Armada: Issue 2 - April/May 2012

THE TRUSTED SOURCE FOR DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SINCE 1976

Issue 2/2012 INTERNATIONAL April/May

01INTERNATIONAL 2/2012

13MRAP TECHNOLOGYMRAP, A RATHEROLD IDEAI Mark Huntiller

22AGMMATCHINGLIKE HORSES FOR COURSES,AIR-TO-GROUND WEAPONSI Roy Braybrook

37DUBAI AIR SHOWWHERE SMALL IS BEAUTIFULI Eric H. Biass

41DRONE UPDATEFROM WEE TO BIIIG!I Eric H. Biass

30CAMOUFLAGETHE QUEST FOR THEMULTISPECTRAL CHAMELEONI PaoloValpolini

COMPENDIUM SUPPLEMENTSPECIAL OPS &SOLDIER SMALL ARMS,SIGHTS & ACCESSORIESI Paolo Valpolini

The United States Marine Corpsremains the reference unit

for amphibious operations. Thecancellation of the Expeditionary

Fighting Vehicle (EFV) programme,announced in January 2011 and

approved in May, has led tothe revision of the future US Marine

Corps amphibious vehicles fleet

THE USMC YARDSTICKI Paolo Valpolini

06AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES

THE TRUSTED SOURCE FOR DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SINCE 1976

INTERNATIONAL

Contents2/2012

Index

02 INTERNATIONAL 2/2012

U.S. Marine Corps amphibiousassault vehicles conducting amphibiousoperations. See article on page 6

3M 36

AAI 8

Adcor Defence 4,6

Aimpoint Systems 21

Airborne Systems 32

Airbus Military 38

Alenia Aermacchi 38,44

Alpha Jets 28

AMX Arsenal 13,14

Arcturus 42,43

Armalite 11,18

Armorworks 32,34,36

ATK 6,8,10,11, 26

BAE Systems 9,10,11,15,27

Battelle 8

BBN Technologies 31

BCB International 32, 35

Bell 39,40

Beretta 5,6,10

Berliet 13,14

Blucher Systems 34

BMC Vehicle 18

Boeing 23, 24, 25, 27

Browning HP 10

Camero-Tech 33, 34

Carl Zeiss 19, 20, 45

Casper 14

Cassidian 43, 44

Ceska Zbrojovka 5, 6

Cobham 46

Cobic 8

Colt 2, 4

Cooneen Watts & Stone 34

CSC 43

Cyalume 34,36

Dassault 23, 28, 37, 38

DCNS 47

Dueck Defence 16,19

EADS 44

Eltics 32

Emirates Advanced Investment Group 40

Eurofighter 37,38,39,45

Flir Systems 40

FN Herstal 4, 6, 14, 15

Force Protection 13,14,17

General Atomics 27, 44

General Dynamics 24

GDLS 7,8,9,17, 32

General Dynamics OTS 7

GMC Trucks 13

Harris 18

Heckler & Koch 2, 3, 28, 11, 12, 14

Hellenic Aerospace 44

Honda 41

Honeywell 35, 36

Innocon 42

Intermat 33

Israel Military Industries 32

Israel Weapon Industries 5

ITT Exelis 45, 46

Iveco 9, 10, 11

JP Enterprises 18

KMW 15

Knight's Armament 2,5,15,16

L-3 Communications 28,32

L-3 EOTech 24,25

Landrover 16,32

Land Warfare Recources 4, 6

Leupold 16, 18, 20, 22

LMT 11, 15,16

Lockheed Martin 9,10,23,24,25

Magpul Industries 4,18

MBDA 28, 33, 34

McMillan 11,18

Meprolight 19, 22, 24

Merkava 14

Metravib 31

Micromag 33

MiG 40

MSC Software 8

New Czech Rifle 5

Nexter 16

Northrop Grumman 23, 24, 25, 26

NSWC Crane 15

Oshkosh 16,18

Oto Melara 11

Panasonic 42

Paramount 15

Patria 9,10

Photonis 22,25

Premier Reticles Heritage 16

Qioptiq Merlin LR 1,14, 22, 24

Raytheon 24, 25, 26, 28, 31, 32

Remington 4, 5,10, 14, 15,18

Rheinmetall 14, 26, 27, 28, 29

Rockwell 25

Ruag 44

Ruag Ammotec 12

Rugger 4

Saab 33, 44

Sagem 23, 25, 28,46,

Schmidt & Bender 14, 16

Selex Galileo 41

Sig Sauer 5,6,10,11,18

Simith Enterprises 18

SK Group 22

St Marks Powder 8

Stag Arms 4

Steyr Mannlicher 6, 7, 27, 28, 30

Systima Technologies 26

Textron 8

Thales 6, 26

Tialinx 32

Trijicon's Acog 2, 16, 20, 21, 22

UAV Factory 42, 43

USMC 15

Vectronix 24, 25

Veritay Technologies 8

AAI 11

ADVENTURE LIGHTS 7

AIMPOINT 27

ARMODULAR 13

ARGON 35

CERADYNE 31

COLT DEFENSE 5

DATRONWORLD COMMUNICATIONS 5

DDC 43

ELBIT ELOP 21

EURONAVAL 21

EUROSATORY C3

FNSS 17

GENERAL DYNAMICS LAND SYSTEMS 15

ILA 44

INVISIO 33

ITT EXELIS NIGHT VISION 33

ITT EXELIS SPEARNET 35

L3WESCAM 3

LEMO 47

LEUPOLD TACTICAL OPTICS 23

MBDA BRIMSTONE 3

MBDA VIPER STRIKE 27

NORTHROP GRUMMAN C4

ODU-USA 39

OTOMELARA 9

PHOTONIS 29

REMINGTONDEFENSE C4

REVISION 9

RUAG AMMOTECH 25

SAAB C2

SAGEM C2

SELEX GALILEO 15

SMI 29

SOFEX JORDAN C3

TEAHEADSETS.COM 17

TELEPHONICS 19

TRASER 35

TRIJICON 11

VECTRONIX 25

I INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

I INDEX TO MANUFACTURERS

Companies mentioned in this issue. Where there are multiple references to a company in an article,only the firstoccurence and subsequent photographs are listed below

Entries highlighted withblue numbers are found in Special

Operations Compendium

INTERNATIONALis published bi-monthly by Media Transasia Ltd.

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AABBCC

Volume 36, Issue No. 2, April/May 2012


Business

BBOOEEIINNGGhas announced that it hascompleted ddeelliivveerryy of 257 FF//AA--1188EE//FFSSuuppeerr HHoorrnneett ssttrriikkee ffiigghhtteerrss and EEAA--1188GGGGrroowwlleerr electronic attack aircraft to theUU..SS.. NNaavvyy. Each aircraft was deliveredahead of schedule and within the contractbudget.

PPLLEEXXTTEEKK LLTTDD, the design house behindthe market leading BBlliigghhtteerr® eelleeccttrroonniicc--ssccaannnniinngg ggrroouunndd ssuurrvveeiillllaannccee rraaddaarrssyysstteemm, announced that it has signed a

MMeemmoorraanndduumm ooff UUnnddeerrssttaannddiinngg ((MMOOUU))with SSoouutthh KKoorreeaann ffiirrmm NNuurriippllaann CCoo.. LLttdd,for the supply of Blighter radars into theSouth Korean market.

IITTTT EEXXEELLIISS has been awarded a ddeelliivveerryyoorrddeerr for 8,248 GGeenn 33 iimmaaggee iinntteennssiiffiieerr((II22)) ttuubbeess under the UU..SS.. AArrmmyy’’ssOOMMNNII VVIIIIII pprrooggrraamm. The largest order forI2 tubes to date under the program, the$11.1 million award is for MX-11769

image tubes used in the Army’sAN/PVS-14 night vision goggles. The U.S.Army’s Research, Development,Engineering Command AcquisitionCenter issued the order.

RRAAYYTTHHEEOONNhas been awarded aa $$7799..22mmiilllliioonn ccoonnttrraacctt by the UU..SS.. AArrmmyy todevelop a system that will detect anddestroy incoming rockets. The solution iscalled the AAcccceelleerraatteedd IImmpprroovveedd IInntteerrcceeppttIInniittiiaattiivvee ((AAII33)). Development willculminate in a demonstration in 18months, followed by low rate initialproduction.

HHAARRRRIISS CCOORRPPOORRAATTIIOONN, hasannounced the immediate availability ofMMoommeennttuumm™™,, aa ccoommpplleettee ccoommmmuunniiccaattiioonnssssoolluuttiioonn for the growing AAuussttrraalliiaann aannddNNeeww ZZeeaallaanndd DDiiggiittaall MMoobbiillee RRaaddiioo ((DDMMRR))user community. Momentum is anaffordable, scalable digital solution thatoffers feature-rich functionality over anopen technology platform. This newfamily of Harris radios provides publicsafety, public service, municipal, utility andtransportation operators with a real choicein affordable digital communications.

OOSSHHKKOOSSHH DDEEFFEENNSSEE, has unveiledUUPPGGRRAADDEEDD FFMMTTVV at the AAUUSSAA WWiinntteerrSSyymmppoossiiuumm && EExxppoossiittiioonn, Feb. 23-25 inFort Lauderdale, USA. Family of MediumTactical Vehicles (FMTV) is improved forprotection and mobility for Warfighters on

the changing battlefield with newenhancements for the UU..SS.. AArrmmyy aannddNNaattiioonnaall GGuuaarrdd’’ss..

BBOOEEIINNGGis being awarded an$11,399,100,000 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, time-and-materialscontract by UUSS DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff DDeeffeennssee tofulfill the Foreign Military Salesrequirement of the Kingdom of SaudiArabia to procure 84 new FF--1155 SSaauuddiiaaddvvaanncceedd aaiirrccrraafftt with systems andmunitions.

AAIIRRBBUUSS MMIILLIITTAARRYYhas signed a firmcontract with Kazspetsexport, a StateCompany belonging to the Ministry ofDefence of KKaazzaakkhhssttaann, to supply two CC229955mmiilliittaarryy ttrraannssppoorrtt aaiirrccrraafftt plus the relatedservice support package for spareparts and ground support equipment. Theaircraft will be operated by the AirForces of Kazakhstan in support of theirtransport missions throughout thenation’s vast territory.

I BIG DEALS IN SHORT

COMPANY AMOUNT EVENT FROM WHERE

Lockheed Martin $900 million Operations Support (OPS) Services IDIQ contracts U.S. GSA

AeroVironment $11.1 million RQ-11B Raven Small Unmanned Aircraft System Contract U.S. Army

Thales Undisclosed Flight Following System (FFS) to provide improved helicopter tracking Canadian Coast Guard

Lockheed Martin $715 million Construct Two Littoral Combat Ships U.S. Navy

AeroVironment $4.2 million Switchblade Loitering Munition System U.S. Air Force

MBDA £483M Future Local Area Air Defence System Demonstration Phase Contract U.K. MOD

Boeing $300 million Performance Based Logistics contract of F-15K fighter jets South Korea

Boeing $11.4 million To support 25mm Ammunition Storage and Handling Systems U.S. Air Force

L-3 Communications $50 million Contract for Binocular Night Vision Devices U.S. SOC

Northrop Grumman $50 million Repair avionics equipment on SH-60 Seahawk helicopter & EA-6B Prowler jet. U.S. NAVSUP

Raytheon $3.8 million Contract to communicate while conducting electronic warfare U.S. DARPA


The United States Marine Corps remains the reference unit for amphibiousoperations. The cancellation of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) programme,announced in January 2011 and approved in May, has led to the revision of thefuture US Marine Corps amphibious vehicles fleet.

The USMC Yardstick

T HEPROGRAMManagerAdvancedAmphibious Assault thus decidedupon a complete overhaul of themodernisation plans with a three-

pronged approach, namely to effectivelydevelop of a new Amphibious CombatVehicle (ACV), to continue the technologydevelopment phase of a Marine PersonnelCarrier (MPC) and to ensure survivabilityand/or technology upgrades to the currentAmphibiousAssault Vehicle (AAV).

The US Marine Corps’ decisions willcertainlyhave adeep impacton the choicesofother smaller amphibious forces, especiallyamongst Nato and western countries, assome might well be called upon to operate

with them, meaning that a degree ofcommonality is a key issue. This article willmostly focus on the US Marine Corpsrequirements that might shape the marketfor the coming years. Some characteristicswill be common to the various vehicles, suchas the need to be capable to host up to fourlitterswhenused forMedevac operations, ora capacity to accommodate a crew of threeplus five to eight staffmembers in commandvehicle configuration.

I THE AMPHIBIOUS COMBAT VEHICLEThe ACV will become the primary meansof tactical mobility for the Marine riflesquad – both at sea and ashore. It will becapable to autonomously deliver the assaultechelon from beyond the horizon with thespeed required for a rapid build-up ashore.

