’s SSBN fleet, and SLBM and warhead storage would be located. Secondly, the construction of new facilities would add significant costs to the Trident renewal programme. In 1994 prices, the upgrade of the facilities at both bases to accommodate the ‘Vanguard’ class, the UGM-188A SLBMs and their warheads cost $2.3 billion, according to a UK Treasury study in 1995. This translates into $3.7 billion in 2015 values. Upgrading existing Royal Navy facilities elsewhere in the UK, can expect to incur similar costs, while constructing new facilities from scratch would almost certainly be more expensive: “Things get very messy US Navy

The Royal Navy's UGM-133A SLBMs are expected to be the mainstay of the British nuclear deterrent for the foreseeable future.

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politically and financially very expensive it you have to repatriate the nuclear facilities south of the border,” Dr. Ritchie argues. While Ms. May’s government remains keen to secure the best nuclear deterrent money can buy, costs could continue to dog the progress of the Trident renewal. The British satirical television series Yes Prime Minister once quipped that the original UGM-133A SLBM was “the nuclear missile Harrod’s would sell.” The Trident Renewal has much in common with items stocked in the London luxury store in that it is expensive. Estimates regarding the costs of the renewal have varied. In October 2015, the Reuters news agency argued that it would cost $207 billion to replace the entire Trident weapon system over a 30 year period. Meanwhile, in 2015, the UK’s Strategic Defence and Security Review, which outlines the government’s strategic and defence procurement priorities, stated that the full construction, testing and commissioning of the four ‘Dreadnought’ class SSBNs will be $38.5 billion, with a additional $12.4 billion contingency across a 35 year period. The costs involved are complicated by the so-called ‘Brexit’ vote. The UK economy could contract following the triggering of Article 50, with the possibility of some firms leaving the UK for the European continent so as to remain in the EU’s single market which enables the free movement of goods, services and people within the EU. This issue is compounded by the value of Sterling. Since the 23 June EU referendum Sterling has lost almost 18 percent of its value against the US dollar, which could make components which have to be purchased from the for the renewal more expensive if the UK’s currency continues to slide. Furthermore, an independent Scotland would not only see UK nuclear facilities being removed from the country, but also any decision by Scottish voters to support independence could deprive the UK government of the future tax revenues which the Trident renewal will require: According to figures for 2013 published by the Scottish government, the country pays around nine percent of all UK income tax. Any decline in such revenues either via independence, or via a post-Article 50 slowdown, could yet hit the Trident renewal. The UK government may have won the vote to renew the Trident weapons system this July, but the potential future constitutional and economic challenges faced by the UK show that the debates regarding the Trident renewal are far from over.

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FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

LET THERE BE LIGHT As a concept, Lidar has been around for decades. However, recent years have seen a sharp uptake in interest in the technology, as sensors have become smaller and more sophisticated and an increasing range of uses for Lidar products has been identified. Gerrard Cowan

L

idar stands for Light Detection and Ranging. It is similar to radar, in that its primary uses are in surveillance and detection, but it uses the light generated by lasers, instead of radio waves, as in radar. The term Lidar is often used interchangeably with Ladar, which stands for laser detection and ranging, though the two concepts are technically different, says Joe Buck, chief scientist at Coherent Technologies, part of the Advanced Technology Centre at Lockheed Martin’s space systems division: “When you’re looking at something that would be considered a soft target, for instance particulates or aerosols in the air, the community tends to use Lidar when referring to detecting those objects,” Mr. Buck told Armada: “Then if you’re looking at hard targets, which are solid objects

such as a car or a tree … then we tend to use Ladar.” For more details regarding the science of Lidar, please see the How It Works box accompanying this article. Lidar has been an area of research for many decades, Mr. Buck continued, from right back when the laser was first developed in the early 1960s. However, this interest has accelerated since the beginning of this century, thanks largely to technological advances. Mr. Buck gave the example of synthetic aperture imaging: The larger a telescope is, the higher the resolution that can be obtained when looking at an object. If you need a particularly high resolution, it may require a telescope that is much larger than is practical for the application. Synthetic aperture imaging overcomes this problem, through the use of a moving platform and the processing of signals to create an effective aperture much larger than the

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physical aperture. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) has been in use for many decades, Mr. Buck said. However, it took until the early 2000s before there were practical demonstrations of optical synthetic aperture imaging, despite the fact that lasers were widely used during that time: “Really what happened is it took that long for the optical sources to develop to the point where they had sufficient stability over a broad tuning range … Improvements on the materials, sources, and detectors (used in Lidar) are continuing. It’s not just that you have the ability to do these measurements now, you have the ability to do them in small packages, making the systems practical from a size, weight and power standpoint.” It is also becoming easier and more practical to collect Lidar data (information gathered by Lidar). Traditionally, it was collected from sensors on aeroplanes, says

Interest in Lidar has accelerated since the beginning of this century, according to Lockheed Martin, thanks largely to technological advances.

