IED
Blast related Brain Injuries: The silent killer
Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) have now added a new dimension
to battlefield injuries: Injuries and even deaths among troops
who have no external signs of trauma but whose brains have
been severely damaged. The insurgency war in Iraq and Afghanistan
has reinstated one of the worst afflictions of World War I
trench warfare: shell shock..
Al
Qaeda spurs Gaza carnage to create Hamastan
The real force behind the Gaza mayhem seems to be, a combined
al Qaeda and Iran strategy, strange bedfellows perhaps, but
for the time being, closely-linked partners in a common strategic
goal to establish "Hamastan" as a forward base for
Global terrorism. This article covers the current situation,
some of its causes, looming threats to the region's stability
and, some of the possible solutions, which, if conducted under
wise statesmanship, could still prevent at least, part of
the looming danger.
Brig. Gen. R. Mark Brown, Program Executive Officer Soldier
agreed to release a May 2006 test results rebuffing claims that
commercially available body armor is supperior to the body armor
the Army issues to warfighters. According to Gen. Brown, Pinnacle's
Dragon Skin SOV3000 body armor, claimed to offer supperior protection,
was subject to the same fair and independent testing, in a variety
of environmental conditions, as products from the six producers
of the Army's current body armor. All six of the current producers
passed every test with zero failures, which is the standard
while DragonSkin failed to stop 13 of 48 [first- or second-round]
test shots.
Two prototypes of the Multi-Function Radio Frequency System
(MFRFS) radar were delivered by Raytheon Company's (NYSE:RTN)
Network Centric Systems for integration into the Quick Kill
Active Protection System the company is developing for the U.S.
Army. Raytheon's Quick Kill APS will be integrated on a Stryker
for end-to-end system demonstrations and design verification
testing beginning late this summer.
US
Navy to Test SHARP with Hyperspectral Capability
The US Navy is planning to demonstrate advanced target cueing
capability with its Shared Reconnaissance Pod (SHARP). BAE Systems
will develop a hyperspectral imaging sensor for a target cueing
system to be integrated into the US Navy SHARP) developed by
Raytheon. This program will be the first hyperspectral technology
implemented on a tactical fighter. Under a $2.3 million contract
with Raytheon, the company will use its Spectral Infrared Imaging
Technology Testbed (SPIRITT) high-altitude hyperspectral technology
to automatically detect, classify, and identify camouflaged
and concealed targets based on their spectral signature. Hyperspectral
imaging extracts unique spectral data from hundreds of visible
to infrared wavelengths to detect objects based on their material
composition. With the new capability SHARP will be able to provide
digital, high-resolution, day, night and all-weather air reconnaissance.
Global Safety Labs (GSL) is working on TACOM Engineering approvals
to 'fire-proof' up-armored Humvees with its Automatic Vehicle
Fire Extinguishment & Survivability System (AVFESS). The
system uses patented vehicle spray system to extinguish both
external and internal vehicle fires, protecting occupants and
coating tires to prevent re-ignition. The system uses GSL's
Arctic Fire-Freeze (AFF) Agent on both the interior and exterior
of the HMMWV stopping the fire and providing a fire-proof coating.
The US Army is launching a diesel-electric hybrid powered version
the Aggressor – an off-road Alternative Mobility Vehicle
(AMV). "Aggressor" was developed by Quantum Fuel Systems
Technologies Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:QTWW) under a U.S. Army's
Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center
(TARDEC) and the U.S. National Automotive Center (NAC) program.
The Aggressor was designed as high performance light-duty off-road
hybrid vehicle powered by hydrogen based fuel cell. TRADEC contracted
Alion Science and technology Corporation to manage the program.
Quantum was awarded the $4.88 million development contract for
the propulsion system.
The Excalibur team reports another successful test firing of
the Block Ia-2 precision-guided artillery projectile. Five rounds
were fired at a target over a range of 40.8 km (25.4 miles)
by an M-109 series self propelled 155mm howitzer, using Modular
Artillery Charge zone 5 with base-bleed. Extended range Excalibur
Block Ia-2 is scheduled for initial operational capability in
fiscal year 2009.
The proposed cuts to the program would effectively prevent
the development of Future Combat Systems manned ground vehicles.
This means Soldiers would operate Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting
vehicles “indefinitely,”. The Army also intends
to cancel the development of the infantry load carrier, or 'Mule'
and one of the two remaining unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) if
budgets are cut at the proposed level, said Lt. Gen. Stephen
the U.S. Army director of force development and deputy chief
of staff. Commenting on the possible cut of $876 million in
the 2008 budget for the Future Combat Systems, proposes by the
Congress. Gen. Speakes said the proposed cuts endanger a program
that would improve military capabilities today and in the future.