In terms of ground mobility it will have tomeet or exceed that of the M1A1. Itsfirepower will allow it to engage targets of asimilar class anddestroy them–andprovidedirect fire support to dismounted infantry.Three variants are envisaged, personnelcarrier (ACV-P), command and control(ACV-C) and recovery/maintenance (ACV-R). The programme is still in its infancy, ananalysis of alternatives being underway toidentify an affordable alternative withsufficientwater speed to transit the requiredship-to-shore distances and provideprotectedmobility andC2 capability ashoreto operatewithmechanised formations.

The Corps aims at fielding the ACVaround 2017 to 2020. According topreliminary requirements it will be able todeliver a reinforced Marine infantry rifle

Paolo Valpolini

The test vehicle developed at theNevada NATC during trials at sea

Amphibious Vehicles


squad (between 15 and 18 Marines) fromover-the-horizon at a speed of at least twelvenautical miles (twice that of the AAV butwith a non-planing hull requirement) andoffer amaximumground speed of 72 km/h.Target protection level with appliquéarmour is 14.5 mm ballistic and M-ATVlevel against mines and IEDs, objectiverequirements being respectively 30mmandMrap level. Overall 573 vehicles are needed,which is the number originally forecast forthe EFV, althoughpotential force cutsmightreduce that quantity.

Since no request for information has yetbeen issued it is difficult to identify potentialsuppliers, although it seems obvious thatGeneral Dynamics Land Systems willleverage experience garnered from thedevelopment work carried out on the EFVand thereby reduce risks in the design of thenew vehicle, which in any case will be lessambitious if cost are to be contained.According to a General Dynamics official,the company believes that the skills resident

The ambitious Expeditionary FightingVehicle programmewas terminated inJanuary 2011; the vehicle had a planing hullthat allowed it to reach considerable speeds atsea. (USMarine Corps)

Developed byGeneral Dynamics Land Systems, the amphibious, but defunct, EFVwould havebeen armedwith amedium-calibre gunwith air burst capability. (USMarine Corps)

in its Amphibious Combat Vehicle Centreof Excellence are critical to any newMarineCorps ground combat vehicle programme.However the company feels it is premature toexpand on its plans since theMarine Corpshas not yet refined its requirements.The Department of Defense has

however made clear that all competitorswill be given equal opportunities and willbe provided EFV technical data consideredapplicable and necessary for futureamphibious vehicles. The ACV is intendedas the replacement for the AmphibiousAssault Vehicle (AAV) fielded in 1972,which will have been in service for well

over 40 years when the ACV is fielded.

I ASSAULT AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLEUPGRADEThe current Marines fleet of AAV7underwent the Reliability, Availability,Maintainability – Rebuild to Standard(Ram/RS) programme and includesAAVP7A1 Ram/RS personnel carriers,Ram/RS C2 and AAVR7A1 Ram/RSrecovery variants. Because the lastAAV7A1will probably be phased out in 2025 – aftermore than 50 years of service – a furtherimprovement programme is foreseen.Survivability, land and water mobilityrequire enhancements to bridge the gapwith the ACV. Upgrades will include bellyand sponson armour, blast-mitigating seats,spall liners, fuel tank protection and deckliners. To cope with the inevitable resultantweight increase, the vehicle will receiveautomotive and suspensionupgrades.Water

mobility will be increased thanks to amodification to the water jet system, with atarget speed increase to ten knots (from thecurrent six to seven kt) and a capability tosustain 0.9-metre waves for 90 minutes. Asfor land mobility, the vehicle is expected tooperate alongsideM1A1s.The carrier variantwill accommodate 17

to 18 Marines plus a crew of three and oneor two days of supplies. Target ballisticprotection is against 14.5 mm rounds,though the objective is to reach 20 mm.Solutions such as removing internal fueltanks and relocating them outside thevehicle for increased safety might beconsidered. Lethality options include thereplacement of the current turret with a 30-mmremote-controlledweapon station.TheUSMarineCorps intends toupgrade

some 392 AAVP7A1 Ram/RS, while anumber of C and R variants will undergoselected upgrades. This upgrade will enterthe acquisition life cycle at Milestone Bduring FY12, which will spark off theengineering, manufacturing anddevelopment phase. Developmental testingis planned for late FY15 followed byoperational testing in early FY16. Initialfielding is planned for late FY17. Low-rateinitial production is planned for the fourthquarter FY15, and full-rate production isplanned tobegin in the secondquarterFY17.BAE Systems, which declined to

comment, is certainly in pole position forthe upgrade contract, being the company

In order to better hone its requirements andbefore the delivery of test vehicles, theUSMarine Corps has developed its own8 x 8 technology demonstrator and had it builtby the Nevada Automotive TestCenter. (USMarine Corps)

An AAV7A1 splashes into the sea from theramp of a US Navy amphibious vehicle.These tracked amphibious personnel carrierswill remain in service until the 2020s.(USMarine Corps)


Amphibious Vehicles

that developed and produced the vehicleand carried on the Ram/RS programmefrom 1998 to 2006. To what extent theupgrade programmewill impact the fleet ofmore than 370 AAV7 operating worldwide(Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Italy, Korea,Spain, Taiwan, Thailand and Venezuela)remains to be seen.

I THE MARINES PERSONNEL CARRIEROf the three programmes, the MPC isdefinitely the most mature, as the decision

to go for an 8 x 8 personnel carrier wasvalidated in Spring 2008. A request forinformation was passed out in February2011 with answer deadline in April.Awaiting industry test vehicles, an 8 x 8technology demonstrator vehicle wasdeveloped at the Nevada Automotive TestCenter. The request for proposals regardingthe test and development phase came inearly February 2012 and stipulated thedelivery of a non-development vehicle eightmonths later. The Marine Corps will focuson four major areas, namely waterperformance, survivability, human factorsand stowage capacity, and potential UScontent. Final requirements should beavailable in early 2013 based on tests, threeprototypes being then produced by thattime versus the seven originally planned.Some 600 units are at stake.The Marines Personnel Carrier will

provide general support lift to the groundcombat element of theMarine Air Ground

Task Force, four battalions of armouredpersonnel carrier being currently planned.This will allow the Lavs to be returned totheir original task, which is reconnaissanceand light armour tactics. A rifle squadincludes 13 Marines, few armouredvehicles are capable to carry such numbersplus their crew, and even fewer meet theCorps’ requirements in terms of mobilityand protection.Moreover, theMarines areunwilling to concentrate all the squadmanpower on a single vehicle. Thus twoMPC-Ps (the personnel carrier variant ofthe 8 x 8 vehicle), will be able to lift a 17-marine-strong reinforced rifle squad,meaning that each vehicle will carry a crewof three with eight or nine dismounts.Two specialised variants will operate

beside the MPC-P, the command version(MPC-C) and the recovery vehicle (MPC-R). As for seagoing capacities therequirement states: “The MPC will besufficiently capable in the water to use thesea in the littoral operating area asmanoeuvre space, breach inland waterobstacles.” Target requirements considershore-to-shoremovements at six knotswith0.6-metre waves and a 1.2-metre plungingsurf (with an objective requirement of 0.9

A prototype of the LockheedMartin-PatriaHavoc during sea trials. This vehicle eyesthe USMarine Corps Personnel Carriercontract. (LockheedMartin)

and 1.8 metres respectively). Surf transitseaward andbeachward is part of the testingprogramme. Two MPCs must be able to betransported by a ship-to-shore connector atfull speed.As for protection the requirementis for “Mrap-level” or greater, which will beprovided by a combination of basic hull (A-Kit), appliqué armour (B-Kit) and add-onarmour (C-Kit). Three industry teams areknown to be ready to bid for this contract,General Dynamics Land Systems, BAESystems, Iveco DV and Lockheed Martin-

Patria, however others might join the fightin the comingmonths.

Regarding other programmes GeneralDynamics did not provide any information,although the companywill obviously exploitexperience gained with the Piranha familyto provide an amphibious version based onthe latest developments of those vehicles.

I HAVOCLockheedMartin and Patria unveiled theirHavoc proposal for the US Marine Corpsat the Gulf Defence and AerospaceExhibition that took place in Kuwait Cityin mid-December 2011. Kuwait is one ofthe countries with a potential requirementfor such a type of vehicle. The Havoc islargely based on the Armoured ModularVehicle (AMV) designed and produced by

Patria of Finland and of which more than1500 vehicles have been ordered by Poland,Finland, Slovenia, the United ArabEmirates, Croatia and Sweden, andselected by South Africa. The mainevolution that led to the Havoc focused onthe three main areas that are blastresistance, survivability and corrosion. Theinternal volume remained the same,although the layout changed considerablyto allow storage of all the equipmentcarried by theMarines. Another key pointwas the vehicle’s swim capacity, whichLockheed Martin and Patria havesignificantly increased. A first vehicle wasproduced, the one featured in this article.However, the Lockheed Martin-Patriasecond development vehicle, whichincludes all the sea-going enhancementswas at hand, but the metrics of which doesnot correspond to the previous vehicle.

That vehicle is the one that will undergothe trials next fall and that might beunveiled at the Modern Marine Day in lateSeptember. Lockheed Martin is alsoconsidering where to inject commonalitieswith the other Marine Corps vehicles,namely the ACV and AAV programmes.TheAMV’s inherentmodularity allows, forexample, the replacement of the enginewithminor modifications, and although theoutput of the MCV engine is obviouslydifferent from that of the trackedamphibious vehicles, installing an engineprovided by the same manufacturer mightbring logistic commonalities and thencesavings on spares and maintenance crewtraining.

Lockheed Martin made it clear that thecompany has no plans to enter the bids fortheACVand for theAAVupgrades. As for apossible involvement on the exportmarket,case-by-case agreementsmight be discussedwith Patria.

I SUPER AVTheBAESystems-IvecoDV team intends toanswer theMarineCorps requirement usingthe SuperAV 8 x 8 developed by the Italiancompany. The work on that vehicle startedin late 2006, when Iveco decided to fill a gapin its armoured vehicles family. Indeed theexisting 8 x 8 vehicles were either theCentauro armoured car with heavy-calibregun, or the heavily armoured Frecciainfantry fighting vehicle. A lower weightvehicle that could either answer therequirements of countries with lowerprotection needs or become a fully

Inside the Havoc: survivability is one of the key points of theMPC programme, and thevehicle is fitted with the latest energy absorbing seats. (LockheedMartin)

The Havoc is a close derivative of the PatriaArmouredModular Vehicle. To improvecommonality with other USMarine Corpsvehicles LockheedMartin is investigatingthe use of a different powerpack.(LockheedMartin)


Amphibious Vehicles

amphibious vehicle started to appear on thecompany’s computers. It features numerouscommonalitieswith the Iveco 8 x 8 family ofvehicles, starting from the “H” transmissionarchitecture, final reduction and otherautomotive components taken from theFreccia. The engine is an IvecoCursor 13 6Lturbo intercooler providing 500 to 560 hp,coupled to a ZF 7HP902 gearbox. TheSuperAV has an empty weight of 16 tonneswith an eight-tonne payload capacity foramphibious operations or nine tonnes forland operations. Propulsion in water isprovided by two hydraulic-poweredindependent propellers that allow thevehicle to reach up to ten km/h or 5.4 knots,while on paved roads the SuperAV cantravel at over 105 km/h. A scalemodel, 2.11meters long compared to the 7.92meters ofthe real vehicle, was submitted to a series oftests at the Dutch Maritime ResearchInstituteNetherlands atWageningen. Trialstook about onemonth and verified stability,drag curves in the water, maximum speedinwater and behaviour.The quest for optimal nautical

performance did not blind designers fromthe fact that the SuperAV also had to be agood crawler. It thus features independent

McPherson hydro-pneumatic suspensions,14.00R20 XML/XZL tyres, CTIS, run-flatVFI system, while steering on 1st and 2ndaxles reduces the turning radius to less thanten meters. Protection levels have not beendisclosed though part of the eight-tonnepayload capacity can be used for add-onarmour to increase protection against bothballistic and mine threats. The rearcompartment canhost up to twelve soldiers,with thedriverupfront on the left, theoverallinternal volume being 14 cubicmetres. Tworear doors areused to exit the vehicle, a rampbeing proposed as an option with a weightpenalty of about 200 kg. The existingprototype, with non-ballistic chassis, wastested in 2010 in Brindisi, home of ItalianNavy amphibious forces. The vehiclewithout any ballast carried out movementsfrom the beach to the sea and vice-versa,movements froma “SanGiorgio” class LPD,etc. Those tests are being repeated in early2012, this time with the vehicle loaded withthe equivalent weight of a remotely-controlledmedium-calibre turret on top.The first target for the SuperAV remains

the Italian requirement for the JointAmphibiousForce,which is part of theForzaNEC digitisation programme and should

entail the acquisition of 144 vehicles for theNavy “SanMarco” and theArmy “Lagunari”amphibious regiments. Supported by theIveco-Oto Melara consortium (CIO) andknown as VBA (Veicolo Blindato Anfibio),it will be equipped with an Oto MelaraOverhead Weapon Station armed with aRheinmetall 25-mmKBA gun. In additionto the standard APC, Iveco is proposing athree-metre-wide-body version (increasedfrom 2.72 metres) but with identicalinternal volume. Although not C-130transportable it will provide an extra tonneof payload capacity in the amphibious roleand increase the lateral stability whenequipped with a medium-calibre turretthanks to the extra buoyancy.As for the US Marine Corps, the BAE

Systems-Iveco teamawaits thepublicationofthe exact requirements and is producing asecondprototype tobeused fora roadshowinAmerica. The SuperAV fulfilled all MarineCorps requirements highlighted in therequest for informationwith the exceptionofthe 95 percentile, American and Europeanfiguresbeingdifferent. Steel cutting for anewprototypededicated to theMPCprogrammehas started in January 2012 and tests areplanned forMaywithaview todelivering thisnon-developmental item to the MarineCorps in October or November. Should theSuperAV-based proposal succeed, BAESystems will be responsible for productionwith components coming from Italy, and forsystems integration. On the other exportmarkets Iveco is looking with interest atcountries such as theUnitedArab Emirates,Kuwait, India and Norway, while the Greekbid seems definitely cancelled due to thefinancial crisis.

