February 2012 Volume 3, Issue 1 www.GCT-kmi.com Equipment Rebuilder Brig. Gen. (P) John R. "Jack" O'Connor Deputy Chief of Staff, G4 U.S. Army Forces Command The Publication of Distinction for the Maneuver Warfighter U.S. ARMY FIRES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT Individual Carbine Competition O Critical Comms Ground Vehicles Reset MAJ. GEN. DAVID D. HALVERSON Commanding General U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence Interview with:
Transcript
February 2012 Volume 3, Issue 1
www.GCT-kmi.com
Equipment Rebuilder
Brig. Gen. (P) John R. "Jack" O'Connor
Deputy Chief of Staff, G4U.S. Army Forces Command
The Publication of Distinction for the Maneuver Warfighter
U.S. ARMY FiReS CenteR oF exCellenCe
Special Supplement
Individual Carbine Competition O Critical Comms Ground Vehicles Reset
Maj. Gen. DaviD D. HalversonCommanding GeneralU.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence
Interview with:
Les Baer Custom RiflesMore than twenty models of always reliable andbreathtakingly accurate rifles in multiple caliberoptions and barrel lengths, with options that includestate-of-the-art mounting systems, unerringlyaccurate barrels, mission-specific stocks and bipods.Examples include:
7.62 mm NATO Sniper Rifle
Pictured with Magpul sock, muzzlebrake, bipod, Picatinny rail, noforward assist, and all custommanufactured parts.
7.62 mm NATO MONOLITH SWAT ModelWith Mid-Length Barrel
Pictured with one-piece upper/rail system forextra stability plus Magul stock, bipod, no forwardassist, and all custom manufactured parts.
Les Baer Custom PistolsThere's still nothing that matches thestopping power of .45 ACP caliber, andnothing that equals the reliability of John
Browning's trustworthy 1911 design. With more than thirtymodels, all hand built from precision machined customparts to match specific requirements, Les Baer 1911 pistolsout-perform virtuallyall officers' or spec ops side-arms. Examples include:
Baer 1911 S.R.P. Pistol
Based on the Baer Swift Response Pistol originally built forthe FBI H.R.T. unit. Pictured with tritium night sights, allcustom parts, and non-corrosive matte finish.
The flagship of the Les Baer 1911 pistol line. Pictured withadjustable rear sight, 5" slide and all custom parts.
Although Les Baer Custom builds rifles and handguns based on two of the most iconic designs of thepast century, Les Baer AR style rifles and 1911 pistols are anything but your father's standard issueservice arms. Many of the U.S. military's elite special forces teams and covert operators already knowthat, because they have chosen firearms from Les Baer Custom as part of their own units' specialpurpose arsenals.
All Les Baer Custom rifles and pistols are custom built from precision machined parts and eachfirearm is custom fit to ensure perfect operation, superior repeatable accuracy, and a lifetime oftrouble-free service for years to come.
P e r f o r m a n c e . I t ’ s E v e r y t h i n g .1804 Iowa Drive • LeClaire, Iowa 52753 • Ph: 563-289-2126 • Fx: 563-289-2132 • Email: [email protected] • www.lesbaer.com
LesBaer-GCT.qxd:Layout 1 1/30/12 10:39 AM Page 1
Ground Combat teChnoloGy February 2012 Volume 3 • Issue 1
Features CoVer / Q&a
Industry InterVIew
16
www.GCT-kmi.comRichard "Rick" Burnett
Program Manager for Bradley DerivativesBae systems
28
Brigadier General (P) John R. “Jack” O’Connor
Deputy Chief of staff, G4U.s. army Forces Command
19
Critical Commsin combat, as in other endeavors, knowledge is power. Myriad communications systems provide the power of near real-time intel to combatants, including voice, data, cartography-GPs and video.By Peter Buxbaum
4
Ground Vehicles ResetWe examine programs that provide new transportation to the military and replace worn-out wheels, and discuss how those new vehicles would counter increasing threats in theater.By Dave ahearn
2
3
14
27
Editor's Perspective
Intel/People
Innovations
Calendar, Directory
7
8
11
12
Gun Fightas competition heats up to provide a new weapon to warfighters, we present a comparison of proposals for the next carbine, and how they will provide warfighters with upgraded accuracy, firepower and more.By Henry Canaday
Better Ammo, No Matter What the Choiceno matter which weapon wins the individual Carbine Competition, warfighters will gain better ammunition.
Candidate WeaponsWe don’t just tell you about the carbines entered in the competition, we show you detailed pictures of each firearm.
Level Playing Fieldin an easily understood graphic, we explain just what grueling rigors each carbine must endure during the individual Carbine Competition testing.
Fires Center of Excellence
Special Section: individual carbine competition
22
Featuring an exclusive interview withMaj. Gen. David D. HalversonCommanding GeneralFires Center of excellence
departments
The federal government is in tough fiscal shape, with huge defi-cits and debt that will require difficult action, either cutting popular programs or enacting unpopular revenue-raising measures. But as Congress attempts to do what must be done to reduce gargantuan federal borrowing, legislators must be careful not to cause significant damage.
A case in point is that the administration had requested $3.2 billion for combatting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the roadside mines that have killed and maimed more U.S. troops than any other enemy weapon. This fight is led by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization ( JIEDDO).
But in the final defense authorization measure in Congress, there is only $2.5 billion for combatting IEDs during the fiscal year ending September 30. The rationale for authorizing the lesser amount is that U.S. troops have left Iraq, and may leave Afghanistan in a year and a half to three years from now, so the question is raised as to whether anti-IED systems are needed.
The answer is yes. First, three years is a very long time. Does anyone want to be responsible for U.S. warfighters’ deaths caused by IEDs during those years? Further, it is patently foolhardy to assume that the weapon of choice used by the enemy in Afghanistan and Iraq won’t be used by terrorists elsewhere, such as inside the United States.
This is critical, vitally needed work. Without question, JIEDDO has fostered innovations that have saved lives of U.S. and friendly forces, though more needs to be done. “As hard as we try, we can’t stop every IED from being emplaced,” but once the enemy plants an IED along a road, JIEDDO is developing multiple ways to prevent them from killing troops, Lieutenant General Michael D. Barbero, JIEDDO director, said in a Ground Combat Technology Q&A Interview. (Please see GCT Volume 2, Issue 4)
Equally important is a key feature of JIEDDO, the ability to cut red tape and swiftly bring new IED-fighting developments into production and into theater, Barbero noted.
Congressional appropriators should think long and hard before cutting a dime from JIEDDO’s budget request, because lives are on the line.
The Publication of Distinction for the Maneuver Warfighter
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EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE
Army Issues RFP for Common Remotely Operated Weapons
Station
The Army issued a final request for proposals for the common remotely operated weapons station (CROWS), and Kongsberg is highly interested in the program.
Rune Johannessen, vice president of business development, North America for Kongsberg Protech Systems, said the company already is supplying the Army with the weapon stations, which allow warfighters to remain safely inside a vehicle while aiming and firing the weapon.
“The U.S. Army’s request for proposals for the CROWS program clearly demonstrates the Army’s recognition of the value of the common remotely operated weapons station and the commit-ment to providing soldiers with effective, reliable defense systems that protect the lives of our troops,” Johannessen said. His company “is proud to supply the U.S. Army with the Protector CROWS on the current U.S. Army program of record for remote weapons stations.”
He added that Kongsberg is “looking forward to moving onto
this next phase of the CROWS program, and we’re confident that Kongsberg is well positioned for this exciting competition.”
Johannessen cited some key points of the Kongsberg CROWS. It:
• Is the only RWS being used by U.S. forces in Afghanistan and the recent conflict in Iraq.
• Has more than 8,000 deployed units and has logged more than 10 million hours of reliable and successful combat operations.
• Allows troops to operate weapons from within the safety of their vehicle, saving lives and preventing injuries from direct fire and IEDs.
• Extends troops’ envelope of safety with a 1,000 meter enhanced view (IR, video, zoom), allowing them to accurately identify and eliminate risks faster.
• Is U.S.-built and sold: the Johnstown, Pa., facility, employs 200 people and suppliers reside in 23 states.
Compiled by KMi Media Group staffPEOPLEBrigadier General Joseph L. Bass, commanding general, U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., has been assigned to director for contracting, office of the assistant secretary of the Army (acquisition, logistics and technology), Washington, D.C.
Brigadier General Kirk F. Vollmecke, director for contracting, office of the assistant secretary of the Army (acquisition, logistics and technology), Washington, D.C., has been assigned to commanding general, Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Wendy R. Anderson has been appointed to the Senior Executive Service as special assistant to the deputy secre-tary of defense, office of the deputy secretary of defense, Washington, D.C. Anderson previously served as special assistant to the under secre-tary of defense (acquisition, technology & logistics), Washington, D.C.
Mack Defense Senior Vice President Tom Kelly recently received the My Boss is A Patriot Award for his support of colleague Ryan Werling, Mack Defense director of defense sales and programs and Army Reserve major, during his six-month tour of Iraq. Kelly and his team at Mack Defense, a division of Mack Trucks Inc., sent several care packages with Mack
merchandise, gift certificates and food to Werling’s wife and their two young children. Werling received his own comfort package.
Ngrain announced that Gabe Batstone has been appointed as CEO of the company, which makes simulation systems. Batstone previously was managing director of CAE Flightscape.
