Fighters are Battling Remaining International Sales

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Jul 7, 2009

France and the UAE are negotiating the sale of 60 Rafale fighters to the UAE, replacing the country’s Mirage-2000-9 currently in use. UAE operates a mixed fleet of F-16E/F Block 60 and Mirage-2000-9. Both aircraft were significantly improved from their baseline configuration and tailored for the UAE requirements, a process expected to continue with their selecting a unique model of Rafale. Under the terms being negotiated between the countries, the French will ‘trade-in’ the older Mirage fighters for the new-generation Rafales, which will be further improved with a more powerful Snecma M88 engine, having 20 percent higher thrust, a choice of new weapons, including the MBDA Meteor Beyond Visual Range missile and advanced avionics. One major improvement is the integration of Thales RBE2 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. The new radar successfully completed a new series of tests on the Rafale. The first two RBE2s are to be delivered to Dassault Aviation next year for installation in Rafaele F3 by 2011. The first fighters operating the new radar will become operational in 2012. Rafale is also pursueing opportunities in Lybia, Brazil, and Inida.

Another improvement scheduled to field with Rafaele by 2012 is a new targeting pod. Thales is introducing a major upgrade for the Damocles targeting pod. The Damocles XF will be produced as form-fit version of the current pod, as well as an upgrade kit destined for the 100 pods currently operational and on order. The new version, referred to as ‘third generation’ is equipped with navigational FLIR and laser spot tracker in addition to the previous targeting FLIR, laser rangefinder and designator. The daylight channel has been improved with the addition of high resolution TV camera while the FLIR is added continuous zoom lens. More powerful image processing of the thermal channel delivers enhanced IR imagery, comparable to the video channel. Thales plans to have an XF version of the pod ready for test flights by 2012.

Typhoon is also fighting for more dominance despite lagging behind in current international bids. Unlike the Rafale, the Typhoon produced by the Eurofighter European multinational consortium has won significant orders from European air forces as well securing a sale of 72 aircraft to Saudi Arabia. The first two aircraft destined to the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) were officially delivered early June. The delivery is part of a large weapons sale program signed between the U.K and Saudi governments in 2007. The aircraft were withdrawn from the U.K Tranch 2 production lots. Originally, the RAF expected to receive more modern Tranche 3 fighters instead of the Tranche 1 and 2 diverted to the Saudis but apparently budget cuts have taken their toll on the British appetite for Typhoons and, at present, the U.K. have not reinstated the full for Tranch 3 aircraft. Apparently London is delaying purchasing decisions to Tranche 3B phase, which has not been committed yet.

The Boeing Company is introducing its redesigned F-15 in the international arena, fitted with new avionics and advanced stealth features to challenge the latest fighters, including F-35. Boeing is discussing the potential co-development opportunities with a number of international aerospace companies, to help paving the Silent Eagle’s way to international customers. The redesigned multi-role strike fighter will be provided with aerodynamic improvements featuring stealth capabilities, as well as digital electronic warfare suite coupled to an Advanced Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar for enhanced situational awareness. The company announced it will dedicate funding to further development of the F-15 Silent Eagle program, with the goal of a flight demonstration in the third quarter of 2010. “We know from talking with current international F-15 operators that they are very interested in the capabilities of the Silent Eagle,” said Jim Albaugh Boeing Integrated Defense Systems President and CEO. “Making this commitment to get the program through to a flight demonstration will ultimately help international customers understand how this aircraft meets their need for a flexible, long-range, large-payload, high-speed, multi-role strike fighter with reduced observability.”

The company also promotes the F/A-18E/F with new improvements on the way, including a more powerful engine and an infra-red search track (IRST) system developed by Lockheed Martin, to be placed on the centerline pod. While the position underneath the fuselage provides a clear view downwards, Navy aviators realize the IRST also provides ample coverage upwards, at least against targets of interest at long-range. Some of the early production E/F models could also be fitted with new AESA radar, designed by Raytheon especially for upgrading programs.

Raytheon is introducing a new AESA radar designated AN/APG-82, developed as a ‘spiral’ spin-off from the mechanically scanned AN/APG-63(V)3 and -4 models sofar used for upgraded and new F-15s. Unlike the previous model, AN/APG-82 will have full commonality with the AN/APH-79 radar used on the F/A-18E/F, thus offering significant advantages in production costs and logistical availability. The different models will differ mainly in the size of their antenna arrays, designed to fit the different radomes of the two aircraft. Raytheon has already won a USAF contract to install the new radar in 224 USAF F-15Es. The radar was also selected for integration in the new F-15SE Silent Eagle proposed by Boeing. In addition Raytheon is developing the Advanced Combat Radar (RACR) AESA radar currently, proposed as an upgraded or new built aircraft such as the F-16. RACR is uniquely optimized for the F-16 and could be installed with minimal modifications and changes to the aircraft. Raytheon is also eying about 135 early production F/A-18E/F aircraft currently fitted with mechanically scanning AN/APG-73 radars that cannot be fitted with the APG-79.

Northrop Grumman is also offering a new AESA based radar for the upgrading of existing aircraft. The technology of the new radar is ‘downscaled’ from the APG-81 radar, destined for the F-35. Northrop Grumman is hopeful the this radar as a subset of APG-81 technology, approved for export by the U.S. Government and available for export by 2011.

The U.S. Marines Explore Unmanned Cargo Delivery

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admin

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Jul 7, 2009

little-bird — An optionally piloted configured Boeing OH-6 'Little Bird' helicopter was recently tested by the Marine Corps warfighting Lab. This helicopter is currently used by the Special Operations Command and is a likely candidate for the future Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter. Photo: U.S. Navy

The U.S. Marine Corps is seeking new ways to support troops fighting in Afghanistan, and is exploring how unmanned vehicles could be utilized for this role. The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory’s immediate cargo unmanned aircraft system project has drawn considerable attention from the industry, with offers received form at least four bidders.

