The US Department of Defense constellation of Global Positioning System (GPS) Satellites has become a global utility currently used to provide position, velocity and time information to a wide range of commercial and military applications. The GPS system’s signal is extremely weak and is vulnerable to both intentional and unintentional interference. As dependence on GPS increases, the need to ensure the availability of GPS also grows and therefore, GPS jamming is becoming a major concern for many armies. The US military maintains exclusive access to the accurate “P-code” pseudo random code, which has ten times the frequency of the civilian Coarse/Acquisition (C/A) code and therefore is potentially more accurate and much more difficult to jam. An encrypted military “Y-code” is also available to receivers equipped with suitable encryption key.
The DOD GPS Joint Program Office established the Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR) program in 1996 to address the electronic warfare threat to the GPS system. The NAVWAR program was tasked with protecting DoD and allied use of GPS during times of conflict, preventing its use by adversaries, and maintaining normal availability to the civil user outside the area of conflict. The US Air Force is planning the deployment of a new, more powerful, x100 jam-resistant GPS Block III satellite constellation, but has been subjected to funding delays and will not be deployed before 2015. Another countermeasure aspect is the deployment of anti-jam equipment with existing and new receiver systems.
Anti-Jam GPS address both narrow band interference signals which occupy a small portion of the overall GPS frequency spectrum, (such as harmonious frequencies from TV stations, FM radios etc.) and broadband jammers, occupying the entire GPS spectrum. Current anti-jam analog technology use several antennas, and receiving channels on each receiver device, employing nulling techniques, to eliminate the interfering signal. The number of antenna elements usually determines the maximum number of signals which can be eliminated with such systems. New digital anti-jam receivers and such as the DAR system known as G-STAR is currently fielding, offering significant improvement over existing anti-jamming capabilities. Other techniques are approaching the problem by providing stronger GPS signals over the area of interest. Such signals can be transmitted by Pseudolites deployed on UAVs or ground systems and augment the weak satellite signals by providing local reference points.
Breeze is an active air circulation system which replaces humid air trapped between the bullet proof vests and the human body with fresh air. Breeze blows fresh air underneath the vest and pushes out warm and humid air trapped inside. As sweat evaporates, body temperature and heart beat are reduced back to normal levels. Wearing Breeze vests underneath the body armor significantly improves human performance under physical effort.
The Breeze vest fits into most existing bulletproof vests and adds about 400 gr. to the wearer’s load. As it is won underneath the bullet proof vest, ballistic performance and protection levels are maintained. Breeze uses a quite electrical blower powered by four AA rechargeable batteries providing continuous operation for 8 – 10 hours. Two power modes are available – for regular and high stress modes.
Alvis (now BAE Systems Land Systems Hagglunds) unveiled the third generation CV9035 MkIII infantry fighting vehicle at Eurosatory 2004. The vehicle is designed for gross weight of 32tons and has a growth potential up to 35 tons.
Armed with the ATK Bushmaster III 35/50 cannon and an ammunition programmer for airburst munitions, integrated with the fire control system. The coax machine gun is fitted with increased elevation, for urban warfare situations. It is equipped with an independent commander’s sights located in a rotating cupola, providing hunter-killer operating mode. Both commander and driver have stabilized day/night sights fitted with third generation thermal cameras.
Fitted with a new armor package, the CV-9035 MkIII uses beefed-up frontal and top armor, as well as improved mine protection and defensive aids suit (DAS) composed of laser warning sensors linked with the smoke grenade launchers. The main armament is also linked with the DAS to engage potential threats with effective counterfire. The vehicle is air conditioned and fully protected for operation under CBR conditions. The vehicle also uses third generation vehicle control and information system, integrating various C4I functions from internal and external sources. Other features of the system support combat identification functions, supporting protocols as required by external systems.