Marine Corps Obtains Aid for MRAP Maintenance
BAE Systems Land & Armaments/Tactical Wheeled Vehicles, Sealy, Texas, is being awarded $22.2 million for a delivery order under a previ-ously awarded indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for procurement of outside the conti-nental United States field service representatives and mechanics to
conduct maintenance work on the mine resistant ambush protected vehicle fleet supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Work will be performed in Afghanistan and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2012. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
JIEDDO Gains Services Support, as Army Obtains Services
BAE Systems will provide a range of services to support the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization ( JIEDDO) as part of a new indefinite delivery/indefi-nite quantity support contract. The company will participate in bids for a series of task orders over the next five years. The total potential value is approximately $900 million for all companies involved.
BAE Systems and a team of subcontractors will offer services including research, analysis, training, operations support and the sustain-ment of information technology.
These services will aid JIEDDO’s efforts to counter terrorist and other organi-zations from using improvised explo-sive devices.
Also, the Army awarded BAE Systems, York, Pa., a $30.4 million cost-no-fee and firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the services to procure material for 247 Operation Desert Storm Situational Awareness vehicles.
Work will be performed in York, Pa., with an estimated completion date of October 31, 2012. One bid was solic-ited, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity.
Compiled by KMi Media Group staffINTEL
www.GCT-kmi.com GCT 3.1 | 3
Whatever type of war the United States fights in the future, whether the enemy is a few armed radicals or a giant military power, it is certain that prevailing in theater ultimately will neces-sitate putting personnel on the ground—and those warfighters will need safe, swift transportation.
True, a much-loathed dictator was deposed in Libya with no more than U.S. and other NATO nations employing air power. But that overlooks the fact that there were vast numbers of boots on the ground to defeat Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and his regime, as insurgents of the Arab Spring toppled a tyrant.
While no one can predict today precisely when and where American forces will have to open ground combat operations—the United States military had no idea on September 10, 2001, that American warriors would be heading to Afghanistan and Iraq—it is clear that there will be, sadly, conflicts in the future. Consider that World War I was said to be the war to end all wars. It wasn’t.
While a new defense strategy plan unveiled at a Pentagon press briefing moves away from saying that the nation must be prepared to fight and win two wars simultaneously, it clearly does not say that the United States will fight wars no more.
And if U.S. combatants are to be sent into harm’s way, they will require vehicles that can transport them safely through combat zones filled with IEDs, RPGs and other enemy threats, with better comfort in rough off-road terrain, and with greater fuel efficiency.
But programs to renew and upgrade battle-battered vehicles that saw hard use in the wars may be slashed in the name of deficit reduction, along with cuts in other federal programs. President Obama and DoD leaders are proposing $487 billion of defense spending cuts over a decade to help reduce deficits, and a statute may require another $500 billion of military outlay cuts, adding up to a towering trillion-dollar slam on defense programs.
Specifically, the White House budget plan for fiscal 2013 to 2017 proposes delaying the Ground Combat Vehicle program to save $1.3 billion, and would kill the HMMWV recapitalization pro-gram, saving $900 million. But Congress can reject these moves. (This assumes that deficits will be reduced solely by spending cuts, instead of permitting the Bush tax cuts to expire at the end of this year, as provided in existing law. If they expire, that provides $4 trillion in new revenues over the decade, obviating the need for defense spending reductions.)
Here, then, is a look at what vehicle recapitalization efforts can mean to warfighters, if these programs are spared the budget ax.
Bradley Fighting Vehicle
The Bradley fighting vehicle is a workhorse carrying combatants to confront the enemy.
Roy Perkins is director of market creation for combat systems with BAE Systems, which manufactures the Bradley. Here, warriors have a tough tracked vehicle that already has been vastly upgraded with the Bradley Urban Survival Kit, and further major improvements may be in store with a recap program, Perkins said.
“The current recap … adds … the Bradley Urban Survival Kit, which includes additional armor on the vehicle and survivability enhancements to the vehicle,” he noted. “That’s the kit that’s cur-rently fielded on vehicles that are coming back from Iraq,” he said. U.S. troops have left Baghdad after almost nine years of combat. “That’s the kit that made it so survivable over there.”
Further, that version of the vehicle also provides other benefits for combatant passengers in the vehicle, such as enhanced situational awareness thanks to a driver’s vision capability system and an interior screen so that the crew can view what is occurring outside the vehicle on the battlefield, Perkins observed.
There now is a planned engineering change proposal (ECP) pro-gram, Perkins continued, that the program manager announced at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting in Washington, D.C. There are two iterations of this program: ECP1 and ECP2.
The first ECP is to improve the suspension, “because once we added all that additional armor, it made the vehicle ride a little lower. So we’re adding a beefier suspension to the vehicle, to raise it back up to where it’s supposed to be,” Perkins explained.
Not only does that higher stance increase ground clearance for normal operation, it helps to protect vehicle occupants when it is hit with an IED detonation. “One of the secrets about IEDs is that the farther away you can get from them, the better your armor works” to protect combatants inside the vehicle, he stressed. “So that in fact will improve the survivability of the vehicle.”
Upgraded Bradleys already have first-rate armor, both passive armor and active (with an explosive charge sandwiched between two layers of armor), Perkins noted. However, BAE doesn’t have a closed mind on this, he continued. “That’s one of the areas that we’re look-ing at to see what’s available out there” that would offer yet another advance in occupant protection. If a further armor upgrade is identi-fied, “whether or not we’ll implement it will be up to the government as to whether they see enough of an improved capability to justify the
Ground Vehicles Reset ragged rides Broken in Battle Become saFe, adVanced transports.
By daVe ahearn
gct editor
www.GCT-kmi.com4 | GCT 3.1
cost. It may be that the technology that’s already on the vehicle [is] good enough for the cost that they want to invest.”
The second iteration will include new electronics so as to buy back power requirements, with benefits including electronic gear that takes up less room in the vehicle, uses less electricity and weighs less so that the vehicle can boast better performance with the same given horsepower, he said. “When the vehicle was initially fielded … in the 1980s, the soldiers—believe it or not—were significantly smaller back then,” he recalled, and carried less gear as well. Also, Bradleys today are equipped with systems such as anti-IED jammers that didn’t exist three decades ago. “When a jammer goes off, it draws a lot of power. So how do we manage that [electrical] load?”
BAE Systems also is conferring with engine makers such as Cum-mings to see whether they have usable strategies for increasing horse-power performance, even as fuel consumption is curbed, he added.
Weapons already on the Bradley are good and will remain on the vehicle, “with the exception that the [program manager overseeing the night vision program at Fort Belvoir, Va.] is looking at an improved [weapon] sight system, or an improved thermal sight system,” Perkins said. That “Third-Gen FLIR” would be an upgrade through the night vision program at Fort Belvoir, not through the Bradley reset program.
Whether the Army would want BAE Systems to develop a Bradley-mounted system to recharge combatants’ personal-carried electronic gear would be up to the Army, which might decide it doesn’t make sense to invest in developing such a system for the Bradley when the Army simultaneously is investing in developing the next-generation
transport, the ground combat vehicle (GCV), Perkins observed. He said that BAE has looked at a system where warfighter-carried electronic gear would be recharged inductively, without connecting wires to the gear, while the warfighters are seated in the Bradley.
But it is clear that the Army is willing to finance development of improved survivability features to protect occupants of Bradleys, regardless of what is occurring in the GCV program, he emphasized. “The Army is doing a very good job to make sure that their soldiers in future combat—no matter what vehicle they’re in—will have the best survivability that they can.”
saratoga
The Saratoga light tactical vehicle by Navistar Defense was designed to meet a need and fill the gap between the recapped HMMWV modernized expanded capacity vehicle and the joint light tactical vehicle.
“If you are familiar with Navistar, you’ll know we have been a commercial truck maker for more than 100 years,” said Elissa Koc, a spokesperson. “In the commercial world, we identify a gap and a need, and then design and test a vehicle to meet that need,” she explained. And now, “we are trying to bring our commercial thinking to the defense industry.
“The Saratoga has more than 25,000 automotive test miles on it and we have conducted several blast tests at Aberdeen” Proving Grounds, she added.
Halogen, HID, LED, Infrared, Thermal
Permanent, Portable & Handheld UnitsRemote Control or Fixed UnitsIndustry Leading Warranties
This vehicle is production ready now, “and all along we targeted a $250,000 price point,” she said. “Additionally, we can then leverage this platform and our home-grown survivability solution to develop new solu-tions. We already do this on a regular basis. For example, our International WorkStar truck is known commercially to serve in construction applications such as a dump truck. We use that same durable platform in our MaxxPro mine resistant ambush pro-tected vehicles, as well as our military com-mercial off-the-shelf vehicles, which operate today as general troop transport vehicles, water trucks, fuel trucks, wreckers and much more.”
The Saratoga is designed to fill a capa-bility gap that may be created in the JLTV program, which at one point in the Senate was defunded and now has limited funds. With the A-Kit, the Saratoga still has full underbelly blast protection, standard glass, lightweight doors and automotive seats. In the upgraded B-Kit version, it boasts full perimeter direct fire and side IED protection, replacement doors with combat locks, transparent armor, a remote weapon system, blast-resistant seats and more.
It also has a MaxxForce 6.0 liter V-8 engine pumping out 325 horsepower and 570 foot-pounds of torque, an automatic transmis-sion, fully independent suspension, Michelin tires with run-flat feature, a range of 350 miles, and the ability to cross open terrain including fording streams of up to 30 inches depth. It weighs in at 14,800 to 18,500 pounds, and can haul a 3,500-to-4,900 pounds payload.