The Marines require the autonomous vehicle demonstrator to deliver 10,000 lb. of cargo over a round-trip distance of 150 nautical miles within a 24 hour period, with a minimum lift of 2,500 lb. in 6 hours. Such vehicle should be able to hover out of ground effect at an altitude of 12,000-15,000-ft. above sea level and fly at altitudes of 18,000-20,000 ft. with full cargo load. The Marines are looking for a vehicle that can operate autonomously beyond line of sight, and be controlled remotely at the cargo delivery location.

Among the known bidders are Boeing, offering the long-endurance A160T Hummingbird lifting up to 2,500 lbs; Lockheed Martin offering and Kaman offering the unmanned version of the K-Max external-lift helicopter that can haul cargo loads up to 6,000 lbs; Canada’s MMIST, introducing an autogiro powered CQ-10A SnowGoose cargo UAV and Northrop Grumman offering the MQ-8B Fire Scout carrying about 400 and 600 lbs of payload respectively. A dedicated vehicle also developed for this role is the Israeli MULE, which will not be ready for the Marine Corps schedule.

Another version of an optionally piloted helicopter recently tested by the Marine Corps warfighting Lab is the Boeing OH-6 ‘Little Bird’. This helicopter is currently used by the Special Operations Command and is a likely candidate for the future Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter.

3695387963 — The Kaman / Lockheed Martin Optionally Piloted K-MAX performs at the 2009 Greater Binghamton Air Show on July 5, 2009. Photo: Mike Lynaugh

AAI Introduces Aerosonde 4.7 for U.S. Navy/Marines STUAS / TIER II Program

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Jul 7, 2009

AAI Corporation is offering the Aerosonde Mark 4.7 Small UAV as its contender for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ joint Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS)/Tier II program. The expeditionary Mark 4.7 system participated in flight demonstrations on June 23-24 at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The new vehicle joins a family of Aerosonde SUAS which already includes the Mark 4.4 and Mark 5.0. Aerosonde 4.7 was introduced earlier this year in Australia.

According to the manufacturer, the new vehicle incorporates several additions in the aircraft design, ground control and system features designed with the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ mission requirements in mind. To support expeditionary deployment, the system uses an integrated launch and recovery system enabling fast, flexible ground and/or shipboard automated launch and recovery capability. The modular payload installation allows the rapid addition of new payloads and capabilities as they become available, enabling technology refresh with little to no aircraft or system modifications. For the ground control system the company is offering the Expeditionary Ground Control Station (EGCS), based on the 4586-compliant ‘One System’ design AAI developed for the U.S. Army. AAI comments that this architecture will support interoperability between the Aerosonde Mark 4.7 and other One System platforms, including the Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS) already used by the Army and U.S. Marine Corps.

In May 2009 AAI demonstrated a simultaneous mission comprising three UAVs small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) at the Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range. The company launched the Aerosonde Mark 4-series aircraft that completed a fully autonomous flight from takeoff to landing, operating at 4,500 feet using an electro-optic (EO) payload. At the same time, two Orbiter electric-powered mini-UAVs were operating with the Aerosonde aircraft. One Orbiter flew at 1,500 feet utilizing an EO payload, while another Orbiter aircraft flew at 1,000 feet with an infrared payload. Real-time video was relayed directly to users on the ground AAI’s One System Remote Video Terminal (OSRVT). This demonstration with Flint Hills Solutions LLC took place in conjunction with the 2009 Kansas Unmanned Systems Symposium.

Aerosonde 4.7 Demonstrates Operations At Sea

The Aerosonde Mark 4.7 small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS) has completed a week flight operations aboard the M-80 Stiletto, a maritime demonstration test bed. The successful test involved multiple launches and recoveries aboard the vessel. The Stiletto shipboard trials involved testing Aerosonde integrated launch and recovery system, proposed by Textron Systems/AAI for the Navy/Marine Corps STUAS program.

The shipboard Aerosonde Mark 4.7 SUAS includes the integrated launch and recovery system; the Mark 4.7 aircraft with enhanced, leading-edge wings; on-the-move navigation; automatic takeoff and landing capability; and shipboard integration to the command and control center. The integrated, one-piece launch and recovery system easily fits aboard small ships without necessitating shipboard alterations.

“Our Aerosonde Mark 4.7 SUAS delivers powerful benefits for the maritime services including long endurance and unmatched multiple-payload flexibility with superior video and communication relay capabilities,” says AAI Division Vice President, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Stephen Flach. “In addition, its single-piece launch and recovery system enables the aircraft to execute missions from even the smallest ships.”

New Rules of Engagement: Part of Psychological Campaign to Win Civilian Support in Afghanistan

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Tamir Eshel

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Jul 7, 2009

The conduct of the new campaign in the south of Afghanistan follows new tactical guidance, recently published by ISAF and U.S. Forces commander in Afghanistan, Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, in re-emphasizing coalition forces serving in Afghanistan with the importance of preventing civilian casualties. These directives were published after a series of attacks caused significant casualties among non-combatant Afghans, causing civilians rage against Coalition forces. The new directives and operations are aiming to turn the tide, ‘win the hearts and minds’ of Afghan civilians and convince them that ISAF and the foreign forces are there to help, if only they are given a fair chance to do that.

“Working together with our Afghan partners, we can overcome the enemy’s influence and give the Afghan people what they deserve: a country at peace for the first time in three decades, foundations of good governance and economic development,” General McChrystal said.

The new directive takes the new strategy for Afghanistan as its base, recognizing that ISAF and Afghan forces may win tactical victories against the Taliban, but lose the war. The new approach will change the rules of engagement for close-air support. Afghan houses and properties will be searched by local security forces, rather than coalition troops, expected to be more attentive to Afghan cultural and religious sensitivities. “No ISAF forces will enter or fire upon, or fire into a mosque or any religious or historical site, except in self-defense,” McChrystal wrote in the directive. “All searches and entries for any other reason will now be conducted by the Afghan National Security Forces.”