Nick Rosengarten, product manager of the Geospatial Exploitation Products Group at BAE Systems. However, today the sensors can be placed in land vehicles as well, or even in backpacks, meaning humans can collect the data: “This opens up a whole range of possibilities, in that data can now be collected indoors as well as outdoors,” Mr. Rosengarten explained: Lidar is “really an amazing data set,” because it provides a huge amount of detail about the surface of the Earth, posits Matt Morris, director of integrated solutions for Textron Systems’ geospatial solutions division. It provides a far closer and more nuanced picture than Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) which provides details regarding the height of the Earth’s surface at specific points, he continues: “Probably one of the most powerful use cases I’ve heard from our military customers is that when they deploy they need to know whether they’re going to need to … get up on a rooftop or climb a fence,” he told Armada. “DTED data won’t allow you to

see that. You won’t even see the buildings.” Mr. Morris noted that even some of the traditional, high-resolution elevation data would not allow you to see these details. Lidar will, because of its ‘post spacing’, a term that describes the distance between positions that can accurately be shown in a dataset. With Lidar, post spacing can be down to centimetres: “so you can know exactly what the height of a building rooftop or the height of a wall or the height of a tree is. That really helps three-dimensional (3D) situational awareness.” Moreover, the cost of Lidar sensors has decreased, Mr. Morris notes, as has the size of its apparatus, making it far more accessible: “A decade ago the (Lidar) sensor packages … were very large and extremely expensive. They had really high power requirements. But as they developed, improved the technology, the platforms have gotten significantly smaller, the power requirements have gone way down, and the quality of the data they’re producing has gone way up.”

Textron

Lockheed Martin

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An urban landscape, as shown through Textron’s Lydar Analyst tool, which enables teams to study terrain, extract 3D landscapes and display the information in a 3D visualisation tool.

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FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

BAE Systems

use as an evacuation point, say during a humanitarian crisis.” Mr. Rosengarten also highlighted the potential for ‘mosaicing’, when numerous Lidar datasets are collected from a particular area and stitched together. This was possible, he said, because of “the increased metadata accuracy of the Lidar sensors combined with software programmes such as BAE Systems’ SOCET GXP application that can turn the metadata into geospatially-accurate ground locations. This can be accomplished with Lidar data regardless of how it is collected.”

A mosaic of ground-collected Lidar showing a mall using BAE Systems’ SOCET GXP application. Mosaicing can be accomplished with Lidar data regardless of how it is collected.

How It Works: Lidar Lidar works by illuminating a target with light. Lidar can use visible, ultraviolet or near-infrared light. Put simply, light is shone onto a mirror via a series of pulses. The mirror is then rotated. This moves the pulses of light around a specific area, such as the inside of a room. The light pulses hit an object and are reflected back to the Lidar. The Lidar then measures the time difference between the transmission of the light pulse and its reflection; based on the constant speed of light which is 161,595 nautical miles per second (299,274 kilometres-per-hour). By measuring this time difference, it is possible to discern the distance of a particular part of an object from the Lidar, and hence build an image of the object based on its position of the relative to the Lidar.

analysis product with customers in the US defence and intelligence domains. RemoteView can use numerous data sources, as well as Lidar. BAE Systems also provides geospatial analysis software, with its flagship product being the SOCET GXP, which provides a multitude of capabilities, including Lidar exploitation, Mr. Rosengarten said. In addition, the company has a technology called GXP Xplorer which is a data management application. These technologies have a number of possible military applications. For example, Mr. Rosengarten pointed to a helicopter landing zone tool within SOCET GXP, which can take “Lidar data and provide users areas on the ground that would be sufficient for landing a helicopter.” For example, it will tell them if there are vertical obstructions in the way, such as trees: “People can use this to identify areas that would be the best place to

Windshear Mr. Buck, meanwhile, pointed to the potential military applications of Lockheed Martin’s WindTracer technology. WindTracer is a commercial technology that uses Lidar to measure wind shear at airports. The same type of process could be used in the military arena, in precision airdrops, for example, he continued: “You need to drop supplies from a reasonably high altitude, so you put them on these palettes and you drop them down with a parachute. Now where does it land? You can try and predict where it’s going, but the problem is that as you’re dropping from altitude, the wind shear is moving in different directions at different altitudes,” he explained. “So how do you predict where that supply pallet is going to land? If you can measure the wind and optimise the Lockheed Martin