It normally is 83 inches high, but shrinks to 76 inches for trans-port, which can be in a C-130, a C-17, or a CH-47F or CH-53 helo underslung, or other aircraft.
mraps
There are many different contractors, each offering its own version of the mine resistant ambush protected vehicle, or MRAP. But what is clear is that these hulking vehicles, weighing close to 30,000 pounds, are able to take a hit from an IED or other enemy round and still protect occupants, saving lives where there would have been fatalities if the vehicle in question was an unarmored HMMWV.
Even a very good vehicle, however, can be improved.
Navistar Defense. For example, the Marine Corps awarded Navistar Defense an $880 million order to upgrade 2,717 International MaxxPro MRAPs. The vehicles will be provided with the Navistar rolling chassis solution in an award that also includes engineering changes, supplies and services.
This effort involves providing the MaxxPro MRAP with a new, highly mobile independent suspension chassis, according to Archie Massicotte, Navistar Defense president. But the armored capsule that protects the crew will be retained, as it is lifted off the old chas-sis and dropped onto the new rolling chassis solution.
An independent suspension, in which each wheel moves inde-pendently, can spare warfighter occupants the pounding that they otherwise would receive in a rough-riding vehicle. Long, jarring rides can mean combatants are in poor shape by the time they reach an objective and must engage the enemy.
The upgrade for the MRAP also includes a hefty MaxxPro 9.3 engine, 570-amp alternator and a better driveline.
Force Protection. The Cougar MRAP has been bought by the hundreds by the Army and Marine Corps, and they have been upgraded with advancements such as independent suspensions, along with battle damage repair and more. O
Come visit us at AUSA 22-24 Feb. ,FL
ONGOING COMMITMENT- NEW CAPABILITIES
The International MaxxPro MRAP.
For more information, contact GCT Editor Dave Ahearn at [email protected] or search our online archives for related stories
at www.GCT-kmi.com.
www.GCT-kmi.com6 | GCT 3.1
Special Section: individual carbine competition
The U.S. Army’s Individual Carbine (IC) competition is finally underway. “The Secretary of the Army, with strong interest from Congress, directed a best-value, full and open competition to determine if there is a commercially avail-able carbine that could provide greater degrees of accuracy, reliability, durability and maintainability than current sys-tems,” explained Colonel Scott Armstrong, project manager soldier weapons at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. “The intent of the competition is to identify a carbine that could meet a new set of requirements that consider innovative technologies and emerging threats.”
Armstrong noted the current M4 is combat-proven and 94 percent of soldiers rate it as effective in post-combat sur-veys. So the Army is pursuing two paths: looking for a new carbine that outperforms the M4A1, and upgrading M4s to fully-automatic, heavy-barrel M4A1 configuration, possibly with improved bolts and forward rails. Soldiers will get either a new carbine or a better version of the M4.
Accuracy, lethality, reliability and durability will be assessed in technical tests performed according to Testing Operations Procedure (TOP) 3-2-045. There will be live
firing, soldier-in-the-loop user tests and environmental-chamber tests to determine performance in extreme conditions. Minimum performance standards are set by current M4 performance.
Accuracy, the ability to center impacts on point of aim, and dispersion, the spread around impact center, will be measured by three procedures: firing from a special Mann test barrel; firing from a test stand; and manned, soldier-in-the-loop firing. IC candidates will be subject to extreme hot and cold environments, salt spray, submersion, dust, icing, rough handling and other conditions.
Small business participation will be required to main-tain a vibrant industrial base. Supportability is another significant factor, Armstrong noted.
Interoperability is a further consideration. “The weapon is a platform for certain accessories the soldier must carry, and it is very important those devices are compatible with the IC,” Armstrong said. “These devices include under-bar-rel shotguns (M26s) and grenade launchers (M320/M203s). The IC must also be able to mount currently fielded sights, flashlights and bayonet.”
First-rank gunmakers oFFer lighter weight, Better accuracy and more. By henry canaday
gct correspondent
GunFight
www.GCT-kmi.com GCT 3.1 | 7
In early 2010, potential IC competitors participated in an M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round familiarization shoot and compatibility check for under-barrel attachments to prepare for the carbine compe-tition. The non-competitive event took place at H.P. White Laboratory.
Interoperability will be further assessed during the down select phase of the IC competition when soldiers execute tasks that simulate combat.
Armstrong noted the Army is not seeking an entirely new weapon. “Over 30 manufacturers stated they could meet IC requirements with weapons that required limited or no additional development,” he observed.
Vendors firing other than 5.56 mm or 7.62 mm ammunition will be given a fair chance. If an entry significantly outperforms these standard rounds, “the Army would give the submission serious con-sideration,” Armstrong said. If the Army selects a non-standard caliber for deployment, it will bring the corresponding ammunition into its inventory. Armstrong said alternatives to the current gas-impinge-ment operating system will also be considered.
The winner of the IC competition will be compared with the M4, or improved M4, on cost. M4s now cost about $1,300 apiece, without optics. But the Army plans to compete and purchase about 24,000 M4A1s in accordance with the latest Technical Data Package, with award anticipated around March.
If a new carbine is chosen, it could be fielded in volume by fall 2014. The three-phase selection is expected to run for about two years. If the Army goes with the winner of the IC competition, the first unit could get the new weapon a year later.
The IC competition is independent of NATO activities. The U.S. Marines provided input to development of IC requirements, but the Marines will make their own decisions.
Adcor Defense submitted the Brown Enhanced Automatic Rifle (BEAR) Elite, the second generation of its modern auto-matic rifle. The original BEAR, designed by Michael J. Brown, executive vice president of operations at Adcor, has a free-floating gas-piston system attached to the rail to allow for a free-floating barrel. The BEAR also has a key-locked, highly rigid rail system, an ambidextrous, forward-placed charging handle and a polymer dust shield that protects the port from debris, dust and sand.
The new BEAR Elite offers several additional enhancements, including a hammer-forged, hard chrome-lined barrel with an ergonomic rifle grip and aggressive texturing. It is available in five barrel lengths from 10.5 to 18 inches.
Vice President of Sales Rick DeMilt emphasized that the BEAR Elite was designed especially for the M4 replacement competition. The free-floating barrel allows use of the gas-piston system, and BEAR uses steel barrel nuts in place of aluminum. The result is unparalleled reliability and accuracy, DeMilt argued.
Testing by H.P. White Laboratory with M855 ball ammuni-tion yielded no breaks or failures in 6,000 rounds and average groupings of only 2.88 inches at 100 yards, versus the standard of 4.5 inches. Using Federal Match ammunition the BEAR Elite shot .88 inches. “That is sniper-grade accuracy,” DeMilt stressed.
To ensure reliability and supportability, Adcor manufactures its own parts, unlike some other OEMs. The polymer dust shield on the Elite eliminates dirt adhering to a bolt wet with lubricant when the port cover is open.
Rear charging handles can create problems in the prone firing position or when weapons are separated from the body by other gear. BEAR’s forward charging handle enables soldiers to easily take immediate actions, like clearing the weapon.
better ammo, no matter What the choice
As the IC competition gets real, the
Army has already switched its acquisition
of 5.56 mm ammunition from the M855
to the M855A1 Enhanced Performance
Round (EPR), a new ‘green’ round with no
lead and improved performance. This new
round will be used by weapons firing 5.56
mm ammunition in IC tests.
With a copper-only core, the 5.56
mm M855A1 has proved more effective
against hard targets than the 5.56 mm
M855 it is replacing. The new round is
equal to the M855 round in effectiveness
against soft targets but is more consis-
tent in its performance because, unlike
the M855, it is not yaw-dependent. The
effects of the M855A1 on targets do not
depend on its angle of yaw when striking
the target.
There is no change in cartridge length
or bullet weight. The EPR’s slug is copper,
rather than lead as in the M855. The new
round has a hardened steel arrow head in
place of and about twice the weight of the
steel penetrator on the replaced ammuni-
tion. The primer of both types is the same,
but the M855A1 primer has a four-prong
stake. The EPR is also corrosion resistant
and has a flash suppressant, unlike the
M855.
Both chamber pressure and velocity
have been increased over the M855.
When fired by an M4, the M855A1 can
penetrate 3/8 of an inch of mild steel at
350 meters, compared with the same pen-
etration power of the M855 at only 160
meters. Both distances are longer when
firing is done with an M16, but the M855A1
still clearly outperforms the M855.
Penetration differences are dramatic
when ammunition is fired at concrete
masonry. M855 rounds do not penetrate
this material, but M855A1 rounds can, at
least at some distances under 100 meters.
The Army reports that, on average,
95 percent of EPR rounds will hit within
an 8-by-8-inch target at 600 yards, bet-
ter than the M855, although the Army
cautions that marksmanship training is
always essential to accuracy.
Environmental progress comes along
with better performance. Use of the
M855A1 will cut the amount of lead used
for production by about 2,000 metric tons
a year, the Army estimates.
The Army has thus found ammunition
that yields better performance against
hard targets, without, like armor-piercing
rounds, giving up effectiveness against
soft targets. Since both the improved M4
and the winner of the IC competition—if
the winner uses 5.56 mm ammunition—will
be firing M885A1 rounds, this should not
affect comparison of the two choices. But
it means soldiers are already getting some
improved capabilities in the field.