Taliban fighters commonly engage coalition forces from positions that expose Afghan civilians to counterfire from coalition forces. The Taliban cite such incidents to lead people to believe that a NATO-led force does not care for Afghan civilians. McChrystal’s tactical directive emphasizes ISAF mission to protect the people from the insurgents. “Like any insurgency, there is a struggle for the support and will of the population,” he wrote. “Gaining and maintaining that support must be our overriding operational imperative – and the ultimate objective of every action we take.” While the new directive is general, and does not prevent commanders from protecting the lives of their troops engaged in direct combat, Gen. McChrystal expects commanders at all levels to understand the directive and abide by it when planning and conducting operations. “Following this intent requires a cultural shift within our forces – and complete understanding at every level,” he wrote.

Specifically, the directive calls on commanders “to scrutinize and limit the use of force, like close air support against residential compounds and other locations likely to affect civilian casualties.” Bombing residential compounds will be allowed only under very limited conditions, the directive says. For example, if a coalition force comes in contact with Taliban fighters and the enemy takes cover in a residential compound, the NATO force can break contact and wait out the enemy rather than calling in close-air support.

Part I: New Surge Reflects a Fresh Strategy for Afghanistan
Part II: Changing Strategy for Afghanistan
Part III: Winning Afghanistan – A Realistic Objective?
Part IV: Psychological Campaign to Win Civilian Support in Afghanistan
Part V: British Troops Seize Control of Helmands’ Lifeline the Shamalan Irrigation Canal

British Army (Ret.) Colonel Richard Kemp talks about the difficulties of fighting irregular warfare in civilian populated area, as reflected in the Israeli campaign in Gaza, 2009;

British Troops Seize Control of Helmands’ Lifeline – Nahr-e-Burgha Shamalan Irrigation Canal

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Tamir Eshel

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Jul 7, 2009

helmands_ops — A Guardsman screams information back as the men of 7 Platoon go through a compound assault. During Operation Panchai Palang 2 , the men of 2 Company 1 Battalion Welsh Guards (2 Coy 1WG), occupy a compound overlooking Checkpoint Yellow 7, a volatile bridge crossing which had been denied to the insurgents by the introduction of obstacles and men. Photo: Cpl Dan Bardsley RLC / MOD

In the latest phase of operation Panchai Palang (Panthers Claw), units of soldiers from the Welsh Guards Battle Group, Light Dragoons Battle Group and 3 SCOTS Battle Group (The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland) have seized key canal crossing points along the Helmand river irrigation canal and other areas. The soldiers are moving mostly on foot, assisted by Land Rovers, Jackals, Scorpion reconnaissance vehicles, Mastiff armored vehicles which provide fire and logistical support, evacuation and protection when needed. IEDs are the most dangerous threat in the area, during first week, the British lost five soldiers but by the second week of the operation British casualties mounted to 15. The UK operation, with Danish, Estonian and US forces integral to the Task Force, working alongside many other nations in support, is taking place in a heavily-populated area, between Gereshk, the economic hub of Helmand and Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital.

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said the current campaign is a strategically important operation complementing the US-led Operation Khanjar. “It has several phases, some of which are already completed, others are still to follow. We have made significant progress so far. Having already secured the crossings along two major waterways to the north of Lashkar Gah, we recovered a large number of IEDs, fought back the enemy in several locations and cleared villages along the way.” Col. Richardson said. By improving security and allowing freedom of movement, the operation will also allow reconstruction and development, to take place straight after military operations are complete.

The first phase of the operation began over two weeks ago with some 350 soldiers from 3 SCOTS BG, transported by helicopters to seize key points along the Nahr-e-Burgha canal, some 16km (10 miles) north of Lashkar Gah. The Scottish unit secured three crossing points along the waterway to form a significant barrier to movement for the insurgent forces. Once these points were secured, units from the Afghan National Army, and the Afghan National Police reinforced the Scot’s positions and expanded the the secured area around them, building a new checkpoint position along the main road, to limit insurgent’s freedom of movement in the area.

Sappers strengthen defences around the bridge at Checkpoint Yellow 7, on the Shamalan Canal. Photo: Cpl Dan Bardsley RLC / MOD

An armored Viking such as the vehicles seen in this convoy was struck by an IED, killing the commander of the Welsh Guards and a trooper.

In the second phase, the Welsh Guards, supported by Afghan troops began moving up the Shamalan canal, seizing 13 canal crossing points as part of the second phase of the operation. Nearer Gereshk, the unit was assisted by Danish forces in capturing further crossings to cover the Welsh Guards’ advance. The Taliban engaged the advancing British troops from nearby compounds with small arms fire and IEDs. In several locations the units encountered enemy opposition, some of it from close quarters, with fire-fights lasting several hours. The Brits responded with guns, light-and heavy machine guns, grenades, shoulder-launched missiles and Javelin missiles, mortars, artillery and air assets, by Apache, Harrier and Tornados. British and US bomb disposal experts removed almost 100 IEDs since the operation began. But some went off undetected causing casualties to the troops.

The third phase began July 3rd, with about 750 troops from the Light Dragoons Battle Group, companies from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (2 MERCIAN), and Afghan army units sweeping through the area in vehicles and on foot. North of here IED teams from Task Force Helmand recovered in excess of 50 IEDs laid in the area of the Nahr-e-Burgha canal – evidence of the threat that still exists there.

After 10 days in operation Panchai Palang, British forces have suffered significant casualties, compared to losses officially published by other forces. In this period Afghanistan claimed 15 British military lives, mostly around Lashkar Gah, in Helmand, putting the number of dead in that conflict at 184, the Defense Ministry said. The British military has lost 179 soldiers in Iraq. For comparison, in the first 10 days of operation Khanjar, taking place south of the British sector, U.S. Marines suffered four casualties in the Helmand province. Elsewhere in Afghanistan American forces suffered 12 additional deaths in combat operations, mostly from IEDs and attacks on outposts in the east.