For theMPC programme, Iveco DV teamedwith BAE Systems and is proposing its SuperAV8 x 8, purposely developed for amphibiousoperations. (Armada/PV)

The SuperAV at sea. The Iveco DV vehicle has been submitted to a first round of amphibioustrials and is being tested again by the Italian Navy and Army. (Armada/PV)


Amphibious Vehicles


T HERE WERE other innovations,amongst which some amazinglymodified trucks thatwere part of theFrench coin (counter-insurgency)

inventory.Algerian fighters used to organiseambushes, but also made extensive use ofmines and bombs hidden along roads andfrequently used trails.

The French Army’s main vehiclesconsisted of American WW II surplus,namely half-tracks, GMC trucks, M8 lightreconnaissance cars and jeeps. None ofthem were able to withstand the blast andfragments generated bymines and roadsidebombs. TheAMXarsenal was thus asked todevelop a mine-resistant vehicle able tobetter protect troops and provide convoyswith dedicated escort assets.

In association with Berliet, a truck

manufacturer renowned for itshighlymobile‘Sahara capable’ trucks, AMX designed anarmoured hull featuring a superb “V” hull.Someone may say, “nothing’s new in themilitary”, and would be right! The firstvehicleswereput into service in 1959.

Adecade later, the southernpart ofAfricastarted to be affected by small ‘Cold War-related’ conflicts. Soviet-supportedguerrillaswere in charge of destabilising so-called‘colonial inspired’ regimes in South Africa,

If the Mrap design is strongly tied to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, history tellsus that the concept actually dates back some 50 years. At the time, another Arabiccountry was subjected to a bloody and long-lasting war – Algeria. The French armyexperimented new tactics, being the first army to use helicopters as high-mobilityassets for special forces (the commandos de chasse) equipped and trained to destroy‘Katiba’ rebels in mountainous environment.

Mrap, a Rather Old Idea

Slat armour dramaticallyimproved in the last decade.

Pictured by the author, thisForce Protection Cougar is

totally surrounded by a cageof steel slats

MRAP Technology

Mark Huntiller


Namibia, Angola and Mozambique. Minesand roadside bombs were again weapons ofchoice in the hands of irregular forces. Itwastime to engage a serious engineering effort infavour of true armoured fighting vehicleswithmineprotection.

First experiments started in SouthAfricawith ‘long legged’ and V-shaped hulledvehicles. Those first vehicles looked like ‘doit yourself ’ contraptions, mixing light truckdrivelines, improvised frames and weldedboxes to shelterdriver andcrewat thehighestpossible point. So characteristic of thesevehicles, this essential feature was intendedto place personnel as far away as possiblefrom theblast point. The further the better.

From demonstrator to production, thetransitionmaterialisedwith vehicles such asthe Caspir, the Ratel and the Buffel. SouthAfricanNationalDefence Forces used themextensively in their fight against Swapo andother insurgent forces and proved efficientenough to protect soldiers and weaponsystems. The technology ofmine protection,mainly based on the “V” hull concept andsacrificial suspension items, migrated toother assets such as logistic trucks (e.g. theSamil) and even artillery self-propelledhowitzers like theG6.

As far as armouring materials wereconcerned, regular RHA was exclusivelyused. Therewere no sophisticated ceramics,no aramid fibres, no composites, but just aclever ensemble resulting fromnewweldingand bending processes, and the smart use ofspaces and insulated compartments.Interestingly, the Merkava Mk 1 wasdesigned along the same principles and at

The 90° Vee-shaped hull bottom of the southAfrican IvemaGila troop transport is clearlyshown on this picture. (Armada/MH)

Back-and-white pictures beset an old story: in the late 1950s AMX and Berliet teamed tomake the first Mrap ever (right) for use inAlgeria to escort convoys and transport infantry. (Armada/MH)

The Force Protection Ocelot has won the LPPV programme in Britain. Its combines a “V” hulland a composite structure reinforced with ceramics. (Armada/MH)

MRAP Technology

the same time!Meanwhile, the northern hemisphere was

frozen in a Cold War posture – a far cry fromthe southern regional concerns, made ofambushes, fights in the bush, raids and zonecontrol, with their ballistic consequencesfrom blasts and fragments. However,peacekeeping operations in formerYugoslavia came about and completelychanged minds and acquisition strategies.

The German industry was among thefirst to understand the dramatic changesthat were about to unravel and the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann ATV was rolled out in1996. The led a new generation of mine-protected vehicle to a more balanced design,integrating new technologies but keepingthe concept of a truck-based vehicle. TheATV became the Dingo, one of the mostsuccessful industrial stories at the turn of thenew century.

I TO VEE OR NOT TO VEEVee was the magic word and a sine qua nonin mine-protected hull constructionconversations, to a point where nocredibility could possibly be given if theletter didn’t feature. Marketing was soefficient that many armies required the “V”as the ultimate solution in their plannedacquisitions. Armoured fighting vehiclemanufacturers understood that without “V”many business opportunities might havevanished. Therefore, from the genuine “V” to

marketing the “V”, the step was short.The beauty of the “V” is that a single

folded or properly welded sheet of steel,positioned at the right height provides mineprotection without any additional system. Itis a stand-alone solution. Its thickness isimportant too, but less than the value of theangle. It was clearly demonstrated that a “flatV” doesn’t behave as expected, the blastwave not being adequately deflected. Theblast deflection effectively occurs when theangle is close to 90°. Nevertheless, when it iscombined with high ground clearance itmechanically drives to a high silhouette –the weakness of all Mraps.

This detailed picture of the back of the BAESystems RG-35 shows two interesting featuresof the armoured structure. First, the angle ofthe “V” is significant and it has been reinforcedwith a small welded plate. Secondly, thewelding line between the V-shaped floor andthe hull sides can be seen in the upper left ofthe picture. The deep overlapping between theupper and lower structures guaranteesstiffness and a proper seal against a shockwave. Typical thickness is around 18mmofHHS. It provides a level 3 ballistic and a level4a/4bmine. (Armada/MH)


MRAP Technology

The Paramount Matador has straight-line DNA connection with its famous South Africanancestors, the Caspir and the Buffel. The “V” is the basis of its design. Paramount turned itsmind with the newMbombe, which is based on a new protection approach. (Armada/MH)

Coin operations in Iraq started in 2004. Mrap was an Americanindustrial answer to an urgent operational requirement. FormerSouth African engineers took on the hiring opportunities offeredby innovative and commercially aggressive companies like ForceProtection or Navistar. Within very short notice, they were ableto offer solutions to the US Marines who where first in line todemand a new generation of combat and support vehicles. TheSouth African fellows came up with the proven solution theyknew, the “V”, of course the rest is a well-known story.

The American industrial heavy machinery, taking a wartimeposture, was able to deliver thousands of Mraps in a few years.Many models were manufactured and they got heavier andheavier as the threat increased. By the end of 2008 this lethalvicious circle spun out into an operational cul-de-sac. Indeed,Mraps were not designed to run over cross-country and, as they

Permali Gloucester is a major important armour specialist. Thesetwo pictures show side-protection panels and a floor protection forlight to medium vehicles. Though the mine protection kit isdesigned for Land Rovers, it is interesting to notice that no weldingline is visible. Folding, bending and stamping solutions arepreferred for robustness with welding avoided as much aspossible. (Armada/MH)

got heavier, their mobility got increasinglyimpaired. Insurgents thus knew where tocatch them.

I CURRENT “V” – THE TRUTHIt was time to think differently and to breakthe protection paradigm. Strategistssuddenly realised or rediscovered thatmobilitywas part of theholistic survivabilityapproach. In a recent symposium, theFrench Army stated that no VBL had beenhit by aRPG thoughmanyof themhadbeenthreatened and fired upon by insurgents inall theatres of operations during the lasttwenty years. The vehicle is simply too smalland too agile.

The M-ATV programme was launchedand it was anticipated that protectionsolutions would be different. The goal wasto design a cross-country-capable vehiclewith a more balanced ballistic protection.Lowering the silhouette in order to providebettermobility excluded a “V” floor. At thispoint of the story itmust be emphasised that“V” is not “‘the’” solution, but “a” solution.Neither the Merkava, nor the Puma, theVBCI and even the light Mraps like theDingo or the Aravis rely on this solution.Thick and stiff floors or energy absorptionmodules are very efficient technologies too.

Nevertheless, confusion is intentionally

maintained for obviousmarketing reasons.Indeed anyone can notice that “V” or even“double-V” floors are mentioned in someprogrammes, though the “V” angle is ratherflat. The sole purpose of those so-calledVs isto augment the stiffness of the floor,withoutbeing able to deflect any blast. Thistechnology is applied to theCanadian Lav 3modernisation programme and can be

observed underneath theOshkoshM-ATV,the Piranha 5 or some other 6x6 and 8x8combat vehicles.

Interestingly “flatter” floor technologiesuse very traditional materials, regular RHAand high hardness steels being preferred.Lower silhouettes mean shorter distancesbetween the floor and the ground. It is thenmandatory to use materials with goodballistic and resilience properties. Goodballistic properties are required to stopfragmentsandshrapnelgeneratedbyboth themine and the ground (because high-velocitystones andpebbles canbe just as lethal).

Resilience on the other hand guarantiesthat the plate will absorb the shock wavewithout shattering or tearing. It appears thatgoodoldRHAanditsderivatives,HHSorveryhighhardness steels arewellup to the job.

There is a lot of steel underneath an M-ATV or a Dingo. The Nexter Aravis alsouses nicely designed energy-absorptionmodules made of steel. They are combinedwith an aluminium folded floor to provide alevel 4a/4b mine protection. It is alsonoticeable that some aluminium alloys arevery suited too as they have an outstandingcapability to stop fragments.

According to the nature of the threat,other materials can be integrated into thearmour sandwich. Glass and polyethylene

This Force Protection Cougar (above) featuresthick and heavy side armour blocks to preventan EFP frompenetrating the crew’s citadel.Jammers and electronics countermeasureshave blossomed onboard all Mraps in Iraq andAfghanistan, as shown on this Cougar (top),but pose problemswith communications, crewsafety and health regulations. (Armada/MH)


MRAP Technology

are favourites. They have a very positiveaction against small explosively-formedprojectiles (as used by some mines like theformerYugoslavianTMRP-6).The most critical part in the “flatter”

floor design is to make sure it remains

sealed against the penetration of a shockwave. Drop boxes, axles, and other parts ofthemechanical driveline of anMrap requireholes in the hull and the main structure ofthe vehicle. The art of mine-protectedvehicles consists in filling those holes

without compromisingmobility.

I GETTING THE RIGHT STUFFAt least three steps identify the evolution inthe nature of the threats in Iraq andAfghanistan.� step one consisted of mines and buriedshells of all kinds that hit the lower part oftheMrap.� step two: urban operations and zonecontrol saw the proliferation ofRPGattacks.The technical answer was static protectionin the form of slats, grids and otherequivalent concepts. As most of the RPGfirings were defeated with this technology,insurgents thought differently.� step three. Explosively formed projectile(or EFP) showed their ugly faces, creating afar more lethal threat than RPGs. Inaddition they can be remotely controlled to

TheUniversal Engineering Rangerwaspresented as the ultimateMrap concept,mixingas it does almost all available technologies toprovide the best protection afforded by theweight limit. Despite promising performances,the Ranger has failed to convince a firstcustomer to date. (Armada/MH)


limit operator exposure. They can also betriggered by wire or other devices and aregenerally made with old artillery shells: thebody is cut in two parts and a spherical ironpiece is directly affixed to the explosiveblock. This spherical piece is directlystamped out of sheet metal. Those hand-madeweapons have erratic behaviours, oneof them being that theymay generatemanysmall projectiles—up to three— instead ofgenerating a single hefty one. They thus hitthe vehicle in a salvo and armour protectionmust be designed accordingly.