Special Section: individual carbine competition
www.GCT-kmi.com8 | GCT 3.1
The gas-piston system can be removed, allowing the BEAR Elite to be fired as a manually operated repeater.
On pricing, DeMilt said, “We are competitive with any rifle with a gas piston system.”
Heckler & Koch submitted a variant of its HK416. Steve Gal-loway, director of creative services for H&K, said characteristics and functions are “pretty much the same as the regular HK416.”
The 5.56 mm HK416 was developed for U.S. special opera-tions forces as a major improvement over M4 carbines and rifles. A proprietary gas-piston system enables the HK416 to avoid introducing propellant gases and carbon into the weapon’s inte-rior, improving reliability.
Advancements made to the internal operating system and components improve reliability both in best- and worse-case conditions, using all types of ammunition and barrel lengths, with and without sound suppressors. A free-floating, four-quadrant rail system and hand-guard allows M4 accessories such as sights, lights and aimers to be fitted. The rail system can be installed and removed without tools.
The gas system uses a piston driving an operating rod to control the bolt, preventing gases and carbon from fouling the interior, increasing reliability and extending the interval between stoppages. The approach reduces cleaning time, heat transfer to bolt and carrier and wear and tear on components.
To improve reliability, service life and operator safety during obstructions or extended firing sessions, the HK416 uses barrels produced by cold-hammer forging. High-quality steel provides superior accuracy for more than 20,000 rounds with minimal degradation. HK416 barrels are available in five lengths from nine to 20 inches.
A new HK416C (compact) version has a new buffer system and retractable stock. Other HK416 variants have over-the-beach capability and can be safely fired after being submerged and not completely drained. H&K has also produced corrosion-resistant steel and polymer magazines.
A single-shot grenade launcher can be quickly attached to the rail system of all HK416s without tools. H&K’s safety blank firing attachment and live round excluder magazine technology can eliminate the possibility of live rounds.
Remington Arms has submitted its Adaptive Combat Rifle (ACR). “Accuracy depends on projectile as much as firearm,” noted Jason Schauble, vice president, Defense Division. “The M4 has five minutes of angle and we are better. The only way to get more accuracy is to tighten tolerances, but then it gets gummed up with mud and sand.” Lethality is also determined by ammunition, and Schauble said most competitors will likely use M855 ammo.
Remington’s major goals were reliability, durability and maintainability. “We made sure ours is more reliable than the M4. Our parts last as least twice as long as the M4’s. The ARC runs without cleaning and lubrication significantly longer than M4,” Schauble said. “So it has superior reliability, durability and maintainability.”
Open architecture allows change-out of barrel length and caliber as well as stock and lower receiver. “The Army would have a platform for a family of weapons, for personal defense or designated marksmen.”
The ACR is not the same as Remington’s Bushmaster. At 8 pounds, including loaded magazine, it is lighter. And the ACR
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www.GCT-kmi.com GCT 3.1 | 9
For more information, contact GCT Editor Dave Ahearn at [email protected] or search our online archives for related stories
at www.GCT-kmi.com.
does not have a quick-change barrel because the Army indicated this feature was not desired.
The ACR is less expensive than the M4’s current price, but competition may drive M4 prices down. “So if you submit a $1,500 weapon, and they drive the M4 down to $800, you must prove it is $700 better,” Schauble noted.
It is hard to know what the benchmark price will be or how cost-benefit calculation will be done. The result might be no replacement. Remington did not think the Army would go through competition and low-rate initial production but not go ahead with a program. However, it did with FNH’s Special Opera-tions Forces Combat Assault Rifle. “It may depend on how much money they have in the budget,” Schauble noted.
Beretta has submitted a variant of its ARX 160, called inter-nally the ARX 160 IC, specifically modified for the IC competi-tion. Vice President Military Sales Gabriele DePlano said it uses standard 5.56 mm NATO rounds.
The submission has several distinctive features which, because they are not requirements, may or may not be advan-tageous in the competition. Extensive use of polymers reduces weight, improves corrosion resistance and reduces the need for lubrication. “Where we have steel on polymer, it does not need lubrication,” DePlano explained. “It is pretty lubrication-free, although there are some parts that do need maintenance.”
Without any tools, the ARX 160 IC can be broken down into four major parts—barrel, upper receiver, lower receiver and bolt—with no loose pins or springs, which should make it easy to maintain and to switch barrels to tailor the gun to the mission.
Beretta’s entry enables easy switching of ejection between right and left. This favors left-handed soldiers, DePlano noted. The feature also would help in tight quarters—for instance, inside a vehicle or in shooting around corners, as is envisioned in future systems with head-up displays.
The ARX 160 IC has the low weight required and is competi-tive with the M4’s current price. The variant differs from other ARX 160 versions because Beretta developed it to be lighter in weight and ergonomically similar to the M4 and emphasized reliability under sustained rates of fire. “We Americanized it,” DePlano commented.
Colt is competing for the M4 replacement but will not release information on its entry until Phase I of the competition is complete and Phase II is under way, Marketing Manager Jeffrey Radziwon said. The company reportedly submitted its CM901 Modular Battle Rifle with ambidextrous controls of bolt release, magazine release and the fire selector/safety lever.
This weapon offers versatility, being able to fire either 7.62 mm or 5.56 mm rounds. Converting from one to the other is simple.
FNH also is entering the major competition. “The Army’s solicitation for a new individual carbine is one of the most sig-nificant procurements of weapons in the 21st century,” said Mark Cherpes, FNH USA executive vice president. “FNH USA is excited to be a part of this process and has submitted a proposal.”
“FNH USA has a proven track record for providing high-quality and reliable weapons to America’s armed forces,” Cherpes said. “Our carbine solution will meet or exceed Army’s standards in every way.”
Although LWRC International developed and tested a rifle specifically for the competition, it decided not to bid, partly because the Phase I down-select is based solely on price and facil-ity capability, not technical merit, according to Executive Vice President Darren Mellors.
Robinson Armament is not bidding, although it believes it could provide the best combination of durability, reliability and accuracy. General Manager Alex Robinson thinks a 5.56 mm weapon is too small. Although this ammunition is not required, bidders must supply up to a quarter million rounds for com-petition and ammo manufacturers will not make so many new rounds with a short lead time.
“We are putting our efforts into the M4 product improvement effort,” said David Lutz, vice president of military operations at Knight’s Armament. Lutz argued that M4 improvement is more economically viable, in light of future defense budgets. O
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Special Section: individual carbine competition
www.GCT-kmi.com10 | GCT 3.1
adcor defenseBrown Enhanced Automatic Rifle-BEAR
remington armsAdaptive Combat Rifle
berettaARX 160
Heckler & KochHK416
FnHSCAR
coltEnhanced M4
Candidate Weapons
www.GCT-kmi.com GCT 3.1 | 11
How
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Glare MOUT PlusB.e. Meyers
Output Power (Visible): 200 mW
(maximum)
Wavelength: 532 nm (green)
Laser Classification: Class 3B
Power Supply: 2 x 123,
optional third battery
Dimensions: 7.9 x 1.7 x 1.8 in
Operational Temperature: -20 to
+50 °C
Weight (With Batteries): 9.9 oz
NOHD: 20m (.25 s exposure)
Effective Range (day): 20-500 m
Blackbird SK-5ontario Knife Company
Blade Length: 5 inches
Overall Length: 10 inches
Weight: 8.4 ounces
Blade Thickness: 0.130 inches
Handle Thickness: 0.68 inches
Blade Material: 154 CM stainless
steel
Handle Material: Micarta
InvictusAtK
Main Weapon: M230LF cannon
Height: 34 inches
Swept Diameter (excluding barrel): 57 inches
Caliber: 30 mm
Swept Diameter (including barrel): 116 inches
Weight (fully loaded): ~700 pounds
Ready Ammo: 144 rounds, 30 x 113 mm
All Clear UV Water Purification SystemCamelBak
Height: 11 inches
Width: 3.25 inches
Dry Weight: 10.75 ounces
Capacity: 0.75 liters
Battery: rechargeable lithium ion
Usage: 80 cycles per charge
New Visual Disruption Laser ChosenThe Glare MOUT Plus (LA-13/P) is B.E. Meyers'
next generation escalation of force (EoF) visual disruption laser, and was chosen by the Army to be the solution for the Green Laser Interdiction System Program, according to Bruce Westcoat, vice president of business development.
The asset combines all of the positive attributes of the original Glare MOUT device that created this product category, and adds a training mode to further protect users, nearly doubles the power—providing much greater standoff distance—and extends its environmental performance from -20° C to +50° C, Westcoat noted.
The improvement in standoff distance is particularly valuable to the warfighters, providing a non-lethal escalation of force option that is effective at 500 m in daylight, providing valuable time to make the right decision and take effective action.
The new system provides a tool that is robust enough to be mounted to crew server weapons, is small and light enough that it can be mounted on individual weapons or used hand-held, and is capable enough to be used for all EoF applications in the field, he continued.
“This combination of high power output, long standoff range, small size, light weight, ruggedness and effectiveness make this a tool that meets all the needs of warfighters requiring an EoF capability for engagement at one km or less,” Westcoat concluded.
INNOVATIONS
www.GCT-kmi.com14 | GCT 2.6
Vehicle-Mounted LightsGolight inc.
Golight introduced the GXL fixed LED work light. Available in spot or flood configurations, the GXL is the incredibly intense, compact and durable lighting solution for military vehicles, available in either spotlight or flood.