Part I: New Surge Reflects a Fresh Strategy for Afghanistan
Part II: Changing Strategy for Afghanistan
Part III: Winning Afghanistan – A Realistic Objective?
Part IV: Psychological Campaign to Win Civilian Support in Afghanistan
Part V: British Troops Seize Control of Helmands’ Lifeline the Shamalan Irrigation Canal

During a co-ordinated attack from all sides of Checkpoint Yellow 7, which saw accurate enemy fire coming from within fifty meters, together with indirect fire hitting various points around them, troops pinned down by fire which bounces off the walls around them tend to an injured soldier and evacuate him. Photo: Cpl Dan Bardsley RLC / MOD.

300 Strykers on the way to Afghanistan

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Jul 5, 2009

Facing continued pressure on supply routes to Afghanistan, the U.S. Army is vehicles relying on aerial delivery of more than 300 Stryker destined for the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team deploying this summer from its home base in Ft. Lewis Washington state. The vehicles and equipment are being taken by ship for the majority of the trip around the world, and then Air Force assets take over to fly the last portion of the journey into land-locked Afghanistan. U.S. Air Mobility Command officials plan to move the 300-plus vehicles and support equipment, totaling nearly 9,500 tons, into Afghanistan over the next two months on C-17 Globemaster IIIs flown by military crews, an AN-124s, operated by commercial partners. All efforts for the move are being closely coordinated by officials from the U.S. Transportation Command, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base. The 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center staff, also at Scott AFB, is responsible for planning and executing the airlift missions.

Winning Afghanistan – A Realistic Objective?

By

Tamir Eshel

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Jul 5, 2009

080918s — Dutch Army Sergeant Major Jan, 2nd Platoon, E-company, Battle Group-7, Task Force Uruzgan, talks to an Afghan village elder about the needs of his community. Jan also discussed the importance of Afghan people getting involved with local government to improve quality of life issues. The platoon was on a 3-day International Security Assistance Force mission conducting foot patrols through villages to meet the Afghan people. Photo: ISAF - photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Collins, U.S. Navy.

Can ISAF forces really ‘win the hearts and minds of the Afghans’? The Dutch contingent controlling parts of Uruzgan in central Afghanistan are demonstrating how such a task can be achieved. While southern Afghanistan insurgency rises to new heights, in Uruzgan the number of attacks has been decreasing steadily in recent years, while Taliban controlled areas are shrinking. The Dutch forces claim credit for this progress, the result of close cooperation and trust building process with the local populations. Early in their deployment, the Dutch decided to position their forces in the towns and villages where the majority of Uruzgan’s population lives. This strategy has deliberately left the high desert area and remote villages for the Taliban.

By contrast the British forces in neighboring Helmand decided to spread across less populated areas where they are occupied mostly with self defense and less capable to interact and support the population. The Dutch were less obsessed with finding the Taliban. While isolating them from stronger support bases in the villages and towns the Taliban could roam the high desert and isolated villages uncontested, using the area as a rest area and staging ground to hit British forces in neighboring Helmand, leaving the Dutch forces safe in their area. The casualties suffered by the two forces are striking – With the British forces taking 160, compared with 18 Dutch casualties. The Dutch military claims its containment strategy is working – while the British were struggling to hold their ground, the area under Dutch control is growing and the Dutch commander, General Tom Middendorp says he is not handing territory to his enemy. Claiming the Taliban’s is pushed back to the higher and rougher terrain.

“In the beginning, two years ago they covered the whole province. Now they cover only the more outer parts. There they have less chance of surviving.” Said Middendorp “you have to make choices, you can’t cover anywhere. You have to start on the key areas, and the key areas are the populated areas.” The General expects the Afghan army and the police to gradually take over control, and improve security and quality of life.

While the Dutch strategy is apparently working, terrain, and Afghan internal aspects are also working in their favor. The mountainous area of Uruzgan enables the Ducch military to effectively dominate the few roads in the area, limiting enemy movement between the major population centers. Furthermore, the area’s population is divided between valley and mountain tribes which are also divided among them, leaving Taliban no clear dominance among the mountain tribes. But most important, the area is considered less strategic to the Taliban, since opium farming is not as dominant here as in Helmand, and Kandahar.

Nevertheless, the Dutch forces can take the credit for keeping their area quiet and under control. However, the Dutch success may be short lived since Dutch politicians want their forces to pull out in 2010, and when they go away, Taliban will definitely return. In fact, they never went away, they were out of reach.

The Afghans have made their choice and ISAF won’t like it – many would prefer to be ruled by the Moslem Taliban rather than to be caught in the crossfire between foreign troops, Taliban and the Afghan security forces. Whether the new American counterinsurgency doctrine that puts protecting civilians above killing Taliban convince the Afghan population to switch sides remain unanswered. They need time and patience to be convinced, and time, we know, is a rare commodity in western politics.

Part I: New Surge Reflects a Fresh Strategy for Afghanistan
Part II: Changing Strategy for Afghanistan
Part III: Winning Afghanistan – A Realistic Objective?
Part IV: Psychological Campaign to Win Civilian Support in Afghanistan
Part V: British Troops Seize Control of Helmands’ Lifeline the Shamalan Irrigation Canal

Changing Strategy for Afghanistan

By

Tamir Eshel

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Jul 5, 2009

isaf_changing_strategy — U.S. Marines with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment hold a meeting with village elders in Helmand, Afghanistan, July 5, 2009. The 2nd Battalion is part of the ground combat element of Regiment Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Its presence in the area restricts enemy groups' freedom of movement and helps to restore peace and prosperity to the local populace. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau)

Few coalition or Afghan government forces have been in Helmand province, sofar considered a stronghold of the Taliban. Coalition presence in this area consisted of few forward operating bases, among them Camp Bastion located south of the desert road to Kandahar. In recent months British Army and Royal Marines have launched repeated attacks on Taliban strongholds and poppy growing and processing facilities in this area. The Helmand area, and particularly the Helmand river area known as the center for the poppy growing and trade, has been a safe haven for the Taliban, which took advantage of the lack of primary roads and mountain tracks leading directly the troubled area of Waziristan, north Pakistan, where Taliban established seized control over a large area. Southern Helmand is virtually entirely made up of a vast, empty desert, cut through by a single river, surrounded by a band of densely populated agricultural land. Insurgents infiltrate across a long and poorly guarded border.

