Fibrous Monoliths creates a unique fiber from a mix of ceramics, metal powder and thermoplastic polymer binders. This fiber can be woven or braided, fabricated into its final curved shape which is then pyrolyzed to remove the polymer binder and sintered and hot pressed, to obtain the final product.
Guardian Door Protection for Humvee
US Global Nanospace Inc. (USGN)
The Guardian antiballistic replacement door skin (GARDS) designed for the Humvee is providing a lightweight and flexible protection against NIJ Level IIIA threats, fragments and shrapnel. GARDS weighs under 6 pounds per panel and can be assembled in 15 minutes. It is produced from G-LAM composites, which provides advanced anti-ballistic material at low weight. Similar designs are currently offered for Landrover and Unimog vehicles.
RhinoPAK Vehicle Protection Kit
When applied to vehicles of all types, this replaceable ballistic protection kit can protect up Level IV (NIJ standard). The kit includes ballistic armor plates made of composite materials known as RhinoWeb. The company also offers the OneWay bullet-proof ballistic transparent armor as part of the armor upgrade kit.
Spike LR Long Range AT Missile
Spike LR (formerly known as Spike) is a lightweight (13.0 kg) Medium range weapon, designed to offer the infantry an effective anti-tank and precision attack capability at ranges from 200 m to 4,000 meters. A system, comprising a missile and launcher weighs 26 kg. A typical Gill anti-tank team include two soldiers, one carrying two missiles and the other – the tripod and fire control unit. Further reduction of weight is enabled by utilizing the missile’s imaging seeker for target acquisition, which eliminate the need for a dedicated thermal sight which weighs 4 kg. However, such a sight improves the target acquisition range of the system, especially at long range. The system can deploy and be ready to fire within 30 seconds. Gill can be reloaded and be ready to fire again within 15 seconds. The missile is safe to operate from enclosed spaces, which is an essential capability for combat from protected firing positions and in urban warfare.
The missile uses a dual mode IIR/CCD seeker to locate the target and lock on it from the maximum operating range. The missile uses a tandem warhead to defeat even the latest advanced armour. Spike LR retains the Spike MR’s “Fire and Forget” capability, but also offers the advantage of “Fire, Observe and Update” operating mode, by the use of fiber-optical link between the launch position and the missile. This capability enable the crew to launch the missile at observed targets, which cannot be seen from the firing position, such as targets hidden beyond hills and defilade, or behind smoke screen. The missile can be operated by infantry teams, from dismounted launchers, or from standard mounts designed for fast attack vehicles, utility vehicles and APCs.
In 2005 Sagem demonstrated the Spike LR integration with the Sperwer UAV. This was the first example of a weaponized UAV application for “man-in-the-loop” guided missile used from autonomous UAV. (The Hellfire missile used with Predator UAVs are laser homing weapons, seeking targets marked by laser.)
In January 2007 RAFAEL and General Dynamics Santa Barbara of Spain signed contract to supply the Spanish Army with 260 Spike LR systems, and 2,600 missiles.
Spike ER Extended Range AT Missile
Spike ER (Formerly known as NT-D) is the extended long-range version of the Spike family, capable of defeating tanks at a range well beyond 6 kilometers. This missile is designed for installation on land vehicles, helicopters and naval platforms. Spike ER uses a day seeker or day/night seeker, a Tandem warhead which defeats any known armored target. The Spike ER retains the dual operation modes of Spike – Fire-and-Forget & Fire-Observe and Update.
Spike ER can be operated in a “Fire and Forget” capability, but its main advantage is the “Fire, Observe and Update” operating mode, which uses the fiber-optical link between the launch position and the missile to transmit the seeker’s target image to the operator, thus enabling fine corrections to be transmitted back to the missile, to improve attack precision and effectively overcome obscurants (haze, smoke, cloud base) or countermeasures. This capability enable the crew to launch the missile at observed targets, which cannot be seen from the firing position, such as targets hidden beyond hills and defilade, or behind smoke screen.
Desert Hawk Miniature UAV
Desert Hawk is a miniature UAV system developed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works group. It is currently as part of the US Air Force’s Force Protection Airborne Surveillance System, or FPASS. 20 Desert Hawk systems (out of 48 ordered) are used in Afghanistan by the USAF, to augment the protection of airbase perimeters, searching for suspected vehicles and people with shoulder-fired missiles lurking to attack aircraft. Desert Hawk can fly at altitudes of less than 330 m’ and can see about 10 kilometers beyond the perimeter of the base.