Mark 6, Mark 8 Scopesleupold
Compact size: 10.3 inches long;
weight is 17 ounces.
Wide field of view (linear): 105.8 feet
(1x) – 19.3 feet (6x) at 100 yards.
Rugged 34 mm maintube and
6x erector system provide more
than 37 milliradians of total
adjustment.
Mark 6 1-6 x 20 mm
riflescopes have a matte
black finish and are filled
with an Argon/Krypton gas
blend, making them second-
generation waterproof, fog
proof and shock proof.
Scopes Give Warriors Accuracy at Long RangeLeupold is now offering two advanced
scopes to aid warfighters.Leupold’s Tactical Optics division is
introducing the Mark 8 3.5-25 x 56 mm M5B2 riflescope, giving serious shooters the flexibility and precision necessary for making surgical long-range shots.
With a wide 8x zoom range, the advanced scope gives operators a wide field of view at lower settings, yet still provides excellent long-range target discrimination at higher powers.
With a choice of a Mil Dot reticle or a Horus Vision H58 reticle, operators can be assured of precise ranging and holds at all distances.
The other new scope that Leupold is introducing is the Mark 6 1-6 x 20 mm M6C1, a compact and exceptionally fast,
versatile riflescope for military warfighters, law enforcement personnel and competition shooters.
The scope’s powerful 6x zoom range provides an expansive field of view and rapid target acquisition at low magnification, as well as outstanding long-range target engagement at higher powers.
The Mark 6 1-6 x 20 mm features illuminated front focal plane reticles that are visible in daylight and allow for accurate ranging and shot correction at any magnification and in various light conditions.
With seven illumination brightness settings, the scope is compatible with night vision devices. Off positions between each setting also help extend battery life and make returning to the preferred setting nearly immediate.
Chemical Light Sticksesterline
When you need lights in the field, but there is no power source, Esterline provides the solution: chemical light sticks that can be activated in seconds. Biodegradable, non-toxic and surprisingly bright, they last 12 hours to light a large tent or mark an improvised helicopter landing zone.
Ranger R5D Ground Radar FliR inc.
Type: Perimeter Surveillance
Range: 5,600 meters fast scan
10,500 meters Doppler
Compiled by KMi Media Group staff
www.GCT-kmi.com GCT 3.1 | 15
Brigadier General John R. O’Connor became the deputy chief of staff, G-4, U.S. Army Forces Command, on July 11, 2011. In this position, he ensures FORSCOM can provide fully equipped, logistically sustainable and ready forces to meet combatant commander require-ments across the spectrum of current and future operations.
He is a native of Toledo, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Miami, Fla., in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in business admin-istration and was commissioned in the Transportation Corps through ROTC. He holds master’s degrees in both logistics management from Florida Institute of Technology and strategic studies from the Army War College. His military education includes the transportation offi-cer basic and advanced courses, the logistics executive development course, Command and General Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College and the United States Army War College.
O'Connor has served in a variety of multifunctional logistics assignments to include: platoon leader, Company Executive Offi-cer, 590th Transportation Company, 181st Transportation Battalion, Mannheim, Germany; aide-de-camp to the commanding general, 3rd Corps Support Command, V Corps, Wiesbaden, Germany; assistant battalion S2/3 and commander, Delta Company, 407th Supply and Transport Battalion, 82nd Division Support Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.; battalion S2/3 operations officer (Operation Desert Shield/Storm-Saudi Arabia), 7th Transportation Battalion; assistant S3 operations officer, 507th Corps Support Group, 1st Corps Support Command, Fort Bragg; division transportation officer, G4, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg; J4 logistics plans officer, United States Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii; commander, Troop Support Battalion, again at Fort Bragg (Operation Enduring Freedom-Uzbekistan); transpor-tation branch chief, Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Va.; commander, 402nd Army Field Support Brigade, Army Sustainment Command (Operation Iraqi Freedom-Kuwait/Iraq); executive officer to the Army Materiel Command; executive deputy to the command-ing general at Fort Belvoir, Va.; deputy commanding general, Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, Fort Eustis, Va.; commanding general, Army Materiel Command-Southwest Asia/G-4, United States Army Central (Kuwait); director, G-43, Operations and Logistics Readiness, deputy chief of staff, G4, Department of the Army, Pentagon.
His personal awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (two Oak Leaf Clusters) Bronze Star Medal (two Oak Leaf Clusters), the Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritori-ous Service Medal (five Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (six Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Master Parachutist Badge and numerous cam-paign and service medals.
Q: Since beginning duty in your current position, what [if any] changes have you overseen in FORSCOM?
A: I arrived at FORSCOM last summer as large-scale changes were taking place in the way we manage and maintain equipment. Many of our units were operating on a model that required them to deploy to either Iraq or Afghanistan, fall in on equipment provided by the theater, take some equipment with them and leave the rest of their equipment behind, typically to be maintained by contractors under the supervision of Army Materiel Command. This placed an administrative burden on the unit to account for equipment in various locations. As the requirement for forces decreases, units will retain and maintain their own equipment. This includes units that deploy. Equipment that does not deploy will be maintained at the home station using soldiers that do not deploy augmented with maintenance and supply person-nel organic to the base. This program has been working well, and it requires us to focus on our core competencies in the areas of supply and maintenance, and allows us to reduce our reliance on contractor support.
Q: After a decade of combat, the Army faces an enormous reset chal-lenge to repair or replace worn or battle-damaged assets. How do you see this effort progressing?
Equipment RebuilderCombat-Battered Vehicles, Aircraft Need Major Work
Q&AQ&ABrigadier General (P)
John R. “Jack” O’ConnorDeputy Chief of Staff, G4
U.S. Army Forces Command
www.GCT-kmi.com16 | GCT 3.1
A: Over the past 10 years, the Army has developed a robust series of programs/procedures for the retrograde, reset and redistribution of equipment deployed to theater. As a sustainment community, we have been planning for the withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan for sev-eral years. Through constant re-evaluation of theater-required assets and a deliberate effort to re-deploy unneeded equipment early, we have mitigated the challenge by feeding as much equipment as possible into the reset process early—reducing the “iron mountain” challenge associated with past force withdrawals.
Q: What are the physical assets that require the most reset work?
A: From a man-hour/resourcing perspective, armored vehicles and heavy combat systems may require more labor and depot resources. But, as measured by time, our experience in FORSCOM is that aviation platforms [helicopters] and certain low-density, high-use systems take longer to reset. Our FORSCOM G-4 equipment integrators lead com-bined equipping conferences [CECs] for every re-deploying FORSCOM brigade combat team, combat aviation brigade and other brigade-level units by exception. The aim of these CECs is to schedule delivery of reset equipment to units by 180 days after the unit redeployment. Generally speaking, equipment coming out of reset can be delivered on this timeline. However, helicopter airframes and highly technical com-mand and control, and intelligence electronic warfare systems, such as Joint Network Node [JNN] and PROPHET direction finding system, take longer to reset due to numerous technical upgrades and limited production capacity. We partner very closely with Army Materiel Com-mand to ensure our formations have what they need when they need it to support mission and training requirements through the ARFOR-GEN [Army Force Generation] process. Reset is an important com-ponent of that process. Other physical assets to consider for some of the aforementioned reasons are: Q36/37 Firefinder radar, M777 towed howitzer, SMART-T-Secure Mobile Anti-Jam Reliable Tactical-Terminal, M1068A3-Standard Integrated Command Post System Carrier, and the M1200 Armored Knight Shadow.
Q: What logistical or sustainment systems, such as repair facilities, would you most like to see improved, and in what ways?
A: We are in the process of moving to an enterprise resource planning system to manage supply, maintenance and financial systems. This system is referred to as Global Combat Support System-Army and will replace 16 legacy systems with a single integrated database. This will assist in all areas of sustainment and accountability management.
We are also working to implement a common operating picture [COP] for sustainment organizations within the Army. We saw that there was a gap in mentoring and training oversight across the sus-tainment community. Thus, leveraging sustainment organizations in CONUS—or LSOC as we call it—was born to assist sustainment brigades and support senior commanders by leveraging materiel and supply chain management, professional development and mentorship, logistics synchronization and distribution, and readiness improvement opportunities and training.
The FORSCOM G-4 team is identifying opportunities within the sustainment community through the development of FORSCOM installation logistics support plans [ISPs] in order to provide senior commanders with synchronized plans to incorporate and leverage all sustainment capabilities resident on their installation. The need for ISPs was born from ARFORGEN requirements, which leave units
behind at home station without their habitual logistics support. We obtain this information directly from our mission support elements as a TDA [table of distribution and allowances] organization that directly supports the senior commander as the single point of contact for logistics issues when supporting units deploy or are unavailable. The MSE [mission support element] logistics section provides continuity and coordinates logistics resolution as well as outlines support for left-behind units in coordination with senior commanders and support units. The support plans must specifically address all logistics functions while the sustainment provider is deployed or otherwise unavailable.
Q: As the Army continues to rotate enormous amounts of physical assets and personnel in and out of Afghanistan, how do you assess logistics/sustainment-related information technology capabilities to facilitate and coordinate those movements?
A: Our legacy systems that manage logistics were designed to sup-port equipment that stays with a unit throughout the life cycle. The demands of constant rotation and transferring equipment to meet the readiness needs of deploying units have certainly been a challenge. We are participating in a Property Accountability Task Force to ensure that our systems can support any mission that we may be called upon to perform. Again, Global Combat Support System Army will greatly facilitate the management of over $306 billion of inventory, most of which is in motion to support combat operations.