December 23, 2005: The Danish MOD placed an £123 million order with BAE Systems’ Land Systems Hagglunds for 45 CV99035 vehicles, for the Danish Army. Local support and life cycle upgrades will be done by Hydrema Export A/S in Denmark. The two companies will jointly investigate the possibility of through-life support for both maintenance and upgrades.
Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) navigation and guidance is providing effective, low cost means for precision targeting. This targeting option is used primarily against fixed or relocateable targets, where the location of the target is expected to remain fixed for the duration of planning and execution of the attack. GPS guided weapons are provided with an integral multi-channel GPS receiver and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) which monitors the weapon’s locations and attitude to adjust its flight path to accurately impact on the target. In low cost un-powered weapons, the guidance system adjusts the weapon’s free fall to hit a pre-selected point fed into the weapon prior to takeoff. GPS is also used in guided missiles and cruise missiles, for mid-course navigation.
GPS weapons are not designed for engagement of moving targets. GPS guidance provides very efficient means for coordinated attack, as they are unaffected by weather, target concealment or countermeasures. Modern weapons are more immune to GPS jamming, by the use of advanced GPS-AJ modules. Basic GPS weapons have limited precision (around 1-10 meter CEP) but can also provide higher precision by using combined GPS/SAL or GPS/IIR techniques which also provide aimpoint selection. GPS guided weapons can be preloaded with target coordinates before the flight, or link with the aircraft weapon’s control systems, over the 1760 armament control bus, to receive updated target coordinates directly from on-board or remote targeting systems. Modern SAR and target pods are already supporting geo-targeting capabilities, and automatically extract target coordinates from the images they generate.
The US Army received two Virtual Combat Convoy Trainers (VCCTs) developed and built by Lockheed Martina and Firearms Training Systems (FATS), Inc. under a $9.6 million contract awarded on June 2003, to help train troops to recognize and respond to potential convoy threats including Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The VCCT enables combat crews to communicate, maintain situational awareness and acquire targets while moving at highway speeds operating in a convoy environment. The simulators will be operated at US Army bases at Camp Shelby, MS and Fort Bragg, NC. The trainers are expected to improve convoy tactics and minimize combat related injuries and deaths resulting from attacks on convoys. One-third of all US casualties since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom were caused by attacks and accidents related to convoy traffic.
Every trainers has four cells, each occupies a tractor-trailer box and is fully self- contained, including a full-scale High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) The trainer is distinguished by a full-scale HMMWV that includes high-fidelity driver controls and accurately replicates all the physical and visual constraints associated with the M1025 HMMWV. It also generates all visual and audible combat effects and actual combat scenarios which deployed troops might encounter. The new trainer will enable soldiers to hone basic-to-advanced convoy skills incorporating realistic weapons engagement training and networked vehicle simulators to reinforce crew discipline.
The Lockheed Martin/FATS team used developed a comprehensive training device based on the operational Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT), integrated with FATS’ small arms, precision weapons training system to generate realistic convoy training to the troops. Vehicle simulation for the VCCT is derived from software developed for both CCTT and the United Kingdom’s Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (UK CATT).
299 Bushmasters were procured, starting 2005 to equip the Australian Army’s 7th Brigade and the Royal Australian Air Force’s Airfield Defence Guards, under a A$316 million project. 26 vehicles were sent to Iraq, Operation Catalyst operating in support the coalition forces.
The Bushmaster can maintain speeds in excess of 90 km/h on Australian roads, with a range of up to 800km carrying nine infantry soldiers with sufficient supplies of food, water and ammunition to last three days. Each vehicle will be fitted with a weapon station capable of mounting the Army’s family of light machine guns. They have also been designed to deflect the effects of a landmine explosion, providing unprecedented protection to soldiers in the battlefield.
Following troops’ complaints about the lack of on-board facilities and limited protection, Australian MOD gathered feedback from crews of the 26 Bushmasters on operations in the Middle East to influence improvements for the Bushmaster.
According to Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie Lieutenant General Gillespie said that Bushmaster vehicles already provide crews with a high level of blast and ballistic protection, while future enhancements are being tested by the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). These tests cover ballistics, blast and handling to assess the effect of armor weight on the safe operation and capabilities of the vehicle.