Desert Hawk is constructed of mold-injected expanded polypropylene – a Styrofoam-like material which is flexible, damage-resistant type of foam. Kevlar skids are used on the nose and tail to improve durability. The sensors are carried in the middle of the fuselage, peeking down at the surface through a notch opened in the lower fuselage. Both color CCD or infrared cameras can be used. The GPS antennae and communications links are mounted on the wings. It uses an electric motor and therefore maintains a quiet operation.
Launched into the air by two people using a bungee cord as a slingshot, the mini UAV flies its mission fully autonomously, at speeds of 40 to 80 km/h, following a flight path that has been plotted out beforehand on a laptop using GPS coordinates. The plane can be directed to circle over an area of interest, or the operator can alter its flight path while the plane is in the air. Its payloads comprise of interchangeable systems, including an infrared thermal imaging system for night use, or a set of three color cameras for daylight.
Each Desert Hawk system, which consists of six aircraft, a ground station, and spare parts, costs $300,000. An improved version of the desert Hawk is currently in development. Most of the improvements will focus on system integration, including cooperative target engagement, with UAVs automatically assigned to locate and track targets detected by ground surveillance radars. Of the 48 systems ordered, four have been delivered to the British Army and more are planned for delivery to special forces units. The British system was tested in Iraq, but deemed unsuitable for operations in Iraq as its downlink was jammed by interference from the Iraqi mobile phone network system.
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Weight: 3.5 kg
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Length: 13 cm.
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Span: 21 cm
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Power: electric motor
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Mission endurance: 75 min.
ATMOS 2025 Autonomous, Self Propelled 155mm Gun
ATMOS is a light weight, truck mounted, self propelled 155mm artillery system. The externally mounted gun accommodate various calibers including 39, 45, 52 cal. Barrels. The system is Integrated with fully computerized systems, achieving accurate navigation, positioning, target acquisition and control. To withstand the gun recoil, the Howitzer rests on its hydraulic rear spades, which support it while firing. Spades are lowered and dug into ground as soon as the Howitzer stops in its firing position.
The gun is operated by a crew of six, transported in a protected cabin. Projectiles and propelling charges are also stowed in a protected stowage, to improve safety and survivability.
The hydraulic power pack operates the Howitzer elevation and traverse gears, as well as the ammunition handling system and the spade’s actuators. The hydraulic platform adjusts itself to enable comfortable loading and firing. Laying operations are being controlled by the gunner from a position, in which he can observe the target or aiming point through the sight instrument and at the same time control the system. The gun can also be slaved to the fire control and ballistic computer, for automatic laying and utilization of complex firing programs.
The ATMOS truck mounted artillery system was recently chosen to equip the Romanian Army, where it will be installed on a locally built 6×6 vehicle. Soltam is cooperating with the local Aerostar Company to fulfill this project. These systems will be designated ATROM.
Alotech SB Ceramic Polymer Composite Armor
ETEC Ceramics is offering a composite armor based on four types of Alumina based ceramics. The front side of the ceramic/polymer composite system consists of ceramic tiles, glued together with the polyaramide resp. GFK backing. The resulting protection combines the strength of hard ceramics and the energy absorption of composites, at a weight per area which is about half of the usual weight.
IRIS-T
IRIS-T Surface launch is also offered for EADS/LFK system under cooperation with BGT offers a new generation VSHORAD missile that can be used to upgrade LeFlaSys utilizing the vertical launch, LOAL capability, the missile will be capable of detecting low-level helicopter targets against ground clutter. Further development consider autonomous, passive systems, utilizing hypersonic missiles also developed by BGT. The system uses tandem booster and is based on the IRIS-T technology.
120mm Stun Cartridge (SC) for Tank Gun
IMI introduced a stun cartridge, specially developed to enable tanks to use their main guns in deterrence, without risking the large number of casualties and collateral damage that frequently occur under MOUT combat conditions. The stun cartridge can be used in situations where rapid dispersal of crowd is required, for suppression of sniper fire from residential building, or when hostile civilians are trying to approach the tank. The effective range of the ammunition is between zero to 30 meters, as firing creates the noise and pressure/blast similar to a live cartridge, though without the metal fragmentation. It also produces a cloud of smoke with plastic pellets covering in the proximity of the tank.