I SUPER BIG MACAnEFPgenerates threemain effects: punch,penetration and fragmentation.Unsurprisingly thus, dedicated armourprotection is generally made of differentlayers integrated in a box. Each layer iscarefully selected and arranged to neutraliseone of the above-mentioned effects. Astandard industrial EFP, it is worthy ofnotice, is able to penetrate up to 100mm ofRHA, and that means 780 kg of metal persquare meter! The entire lateral surface ofanMrap can reach 15 squaremetres, whichwouldmean twelve tonnes of steel.

Mrapdesigners obviouslyhad tomakedowith limitedprotectedareas, but armour labscreated smart armour technologieswithhighmass efficiencies (Em). Statistics show thatEFPgenerally “fly” between0.8 and2metresabove the ground, meaning that armourboxes are thus located between those heightvalues onboth sides of the vehicle.Some so-called “Super BigMac” armour

plates have been seen featuring up to eightlayers of differentmaterials. Steel is used tomanufacture the external body of theboxes. It provides the required stiffness andit can receive bolted or weldedattachments. The internal composition ismade of aluminium, titanium, rubber,ceramics, glass and polyethylene. Theyinteract to combine their own mechanicalproperties to stop the projectiles, absorbenergy and fragments.Each armour designer has his own

recipe, which he keeps close to his chest asanymultiple-star chef would. The smartesttechnologies easily reach Em=1.5, whichrepresents up to three tonnes of armouron a largeMrap.Up to a hundred kilos of explosives can

be carried by vehicles (also known asVBIED), which are triggered by suicidedrivers who ram them into coalitionconvoys. Here, the best protection isintelligence gathering and subsequentstandoff destruction of the vehicle.Turning back to themore classical static

bomb threat, attentionwas paid to door andhatch designs. Itmust be remembered that ahuge quantity of explosive creates a doublewave. The first one hits the vehicle directly,but is immediately followed by a severereverse depression that tends to rip doorsand hatches off. Both waves are equallylethal for the crews who are shocked andshaked and an entire articlewouldn’t sufficeto provide a detailed description of themine-proof seat technologies that are nowbeing implemented in vehicles.

I TRANSPARENT ARMOURMore interesting are the dramaticimprovementsmadeby transparent armour.Thanks to the massive productionrequirements generated by American Mrapprogrammes, industrialists have been,financially speaking, in a favourablepositionto invest in those technologies.The armoured windows of 2011 are a far

cry from the regular 1990s vintage thickglass plates. New composite or transparentceramics like the SaintGobainSapphire even

feature better Em than RHA! Transparentarmour is a key technology to provide crewswith instantaneous situational awareness,a crucial operational requirement incoinmissions.Armour technology took a quantum leap

during the last fifteen years and owes a lotto Mrap programmes. Those technologiesare now migrating to other armouredfighting vehicles to the extent that, forexample, the future French VBMRpersonnel carrier gleans experience gainedfromprotection technologies developed forMraps, but incorporates it in the moreclassical mechanical architecture thatpertains to armoured fighting vehicles.

I AND REMEMBER...TheMrap conceptwas about to self-implodewhen its poor mobility started to posestrategic problems. TheM-ATV and retrofitindependent suspension solutions aspromoted by Oshkosh in America forexample, are coming to the rescue.However,the story of Mrap protection did ring a fewbells and showed once more how importanta system approach is, where mobility,situational awareness, communication andactive protection must all combine into asurvivability bubble around the vehicle. It isone of the most important lessons learnedfrom the recent engagements. The bestballisticmaterialwill never replace that.

Doors and seats became high-technologyitems at the turn of the century with theadvent of mines and roadside bombs. Thedoor of this Dingo 2 exemplifies the newtechnologies implemented to prevent thecrew from being hit by shock wave, blast andfragments. (Armada/MH)

This BMC vehicle features a very interestingsolution in that the entire hull is linked to thechassis via with a central axle, allowing it torotate in case of side attack. Strong springspush the hull back into position once the blastwave has subsided. The proud oak isuprooted under the stormwhile the humblereed simply bends down. (Armada/MH)

MRAP Technology


W ORLD WAR II, lasting evenlonger than its predecessorandheading toward a drawn-out siege of Japan, created the

need for a real showstopper.This eventuatedas the atomic bomb, a device so horrific thatany nation thus attacked (and incapable ofretaliation)would immediately sue forpeace.Theneed for special-purposebombsarose

even earlier. In the Spanish CivilWar (1936-39) Hitler’s Legion Condor pioneered dive-bombing with the Henschel Hs123 forprecision delivery, but found difficulty inhitting moving ships. This led to two radio-guided bombs: the 1362-kg Fritz-Xunpowered penetrator for high release, andthe1045-kgrocket-poweredHenschelHs293.BothenteredLuftwaffe service in1943.The best-publicised unguided high-

explosivebombofWorldWarIIwas the4200-kgVickersType464 ‘bouncingbomb’,whichin1943 destroyed two German hydroelectricdams, causingsubstantial floodingand lossoflife. Released from an Avro Lancaster at lowlevel over the water, it was given a 500-rpmback-spin, to ricochet over torpedo nets andforce the sinking bomb against the dam, to

detonateninemetresdown.The Allies needed penetration bombs to

destroy Germany’s hardened facilities. Theleading example with Britain’s 5445-kgVickers Tallboy. Released at 20,000 ft, theTallboywouldhit the ground supersonically,

typically producing a crater 24 metres deepand 30 metres wide. It could penetrate fivemetres of concrete.Introduced in 1944, the Tallboy was

employed against underground V-1 and V-2assemblybunkersandlateragainst the43,000-tonne battleshipTirpitz. The bomb led to the10,000-kgGrandSlam,whichcouldpenetrate40 metres of earth or up to six metres ofconcrete. It was used in the final monthsagainstU-boat shelters, viaductsandrailways.

I EARLY POSTWARSome Tallboys were later produced in

Roy Braybrook

AGMMatching

Each new conflict seems to highlight inadequacies inair-to-ground armament. The development of suchweapons is thus largely a series of reactions, to achievegreater explosive effect, area coverage, enhancedpenetration, better day/night all-weather deliveryaccuracy, impact at selectable angles, reduced collateraleffects or the destruction of NBC targets withoutcreating lethal plumes. Looking ahead, North Koreawould pose its own special problems.

Like Horsesfor Courses,Air-to-GroundWeapons for Wars

Purposely built as an anti-ship missile, the1940s vintage radio-controlled androcket-powered HS293missile proveddiabolical to control and relatively easy tojam, particularly after the capture ofnear-intact transmitter components ona crashed Heinkel He177. (EHB/Armada)


America as the T-10 or M121. Given anannularwing and large tail controls, theT-10became the 5900-kg Tarzon radio-guidedbomb. This served from 1949 to 1951, andwas used from the Boeing B-29 againstbridges and dams in theKoreanWar.

SomeM121warheadswere employed inthe Vietnam War (1965-75), parachutedfrom Lockheed C-130 Hercules to create

helicopter landing zones in the jungle.This in turn led to the 6800 kg BLU-82

‘Daisy Cutter’, likewise detonated aboveground by a long probe. It was used inVietnam, and later in Desert Storm (1991)to clear Iraqi minefields. Some wereemployed in 2003 in theAfghanmountains,reportedly for psychological effect.

The GPS-guided GBU-43/B Massive

Ordnance Air Blast (Moab or ‘Mother OfAll Bombs’) was developed by the US AirForce Research Laboratory (AFRL). Itweighs 10,250 kgwith 8500 kg of explosive,and is extracted by parachute from anMC-130. It has also been evaluated for carriagein theNorthropGrummanB-2A.AlthoughtheMoab entered service in 2003, it has notyet been used operationally.

In Nato’s OperationUnified Protectorover Libya, the French Air Force andNaval Aviation employed theDassaultRafalewith the SagemAASM/Hammer in both basic(INS/GPS) and IIR-homing forms

The world’s heaviest conventional explosives bomb, the GBU-43/BMassive Ordnance Air Blast or ‘Mother Of All Bombs” is shown prior tocompatibility tests with the Northrop Grumman B-2A stealth bomber. (US Air Force)

Russia subsequently developed theGlonass-guided 7100-kg ‘Father OfAll Bombs’, which uses a thermobaricwarhead to give four times the explosiveeffect of theMoab.The Korean War highlighted a need for

precision strikes against key bridges andtunnel entrances from a safe standoffdistance. This prompted the development ofthe radio-guided, rocket-powered 260-kgMartin Marietta AGM-12B Bullpup, whichentered service in 1959 and become the firstmass-producedair-to-surfaceguidedmissile.In attacking bridges in North Vietnam

though, theBullpupwas less successful thanthe same company’s unpoweredTV-guided544-kg AGM-62 Walleye I, which servedfrom 1967. The 1130-kgWalleye II was stillinUSNavy service at the time ofOperationDesert Storm (1991).The Vietnam War produced the laser-

guided bomb (LGB) as a cheap, precisemeans to destroy key bridges. ThePaveway Iwas introduced in 1972 and over 10,000were used by the US Air Force alone. ThePaveway II featured fold-out fins forimproved range and accuracy.The Soviet air defences of North Vietnam

had to be suppressed by anti-radiationmissiles. The Texas Instruments AGM-45Shrike was introduced in 1965, and wasaugmented from 1968 by the GeneralDynamicsAGM-78Standard.ThesupersonicTexas Instruments (laterRaytheon)AGM-88Harmwas first used operationally by the USNavyagainstLibyanairdefences in1986.

I THE WAR THAT NEVER CAMEWestern post-Vietnamplanningwas largely

concerned with the fear of a Warsaw Pactarmoured thrust acrossWesternGermany.Anti-tank guidedweapons in the formof

Nord Aviation SS.10s had been used byFrenchArmyhelicopters inAlgeria in 1955.However, the dawn of the new anti-tankmissile era ATGW really came with theHughes/Raytheon BGM-71 Tow, used bytwo US Army Bell NUH-1B Hueys todestroy 73NorthVietnamese tanks in 1972.Post-Vietnamanti-armourdevelopments

included the supersonic Lockheed Martin

One of the key weapons in Desert Storm of1991was the Raytheon GBU-27/B Paveway IIIlaser-guided penetration bomb, tailoredspecifically for carriage inside the LockheedMartin F-117A stealth aircraft. (Raytheon)


AGM Matching

Badweather in the Balkans in 1999 demonstrated the need for bombs with INS/GPSnavigation, as instanced by these Boeing GBU-31 Jdams on one of three rotary launchers ofa Rockwell B-1B, which can carry 24 such bombs. (US Air Force)

AGM-114Hellfire, first employedduring theUS invasion of Panama in 1989. Otherdevelopments were 30-mm depleted-uranium ammunition, submunitiondispensers producinguniformarea coverageto compensate for delivery errors, andsensor-fuzed submunitions that rotate toscan the groundas they fall.Unsophisticated cluster munitions used

in smaller wars left behind millions ofunexploded bomblets, resulting in massivecivilian casualties and postwar clearanceproblems. Many countries (though notChina, Russia and the US) have nowadopted the 2010 Convention on ClusterMunitions, banning their storage and use.Someminor conflicts changed thinking

on air-to-groundweapons. For example, the1983 US invasion of Grenada brought outthe need for longer-range, heavier (12.7mm, rather than 7.62) defensive guns onhelicopters.

I DESERT STORMIn the 1991GulfWar, Paveway laser-guidedbombswere again used successfully. One ofthe special needs was for penetrators todestroy deeply buried concrete bunkers.

The best penetrator available when IraqinvadedKuwait (August 1990)was the 984-kg GBU-27/B version of the Paveway IIIwith BLU-109 warhead. This had beendeveloped for internal carriage on theLockheed F-117A and could penetrate 1.8metres of reinforced concrete.

For even better penetration, the 2130-kgGBU-28A/BPaveway IIIwasdevelopedwiththe BLU-113 warhead, manufactured fromold 203-mm artillery barrels in a 28-dayprogramme. The GBU-28 was claimed topenetrate over six metres of reinforcedconcrete, but could be carried only by theBoeingF-15EandGeneralDynamicsF-111F.Concern over the limitations of the

GBU-28 led to the fielding in 1997 of the540-kgB61Mod11nuclear penetrator, witha reported yield of 340 kilotonnes. The B61Mod12 planned for 2017will allow internalcarriage in the Lockheed Martin F-35, andwill have Jdam-typeGPS/INS guidance.