A number of highly capable information technology systems and initiatives have been put in place both prior to and since the initiation of hostilities in southwest Asia. The greatest challenge we have faced is integrating the various systems and databases to take maximum advantage of the extensive data that is already resident in the various Army, Defense Logistics Agency and TRANSCOM [Trans-portation Command] systems. Both the Army and FORSCOM G-4, in conjunction with our partners in theater, are continuously tailoring our processes and systems to ensure that we provide leaders with a sustainment COP that maximizes sustainment situational awareness as a combat multiplier.
Q: Are there any new in-transit visibility or other accountability/tracking technologies or services on the way, or in the development stages, that would be helpful to you in executing your responsibili-ties?
A: As a matter of fact, United States Transportation Command has developed a satellite-enabled tracking and intrusion detection [SETID] tag, which will provide the ability to intensively track cargo and gain general insight on cargo safety. Our current in-transit visibility method of radio frequency identification tags, read by fixed interroga-tor readers, is difficult to operate in austere locations without existing infrastructure. The SETID uses Global Positioning System technol-ogy to accurately locate an item in transit. It includes more robust intrusion notification features [e.g., light, humidity and temperature indicators] for controlled inventory and sensitive or high-cost items. It then transmits their location to the Department of Defense Global Exchange. Our United States Army Forces Command units benefit, as intrusions can be reduced and the velocity management of our distri-bution system can be improved. As a result, we are then able to get the right equipment to the right place at the right time, whether it is to a soldier operating in a hostile environment or to an installation back in the United States in support of our Army force generation reset efforts.
www.GCT-kmi.com GCT 3.1 | 17
Q: There has been extensive discussion of massive reductions in defense spending, ranging from $450 billion to $1 trillion over the next decade. What efficiency and economy moves do you see FORSCOM taking advantage of to lessen this impact?
A: Again, we are poised to transition from a reliance on contractor support to maintaining and accounting for equipment using organic soldier expertise. We have developed plans to ensure that continuity of support is provided to installations using organic capability and that any support gaps that occur are resolved by looking at all capability that exists throughout the command and our Army. We fully understand that resources will be scarce, but we are well positioned to use organic capability, given the level of deployments projected.
Incremental modernization enables us to deliver new and improved capabilities to the force by leveraging mature technologies, shorten-ing development times, planning growth potential and integrating increments of those capabilities to give us the greatest advantage in the future while hedging against uncertainty. Incremental moderniza-tion does not neglect existing equipment. In addition to expanding or improving capability by developing and fielding new technologies, the Army will continue to upgrade, improve and recapitalize existing capabilities while simultaneously divesting those capabilities deemed redundant or no longer required. By modernizing in an incremental manner, instead of purchasing equipment in quantities large enough to equip the entire force, the Army is able to provide the most relevant versions of capabilities available to units prior to deployment.
Q: How do you sustain and maintain the force in an environment of increasingly constrained resources?
A: We will use our organic assets with augmentation as required. We do not anticipate any lessening of Army-level readiness standards, so we must be innovative in how we provide support. This will include using reserve components capability during their annual training to provide support. The forecasted reduction in deployments will allow us to maintain and account for our equipment using organic capabil-ity.
We have also championed a contract reduction initiative which is moving forward by focusing on visibility of all contracts, with the Command Contracting Discipline Program [CCDP] as one of the primary tools. At our present state, the CCDP has several key com-ponents: ensure regulatory compliance, publish guidance and create web-based contracting tools.
We are also partnering with HQDA in order to bring equipment back to CONUS as we draw down in Iraq. The HQDA established a Retrograde/Reset/Redistribution Task Force with the goals of syn-chronizing efforts with the return, reconditioning and redistribution of theater retrograde. We create a single source document to synchro-nize retrograde as well as a common operating picture. The effort began when FORSCOM developed a critical LIN [line identification numbers] list focusing on MTOE [modified table of organization and equipment] requirements prioritized to FORSCOM critical shortages in support of unit readiness.
The Army is better equipped now than ever before, and we must maintain our combat edge while we work to reconstitute and rebal-ance the force, recognizing that even after the drawdown of forces in Iraq and the eventual drawdown of forces in Afghanistan, the Army’s long-standing national security requirements will remain. For nearly a decade, the Army has been operating at a tremendous and persistent pace. The demand for forces stressed our supply chains during most of this period.
Q: Do you have any closing thoughts as to the men and women of the Army, in general, and more specifically of your organization, the work that they do and their accomplishments?
A: My team manages the equipping and sustainment training needs for 80 percent of the Army’s soldiers. It is no easy task and they make great strides daily to ensure our main customer, the soldier, is fully prepared to handle the mission at hand. Versatility and adaptability are essential to our core mission and capabilities as we plan and pre-pare for an uncertain future.
The operational environment and mission scope are rapidly tran-sitioning to accommodate an Army that will look different in size, mix and modernization. As a result, we will leverage all our logistics talent and excellence to exercise rapid process improvements to gain increased efficiency and effectiveness. With our recent drawdown in Iraq, we have closed a chapter for our Army and the logistics com-munity where we will take those lessons learned and apply them to Afghanistan. We are entering into another historical period as we continue to fight, but we will eventually responsibly draw down in Afghanistan as well. We want our soldiers to have the best equipment, while at the same time, divesting our inventory of equipment we no longer require. Our goal is to ensure we optimize at every opportunity and leave no stone unturned regarding supply chain management, distribution, force protection and soldier readiness. Owww.TacticalVehiclesSummit .com | 1-800-882-8684
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FutureArmorTechnologyFocusDay:April 23, 2012MainSummit: April 24 - 25, 2012HiltonAlexandriaMarkCenter,Alexandria,VA
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www.GCT-kmi.com18 | GCT 3.1
warFighters are gaining new radio capaBilities in myriad systems.
By peter BuxBaum
gct correspondent
The Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) was once touted as key to the Pentagon’s efforts to transform the military. The program was initiated in the late 1990s to produce a single, standard software-operated radio system for all U.S. armed services. However, cost over-runs and performance shortfalls have led to program reorganizations and pared-down expectations.
The most recent JTRS shoe to drop was the Octo-ber 2011 cancellation of the Ground Mobile Radio (GMR), a contract primed by Boeing. Fortunately, Boe-ing’s woes may represent opportunities for other com-panies. The JTRS program office has already issued draft requirements for a GMR replacement, based on “non-developmental” capabilities, and potential indus-try partners are lining up to demonstrate how their technologies might fit the bill. Furthermore, despite the GMR failure, other aspects of JTRS, such as the Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station (AMF) radio and the Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Fit (HMS) program are proceeding apace.
Why was GMR canceled? The official word from Joint Program Executive Office (JPEO) JTRS is that the termination came for two reasons: First, the cancellation of the Future Combat Systems (FCS) pro-gram meant that GMR could not easily be integrated into existing Army vehicles, and secondly, the demise of GMR gave the Army the opportunity to leverage industry capabilities.
“GMR was originally designed to support the Army’s plans for FCS,” said Navy Captain Jeff Hoyle, the industry engagement manager at JPEO JTRS. “The proposed FCS vehicles are larger than the Army’s cur-rent inventory. They had more space, could accommo-date more weight, and had more power available. As the Army’s network modernization strategy evolved, the radio no longer fit in terms of physical size.”
The Army also saw an opportunity to incorporate the JTRS Enterprise Business Model into its net-work modernization efforts, according to Hoyle. This involves inviting industry to incorporate government-developed waveforms into commercially-developed radios and then selling those back to the government. “This will provide a more affordable proliferation of network capabilities and will allow the Army to get away from one type of vehicular radio design,” he said. “The Army tests these commercially-developed capabilities at events like the Network Integration Evaluation.”
The testimony of Belva Martin, the director of acquisition and sourcing management at the Govern-ment Accountability Office, before a House of Repre-sentatives Armed Services subcommittee last October provides a couple of additional reasons. “The termina-tion was based on growth in unit procurement costs” as the Army lowered its GMR acquisition objective from 86,000 units to just 10,000. “The radio performed poorly during the network integration evaluation,” Martin said, “and was given a ‘stop development and do not field’ assessment by the test unit.”
Critical Comms
www.GCT-kmi.com GCT 3.1 | 19
GMR also became something of a moot point because of the onward march of tech-nology since its requirements were first written. “The main thing the Army wants to accomplish is to run the Wideband Network-ing Waveform [WNW] and the Soldier Radio Waveform [SRW],” two of the key software components developed as part of JTRS, said Greg Giaquinto, an analyst at Forecast Inter-national, a consultancy based in Newtown, Conn. “The Army figured that they will be able to do that at a lower price point without developing the hardware to go along with it.”
A waveform is a software representation of a signal that includes frequency, modula-tion type, message format and transmis-sion system. WNW and SRW provide key advanced networking capabilities.
The GMR termination “will require the Army to develop new plans for relaying information to the soldier,” Martin con-cluded.
Following the GMR cancellation, the Department of Defense established a new program, dubbed the Mid-Tier Network-ing Vehicular Radio (MNVR), which will seek a lower-cost radio with reduced size, weight and power. The Joint Program Exec-utive Office–Joint Tactical Radio System has issued a draft request for proposals for the MNVR, a document that is expected to be finalized in February.