In July 2006 the Government approved rapid acquisition of a protected, remotely operated weapon station for Bushmaster, improving survivability and surveillance capability for the crew. The first systems are expected to be fielded before the year’s end. Furthermore, a new prototype cooling system for the on-board drinking water tank is planned for field testing in October this year. In December 2006, Recon Optical delivered 44 Raven R-400 such systems to be integrated into the first batch of upgraded Bushrangers.
The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber offers similar capabilities, with the addition of stealth – enabling it to penetrate heavily defended airspace, especially at night. The B-2 also carries an impressive weapon’s load – it was recently re-equipped with a modified weapons rack that simultaneously dropped 80 JDAM GPS-guided weapons from a single B-2. The B-2 flew 43 combat missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom, employing more than 400 precision weapons throughout in the air campaign. Since then, the aircraft has been used to test new munitions to further enhancing its conventional attack capability, including JASSM stealth cruise missiles, which allows the aircraft to strike targets from a greater distance; The EGBU-28, which combines both global positioning system and laser guidance for increased operational flexibility (all weather) and adaptation of the 500 pound (227 kg) JDAM. The B-2 previously used this system only to guide 2,000-pound (909 kg) bombs. The smaller warhead enables the B-2 to increase the potential number of JDAMs carried per flight from 16 to as many as 80.
The B-2 can also carry eight of the massive 5,000-pound (2.27 ton kg) GBU-37 bunker-buster bombs, and may eventually carry a pair of the 30,000-pound (13.6 ton) (Massive Ordnance Penetrators. Eventually, the could carry 216 or even as many as 324 of the new, guided Small Diameter Bombs (SDB). These bombs are carried on the BRU-61/A smart pneumatic carriage, each holding four SDB weapons. In addition, improvements have been made to the Spirit’s coating, which has reduced maintenance actions from days to minutes.
Next on the upgrade plan is the introduction of Link-16 communications will further improve the bomber’s integration to support tactical operations. These datalinks will feed targeting information including image and video directly to individual bombs. Other future upgrades will include radar updates, which will enable the B-2’s weaponry to reach targets further underground.
IMI Tavor assault rifle has been selected as the future weapon for Israel Defense Forces infantry units. For several years the IDF evaluated the Tavor against the M-16 M4. The two weapons recently completed extensive field evaluations with special forces as well elite infantry units, such as the Givati Brigade. Following the conclusion of these tests, the IDF made its decision. The evaluations were very positive and overall, Tavor proved to be significantly more accurate and reliable compared to the M4, and became the favorable sidearm by the majority of the infantrymen participated in the tests. The weapon proved to be more comfortable to operate, and more accurate in instinctive fire, as the natural carrying position – an inherent advantage of the rear center of gravity, derived by the compact bull-pup design.
Due to budget constraints and large quantities of M-16 and M-16A2 which are already in its inventory, the IDF is expected to order only thousands of rifles per year, however, according to IMI, the importance of the decision is the recognition in the quality and superiority of the new Israeli weapon, to promote export sales. The IDF selected Tavor with an optical reflection sight, the initial batch will be equipped with the ITL battery powered MARS, but follow-on batches could be equipped with either the passive, non-powered Mepro-21 Rexfelx sight, produced by Meprolight or the ITL MARS. IMI believes that Tavor will soon take its place as a leading brand in the world market, similar to the ubiquitous Uzi, IMI produced in the 1950s. India became the second country to order Tavor. The new assault rifle will equip paratroops and special forces of the Indian Army. The Indian version will be equipped with the ITL MARS optical reflection sight. On September 2004 Georgia became the third country to select the Tavor, which will be used by special operations units.
The development of the Armor Survivability Kit for the Humvee began in October 2003. following the reports on the growing damages caused by ambushes and IEDs. The kit includes replacement of the doors with armored doors fitted with small ballistic-resistant windows. Further protection is provided by armored seatbacks, reinforced floor and windshield made of bullet proof glass.