I NORTHERN WATCHPost-Desert Storm operations produced ademand for air-to-ground weapons withreduced collateral effects.No-fly zones had been established by the

The GBU-54 Ljdam is shown on an F-16CBlock 40E (serial 89-2008) from the 510thFighter Squadron ‘Buzzards’ of the31st FighterWing, based at Aviano AB inItaly. It was pictured at Bagram inAfghanistan. (US Air Force)

Coalition over the north and south of Iraqto protect dissidents from air attacks bySaddamHussein’s forces. During NorthernWatch missions in 1998 it was discoveredthat Iraqi Sam launchers were being placednext to mosques, schools and denselypopulated areas, making them impossibletargets for conventional ordnance.TheUSAir Force addressed this problem

by using laser-guided practice bombs filledwith concrete, the kinetic energy of impactbeing sufficient to destroymost targets.

I OPERATION ALLIED FORCENato operations over the formerYugoslaviain 1999 involved some new weapons, anddemonstrated the limitations of existingguided bombs.During the first air raid (2May 1999), F-

117s produced widespread disruption ofelectrical power supplies by use of theGBU-114/B submunition, or ‘filament bomb’.Dispensed from the 450-kg CBU-94/B orSUU-66/B,which carried 202, they scatteredchemically-treated graphite filaments thatshort-circuited electrical supplies.Over Kosovo in 1999 the dependence of

laser-guided bombs on a clear sightline tothe target brought major problems.Acknowledging the threat of Serbian airdefences, Nato had imposed a minimumrelease height of 15,000 feet, but low cloudpersisted for two-thirds of the 78-dayoperation, ruling out laser-dependentattacks for extended periods.The solution was satellite guidance,

giving semi-precise delivery against fixed

targets, regardless of weather, though withreservations over possibleGPS jamming.However, in 1999 the INS/GPS-guided

Boeing Jdam was still in low-rateproduction (as the 950-kg GBU-31 and2130-kg GBU–37) and was cleared only forthe Northrop Grumman B-2A. The US AirForce quotes a mean accuracy of 30 metreson INS alone, or 13 metres with GPS,against a precisely surveyed aim-point.Boeing subsequently private-ventured

the addition of a laser seeker for the Jdamto allow better precision (three metres)when laser designation is available. It alsoallows use against moving targets, thoughwith reduced accuracy (six metres). Based

on the 253-kg GBU-38, the GBU-54 Laser-Jdam or Ljdam is intended for targetsmoving at up to 112 km/h.Conversely, the addition of an INS/GPS

module to anLGBallows anattackona fixedtarget tocontinue if cloudmoves toobscure it.LockheedMartinwas fundedby theUSNavyto develop a dual-mode version of the 227-kg GBU-12, adding GPS/INS navigation tolegacy Paveway II kits. Series production ofthisGBU-12F/Bbegan in2007.In 2001 Raytheon Systems in Britain

began production of the GPS/INS-assistedEnhanced Paveway II or GBU-49. The EP2was followed by the dual-mode 227-kgRaytheon Paveway IV, combining laserspot-homing and second-generationGPS/INS, with anti-spoofing and anti-jamming. It also has an enhanced Mk 82penetration warhead and a Thales-AlliantTechsystemsAurora fuze.The Royal Air Force introduced the

Paveway IV in Afghanistan in 2008, andmore than 700 were dropped over LibyaduringOperationUnifiedProtector in 2011.

I DRONE WARSOneof the features of the 2003-2011US-ledoccupation of Iraq has been the use ofarmeddrones, notably theGeneralAtomicsMQ-1 andMQ-9, using the 227-kgGBU-38Jdam, 227-kg GBU-12 Paveway II LGB and47-kg Hellfire. Use of Hellfire from levelflight at medium altitude necessitateddevelopment of the AGM-114P withincreased look angle.The AGM-114P+ for the USArmyMQ-

1C adds an inertial measurement unitand software changes to allow sharpturns after launch. The AGM-114R willcombine a multi-purpose warhead and achoice of trajectories to suit targets insidebuildings and caves.Drone use has generated requirements

for lighter, less expensive missiles, such asthe Northrop GrummanGBU-44/B ViperStrike and the Raytheon Griffin, bothin the 20-kg class.The unpowered Griffin-A is already in

service in Afghanistan on the US MarineCorps KC-130J Harvest Hawk and USSpecial Operations Command MC-130WDragon Spear. The rocket-poweredGriffin-B is proposed for drones such as theNorthrop Grumman MQ-8B and GeneralAtomicsMQ-1C.

I REDUCED COLLATERALSGround targets in Iraq have often been

Exhibited as it will be ejected from a two-round launcher designed by SystimaTechnologies, this 2.7-kg ATK Hatchet mini-missile is being developed from the outset asa complete integrated system. (ATK)


AGM Matching

Recalling the early days of military aviation, when it took only oneman to lift a bomb, the 5.9-kg Raytheon Small Tactical Munition (STM) glide weapon is loadedmanually on the samecompany’s Cobra drone. (Raytheon)

INTERNATIONAL 2/2012

small groups of insurgents andunarmouredvehicles. To deal with soft targets close toinnocent civilians or friendly forces, theUSCentcom (Central Command) produced aneed statement for a LowCollateralDamageBomb (LCDB) in 2006.The LCDB was developed by the Naval

Air Systems Command, by reducing theexplosive fill of the 210-kg BLU-111warhead from84 to 12.2 kg and restoring itsmass with inert material. The resultingBLU-126/B LCDB is used in GPS-guidedJdam formas theGBU-38(V)4, and in laser-homing Paveway II form as theGBU-51/B.The latter was the first LCDB to be

deployed. Deliveries began in April 2007.The first operational use occurred on 27July, when a Boeing F/A-18 of the USMarine Corps VMFA(AW)-121 ‘GreenKnights’ used a GBU-51/B against a groupburying an improvised explosive devicealongside a convoy route.

LockheedMartin is developing the 45.4-kg Scalpel low collateral damage weapon,based on its E-LGTR (Enhanced LaserGuided Training Round). A flightdemonstration with an inert round tookplace in January 2008.In January 2010, the US Joint Chiefs

approved a Joint Urgent Operation Need(Juon) for a very low collateral damageweapon(VLCDW)thatwouldbecompatiblewith the Jdam and the Ljdam, and could beused on any aircraft cleared for the Mk 82.The resulting US Air Force’s PrecisionLethality (PL)Mk82orBLU-129/B isaQuickReactionCapability (QRC)programme.The PL Mk 82 employs a carbon-fibre

composite case, so that detonationproducesblast and only a cloud of dust and fibres. Ituses a multi-phase blast explosive (MBX)developed by the Air Force ResearchLaboratory and the Lawrence LivermoreNational Laboratory. A batch of 50

warheads, produced by Aerojet, wasdelivered in early 2011.TheMBX is also referred to as enhanced

blast explosive ordense inertmetal explosive(Dime). It combines conventional explosivewith a powderedhigh-densitymetal such astungsten. The strength of the blastwave fallswith the cube of radius, giving high lethalityat short range but little collateral effect.Anotherproductof the2006USCentcom

initiative is the 130-kgGBU-39A/BFocusedLethality Munition (FLM) variant of theGBU-39/B SmallDiameterBomb I (SDB-I),witha93-kgwarheadcombiningacompositecase and Dime filling. The SDB has a BAESystems Diamond Back wing-kit for astandoff rangeof 110km.The objective of the FLM is to kill the

occupants of a crudely built structurewithout destroying the structure itself.Developed byAFRL and theAirArmament

The recent demand for weapons with reducedcollateral effects has encouragedLockheedMartin to develop the 45.4-kgScalpel on the basis of its Enhanced LaserGuided Training Round. (US Navy)

One product of the ColdWar was the LockheedMartin AGM-114, a lightweight supersoniclaser-homing anti-armour weapon. An AGM-114P is shown on a General Atomics MQ-1BPredator at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. (US Air Force)

AGM Matching

28

Center, the first 50 FLMs were delivered inMarch 2008 to the US Air Force, which hasacquired at least 250.In October 2008 the USAir Force issued

anRFI for concepts for a Selectable/VariableEffectsWeapons of not greater than 227 kg,providing at least two effect modes(min/max), to enter development in 2012and2016. Suchweapons are seen as allowingrelaxation in the rules of engagement indealingwith targets of opportunity.TheNatoairoperationoverLibya,aimedat

preventingColonelGaddafi frommassacringcivilians, againdemonstrated theneed for lowcollateral damage. Britain used the 49-kgMBDA Dual-Mode Brimstone, combiningmillimetric radar and laserhoming.The French services used 225 examples

of the 250-kg Sagem AASM/Hammermissile in both its basic GPS/INS form andwith imaging-infrared terminal homing.The 1230-kg MBDA Storm Shadow

cruise missile was used against targetsthat were outside the reach of combatsearch-and-rescue units.

I FUTURE NEEDSThe US Air Force has studied the possible

need to destroy North Korean facilitiesburied deep under granite.The resulting GBU-57A/B Massive

OrdnancePenetratorweighs 13,600kg and is6.2 metres long. In April 2011 the servicecontracted Boeing to produce eight suchbombs for $ 28 million. Two GBU-57s can

be carried by a Northrop Grumman B-2A.Deeper penetration would require rocket-assisted bombs, or new types of nuclearweapons (the development of which iscurrently ruled out byCongress).In September 2011 AFRL invited

industry proposals for risk-reduction effortsleading to a High Velocity PenetrationWeapon (HVPW),which is seen for researchpurposes as a 900-kg class devicewith a solidrocket booster. TheHVPWis required to fitin the weapons bay of the F-35, and to havethe samepenetration capability as a 2270-kggravity bomb.In April 2011 ATK was awarded a

development contract for the Hard TargetVoid-Sensing Fuze (HTVSF) for use onall current and future US families of 900and 2270-kg air-delivered penetratingweapons.

More ways than one to kill a tank. A recentRaytheon exhibit featured in descendingorder: the 5.9-kg Small Tactical Munition(STM) for drone applications, the 23-kgTowmissile and the 120GMDaggerINS/GPS-guidedmortar bomb. (Raytheon)

Photographed at Solenzara (BA126) inCorsica, these 250-kg Sagem SBU-38

Hammer INS/GPS-guided bombs are shownwith French Air Force Dassault Rafale F3s of

Escadre de Chasse EC.01 from BA113, StDizier-Robinson. (Sagem)


G round surveillance radars areobviously an added threat, buttheir spread isminimal comparedto the Mk 1 Eyeball aided by

optical enhancements and thermal visionsystems,with the latterno longer restricted tovehicles but widely distributed to the soldieron foot in the formof lighthand-heldunits.

Research isworking invariousdirections,

although reduced military budgets willcertainly have an impact on thoseprogrammes as well. One of the fieldscurrently explored is that ofnanotechnologies, with the hope of findingmaterials that couldbepurposely engineeredso that they change properties under theinfluence of various types of stimuli such astemperature, moisture, electric charge,magnetic fields and so forth.

Thermochromic and photochromicmaterials that change colour according to

temperature or light intensity are alreadyavailable, but electrochromic materials thatchange colour under the influence ofelectricitymightwell hold the best promisesformilitary applications. Thiswould indeedconsiderably help to adapt the visual colourof an object to that of the background.

The key factor here is to find a systemthat is capable of picking a vehicle’sbackground colours and subsequentlydetermining which parts of the vehicle willhave to be ‘painted’ and in which colour – a

In the ‘survivability onion’, the term ‘do not be seen’ remains among the top prioritiesto be able to see another day. Comparedwith air and sea, ground provides manymore concealment opportunities, but things nevertheless get more complicated on themovewhen a human being or a vehicle must merge into a background that mayconsiderably vary. This is true for both visual and thermal spectra, which are the twodomains in which ground units must hide.