The current offensive was launched after the situation in Southern Afghanistan continued deteriorating for the past two years. NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said insurgent-initiated attacks from January to May this year across Afghanistan were about 60 percent higher than those for the same period last year. And Helmand was “in particular experiencing the highest increase” an ISAF spokesman said. Last month U.S. forces in Afghanistan were building up the task force to launch the summer offensive. About 10,000 Marines from the Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade have arrived in Helmand, the southern province where the Taliban have widespread power despite repeated attacks by coalition forces since 2001.

“You don’t really need to chase and kill the Taliban,” said General Stanley McChrystal, the former special forces chief and newly appointed US commander of all allied troops in Afghanistan. “What you need to do is take away the one thing they absolutely have to have – and that’s access and the support of the people.” This, in a nutshell, is the basis of the coalition’s new strategy in Afghanistan, and the driving force behind the new tactical shift in Helmand, which sofar attempted to route the Taliban from their strongholds in the area but, lacking stamina, eroded into prolonged bloody skirmishes that did not leave much impression on the Taliban and lost the remaining faith the population had in the foreign forces. The new operation is aiming to change that trend.

A total of 17,000 US troops and 4,000 military trainers have been pledged for Afghanistan. The first unit to move in was the Combat Aviation Brigade, arriving in Kandahar by mid-May. The 2 MEB is currently deployed in the area and an Army Stryker Brigade Combat Team is on the way, to further reinforce operations in the south. The current reinforcement will increase U.S. forces in Afghanistan from 32,000 at the end of 2008 to 68,000 by the end of 2009. The pact signed early July during President Barack Obama’s visit to the Kremlin, permits 4,500 flights per year through Russian airspace, and is expected to boost the availability and efficiency of logistical support of forces and reconstruction effort in Afghanistan.

Sofar the British forces were responsible for operations in Helmand, that consisted of a series of offensive moves directed against Taliban strongholds in the area. In order to avoid enemy attacks on their supply routes, British forces used sporadic attacks, employing helicopters and all-terrain vehicles to roam the open desert, avoiding the main roads where their supply convoys were likely to be hit by ambushes and IEDs. This vulnerability was clearly demonstrated in a recent attack where the commander of the Welsh Guards was killed. Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thornelow and Joshua Hammond, the driver were killed as their Viking tracked armored vehicle hit a buried IED on their way to Lashkar Gah.

The current deterioration in Afghanistan has lasted two years; According to General Petraeus, the commander of the U.S. central command, the Taliban is an adaptable and ruthless opponent that adjusts to the tactics, techniques and procedures employed by coalition forces. “We’ve seen violence go up in the fighting seasons in each of these last two years to levels considerably above those in previous years,” General Petraeus said. “So we’ve got to stop that trend and then we have to reverse it.” In the recent offensive all commanders have received new orders to prevent troops from shooting at the Taliban if there is any risk of civilian casualties.

Despite the impressive warfighting and bravery of the Brits, their mission was far from successfully. Major S N Miller of the Defence Intelligence Staff was recently quoted saying that the military and strategists have avoided the basic problems for much too long, commenting the drugs policy was “a disaster”. In an astonishing attack he added: “The British presence has not won hearts and minds. [in Afghanistan]”. According to Miller, “only one in 10 Afghans support our troops. The Army has become defeatist with commanders openly talking about an unwinnable war” he added. The foreign aid provided to Afghanistan is not invested in the rural area, where the Taliban rules. ‘Just £20million of the £450million British aid for Afghanistan is going to Helmand where it is desperately needed’ said Major Miller. Parts of Helmand, which borders Pakistan in the south, are firmly in Taliban hands and the region provides much of the heroin that funds the insurgents.

Part I: New Surge Reflects a Fresh Strategy for Afghanistan
Part II: Changing Strategy for Afghanistan
Part III: Winning Afghanistan – A Realistic Objective?
Part IV: Psychological Campaign to Win Civilian Support in Afghanistan
Part V: British Troops Seize Control of Helmands’ Lifeline the Shamalan Irrigation Canal

New Surge Reflects a Fresh Strategy for Afghanistan

By

Tamir Eshel

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Jul 5, 2009

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Ryan Pettit, left, and Cpl. Matthew Miller, both with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), fire their service rifles during an operation in the Helmand province of Afghanistan July 3, 2009. The Marines, who are part of a ground combat element of Regiment Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, are deployed to the area to prevent insurgent activities. (DoD photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau, U.S. Marine Corps)

Over 4,000 U.S. Marines of the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan and 650 Afghan security forces supported by Marine Aircraft Group 40 and Task Force Pegasus of the 82nd Airborne Division Combat Aviation Brigade, providing air support, continue Operation Khanjar (“dagger” in Pashtu) launched in Southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province on Thursday July 2nd, 2009. Operating in the area of Garmsir and Nawa districts, the attack was the biggest operation in Afghanistan since the Soviet occupation. As part of their task to secure forward operating bases in the region, forces of the Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan have moved into cities and towns along the Helmand River, digging in for the long haul. Officials in Kabul said the Taliban have not directly confronted the massive operation, but rather are melting into the populace. “In the next few days the enemy will observe us to see what we are doing. Then they will come back with a vengeance” Marine brigade commander, Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson said.

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, along with approximately 650 Afghan soldiers and police officers from the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF), prepare to board CH-53D Sea Stallion and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters at Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Afghanistan, July 2, 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Philippe E. Chasse) Below: U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jeffrey Haertling, with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, checks a field for hidden weapons during an operation in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, July 5, 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau)

East and North of the U.S. forces, about 3,000 British, Danish, Estonian and Afghan soldiers from Task Force Helmand are taking part in the Operation Panchai Palang (Panther’s Claw), north of Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital. The US marines – part of an American surge of new troops into southern Afghanistan – relieved the British forces from controlling the majority of the area. The British forces are now responsible mainly for the central area around Lashkar Gah, and part of the north. Similar operations are under way in other parts the country near Kandahar.