The basic strategy outlined in the draft RFP is for the Army to acquire JTRS-com-patible “non-developmental” equipment.
“Non-developmental means that the gov-ernment will not be paying for research and development,” said Chris Brady, vice presi-dent of assured communications at General Dynamics. “There are no COTS [commercial off-the-shelf] products that meet all of the MNVR specs. Everything will require some work internally, but from the government’s perspective it is non-developmental.
“MNVR is a re-compete of GMR,” Brady added. “The specs are similar except that there are more constraints on size and weight. We definitely expect a more aggres-sive unit cost target.”
MNVR will also require radios to run at least three waveforms, according to Dennis Moran, vice president of government busi-ness development at Harris Corp.: the legacy Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) waveform, WNW and SRW. “We expect initial procurement in fis-cal year 2013, with production beginning in 2014,” he said. The total market for MNVR radios will be around 11,000 units.
Several companies are waiting in the wings until the MNVR is released, hoping that their technology offerings will meet with the Army’s approval. General Dynamics has been working on the HMS aspect of JTRS, which, Brady noted, “has more aggressive require-ments than GMR for size, weight and power.”
General Dynamics was recently given the go-ahead for low rate initial production of the Manpack and Rifleman HMS radios after passing a Milestone C decision over the sum-mer. The Rifleman and Manpack radios both utilize SRW to provide networking connectiv-ity to frontline soldiers. The Manpack radio is also vehicle mountable, Brady noted. Tests for both radios running WNW are scheduled to take place this year.
“We anticipate another round of LRIP orders in 2012,” said Brady, “and then a deci-sion on full rate production, which will result in another round of full and open competi-tion oriented around the same specs.”
Raytheon’s MAINGATE (Mobile Ad-Hoc Interoperable Network GATEway) is a “differ-ent way to meet GMR goals,” said Jeff Miller, director of Raytheon tactical communication systems. “It is similar in that it is a mul-tichannel system that provides interoper-ability and high capacity throughput. But it runs a non-proprietary waveform, which is similar to JTRS WNW but is not WNW. The government has the rights to it.” Raytheon and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency have been evolving the Next Genera-tion Mobile Ad-Hoc Network Waveform for the past 10 years.
The MAINGATE system is more than a radio, noted Miller. “It is a proven battlefield network hub that seamlessly connects radios, smartphones and combat systems,” he said. “MAINGATE provides backbone capabilities and a gateway for interoperability with coali-tion radios. The design of the waveform pro-vides for greater scalability than some of its alternatives and at a lower cost.”
Miller doesn’t view MAINGATE as a replacement for GMR, but as a possible alter-native. “We didn’t go after every GMR spec,” he said. “We went after what we think soldiers on the battlefield want today.”
But, Miller acknowledged, the MNVR draft RFP is still looking for a JTRS solution. “Many of the requirements have been scaled down,” he noted. “The required performance level is much less than what MAINGATE can do, but it still requires the use of JTRS wave-forms. We hope that the JTRS program office will eventually consider a solution based on the use of alternative waveforms.”
Harris Corp. appears to be the biggest beneficiary of GMR’s demise, for the moment at least, as the Army awarded the company a $66 million contract to procure AN/PRC-117G radios, a single-channel COTS product, for eight brigade combat teams.
“The AN/PRC-117G can simultaneously transmit voice and data,” said Moran. “It allows troops to exchange large amounts of tactical data, such as video and biometrics. The radio can support small-unit operations and connect the tactical edge with forces at company-level and above.”
The Army first fielded the radios in Octo-ber 2009 to the 4th Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan. Since the initial fielding, over 2,300 of the radios have been fielded to units in Afghanistan. The radios are commonly used in command vehi-cles and for military intelligence. The AN/PRC-117G comes in three configurations: manpack for the soldier on foot, a vehicular configuration and a configuration for tactical operations centers.
The Harris radio can provide wideband networking capability and interoperability and runs SINCGARS and SRW. But it also runs the Advanced Networking Wideband Waveform (ANW2), a proprietary Harris product.
“Harris is always willing to sit down with the government to talk about how we would transfer government purpose rights to ANW2,” said Moran. Harris plans on running WNW on the AN/PRC-117G in time to meet MNVR requirements, but if ANW2 becomes JTRS-approved it might negate the MNVR requirement to run WNW.
“ANW2 is already a battle-proven wave-form,” said Moran. “Harris developed ANW2 with our own R&D dollars. We received interim DoD approval for ANW2 in 2009 and since then it has been used by the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force in Afghanistan. But it is true that it is not a waveform that fits into the family [of systems] that are consid-ered JTRS.”
“We will get good feedback on the use of SRW from … deployed operations from the use of the handhelds in Afghanistan,” said Hoyle.
For Giaquinto, “the need is pretty much fulfilled” with the Harris radios. The mili-tary “tossed out the challenge to industry to develop JTRS-like radios, and Harris stepped up and provided it to them,” he said, “as a result of which Harris is dominating the market.”
According to Giaquinto, the bottom line going forward is whether or not a radio can
www.GCT-kmi.com20 | GCT 3.1
run the Army’s required waveforms. “Those are the kinds of radios that Harris has devel-oped,” he said.
Meanwhile, other aspects of JTRS, including the Handheld, Manpack, and Small Form Fit program and the Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station Joint Tactical Radio System appear to be making progress. “HMS is on track,” said Giaquinto. “AMF looks solid.”
In June, the JTRS HMS program received a Milestone C decision from DoD, authoriz-ing the Army to procure 6,250 Rifleman radios. General Dynamics received a low rate initial production contract for the radios, to be manufactured by both General Dynamics and Thales Communications. The two sup-pliers will be competing head-to-head when the contract for full-rate production is let.
The Rifleman is a body-worn radio designed to extend the tactical network down to the individual dismounted soldier. “The Rifleman Radio transmits voice and data simultaneously utilizing the Soldier Radio Waveform,” said Walt Hepker, vice president of business development at Thales Communications. “The radio is designed to bring secure inter-squad communications to any warfighter on the tactical edge of the battlefield. It creates self-forming, ad hoc, voice and data networks and enables team leaders to track individual soldier posi-tion location information. This provides dis-mounted soldiers a much-needed situational awareness capability on the battlefield.”
Another Thales radio, the AN/PRC-148, or JEM, received Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) certification for the ultra high frequency (UHF) satellite communica-tions integrated waveform (SATCOM IW) over the summer. “The SATCOM IW capabil-ity eliminates the need for warfighters to carry their existing heavy manpack tactical radio systems, and enables each member of the team to deploy with a fully interoperable, beyond line-of-sight capability,” said Hepker. “The JITC certification allows users access to SATCOM IW on their fielded AN/PRC-148 JEMs with a software upgrade.”
As the demand for SATCOM has increased in current operations around the world, SATCOM IW offers a significant increase in capacity over the legacy Demand Assigned Multiple Access SATCOM, accord-ing to Hepker. SATCOM IW, developed by the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency, doubles UHF SATCOM capacity of existing communications. “SATCOM IW is also faster and easier to set up,” said Hepker.
The JEM predecessor, the AN/PRC-148 MBITR, can be upgraded to get access to the AN/PRC-148 JEM features. Over 120,000 AN/PRC-148 MBITRs have been deployed.
“JEM was one of the first JTRS radios developed,” said Hepker. “It has been one of the most successful parts of JTRS.”
On the AMF front, Lockheed Martin—in an Army exercise in November—demon-strated the interoperability of airborne and ground radios communicating over SRW. The exercise demonstrated the system’s capa-bilities by exchanging command and control and situational awareness messages by way of voice, data and imagery from an AH-64 Apache helicopter to ground forces.
“During the exercise, a pre-engineering development model AMF JTRS Small Air-borne radio in the Apache allowed pilots to communicate directly with six ground elements using the HMS Rifleman Radios,” said Mark Norris, vice president of Lock-heed Martin’s AMF JTRS program. “The Apache provided an aerial network extension for ground-based communications between troops who were separated by mountainous terrain and long distances. Using AMF, the Apache provided an automatic relay without having to deviate from its assigned mission of providing close air support for ground forces.”
AMF has also experienced its own restruc-turing. “The effort has been to focus on a few key requirements,” said Miller of Raytheon, which is on Lockheed Martin’s AMF team. “That appears to be the direction the program is going.”
The JTRS program is also developing additional waveform capabilities for all the services. “The next one to be delivered is the Mobile User Objective System, which is a replacement for legacy UHF satellite capa-bilities and will ultimately replace all legacy UHF satcom capabilities that exist out there,” said Hoyle. “It was deployed first on an HMS manpack and all services are already planning to make procurement of that manpack to get those capabilities. The Mobile User Objective System is like a cell tower in the sky and allows handheld devices to connect and create networks much as cell phones do by connect-ing to terrestrial towers.”
The JTRS program office is also working with the Navy on a capability called the tacti-cal targeting network technology. “This is an IP-based networking waveform that will bring ad hoc networking similar to what we have with ground forces and slow moving aircraft to high-speed aircraft like the F/A-18 and the Joint Strike Fighter,” said Hoyle.
MNVR, the new GMR, is also paring down its requirements in the sense that the pro-gram is no longer insisting on building a new radio. “You don’t need a brand-spanking-new radio,” said Giaquinto. “There is no need to start from scratch.” The non-developmental approach “is the smart way to do it because you can acquire the technology quicker and more cost-effectively. You know what works and you deliver that to the warfighters. That is the way they should have gone from the get-go.”