The Quest for theMultispectral Chameleon

Camouflage

Paolo Valpolini


real feat if the vehicle is in motion if onebears inmind that visual systems, especiallyin daylight, have a much higher definitionthan thermal systems.Between visual and thermal, the latter is

definitely the easier client since it involvesmuch fewer variables than the visualspectrum.Research programmes by officialagencies seem to be mostly oriented in thatdirection, while generally speaking theimportance of camouflage appear to havebeenplayed downby other higher prioritiesresulting from lessons learned from currentoperational theatres. This in no way meansthat the camouflage field has come to a halt,2011 having brought a wealth of newproducts both inpassive andactivedomains.As for available solutions, the recent past

hasdelivered somesignificant improvementsin active thermal camouflage, or to be moreprecise, in the capacity of amaterial tomatchthe thermal signature of the background.Reducing the heat signature generated by apropulsion system or rotating elements isparamount to decreasing one’s chances ofbeing spotted by an enemy equipped with a

thermal imaging system, even if one has toremember that themean temperature of thevehicle may still not match that of itsbackground, meaning that even a completecancellation of hot spots might not besufficient tomake the vehicle ‘invisible’.One company that has been particularly

active in that department in recent years isBAE Systems. In late November 2010 theBritish Minister for Defence Equipmentannounced awhite paper to be published inspring 2011 that would formalise theDefence Industrial and Technology Policyfor the next five years. In that framework

BAESystems launched the Future ProtectedVehicle study, with the aim of addressingtwo main issues: the high number ofcasualties related to convoy attacks inAfghanistan (over 80% of all Americancasualties), and the high cost of fuel on thefront line (15 to 50 times higher there due tothe cost of logistics).The company studies are aimed at

identifying innovative technologies andconcepts for short-,medium- and long-termexploitation. The research has ponderedover 567 technologies and 244 vehicleconcepts, and involved 35 industrial

Artist impression of theBAE SystemsWraithwith an active visualcamouflage system

A detail of the BAE Systems Adaptiv active thermal camouflage system, which is also said tohelp reducing radar signature. (Armada/PV)

BAE Systems first showed its Adaptiv activethermal camouflage system at DSEI 2011,installed on a CV90 prototype. (Armada/PV)

organisations as well as British universitiesand schools. Some 47 technologies werefinally identified as short-term ones, withsome relevant to the camouflage andsignature reduction world (active thermalmanagement and active visual signaturemanagement).

At least one of them has already come tofruition, although it has earlier roots. TheSwedish FMV started in the late ‘90s to beworried about the proliferation of thermalsensors on the battlefield and asked itsnational industry to co-operate and identifytechnologies that might reduce vehicleinfrared signatures. Initially the systemusedfor pumping heat from the vehicle’s surfacewas based onwater, but this solution provedtoo expensive, too power thirsty and notrobust enough. The company thus shifted toa different approach that led to what was isknown as the Adaptiv. Developed with afifty-fifty investment between industry andthe Swedishmilitary, it was unveiled atDSEI2011 in London.

Based on the heat exchange principle, theAdaptiv is physically formed by a series ofhexagonal tiles approximately 15centimetres across, each one working as asolid-state semi-conductor heat pump andlinked to the vehicle’s computer. In otherwords, each tile becomes a pixel of a hugescreen spread over the sides of the vehicle.Not many details were unveiled and nocables are used to command the tiles, so aninduction systemmight be used.

It is the computer that tells every single

tile at which temperature it must be set andmanages the power generation to do thisend (to individually increase or decrease thetemperature of every single tile) and‘thermally sink’ the vehicle into its ownbackground. The required temperature,which can differ fromone tile to the next, isprovided by a thermal camera (which canbethe vehicle’s own thermal vision system).Once the sensor has analysed thebackground, it provides the data to thecomputer, which in turn manages the tiles’temperatures to reproduce the picture of thebackground.

Interestingly, the pixel array of the systemallows it to be use in othermodes, deceptionbeing one of them when the thermalsignature of a totally irrelevant vehicle ispurposely displayed. IFF is another optionmade possible by using the pixels to displayan established code sign, or evenmessage.

A tracked infantry fighting vehiclerequires around 1500 such tiles, optimisedfor an observation range of at least 500metres. Current tiles are rigid but a flexibleversion is under development for otherapplications suchashelicopters.Refresh timeis relatively short and ensures camouflageevenwith vehiclesmoving at 30km/h.

Current Adaptiv tiles also ensure goodradar energy absorption and can also beballistically protected. According to BAESystems officials the new product will beavailable in late 2013. A visible spectrumcamouflage system, which might be basedon visual film technology over panels, could

be available three years later.Another company that is finalising the

development of an active thermal signaturecamouflage system operating along thesame principle is Eltics of Israel. Known asthe Black Fox, this adaptive multi-spectralstealth technology can be used in land andnaval applications. It comes in the form ofpanels affixed to a vehicle and linked toelectronic control boxes. The latter areconnected to two panoramic cameras thatprovide a 360° thermal scan around thevehicle. This allows the electronics toreproduce the thermal picture on the panelsand thereby blend the vehicle into itsbackground, even on themove.

Eachpanel ismade ofmultiple parts, sortof pixels, each of them linked to a digitalprocessor that sets the right temperaturewithin the 3-5 and 8-12 µm spectral ranges,typical of thermal imagers. Full blending isjust one mode, though others allowmimicking a different vehicle using datastored into a database or displayreconnaissance symbols or numbers.

Eltics has demonstrated that a LandRover protected by three panels could‘disappear’ into the landscape (whenwatched through a thermal imager, ofcourse). With a view to improvingintegration with vehicles the companyteamed with Israel Military Industries in2010 to eventuallymerge theBlack Foxwith

Armorworks Tacticam 3D shown hereon a GDLS Stryker. This product was devisedto reduce both thermal and radarsignatures. (Armada/PV)


Camouflage

The Tacticam 3D developed byArmorworks comes in flat lightweight panelsthat are installed over the vehiclearmour. (Armada/PV)


armour packages and obtainwhat is termedInvisible ReactiveArmour Protection.

I PAINTSShifting topassive camouflage,Armorworksdeveloped a three-dimensional systemknownas theTacticam3Dthat appearedonaStryker at both AUSA 2010 and Idex 2011exhibitions.Notmanydetails were unveiledexcept that thenew3Dskin irregular patterncoupled to the material used allows aconsiderable reduction in thermal andradar signatures.Panels are obviously painted in

camouflage colours to cover the visualspectrum, using the company’s Opticamsystem that allows to rapidly create acamouflage pattern that adapts to thesurroundings, basing the pattern onhyperspectral pictures of the scenario. Thesystem comes in rigid 3Dplastic panels thatare installed over the armour. The specificweight of the panels has not been revealedbut defined as ‘lightweight’.If panels with different optical camo are

available the vehicle can quickly shift itsouter skin without having to be repainted.TheTacticam3D is still under developmentand was considered at TRL-5 in February2011. Moreover, Armorworks alsodeveloped a spray paint that is said to reduceinfrared signature to nil, but no details weremade available on this product.Another paint specialist, Intermat of

Greece, is activelymarketing its Chameleonseries of Low Observation Paints (Lop) –Low Emissivity Paints (Lep). In most oil-

based and conventional paints 90% of thepossible heat radiated is emitted from theplatform’s surface. Chameleonpaints aim toequalise the target’s optical and thermal/IRsignature with that of the background,merging shapes and images in an imagedevoid of operational interest. This result isobtained bymerging the higher reflectanceof the target with the lower one of thebackground. Not much information hasbeen provided by Intermat about its paint,which is proposed not only for vehicles butalso for static installations to reduce theirthermal signature and thereby impair thelock-on performance of some potentialthreats. Intermat also produces radarabsorbent paints.A company specialised in radar-

absorbent coating is Micromag of Spain,which uses a specific metallic fibre capableof absorbing electromagnetic waves.According to the company a 45-metre vesselpainted with its product would have a radarsignature equivalent to that of a four-metre-long boat. The company demonstrated itsproducts at Nato level and has been activelydealingwith thePentagon, althoughnothingis being said about a possible contract.Over the past few years Saab Barracuda

has considerably evolved its MobileCamouflage System, adopting a systemconcept that provides signature reductionsin the spectrum required by the user. TheMCS is usually made of five to sevendifferent layers of materiel. ContinuousR&D efforts have allowed the company toimprove radar and thermal performances

whilemaking themateriel lighter.The 3D configuration is maintained, as

this is according to Saab Barracuda the bestsolution to ensure thermal and radarsignature reduction aswell as better coolingwhen integrating the company’s Coolcamheat reduction system (to decrease theeffects of sun radiation into the vehicle).Colours as well as near-IR values can beadapted to the environmental conditions inwhich the customer plans to operate. TheMCS ensures protection against thermalimagers and heat-seeking missiles but alsoreduces electromagnetic reflection makinglock-on by radar homingmissiles operatingin the 1-100GHz band pretty difficult.Saab Barracuda plays on materials,

particles, pigments and the position of thedifferent layers within the camouflagepackage to obtain the desired effect. TheMCSmultispectral system is currently usedon more than 4000 vehicles around theworld, many of which are serving inAfghanistan.Originally developed to ensure the

camouflage of mine and IED-clearingvehicles such as the Souvim, MBDA’sMultisorb lightweight synthetic fabric isstarting to findnewapplications.Developeda few years ago under a requirement fromthe French DGA, the fabric is a passivecamouflage that reduces signature in threedomains, namely visual, infrared (in bands I,II and III) and radar (typically in the 4 to 100GHz band).The Multisorb comes in the form of an

outer ventilated three-dimensional structureapplied onto a conductive mesh and then

A CV90 in action in Afghanistan equippedwith Saab Barracuda’s MultispectralCamouflage System, a product currentlyinstalled onmore than 4000 vehicles. (Saab)

Intermat of Greece also offers special paints for buildings to reduce their vulnerability tothermally guidedmissiles. (Intermat)

Camouflage

mounted onto a foam base. It is available insand, European and snow camouflage, itsthickness varying between 50 and 100 mmwhile its specific weight is in the 1.5 to 3.0kg/m2 range, depending on specifications.

The Multisorb’s camouflage propertiesare attracting special forces, with Frenchunits testing them on Panhard VBLs (andthey seem very satisfied since the materielon test was not sent back to the companyand is still being used). At least one othermajor European special forces unit is known

to be testing the Multisorb in very harshconditions and a contract is awaited beforeyear-end. A special force unit of a Far Eastcountry is also testing the MBDA materialand amphibious forces of the same countryhave also expressed their interest.

MBDA is also promoting the Multisorbas a radar and infrared absorption solutionfor fast attack craft although simplemaintenance rules must be observed whenused in a salt-water environment. A majorMiddle East country is considering the

Multisorb to impair the lock-on capabilitiesof certain anti-tank missiles (morespecifically to avoid positive identificationand lock-on until the vehicle is withinweapon range of the enemy system).

Another company involved in thecamouflage business is Blücher Systems ofGermany, which recently introduced a newreversible camouflage tarpaulin for use asweather protection in desert or snow areas,the two sides having sand or white colourcamouflage. The sand side features a textilesurface that traps small particles of airbornesand to further enhance the merging effectof the tarp in the local colouring. Themultiple-layer camouflage also ensuresmaximum effectiveness against thermalimagers. The Blücher system is made of alightweight materiel, a five x five-meter tarpweighing a mere 20 kg.


Camouflage

TheMultisorb developed byMBDA is here seen on a French Army VBL. Its specific weightvaries between 1.5 and 3 kg/m2. (MBDA)

This chart shows howMBDA’s Multisorbreduces thermal, radar and visual spectrumsignatures. The system is attracting its firstcustomers. (MBDA)


I f one could transpose decibels into ink,the noisiest aircraft in the Dubai AirShow 2011 skies were not the ones thatmade the boldest daily news headlines.

While the sales of commercial airliners tookthe upper hand in the papers, those aircraftdid not shine by their presence aloft. Takethe military aircraft scene and you get the

mirror image. They kept filling the skies inthe afternoon, but made very little noise atlounge level, with onenotable exception: thenews on the very first morning that theUnited Arab Emirates had decided to re-open their fighter aircraft bid to Eurofightertook everyone by surprise, including quitea few Eurofighter officials. And apart fromthat, therewas nothingmuch towrite homeabout in terms ofmajor defence sales.

So gone were any hopes of seeing theDassaultRafale clenching its first export deal

before year end. At stake are 60 aircraft,which are expected to replace a similarnumber of Mirage 2000-9s. While it wasdifficult to obtain any comments from theofficials involvedon their ownaircraft, somewere pretty good at delivering opinions ontheir opponent’smachines – fair game. Itwaslargely felt, however, that the operation wasmainly aimed at encouraging Dassault andits partners to take another look at theirtotals. Apparently one of the stumblingstones is the cost of the latest generation

Dubai Air Show isWhere Small Is Beautiful

The Rafale, asimpressive as ever.

(EHB/Armada)

Shows & Exhibitions

The reason why, over the years, the Dubai Air Show is by far rated a favouriteamongst professional visitors (and probably a fair number of exhibitors) is its decentsize. Yet anything that flies and counts in the world is there. Every two years.

Visited and photographed byEric H. Biass


electronics, including the aesa radar.This year, the afternoon air display

curtain raiser and closing roles wereentrusted to Al Fursan, the United ArabEmirates air force’s aerobatic team, andPatrouille de France, alternating theirpositions every day in their respectiveaircraft types, namely their AermacchiMB339s andAlpha Jets.