By Friday, July 3rd, the lead US unit, 2/8 Infantry Battalion US Marine Corps, had advanced as far as Toshtay, 16 miles south of the town of Garmsir, but resistance was proving to be stronger than expected. The Marines are operating as far south as the vicinity of Khan Neshin, the capital of Rig district in the region of the Helmand River valley known as “The Fishhook.” At the same time, the British Light Dragoons Battle Group is still in action north of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah. As part of the offensive to clear and hold Taliban territory, men of the 1st Welsh Guards spent 10 days capturing 13 crossings along the Shyamalan canal, and it was during those operations that they lost their commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thornelow.

The goal of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is to institute a “clear, hold, build” counterinsurgency strategy in the region, taking advantage of the introduction of fresh U.S. forces, the operation is part of an overall NATO effort in to extend security to the Afghan people in southern Afghanistan. Once security is established, civil affairs personnel and other nongovernmental organizations and agencies will begin establishing programs aimed at building long-term governance and development throughout the Helmand River valley.

“What makes Operation Khanjar different from those that have occurred before is the massive size of the force introduced, the speed at which it will insert, and the fact that where we go we will stay, and where we stay, we will hold, build and work toward transition of all security responsibilities to Afghan forces,” said Brig. Nicholson. One of the goals of the recent military operations is to secure a stable environment in Afghanistan, to support the democratic elections scheduled in two months.

The new tactical directive restricting combat units from using firepower to the minimum is designed to slash civilian casualties from airstrikes but also expose troops to increasing threat once the Taliban realize the new tactics and its limitations. General McChrystal has ordered troops to avoid airstrikes unless they risk being overrun or they are sure there are no civilians nearby. Sofar, the limited skirmishes with the Taliban were limited to direct fire with officers refraining from using mortars, artillery or aircraft bombs during their movement south. The marines’ mission is to secure the villages along a stretch of river more than 55 miles long in the heart of poppy-growing territory. These moves will also block supply lines providing the main routes of Opium export and supporting Taliban fighters from Pakistan.

Adhering to classical insurgency tactics, the Taliban ‘melted away’ within the population and into the desert hills as they expected the coalition movements. As the Marines dismounted from their MRAPs, they hardly encountered opposition. The commander of the 5th MEB, Brigadier-General Larry Nicholson described part of the regions as ‘too quiet’. Adding: “In the next few days the enemy will observe us to see what we are doing. Then they will come back with a vengeance.” But some observers believe that too few US troops have been sent to Afghanistan to secure troubled areas. John Nagl, a counterinsurgency expert who was appointed last week to the defense policy board at the Pentagon, estimates that Afghanistan could present a more difficult theater that Iraq. He assessed that Afghanistan needs a national army of 250,000 to enable the allies to pull out. However, at present the Afghan national army has about 92,000 troops, and 83,000 men in the police force. Therefore, more US troops are needed to fill the gap, as they are gradually being diverted from Iraq.

Part I: New Surge Reflects a Fresh Strategy for Afghanistan
Part II: Changing Strategy for Afghanistan
Part III: Winning Afghanistan – A Realistic Objective?
Part IV: Psychological Campaign to Win Civilian Support in Afghanistan
Part V: British Troops Seize Control of Helmands’ Lifeline the Shamalan Irrigation Canal

With bayonets fixed the men of 7 Platoon, 2 Company, 1 Battalion Welsh Guards (7 Plt, 2 Coy 1WG) prepare to storm a series of compounds around Checpoint Yellow 7 on the Shamalan Canal. Photo: Cpl Dan Bardsley RLC / MOD

Unmanned MULE Set for First Flight

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Jul 4, 2009

panda_hover — A hovering test of the Panda, scaled-down technology demonstrator developed by Urban Aeronautics to explore the new flight controls designed for the MULE.

Among the new platforms on show at the Israeli pavilionat the 48th Paris Air Show was a model of the MULE, developed by Urban Aeronautics. Earlier this month the MULE was transferred to the flight-testing facility where it its Turbomeca Ariel 1D1 engine performed initial runs. The MULE is currently undergoing ground tests in Israel and is expected to make the first flight later this year.

The vehicle introduces a revolutionary capability for battlefield logistics ‘push’ and casualty evacuation, supporting land forces and amphibious operations. The vehicle employs the Fancraft louvered internal-rotor lift and propulsion system, sustaining a maximum takeoff weight of one ton, the platform cal lift a useful cargo weighing up to 227 kg plus fuel, for missions of 2-4 hours at speeds up to 100 knots, operating at altitudes up to 12,000 ft.

“MULE is an ideal platform to meet the challenge of supplying troops and evacuating casualties in urban, forested, and other inaccessible environments.” Urban Aeronautics founder, Rafi Yoeli told Defense Update. “Its internal rotor design employs our patented Fancraft technologies enabling it to maneuver with unprecedented precision and stealth in even the most constricted areas.”

The “Vane Control System” (VCS) is at the core of the Fancraft technology, comprising a cascade of vanes at both the inlet and outlet of the ducts that can be deflected either in unison (top and bottom) or differentially to generate either pure side force or pure rolling moment. The ducts (front and back) can also be deflected differentially to generate yaw. “VCS generates 6 degrees of freedom entirely independent of one another and, for the first time, we have a vehicle that can move sideways without the need to roll and vice versa.” Yoeli explains. “In addition, the VCS generates such a great amount of control power that the vehicle can withstand gusts of up to 50 knots.” To sustain higher forward flight speed of up to 100 knots, a set of louvers at the front of the forward duct and rear of the aft duct are opened, allowing airlflow to move through the ducts, thereby greatly reduce drag. “At such higher speeds, the fuselage itself functions as an airfoil and generates up to 70% lift, significantly offloading the lift rotors.” Yoeli added.