The kit weighs half of that designed for the up-armored Humvee (ths ASK adds about 1,000 pounds to a standard non-armored vehicle). The kit provides some RPG and IED protection, as commonly encountered in Iraq. There are two ASK versions, one supporting a two-door Humvee and the other, a four-door Humvee. The resulting armoring package provides an effective protection against typical attack (small arms fire, IED), but at the cost of considerable damage to the vehicle. Most frequently, an IED explosion will cripple the vehicle, and when abandoned in hostile area, leaving it preys for the rioting mob. This is one reason that caused motivated the use of heavier, more survivable vehicles for such tasks.
A technology demonstrator of the Advanced Effect and Protection System, designed to protect ground targets from cruise missile attacks, was shown by Bofors Defense AB at Eurosatory 2004. Similar to the BONUS target scanner, the AEPS uses fast rotation to scan for targets, and once detected, it activates a directional warhead to destroy it with its large fragmentation charge. While AEPS can be used against a wide range of targets, its main goal is to provide the last line of defense over sensitive targets, protecting them from precision weapons and cruise missile attacks.
Displacive Compensation of Porosity (DCP), a novel method for fabricating shaped monolithic ceramics, uses a chemical reaction to fill preformed, porous ceramic material with a different ceramic compound, resulting in super-dense material. This process works at relatively low temperatures and therefore, is more economical. The resulting compound can be molded into complex shapes and offers improved protection at significantly lower weight.
Ceradyne is offering large ceramic plates (12 x 17 inch) offering multi-hit protection capability against 5.56 and 7.62mm ball and AP threats at shot spacing of 1 – 3 inches.
GCSS-Army is the primary tactical logistics enabler to achieve the Army Campaign Plan and Combat Support/Combat Service Support (CS/CSS) Transformation Vision in support of soldiers in the field. The GCSS-Army rollout will allow more than 135,000 soldier and contractor users in the total army to view complete logistics management information and make timely, data-driven decisions.
The initiative will integrate and streamline operations from factory to foxhole across a single army logistics enterprise and will replace 14 standard army mission information system baselines comprising several thousand disparate legacy applications currently in use worldwide.
Currently the largest and most complex U.S. Army logistics automation technology initiative, Global Combat Support System-Army (GCSS-Army) is being implemented to transform supply chain business processes to enhance logistics support of Army tactical combat operations.
The software technology solution is based on a SAP application, which will provide the U.S. Army with accurate logistics management information for effective execution of supply, maintenance and property accountability operations as well as timely data sharing with other Army and Department of Defense automation systems.
The fixed-site version Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) THEL, was developed by TRW Inc. under a $89 million contract. During several tests in the USA, the system has shot down 25 Katyusha rockets, but has not been deployed.
The system also known as Nautilus, has not progressed much since the end of the demonstration program, since the lack of mobility and the fixed base limitations of the system made in insufficient to counter long range rockets currently employed by Hezbulla at the Israeli northern border with Lebanon. While Katyusha rockets had a range of 20 kilometers, and could hit only a few urban targets, the long range rockets have a range of 70 kilometers and can hit strategic facilities and large urban areas in the Haifa bay. A laser-based defense against such weapons must rely on more systems, which could be rapidly mobilized to protect a much larger area. Such design is currently being implemented under the MTHEL program. Similar threats could face US contingencies in other parts of the world. This requirement is driving the need for an air-mobile version of the beam weapon.
Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser (MTHEL)
A study completed in 2001 concluded that the rocket interceptor has “lots of promise” and further development should be pursued, primarily in enabling system’s mobility. Mobility considerations for the future mobile systems include system mobility (road and off road capabilities) and air transportability, including the type of transport aircraft it should fit on (C-130, C-17 or C-5). Conclusions of these studies will define the necessary size- reduction technologies required for the future version.Further studies of the system include the use of such laser beam weapons to provide “hard kill” defenses against artillery projectiles, UAVs and cruise missiles.