The Dassault Rafale and the EurofighterTyphoon wrestled hard to draw best publicattention, perhapswithanedge to theFrenchaircraft, but anoteworthynewcomerwas thePakistani JF17 Thunder fighter aircraft.However, whilst transport aircraft flightdisplays arenormally andnecessarilyblanderthan that of their fighter counterparts, theone aircraft that forced all eyes upwards wasthe Alenia C-27J Spartan whose evolutionsin the overheated air confined with theextravagant. If anyone wanted to see atransport aircraft believing it was a fighteraircraft,Dubaiwas theplace togo to.Alenia iseyeing in particular a requirement fromnearbyOman,whichhas apotential need foreight multiple mission aircraft in thatcategory.Whilst on the subject of Italian jobs,theMacchiM346, which had great hopes ofchalking up an order in Dubai, provided afinedisplayof its capabilities,having traded itshithertodark red livery for adeepblue finishfor this year’s event.

Talking of transport aircraft, the greatabsent was the Military Airbus A400M.This, however, was for a good cause. Withflight testing now in overdrive, none of theaircraft could be diverted south east. At thetime of the show, the test flight programmehad moved ahead with MSN 6 (the test

aircraft are all calledMSN) due to fly fromSeville a few days later. This aircraft is thefirst test aircraft which, when it has finishedits testing career, will go to a client. Thisparticular one will be the seventh A400Mdelivered to the French.

At time of writing, Airbus Military wastaking advantage of the hot/high testingwhich takes place in La Paz, Bolivia toundertake anA400Mdemonstration tour inLatin Americamaking an appearance at the

Fidae International Air and Space Fair inSantiago de Chile in late March. On adifferent scene Airbus Military clenched an18-month consultancy agreement withIndonesia with a view to transposing the 30-yearoldCN-235productionagreement.Now,thismightbeconfusing, but all falls back intoplace when one remembers that the CNletters in the designation of the six-tonneaircraft stand for Casa (now part of AirbusMilitary) and Nurtanio of Indonesia – bothcompaniesbeing involved in thedevelopmentand production of the aeroplane threedecades ago. Indonesia would now wish tomove on to building the C-295 nine tonner,with the wings manufactured in Indonesia

TheUnited Arab Emirates aerobatic teamAlFursan still flies the AermacchiMB339, butwillit eventually transition to the latest AermacchiM346Master seen on the right? (EHB/Armada)

The four-European nationTyphoon in one of its gracefullow-speed high angle of attackfly-bys. /EHB/Armada)

Shows & Exhibitions

and the fuselage inSpainwhile final assemblywould takeplaceonindividual lines inMadungandSeville.Returning to the fighter aircraft scene, if the flight display

offered by the single-engine JF17 Thunder was somewhat (andunderstandably) more conservative compared with that of thetwin-engine Rafale and Typhoon it did provide an impressivesight when parked back to its spot on the static display,surrounded as it was by a large array of weapons, mainly ofChinese origin. By the time these lines are printed, some 42aircraft shouldhave beendelivered and theproduction go-aheadfor another runof 50 aircraft given the go-ahead. Pakistan’s aim isto have its 1970s-vintage A-5s (now retired) and F-7s replacedwithbetween200 and250Thunders. In termsof avionics origins,the Pakistani Thunder is a reflection of what’s outside: stillessentially Chinese. Word “still” is intentionally used here asavionics of European origin were at one time envisaged, but it isnow increasingly believed that a switch to western equipment,even on future batches would prove out of reach financially.

As faithful as an old dog theHawkeye, in the formof the latestE-2D, was again present at Dubai, as a static display. NorthropGrumman informed the author that six aircraft had beendelivered by November (2011) and that another six were underconstruction. Current testing has revealed that the APY-9electronically scanned radar radar performance has exceededcontractual requirement in range and resolution. TheUSNavy isplanning to acquire 75AdvanceHawkeyes by 2021.

I CHOPPER CHATTERThe Bell 407AH did not feature in the air, and quite rightly toosince what it had to show was better seen on the ground. Thebird was developed from a baseline 407 in sixmonths to turn itinto an armed helicopter – hence its AH suffix. According to

“Fasten your seatbelts, chaps, we’re hitting turbulent air”. In service,transport aircraft will never be required to execute such manoeuvres(and had better not), but the unbelievable postures the crewimposes to its Spartan show after show give an idea of the extremeweather conditions the aircraft would be able to cope with inoperation. (EHB/Armada)

the Bell officials there, it actually isintended as a scout helicopter, but its rolecan be stretched to that of a light attackmachine – basically “a low cost option forthose that cannot afford an Apache”. Theengineering beauty in the AH is thesolution adopted to install the weaponpylonswithout tamperingwith the airframestructure. These are in fact bolted onto asort of double floor insert that runs fromport door to starboard door inside the rearcabin (andbefore anyone asks, yes, the doorsstill close!). As for the related electronicsthese arederived fromthoseused in theOH-58 Kiowa. The AH comes with, inter alia, aweapons management system and a nightvision goggle-compatible holographic targetsighting system. By the time ir reached theDubai Air Show, the 407AHhad performedtwo live firingdemonstrations, one inBruneiand the other in Jordan.

I NOW TO WI-FI WEAPONSIt was bound to happen sooner of later, butRaytheon has done it. It’s called theWiPackand enables an aircraft not integrated witha GPS, for example, to perfectly well use anEnhanced Paveway, and Raytheon provedthe pointwith a SuperTucano. Basically, thecockpit screen is wired to a transmitterwhich “hooks up to a bluetooth” fixed at theback of theweapon – no extra wires neededthrough the wing. As a Raytheon officialexplained “you punch the co-ordinates onthe display which downloads them to theweapon, as well as other parameters such asattack profiles”. The company has beenworking on the WiPak for three years andwas introducing it atDubai.

Raytheon also gave an update on thestatus of the Talon laser-guided rocket it hasbeendevelopingwith theEmiratesAdvancedInvestments Group, indicating that firingtests had been completed a month earlier(October) in the Emirates, from an apacheattack helicopter. Declared ready forproduction, theTalon is a guidancekit for 70mmrockets – typically theHydra.Guided toits target by an onboard or buddy-carriedlaserdesignator, theTalonuses a standard19-tube launcher to deal a blow to light armourtargetswith its10-poundwarheadat rangesofup to 6,000 metres. The latest tests showedthat it could be used at a range of fourkilometres against moving targets. If oneconsiders the numbers of platformsemploying 70mm rockets around theworldand the fact that very littlemodifications arerequired, thepotentialmarket for theTalon isquite sizeable. In fact Raytheon is usingcompany funds to install it on anAT-6.

Captured in the shimmering air secondsbefore touch-down, the Thunder weighs 6.6tonnes empty and dry, and 12.380 tonnes fullyloaded. Powered by a single RD-93 (ofMig-29origin) delivering 50 kN of thrust (84.5 onafterburner), it is capable ofMach 1.6, a typicalcombat range of 1,350 kmand is equippedwith seven hardpoints. (EHB/Armada)


Shows & Exhibitions

The array of weapons and systems surrounding the Pakistani JF-17 Thunder include left toright and top to bottom) the L-6 satellite guided glide bomb, the PL-5EII all-aspect infraredshort-rangemissile, the 500 kg LT-2 laser guided bomb, the 280 kgWMD-7 day and nightdetection and targeting pod, the KG300G self-protection jamming pod, and last but not least,the famous 180 km range, 600 kg C802AK anti-shipmissile.

The Bell 407AH features weapons pylons onboth sides able to bear rocket launchers asseen here, but also barrelled weapons suchas the Dillon Aero M134DMinigun. Alsovisible are the passive radar detectors and aFlir Systems Ultra 9HD ball mounted underthe aircraft’s chin. Still, the 2,268kg (all-up)chopper maintains its original 140-knot Vne.(EHB/Armada)


I N TERMS of drones, Selex is moreparticularly renowned for it handsomegullwing Falco which, failing to attractany orders from the Italian forces, has

seduced those from Pakistan to the pointthat its licence production there started in2009. A version closer to themale category,known as the Falco Evo was later devisedmainly by extending the innerwing sectionsand stretching the rear twin booms.

Selex Galileo has since turned its gaze to

smaller systems, particularly those that hadbeen developed by a university-based entityknown as Utri, the electrically poweredmicrodrones of which have been examinedby Armada in the past, amongst which theAsio vertilift system. Having acquiredproduction rights from Utri, Selex Galileois now announcing the availability of theCrex-B featured in our title photograph.Tipping the scales at just under two kilos,the Crex-B essentially is a “peep over thehill” bird, capable of a 60-minuteendurance. Perhaps the most significantfeature for such a lightweight bird is its

stabilised pan and tilt gimballed videosensor capable of target tracking andrelaying data to the operator through adigital datalink. The drone is now ready forproduction and is currently being evaluatedby the ItalianMinistry ofDefence.

LatvianUAVFactory flew its first drone,the 3.3metre span Penguin B inAugust lastyear. UAV factory appears to havedeveloped into a supplier of ad hoc systemsandmodules for drones (including the 28ccHonda-poweredPenguinB airframe itself),including inter alia a car roof-mountedlauncher, a heated Pitot tube and an

From Wee to Biiig!

Drone Update

The drone world is more than ever as busy as a beehive, with novelties and newsflowing in from the extreme ends of the size spectrum, although admittedly the smallerend has had the upper hand in terms of novelties in recent weeks.

Eric H. Biass

The Crex-B pictured inits native Italy by

Armada’s P. Valpolini


interesting comprehensive, yettransportable, ground station.Unsurprisingly designated Portable GroundStation, the approximately 20-kilo unit isdesigned to operate in conjunction withCF31 Panasonic Thoughbook computerand a modular electronics compartment

that offers theflexibility to installapplication-specific hardware.The lid of the unit accommodates a17” sunlight-readable touchscreen whilethe lower bay also encloses the powerdistribution system with hot-swappablelithium batteries.

Slightly upscale in terms of weight,Innocon has recently announced that it hadrecently qualified its six-kilo Micro Falcon inweather conditions it is unlikely toencounter in its native Israel (see photosherewith). The drone is unusual in manyrespects, having an elongated S-shapedfuselage clinging onto a pair of so-calledboxed-wings whereby the top and bottomwingtips are held together by a vertical plate.Rounding up the “weird” features, the MicroFalcon topples over when descending underits parachute to land flat on its back andthereby preserve its belly-mounted opticalpayload. The Israeli manufacturer chalkedup an order for 50 systems from ananonymous Asian customer last year.

Still moving up on the drone weightladder with the 50-kilo T-20, Arcturusannounced having been selected last March

Drone Update

UAV Factory’s Portable Ground Station comesin a rugged wheeled plastic case. It weighs18.9 kilos sans Panasonic Toughbookcomputer, which is to be purchasedseparately. Also optional is a lightweight standwith legs to install the unit at seated operatorheight. (UAV Factory)

During its extreme weatherqualification flights in –15°Cand 35kn wind conditions,the Innocon Micro Falcoappeared more at ease thanits operators. (Innocon)

as part of a proposal team led by primecontractor CSC of Falls Church, to receivea multiple award contract from the U.S.Navy Air Systems Command. The award isfor support of future Department ofDefense intelligence, surveillance, andreconnaissance requirements. The catapult-launched T-20 typically carries a 15-kilopayload and a similarweight of fuel and hasa maximum endurance of 16 hours.Assembly time is less that one hour.Back in Europe, Rheinmetall and

Cassidian announced to merge their droneactivities in a joint venture with respectivestakes of 49%and51%. Simply knownas the“JointVenture”, at least for the time being, itcurrently employs 160 people in Bremen,home to the KZO manufactured for theGerman Army and to the Heron of theGerman Saateg deep-penetration imageryrecce system programme. Rheinmetall isalso involved in the development of anothersystem known as theWabepwhich, like the

Heron, also calls on an Israeli airframe, theHarop. In the Wabep – an acronym thattranslates fromGerman as “weapon systemfor standoff engagement of individual andpoint targets" – the idea is to get the KZOand the Harop work in tandem, with theformer performing surveillance and targetidentification, while the former performsthe attack according to the co-ordinatesdetermined by the KZO. Wabepdemonstator flights were completed in

Recently introduced by UAV Factoryspecifically for small drones, the heated Pitot

tube weighs a mere 58 grams, runs on 12volts and has a maximum power consumption

of 19 watts. (UAV Factory)

Arcturus has sold over 60 T-20 systems toseveral customers, amongst which are the USAir force, Marine Corps and Navy. The firm hasnow been called in to provide support regardingfuture intelligence, surveillance, andreconnaissance requirements. (Arcturus)

September 2011 and involved the two drones operating in anetworked communicationmode. TheHarop,which is a loiteringdrone designed to perform a lethal dive on its assigned target,can see itsmission aborted at the lastminute via theKZO.