The company is currently working on two unmanned applications of the Fancraft design – the Panda, a small, electrically powered, surveillance UAV and the MULE, a mid-size UAV with a 500 pound payload carrying capability. In 2006 the company embarked on a cooperation with Bell Helicopters, to design the X-Hawk, a large man-carrying variant for intra-urban missions in both the military and civilian sectors.

U.S. Army Evaluates MRAP Recovery System as part of Joint Recovery and Distribution System (JRaDS)

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Jul 4, 2009

jrads_high — JRaDS, seen here in an elevated position, offers a variety of cargo-handling and vehicle recovery capabilities based on its unique construction and patented technology that reduces dependency on material handling equipment (MHE), and also reduces cargo handling time. Photo: Boeing.

The U.S. Army is evaluating the Recovery Trailer System (RTS) designed by Michigan based AES as art of technical demonstrations and operational utility assessments in transportation, recovery and evacuation, and logistics distribution. The MRAP-RTS is part of a family of JRaDS variants designed to expedite cargo handling, logistics and distribution, and the evacuation and recovery of hard-to-move vehicles and aircraft weighing up to 80,000 pounds. The system uses two high-powered winches to pull vehicles onto a tilted trailer bed so they can be transported to a safe location for repairs. The alternative solution requires a heavy crane and a separate trailer to transport damaged vehicles.

jrads_lower — Boeing's commercial Joint Recovery and Distribution System (JRaDS) family of trailers cargo-handling system that combines two operational capabilities: cargo distribution and vehicle recovery. Photo: Boeing.

In June 09 the Marine Corps awarded the Boeing Company a $5.2 million contract to demonstrate e a solution for recovering disabled Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles from hostile areas. Boeing and teammate AES will build four Joint Recovery and Distribution System MRAP-Recovery Trailer Systems (JRaDS MRAP-RTS) for functional testing and operational certification. Following these evaluations the contract is expected to transition to production. The trailers are scheduled to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2009 for two months of testing before transitioning to the U.S. Army under the JRaDS Joint Capability Technology Demonstration program.

“Every minute taken to extract damaged vehicles puts people at risk,” said Andy Garcia, JRaDS program manager for Boeing. “We’re trying to minimize that risk and get people out of harm’s way as soon as possible.” “The JRaDS MRAP-RTS reduces the amount of equipment, number of people and time it currently takes to evacuate and recover damaged MRAP vehicles,” said Dan Afflick, director of Ground Forces Support Solutions for Boeing. “The commonality of parts within the JRaDS family and with the customer’s fielded vehicles also will reduce logistics costs for the customer.”

Operating UAVs in Crowded, Integrated Airspace

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Jul 4, 2009

“UAVs will soon fly with manned aircraft in commercial airspace” says avid Vos, Senior Director Control Technologies at Rockwell Collins.

“The growing demand for unmanned systems among military and government users is motivating the industry and government to find the ways to integrate manned and unmanned assets to operate safely in a common airspace” Vos added. UAV operations have grown in this decade from 167 systems operated by the military in 2001 only 167 UAVs operated mainly by the military and government in 2001 to 5,500 flying today. “Today, many UAVs are already flying in an airspace crowded by manned aircraft. ”Vos noted. An example for such integration is the airspace around Balad airbase in Iraq, where military helicopters, fixed wing military aircraft, commercial passenger aircraft, FedEx and UPS cargo planes are flying alongside unmanned aircraft, such as the Global Hawk, Predator and Hunter UAVs, performing 20-30 daily sorties from the airbase.

Although integration of UAVs in Civil Controlled Airspace is not yet cleared in standard regulations, unmanned aircraft are already supporting civilian emergency operations as well. In recent years UAVs were flying missions inside civilian airspace in the USA, monitoring disaster areas and emergency operations along the Red River flood area in North Dakota, surveying hurricane damage along the Gulf of Mexico, spotting fires in the Southern California mountains, surveying the Arctic and assisting police operations on a pilot test program in Los Angeles.

Vos was the founder of Athena Technologies acquired by Rockwell Collins last year. “Compared to the early unmanned systems, which hade limited situational awareness and poor safety record, today’s aerial vehicles are designed with high level of redundancy – dual, triplex and even quad redundant systems are currently available” Vos said. In addition, aviation certified engines, advanced, affordable integrated avionics that can offer automated takeoff, landing and mission control. “Automatic landing provides an essential element to another safety feature – a ‘Panic Button Emergency Landing’ enabling operators to safely abort a mission over populated area, without risk to the surrounding area” Noted Vos. After being implemented and proven in UAVs, Vos expects such essential capability could be introduced back into manned aircraft, to improve flight safety and avoid collateral damage on the ground, in case of emergency. Other elements contributing to UAV flight safety are advanced sensors offering better situational awareness; in the near future, structure damage fault tolerance will become reality, enabling a UAV to recover from bird strikes and in-flight failures.

According to Vos, once UAVs can automatically takeoff, land and perform emergency procedures enabling them to safely fly in civil airspace, their integration into the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system is required. While future NextGen ATM will support such integration, the platforms should have the means to maintain situational awareness, adherence to flight control, rules and procedures and is key to maintain flight safety. These capabilities can be supported today in the larger platforms, that have enough space and power capacity to operate communications, datalinks, IFF and 4D navigational equipment, as well as built-in capabilities to perform collision avoidance, due regard and weather radar.

Project Liberty Birds Take Off – Special Mission MC-12W In Iraq

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Jul 4, 2009

liberty_iraq — The MC-12W ISR special mission aircraft operated by the Mississippi Air National Guard 186th Air Refueling Wing operating from Key Field Air National Guard Base, Meridian, Mississippi. (Photo Below by U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Richard Davis)

At the Paris Airshow Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) displayed the Beechcraft King Air 350ER configured by L3 for special missions. According to HBC, the King Air 350ER offers extended range, long endurance, and can be configured with a variety of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities as well as air ambulance and other special-mission capabilities. The King Air 350ER recently made news with the completion of its inaugural combat mission in Iraq as part of the U.S. Air Force MC-12W fleet. HBC markets, produces and supports a whole range of special-mission aircraft for militaries and governments worldwide.