Mr. Morris said that the major use of Lidar he has seen on the military side is in 3D mission planning and rehearsal. For example, for flight simulations, his company’s Lidar Analyst product enables users to take in large volumes of data and “rapidly generate those 3D models, and then they can do very accurate mission planning.” The same was also true for ground operations, Mr. Morris explained: “They’ll use it for (planning) ingress and egress routes, and because of the high resolution of the data, they’re able to do very accurate line-of-sight analysis,” he said. As well as the Lidar Analyst, Textron produces the RemoteView; an imagery

Lockheed Martin sees potential military applications for its WindTracer technology, a commercial product that uses Lidar to measure wind shear at airports. The same type of process could be used in the military arena, for precision airdrops, for example.

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Roboteam

FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

Roboteam’s Top Layer product enables a UGV to map enclosed environments in real time. Sometimes video is insufficient in these areas: it may be too dark, or the view may be obscured by dust or smoke.

trajectory, you can place the supplies with very high accuracy.” Lidar is also being used in unmanned vehicles. For example, the Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) manufacturer Roboteam has created a tool called Top Layer, a 3D mapping and autonomous navigation technology that utilises Lidar. Top Layer uses Lidar in two main ways, said Shahar Abuhazira, Roboteam’s chief executive officer. First, it enables the mapping of enclosed environments in real time. Sometimes video is insufficient in subterranean environments: for example, it may be too dark, or the view may be obscured by dust or smoke, Mr. Abuhazira added. A Lidar capability allows you to “move from a situation where you have zero orientation and understanding of the surroundings … now it maps the room, it maps the tunnel. Immediately you can understand the surroundings even though you don’t see anything and even though you don’t know where you are.” The second application of Lidar is autonomy, Mr. Abuhazira said: assisting

an operator in controlling more than one system at any given time: “One operator can control one UGV, but there are two other UGVs that are just tracking the controlled vehicle and following it automatically,” he explained. Similarly, a soldier could enter a room, and the UGV could simply follow them, meaning they would not need to put down their weapon, for example, in order to control the UGV: “It makes the operation simple and intuitive.” Roboteam’s larger Probot UGV also deploys Lidar to help travel over large distances: “You can’t expect the operator just to press a button for three days … you can use the Lidar sensor just to follow the forces, or follow the vehicle, or even better just to drive automatically from point to point, and the Lidar sensor will avoid obstacles.” Mr. Abuhazira expects there to be major breakthroughs in this area in the future. For example, he said that users aspire to a situation in which a human and a UGV interact just like two soldiers would: “You don’t control each other. You look at each other, you are calling

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each other, you watch each other and you just act the way that you should,” he said: “I think that there is an expectation that, in a way, we will get to this level between people and systems. It will be more effective. And I believe that Lidar sensors are taking us to this direction.” Going Underground Mr. Abuhazira also expects Lidar sensors to improve operations in the dangerous subterranean environment. Lidar sensors give an additional dimension, he said, providing a map of the tunnel. Mr. Abuhazira continued that sometimes, because a tunnel is small and dark, a user may not even realise that they are driving the UGV in the wrong direction: “A Lidar sensor acts like a real-time GPS (Global Positioning System) and makes it like a videogame,” he said: “You can see your system in the tunnel, you know (where you are moving) in real time.” It should be noted that Lidar sensors are another source of data, and should not be seen as a direct replacement for radar, for example. Mr. Buck said there were large wavelength differences between the two, which provides both advantages and disadvantages. Often the best solution is using both, he said, using aerosol wind measurement as an example. The shorter wavelength of optical sensors provides improved direction finding compared to the longer wavelength of a RF (Radio Frequency) sensor as used by radar.  However, the atmospheric transmission properties are very different for the two sensors: “Radar has the ability to get through certain types of clouds that Lidar would have more difficulty with. But then in other types of fog, one might be a little bit better than the other.” Mr. Rosengarten said that combining Lidar with other sources like panchromatic data (where imagery is built using a wide range of light wavelengths) would give a complete picture of an area. A good example is identifying a helicopter landing zone, he said. Lidar may look at an area and say that it has a slope of zero, without taking into account that it could actually be looking at a lake. This type of information could be obtained by using other light sources, he explained. Mr. Rosengarten expects the industry to eventually look at the merging of technologies, bringing together the various different sources of visual and light data: “It’s finding ways to bring all that data under one umbrella …It’s not just using Lidar data in a silo to solve an intelligence problem.”

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