Cassidian, on the other hand, had a number of smaller droneprogrammes in the past, including vertical take-off and landingaircraft, but a number of these and other researchwork appear tohave fa jllenby thewayside, leavingCassidian’s developmentworkfocussed on the Talarion and the Barracuda, if one excepts theEurohawkprogramme (another join venture).

The Joint Venture is thus seen as a way for both companies tostrengthen their offerings.

Across theAtlantic, General Atomics announced in Februarythat the secondPredatorC, orAvenger, had completed itsmaiden12 January. The first flight of a second aircraft may sound banal,but the manufacturer stresses the importance of this flight dueto the fact that “it refines the first prototype design to anoperational capability”. Known as Tail 2, it features a significantfuselage stretch – 1.20 metres - to accommodate extra fuel andpayload. Tail 3 is expected to take to the air in the summer,followed byTail 4 early next year.

The top endof the drone spectrum in this update concerns theEuropeanNeuron, the first technological demonstrator ofwhichwasunveiled at the Istres base to the official services of the variousstates involved in this co-operative programme. The sixmemberstates are France (with Dassault), Sweden (Saab), Italy (Alenia-Aermacchi), Spain (Eads-Casa), Greece (Hellenic AerospaceIndustries) and Switzerland (Ruag). The nextmajor stage for theNeuronwill be itsmaiden flight now scheduled formid-year. Thestealth ground-attack aircraft will then undergo a two-year flightprogramme in France, Sweden and Italy, which will include therelease ofweapons from its internal underwing bays.


The 20-metre wingspan Avenger has an endurance of over 16 hoursagainst the turboprop-powered Reaper’s 30+, but can fly at 740 km/hinstead of 480. You can’t have it all. (General Atomics)

Drone Update


Digest

PAC-3 MISSILESUCESSFULLYTESTED

Raytheon Company'smodernized Patriot Airand Missile DefenseSystem successfully firedtwo PAC-3 missiles toengage a tactical ballisticmissile (TBM) at WhiteSands Missile Range, N.M.This is the first time PAC-3missiles have been firedfrom a new-productionPatriot system. "Thedemonstrated flawlessperformance of themodernized Patriot systemmeans our customers candeliver the most advancedair and missile defensecapabilities to warfightersquickly, affordably and withlower risk exposure," saidSanjay Kapoor, vicepresident for Integrated Airand Missile Defense atRaytheon's IntegratedDefense Systemsbusiness. "With Patriotnow in full-rate production,they can also expectimproved reliability andreduced costs for decadesto come."

UK AWARDSNIGHT VISIONCONTRACT

ITT Exelis has been awardeda $33million Foreign MilitarySales (FMS) contract toprovide the United KingdomMinistry of Defence with thelatest Generation 3 nightvision technology.Under this FMS order, the

U.K. MoD will receive theHead Mounted Night VisionSystem (HMNVS), a variant ofthe U.S. military AN/PVS-14monocular. Deliveries areexpected to begin in thesecond quarter of 2012 andbe completed by 2016 inaccordance with a phaseddelivery plan.

EUROFIGHTER SUPPORT CONTRACT

Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH has signed a major contract withNATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) tosupport the fleet of Typhoon jets across the four Eurofighter corenations: Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.The five-year support contract is part of a new contract suite

agreed with the nations which includes integrated mechanisms forcontinuing development work on the aircraft and will replace anumber of legacy contracts whilst extending the terms for a longerperiod. The agreement demonstrates a commitment by all parties inachieving continued efficiencies on the programme; long-termsupport for the sustainability of aircraft covering all three productiontranches and future enhancements and upgrades of the platform.

F117-PW-100 ENGINES

USDefense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of apossible Foreign Military Sale to the United Kingdom of 20 F-117-

PW-100 engines and associated equipment, parts, training andlogistical support for an estimated cost of $300million.The UK Government has requested the possible sale of 20 F-117-

PW-100 engines, engine exchange kits, support equipment, GlobalPositioning Systems, communications equipment, spare and repairparts, personnel training and training equipment, publications andtechnical documentation, U.S. The proposed sale supports thecontinued UK access to the United States Air Force/BoeingGLOBEMASTER III Sustainment Partnership program supporting theUK’s fleet of eight Boeing C-17A GLOBEMASTER III aircraft. Theestimated cost is $300million. The UK was the first foreign customerfor the C-17 GLOBEMASTER III cargo aircraft. Continued sustainmentof this system by the UK helps alleviate the burden placed on U.S.forces supporting NATO operations. The C-17 provides the UK withan increased force protection capability that enhances regional andglobal stability. The UK will have no problem absorbing theseadditional engines and support into its armed forces.

Carl Zeiss has launchedthe AURIGA® Laser, anew advanced systemcombining the specificadvantages of theAURIGA® CrossBeam(FIB-SEM) workstation withthe capabilities of a pulsedmicro-focus laser for fastablation of material.AURIGA® Laser isparticularly useful for theexamination of sampleswhere the target structureis deeply buried undermaterial layers. To gainaccess to the target structure this material needs to beremoved — a procedure which is difficult to conduct withconventional techniques. Mechanical ablation and cross-sectioning of large material volumes often cause deformations,making the sample unsuitable for further examination. Incontrast, applying a focused ion beam is inefficient, becausethe process is much too slow.

NEW ADVANCEDSYSTEM LASER


Digest

EXELIS COMPLETESWEAPONEJECTION TEST

ITT Exelis announced that itsweapon ejection releasetechnology successfullylaunched an MK 54 torpedofrom the P-8A Poseidon testaircraft, T-3, over a testrange in the Atlantic Ocean.This first airborne weaponsseparation test confirms thetechnology’s safety andeffectiveness.This Exelis-developed

innovative ejection technologyuses clean, high-pressurecompressed air to launchweapons. It replacesthe traditional use of electro-explosive cartridges thathad to be discarded andreplaced after every singleweapon release.

US TOSTRENGTHENCYBERSECURITY

Northrop GrummanCorporation has been

awarded a cybersecuritytask order by the DefenseInformation SystemsAgency (DISA) tostrengthen cybersecurityprotections across allDepartment of Defense(DoD) and IntelligenceCommunity networks byimplementing the HostBased Security System(HBSS) as part of the DoDInformation Assurance andComputer NetworkDefense contract.The task order was

competitively awardedunder the Encore 2 contractvehicle and is valued at$189million over a 3-yearbase period with two 1-yearoptions. As prime integrator,Northrop Grummanwillprovide software licensemaintenance support,training, help desk andarchitectural infrastructuresupport personnel.

SPERWER DRONES MAINTENANCE CONTRACT

Sagem (Safran group) has just signed a contract with SIMMAD(1), on behalf of the French Ministry of Defense, to provide

in-service maintenance for the Sperwer SDTI tactical drone systemsdeployed by the French army. The contract covers all maintenance,repair and technical support services for systems in servicewith the army until 2014.

DIGITAL AUDIOSELECTED FORNEW EC175

Cobham’s DigitalAudio Control

System (DACS) hasbeen selected asforward-fit for the newEurocopter EC175. Since 2008, DACS has been forward-fit on moremedium and heavy helicopters than any other digital audio systemin the world, including the EC135, 635, 225, 725, and 155.The EC175, a seven metric ton-category helicopter, will feature

enhanced range and payload capabilities for 12, 16, and 18-passenger configurations when it enters service in late 2012. TwoEC175 prototypes at Eurocopter’s Marignane, France location havelogged nearly 300 flight hours to date.

LockheedMartin has completed delivery of all hardware andcomponents associated with the Terminal High Altitude AreaDefense (THAAD) weapon system’s first U.S. Army Battery.THAAD is the only missile defense system with the

operational flexibility to intercept in both the endo- and exo-atmospheres to provide versatile capability to the warfighter. Akey element of the nation’s Ballistic Missile Defense System(BMDS), THAAD is a Missile Defense Agency program, withthe program office located in Huntsville, Ala. The agency isdeveloping the BMDS to defend the United States, itsdeployed forces and allies against short and medium rangeballistic missiles in the terminal phase of flight.LockheedMartin is a world leader in systems integration and

the development of air andmissile defense systems andtechnologies, including the first operational hit-to-kill interceptor.It also has considerable experience in interceptor design andproduction, infrared seekers, command and control/battlemanagement, and communications, precision pointing andtracking optics, as well as radar and signal processing.

1ST THAAD BATTERY DELIVERED

MORE AWD BLOCKS

Twomore keel blocks constructed by BAE Systems for theAir Warfare Destroyer (AWD) program have been

shipped to the ASC facility in Osborne South Australia. The$8 billion AWD project comprises three ships and willprovide the Royal Australian Navy with one of the world’smost capable multi-mission warships.

FIRST HELICOPTER LANDING TRIALS ONFREMM AQUITAINE

DCNS has achieved formal qualification of the FREMM frigateAquitaine's flight deck for operations with the Lynx helicopter.

This milestone was reached several months ahead of scheduleafter a successful deck landing campaign at sea, organised by theFrench defence procurement agency (DGA) in early February.Trials were conducted with a Lynx helicopter operated by theFrench Navy. Trials to qualify the flight deck of the first-of-classFREMM frigate were conducted in early February and supervisedby the DGA. French Navy test pilots completed several series ofapproaches and as many as 50 deck landings with a Lynx five-tonne class helicopter. The operations were a complete success.In particular, the pilots appreciated the absence of turbulenceabove the flight deck in all landing positions.

The Boeing B-1 bomberaircraft has completed its

10,000th combat mission.The heavy bomber enteredservice with the U.S. AirForce on June 29, 1985,and has been in nearlycontinuous combatfor the past 10years. Themilestone mission tookoff from a base inSouthwest Asia and wasflown in support ofoperations over Afghanistan

before returning to base."10,000 conventional

combat missions for arelatively small fleet of 66 B-1s is a major milestone anda testament to the men andwomen who built, sustain

and modernize thefleet,including the

U.S. Air Force,Boeing and oursubcontractors," said RickGreenwell, Boeing B-1program director.

B-1 BOMBER COMPLETES 10,000THCOMBAT MISSION

P-8A POSEIDON AIRCRAFT DELIVERED

Boeing on March 4 officially delivered the first production P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the U.S. Navy in Seattle. The P-8A isthe first of 13 anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare,intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft Boeingwill deliver as part of a low-rate initial production (LRIP)contract awarded in 2011.The Poseidon team is using a first-in-industry in-line

production process that draws on Boeing’s Next-Generation737 production system. All P-8A-unique aircraft modificationsare made in sequence during fabrication and assembly.


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AEW&CAircraft: Initially intended to provide an early warning of air trafficactivities, these surveillance and command aircraft have not only seen theircapacities increased to see what’s happening downwards but have alsobecomemore affordable to operate due to their relatively smaller sizes.

Modern Soldier Programmes – Update:Modern Soldier Programmesare now well established in a number of countries, but their components,especially for what regards electronics and assistance devices, and just likeanyone’s personal computer, have to be kept in tune with their times.

Utility Helicopter Armament:Once upon a time relegated back to theirpure original role – utility – by the dedicated attack helicopter, the type is nowincreasingly being exposed to the forward edge of battlefield activities to carryout their utility function, but also ground attack operations which commandsad-hoc barrelled and propelled weapons, whether guided or not.

IR Micro Cameras: In the current world of asymmetrical warfare, crewslocked up in a windowless vehicle need to knowwhat to expect from theoutside world before debussing. A number of devices not only roof-mountedcameras, but also shot detection and shot direction devices, together withfresh data on their personal displays plugged into the vehicle’s data bus, helpthem evaluate a tactical situation before opening the rear doors.

Radio Accessories: The wide variety of radios available orunder development is covered in specific Armada articles or Compendia,however few of these devices could be of any use without certainperipherals – just think of your computer without a mouse.These amenities range from osteoheadsets and microphone, safeconnectors, recharging devices and so forth.

Fighter Aircraft Market:While the number of fighter aircraft beingpurchased worldwide has dramatically decreased, their unit cost andcapabilities have gone the opposite way – reason why manufacturers aremore aggressively than ever pursuing niche markets.

CompendiumDrones: This extremely popular title, complete with itsnow legendary illustrated fold out table, once again reviews all the majordevelopments that have taken place since the last issue was printed.

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Digest

NEW AIR TRAFFIC COMMUNICATIONSYSTEM FOR AFGHANISTAN

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Europe-based airtraffic management systems subsidiary, Northrop

Grumman Park Air Systems, has been awarded a contractby the NATO Consultation, Command and Control (NATOC3) Agency to provide a second air traffic control receiversite for Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan. Kandahar Airfieldhas been maintained by NATO since 2006 and is a keylogistics hub used by NATO forces in Afghanistan.

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Armada: Issue 2 - April/May 2012

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