Delivery of the first seven aircraft produced for the U.S. Air Force under ‘Phase 1’ of ‘Project Liberty Aircraft’ (LPA) program was delivered on July 22, 2009. Under LPA program awarded on September 2008 L-3 Mission Integration will modify a total of 37 Air Force MC-12Ws with sensor packages and communications systems. 24 of the aircraft are destined to Afghanistan. According to Mark Von Schwarz, L-3 Mission Integration Division president, L3 has already received additional orders over the last three months, “we are aggressively moving out to deliver these aircraft as fast as possible. We have added two more aircraft integration sites to triple our capacity” Mr. Von Schwarz said. The LPA team headed by L-3 includes Hawker Beechcraft, the platform manufacturer, Alliant Tech, and Northrop Grumman. L-3 Communications has also included different L-3 divisions as subcontractors – the Systems Field Support, ComCept, Wescam, Communication Systems-West, and Platform Integration.

The first combat patrol mission flying new Project Liberty MC-12 special mission aircraft from Balad air base in Iraq commenced June 10, 2009 operating with the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing. The new aircraft is designed to augment information gathered by other intelligence-collection capabilities operating in-theater. The MC-12 provides real-time full-motion video and signals intelligence and allowing military leaders to make battlefield decisions. Apart from the team monitoring the scene on board, more airmen are serving as ground-based crew, gathering and analyzing the intelligence collected and fed to the ground control center via data-link. The MC-12 aircraft are an Air Combat Command asset, fielded to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to serve critical roles in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The platform is based on a Beechcraft KingAir 350ER (C-12 Huron) twin turboprop powered planes built to ‘special mission’ configuration.

In a recent interview, Maj. Gen. Blair E. Hansen, the A2 director of ISR capabilities and Air Force lead for the task force said, “this fight demands decisive information, surgical ISR, tailored to the level of the fight. This capability will give field commanders more important and timely knowledge to make critical decisions. To be effective in counterinsurgency requires micro information fast, to both kill or capture terrorists as well as to protect our joint and coalition force and the civilian population.” Brig. Gen. Brian T. Bishop, 322 AEW commander added: “This is truly a success story, our mission here is to deliver combat airpower and overwatch to the joint fight in-theater, and the MC-12 brings a huge ISR capability to employ in support of the ground commander.”

The aircraft accommodates a crew of four operators: the pilot, co-pilot, SIGINT operator and electro-optical systems operator. Each ‘PLA aircraft is configured with a Wescam MX-15D EO multisensor payload providing full-motion video in day and night, through the color zoom video camera, high magnification camera and thermal imaging system, the payload also accommodates a laser rangefinder, laser target designator and laser illuminator. The electronic warfare segment on the aircraft comprises SIGINT and jamming system, enabling the operator to intercept and combat adversary communications.

Training of the airborne operators and ground crews began two months before the deployment to Balad, as the 186th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) established a temporary MC-12 mission qualification training detachment at the Mississippi base for ‘Project Liberty‘. Temporarily basing the MC-12 training location in Mississippi enabled ACC to leverage the experience gained by the 186th ARW operating manned ISR experience from their RC-26 work in the counterdrug program, as well as multiple overseas deployments in support of OIF and the fight against terror.

The program was launched in January 2008 fulfilling an urgent operational requirement to bolster the Air Force’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission by adding a new low-cost, ’low signature’ platform to the ISR inventory.

AeroVironment Continues NAV Development

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Jul 4, 2009

AeroVironment (AV) is proceeding with the development of the Nano-Air-Vehicle, under a $2.1 million phase II contract recently awarded by DARPA. Last December, AV has accomplished the first technical milestone in this program – the controlled hovering flight of an air vehicle system with two flapping wings that carries its own energy source and uses only the flapping wings for propulsion and control. The ‘Mercury’ interim test vehicle conducted a 20-second flight during this test. The nano aircraft is capable of climbing and descending vertically, flying sideways left and right, as well as forward and backward, under remote control.“The goals of the NAV program will stretch our understanding of flight at these small sizes and require novel technology development.” said Dr. Todd Hylton, DARPA program manager. He indicated the goals set for the 10 gram aircraft were to be able to hover for extended periods, fly at forward speeds up to 10 meters per second, withstand 2.5 meter per second wind gusts, operate inside buildings and have up to a kilometer command and control range. The NAV program was initiated by DARPA to develop a new class of air vehicles capable of indoor and outdoor operation. Employing biological mimicry at an extremely small scale this unconventional aircraft is designed to provide new military reconnaissance capabilities in urban environments.

“The NAV program will push the limits of aerodynamic and power conversion efficiency, endurance, and maneuverability for very small, flapping wing air vehicle systems,” Dr. Hylton added, “There are still many hurdles to achieve the vehicle we envisioned when the program was started, but we believe that the progress to date puts us on the path to such a vehicle.”

“From the first day of the Phase I effort, we knew that our biggest challenge would be to develop a viable propulsion system, followed by the extreme challenge of creating a control system for such complex operation at such a small scale,” said Matt Keennon, AV’s project manager and principal investigator on the NAV project. “Both systems were extremely difficult to conceive and required an intense combination of creative, scientific, and artistic problem-solving skills from several key team members. Our progress has been possible only because of the unique R&D environment at AV.”

Keennon said the Phase II effort will focus on optimizing the aircraft for longer flight endurance, establishing the transition capability from hover to forward flight and back, and reducing its size, weight, and acoustic signature. “All of these are distinct technical challenges in their own right that actually conflict with each other, making for an interesting and exciting path ahead,” he said. The current phase is scheduled to continue through summer 2010.

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