Multi-Effect / Sprinkler CS Grenades
The multi effect grenades are using both CS and small explosive charges to provide an unpredicted “surprises”. After throwing the grenade it emits high flow of CS smoke but after few seconds it surprisingly explodes with a stunning effect, accompanied by the dispersion of different contents such as CS powder, rubber pellets, coloring and marking agents, sticky grease mixture or any other material. The grenade is constructed of soft materials, including cardboard and plastic parts to eliminate risk to humans when it explodes. The company also offers a fast rotating “Sprinkler” grenade which turns up to 8 times per second, therefore making it almost impossible to be picked up by the crowd to catch and throw back at the security forces.
Black Widdow Micro UAV
The “Black Widow” which was tested as part of DARPA’s MAV program, was a small fixed wing vehicle, designed in a circular platform. Its weight was only 50 gr. half of which amounted to the weight of the primary batteries. The Black Widow was powered by an electric motor that accelerated it to a maximum flight speed of 20 m/sec. In few years, the Black Widow program progressed from a vehicle that flew for only 2 minutes with no payload to a vehicle that could fly 30 minutes, to an altitude of 769 ft, and transmit color video to a base station 1.8 km away. The evolutionary Black Widow platform equipped with an increased wing surface area and wing loading (still within the 15 cm limitation) demonstrated maximum flight speeds of 40 miles per hour. Further improvements in propeller efficiency increased to a dramatic 82%; and 22 minutes in flight duration, using a “heads down” flight control through an on-board color video camera. The Black Widow airframe and propulsion system ultimately evolved to reach 30 minutes endurance, and flight range of 17 kilometers at a cruising airspeeds between 38 to 53 km/h. The control system was capable of “autohold” for heading, altitude and airspeed.
AeroVironment developed a light weight a transportable, Universal Ground Control Unit for the Black Widow, comprising of a control unit with the size of a laptop computer and an antenna. All the relevant data is superimposed on the colored daylight readable video image, as it is down-linked from the vehicle. Information includes the magnetic heading, altitude, airspeed and the health of the MAV. The widow is launched automatically from an expendable cassette pneumatic launcher, about the size of a cigar box.
To extend the communications range of the system, the Widow is supported by an aerial relay installed on another MAV – the Pointer, which will fly higher to accomplish a non-line-of-sight relay system for video transmissions. In this configuration, the Black Widow/ Pointer team can support operational deployment at urban or rugged and mountainous terrain, at ranges of up to 20km.
Climate Control Systems for AFV
Climate Control Systems (CCS) and Life Support Systems (LSS) for the new T-90 tank and BMP-2. Similar systems have been installed in the Israeli Merkava tanks. The Indian army is interested in Climate Control Systems (CCS) due to the excessive heat levels experienced in AFVs, which severely impact the reliability of electronic equipment. LSS are utilizing an air conditioning system, which feeds clean, cool air into the fighting compartment. The CCS is suitable for applications where limited power is available, as it utilizes “spot cooling” of selected electronic equipment. Similar concepts are also applied with micro-cooling for the crew, by the use of collective NBC protection and individual cooling suits.
Parascope Urban Rifle’s Sight
MTC Technologies announced a new rifle sight capable of direct or indirect firing which can be mounted on any weapon that has a Picatinny 1913 Rail weapon mount. It allows the soldier to place a laser dot on target and fire around corners, into buildings, over barriers or behind shelter, using a variety of off angle firing positions, with only the hands and forearms exposed. The new sight requires no zeroing, calibration or external power source.
The new device contains a five-sided prism. It has viewing ports from the rear for normal firing, and from the side for indirect firing. The lightweight sight can be mounted on the rail or carried in a pouch for quick mounting.
According to stated John Longhouser, MTC’s President and head of its Land Forces Group, Parascope can be available for fielding within a year (late 2005) after completing field testing. The new sight was developed by MTC Technologies with funding from Army’s Communication-Electronics Command (CECOM) and the Department of Defense’s central research and development organization, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). MTC develops various systems for close combat and warrior programs, including helmet mounted displays, camouflage systems.