During a recent test conducted on Aug. 24, 2004 the system shot down multiple mortar rounds, demonstrating potential its battlefield application for to protection against common threats. The test represented actual mortar threat scenarios. Targets were intercepted by the THEL testbed and destroyed; both single mortar rounds and salvo were tested.
THEL / MTHEL Operational Scenario
The Tactical High Energy Laser uses a high-energy, deuterium fluoride chemical laser to protect against attack by short range unguided (ballistic flying) rockets.
In a typical engagement scenario, a rocket is launched toward the defended area. Upon detection by the THEL fire control radar (image on right), the radar establishes trajectory information about the incoming rocket, then “hands off” the target to the pointer-tracker subsystem, which includes the beam director (top of page above). The PTS tracks the target optically, then begins a “fine tracking” process for THEL’s beam director, which then places THEL’s high-energy laser on target. The energy of the laser causes intense heating of the target, which causes its warhead to explode. The debris from the target falls quickly to the ground, far short of the defended area.
The purpose of the MTHEL program is to develop and test the first mobile Directed Energy weapon system capable of detecting, tracking, engaging, and defeating Rockets/Artillery/Mortars (RAM), cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Despite the progress made with MTHEL, the US Army stopped funding for the program claiming it was too bulky.
Northrop Grumman proposed to use “relocatable” THEL systems to counter mortar and rocket threats on US military facilities in Iraq. Since funding for the MTHEL program was cut in 2004, such system may not be available for deployment in the near future. A second generation “relocatable” THEL system is currently considered for deployment. Such system will weigh about one-quarter the size of the current THEL and will fit into a 20 foot container which can be airlifted to forward areas. The new system will offer the same capability. Such systems are expected to cost $25 million a piece, when fielded in large numbers (30+). Future laser weapons will be based on electrically generated lasers and run on diesel fuel, rather than specially supplied chemical liquid fuel. However, while THEL based weapon could be fielded in less than two years, an equivalent system based on electrically powered laser will not be feasible before 2011. The system’s radar is already operational in Israel, providing early warning from Palestinian attacks on the the city of Shderot. there are also rumors about a planned THEL deployment to Iraq, where it could provide RAM protection of the US Forces command and new Iraqi government.
The British Armed Forces have successfully tested a revolutionary Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW) capable of neutralizing drone swarms at a fraction of conventional defense costs. The system, developed by a UK-based consortium led by Thales, can disable multiple unmanned aerial systems for as little as 10 pence per engagement.
XTEND, an AI-driven drone technology expert, has been awarded an $8.8 million contract by the U.S. Department of Defense to supply VR-operated Precision Strike Indoor & Outdoor (PSIO) small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS), a first DoD-approved loitering munition platform for both indoor and outdoor operations. With cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI), these tactical drones deliver real-time, high-precision strikes, redefining smart munitions in modern warfare.
The US Department of Defense's annual report on Chinese military and security developments was presented to Congress today. In this post and podcast, we dissect the report, which isn't just another geopolitical overview. It’s...
Greece is actively modernizing its military capabilities with two significant procurements. Firstly, the Government Council for Foreign and Defense Affairs, known as KYSEA, has approved the purchase of approximately 590 U.S.-made Switchblade loitering munitions,...
Preparing to continue our weekly review, we are utilizing AI systems to organize, process, and present a weekly news summary covering defense tech. There is still a long way to go; we'd like...
Diehl Defence has teamed up with Skysec to develop a drone interceptor. Diehl works with Skysec’s subsidiary, Skysec Defence, to modify the original civilian-oriented net-arresting interceptor into a hard-kill system suitable for military missions....
Welcome to the latest episode of Defense-Update News Summary! In this episode, we dive into this week’s developments in defense technology, military acquisitions, and strategic partnerships worldwide.
Some of this week's highlights include:
Elbit Systems...