The total Future Combat System request for fiscal 2008 is $3.7
billion.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) successfully
demonstrated a low-cost system enabling ground forces elements
to control, monitor and manage multiple airborne imagery sources
sharing a common airspace. The system, known as HURT, for Heterogeneous
Unmanned Reconnaissance Team, allows ground forces to receive
video surveillance imagery of the surrounding area and request
specific information about suspected enemy positions on user-friendly
touch-screens. The system autonomously processes multiple requests
and directs the most suitable aircraft to take a closer look.
Rafael has fielded an advanced data communications system designed
to support dismounted command and control and small unmanned
systems. The new digital datalink called Lightlink provides
robust communications of real-time video and data at high speed
and in conditions that challenge other means of communications,
such as forest, jungle or urban area, where buildings and other
obstacles cause interference by multipath signals. Lightlink
has been fielded and employed in combat missions with some of
RAFAEL's unmanned systems.
Aurora Flight Sciences has been awarded a contract to develop
navigation and control technology that will allow micro air
vehicles (MAVs) to avoid collisions as they fly through urban
and other cluttered environments. Due to their small size, MAVs
hold great potential for providing valuable military intelligence
while avoiding detection and destruction. Vision-based techniques
derived from insects and bats will be integrated with Aurora-developed
navigation and maneuvering strategies to create a highly sensitive,
robust, autonomous system in a package suitable for the low
size, weight and power constraints that are inherent to MAVs.
Raytheon Seeking Partner to Challenge
IED
Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) announced its interest to partner
with companies offering innovative solutions to defeat Improvised
Explosive Device (IED). The company has been studying this
issue for the past six months at its Texas-based Network Centric
Systems division, which led a company-wide drive to rapidly
develop and field solutions to defeat IEDs. To broaden the scope
of the research, Raytheon is now inviting potential partners
to join the effort.
Spartan
to Produce Chassis for MRAPs for $100 Million
Spartan Chassis
announced it has received a $60.0 million order from General
Dynamics Land Systems and a $47.6 million order from Force Protection,
Inc. Both companies were awarded last week a contract to produce
1,000 MRAP vehicles for the US Marine Corps and the Army. Both
orders are scheduled to be completed in 2007
British
MoD Commissions Skynet 5A Communications Satellite
Skynet 5A, the new British communications satellite has been
commissioned into service following successful launch and deployment
into orbit in April. The satellite, first of three to be launched
under a £3 billion Private Finance Initiative (PFI) program
supports military communications supporting deployed forces
as well as maritime operations. Skynet 5 is designed to sustain
about 2.5 times the capacity of the old system. The next satellite,
Skynet 5B, is due to be launched towards the end of this year,
and Skynet 5C in 2008.
Singapore
to Replace Hawkeye With G550 AEW
Singapore will buy four Gulfstream G550 special mission business
jets, configured for Airborne Early Warning missions. The aircraft
will replace four Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye aircraft currently
in service. According to the Singapore MOD, the G550 AEW will
be capable of flying 9 hours missions at an altitude of 41,000ft
(12,500m). Singapore will receive the first aircraft by 2008,
and all four are expected to be operational by 2010. While Singapore
has not released further details about the electronic and radar
suite to be installed in the aircraft, the only system currently
available for this platform is the Israeli PHALCON radar, developed
for four Israel Air Force G550 AEW aircraft known as Eitam,
currently being delivered by IAI/Elta. The first aircraft was
handed over by Gulfstream on September 2006.
Sikorsky Aircraft announced today that it has selected four
subcontractors to design and fabricate the major fuselage sections
for its new CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter currently under development
for the United States Marine Corps. Sikorsky's Fuselage Team
will consist of Aurora Flight Sciences, EDO Corp., GKN Aerospace,
and Spirit AeroSystems. Sikorsky will conduct the integration
and test program on the complete fuselage structure. The major
subcontracted sections include the cockpit and cabin (Spirit),
aft transition (GKN), tail rotor pylon and sponsons (EDO), and
main rotor pylon (Aurora).
Prototype obstacle warning radar, developed at BAE Systems
has completed flight testing on a helicopter. The system can
operate under all-weather conditions, identifying cables and
other obstacles, indicating the pilot the precise altimeter
information necessary to negotiate the obstacle through combat
flight maneuvering. The system detects cables and other obstacles
using low-probability-of-intercept, low-probability-of-detection
radar technology.
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