“Historically, programs of record do not have a great track record in the area of tacti-cal communications,” said Moran. “Programs often don’t keep up with technology. We can bring technology to the market quicker and we have proven that to be the case.”
Moran believes that the JTRS program will eventually choose a GMR replacement based on affordability. “In these difficult fiscal times, DoD will look at the best value prod-uct,” he said.
Raytheon’s Jeff Miller agreed that afford-ability ought to be the litmus test, but argued that the program’s insistence on continuing with WNW in MNVR will unnecessarily inflate the costs of the program and reduce the per-formance of the acquired equipment. “The Army has stuck to waveforms that allow capa-bilities to be reduced beyond those of com-mercially available radios,” said Miller. “We are trying to show that the Army could get higher performance by opening up require-ments.”
Not everyone is necessarily onboard with DoD’s non-developmental strategy for GMR. “There are probably several companies that can provide some sort of solution,” said Thales’s Hepker. “The challenge is to host WNW on other platforms. Because it is such a complex waveform, there is still a significant investment companies will have to make. It remains to be seen whether the non-develop-mental strategy will be viable.”
For all of JTRS’s ups and downs, perhaps some important lessons have been learned that can be applied to future tactical net-work communications systems. “Ultimately it won’t matter whether the military is using a JTRS radio, as long as it can run the required waveform,” said Miller. “Whatever happens with the program, the legacy that will survive will be the waveforms.” O
For more information, contact GCT Editor Dave Ahearn at [email protected] or search our online archives for
related stories at www.GCT-kmi.com.
www.GCT-kmi.com GCT 3.1 | 21
U.S. ARMY FIRES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
Major General David D. Halverson was born in Virginia, Minn., on August 13, 1957. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy and commissioned a sec-
ond lieutenant in the Field Artillery in 1979. Halverson has held a variety of troop and staff positions, both in the United States and overseas, and has commanded in Germany, at Fort Hood, Texas, and in Korea. He has served in several key positions supporting OIF and OEF, such as the CENTCOM J3, chief of plans, where he planned, coor-dinated and executed war plans for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2005, he served as the deputy command-ing general (Support) for the 4th Infantry Division, where he deployed for OIF 5/7. After his deployment in January 2007, he assumed duties as the director of Operations, Readiness and Mobilization until May 2008. Prior to coming to Fort Sill, he was the director of Force Devel-opment, G-8, until August 2009.
His decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Legion of Merit (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star, Defense Meri-torious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Joint Unit Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Ser-vice Medal, Army Staff Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Q: What key accomplishments have you achieved since taking com-mand of the Fires Center of Excellence?
A: In an organization with as many responsibilities and areas of influ-ence as the Fires Center of Excellence, it is difficult to narrow down our accomplishments to just a few. I am particularly proud, though, of how the Fires Center has come together to reflect the diversity, exper-tise and perspective of both the Air Defense (ADA) and Field Artillery (FA) branches. Each year we provide for our Army over 17,000 basic combat training soldiers and over 12,000 soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers for the fires force. We are privileged to have gifted leaders at all levels in the Fires community. What we have been able to do in the last two and a half years is take a hard look at how we inte-grate offensive and defensive fires. While it is important to recognize that both branches are still distinct, our leaders are much more inte-grated and are more knowledgeable of the other than they have ever been before. That’s very important to consider as we move forward and look to the Army, and the fires force, of 2020.
Our doctrine, training and leader development have changed significantly in the last few years. As we move forward to a period of
relative uncertainty, we are focused on how we train and on our leader development. The Fires Center of Excellence recently unveiled Jared Monti Hall, our state-of-the-art immersive training facility, which reflects our commitment to providing cutting edge, world-leading training to our fires force. In addition, our leader development initia-tives are focused on training agile and adaptive leaders who are also experts in the joint environment. These things will give us the edge as we train to combat future threats. That is what we are focused on, and I am proud to say that the fires community is leading the way for our Army.
We are also extremely proud of our joint and combined capabili-ties, where excellence is the standard. We have a Joint Fires Observer course that trains in the realities of the joint and coalition environ-ment. We conduct live fire exercises with special operations forces and the Singaporean Army, and we have training agreements with our German and United Arab Emirates air defense partners. All of these help to increase the effectiveness of fires in today’s complex operating environment.
Finally, we are pleased to be great partners to our local community and the state of Oklahoma. Our partnership with Lawton and South-west Oklahoma is highly beneficial to our fires soldiers, families and the entire community. We take great pride in the opportunities that partnership provides within our community.
Q: How well is integration of the Air Defense Artillery School to Fort Sill progressing?
A: We are very pleased that the integration of the ADA and FA schools under the Fires Center of Excellence is complete, something that has added depth and versatility to both.
The Air Defense Artillery School’s construction and integration required by BRAC is complete. The ADA School is an integral part of Fort Sill and the surrounding community. Administration and logis-tics for the cadre and students are fully integrated within the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill Garrison. The Air Defense Artillery School is in an excellent position to fully support the needs of the air defense artillery, fires, and air and missile defense communities.
While Air Defense Artillery and Field Artillery are separate branches because of their distinct mission sets, it is important to note that we are all part of a single fires community. Our training and leader development reflect what we call the Fires Brand, where we define the common attributes that we require in all of our Fires leaders while ensuring that our soldiers and leaders are experts in their respective branches.
The addition of ADA to the Fires Center has broadened all of our fires leaders. Junior and senior leaders of each branch have a greater understanding of both offensive and defensive fires, which is how we describe the field artillery and air defense artillery functions, respec-tively. For example, our field artillery leaders are more familiar with the strategic mission and capabilities of THAAD and Patriot units while
Major General David D. HalversonCommanding GeneralU.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort SillQ&AQ&A
www.GCT-kmi.com22 | GCT 3.1
U.S. ARMY FIRES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
air defenders benefit from a greater understanding of the tactical role of cannon and rocket artillery. This makes all of us more complete as professional fires soldiers.
Q: What is your assessment of the performance in theater of the guided unitary round in the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System?
A: The Guided Unitary Rocket fired out of the High Mobility Artil-lery Rocket System [HIMARS]—our wheeled version of the Multiple Launch Rocket System—has performed superbly. It has quickly become the long range, surface-to-surface weapon of choice for both planned targets and troops in contact engagements. GMLRS is a highly accurate long-range rocket that minimizes collateral damage without sacrificing effectiveness.
We deployed the HIMARS in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn. It has been an instrumental and decisive weapon system providing 24/7, all-weather, precision fires in support of our maneuver forces. Both Army and Marine units have utilized HIMARS as a launch platform for the Guided MLRS Unitary round, firing over 2,100 rounds in the current conflicts. We have also utilized guided unitary rockets for planned targets and supporting troops in contact. In addition, U.K. forces have fired guided unitary rockets supporting ISAF (Interna-tional Security Assistance Force) and British operations. It is rapidly becoming the weapon of choice for precision fires, and we are very pleased with its performance and employment.
Q: Are current artillery systems sufficient to counter the growing enemy threat, or would you like to see more advanced systems?
A: We can never rest too long on what we have accomplished. The enemy won’t allow it. Today’s enemy is highly innovative and is continually changing tactics, techniques and procedures. The technology we acquire and employ must be able to counter these threats, which means we constantly have to evolve and advance our capabilities. We know that we have to stay ahead of the enemy’s TTPs and capabilities, but also do it in a fiscally responsible way. We are doing that with all of our systems. GMLRS is critical to quickly pro-viding extended range and scalable effects to our ground forces, both in precision and area engagements. We have significantly advanced our sensor capability, with the AN/TPQ-53, AN/TPQ-50, EQ-36 radar systems giving us the ability to provide 360-degree continuous counter-fire target acquisition radar coverage. We are also looking to upgrade our existing M109A6 Paladin 155 mm self-propelled Howitzer and M992A2 field artillery ammunition supply vehicle fleet through the Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) program. PIM will provide increased force protection, survivability, responsiveness and accuracy. We are also digitizing the M119A2 105 mm towed howitzer in our infantry brigade combat team fires battalions. The digitization package will provide the M119A2 the same self-locating, self-orienting and digital communications capabilities as the LW155 and Paladin howitzers along with greater responsiveness and accu-racy. In the area of cannon munitions, we require a fires capability with a wide range of scalable effects, from conventional area fires through near precision capability provided with the precision guid-ance kit [PGK] to precision capabilities that Excalibur provides, in order to provide offensive and defensive fires under a wide range of conditions.
In defensive fires, the enemy’s use of rockets, artillery and mor-tars is the third-biggest casualty producer on today’s battlefield. We have developed and trained counter rocket artillery and mortar [C-RAM], but we need a more integrated and mobile system. We will continue to transform the force to use C-RAM, while the move to Indirect Fire Protection Capability [IFPC] Increment 2 will meet the evolving threat. As IFPC Increment 2 evolves, we will gain a more mobile system that we can readily integrate into the joint operating environment. We will additionally increase our ability to defeat RAM while gaining a residual capability against more advanced air threats.
In the unmanned aerial system [UAS] defeat arena, current air defense artillery systems have limited capability to adequately detect, identify and engage the low-flying, slow-moving, small-class UAS. In the near term, research and development efforts are underway by industry to look at sensor hardware and software improvements to increase detection ranges and cooperative and non-cooperative target recognition techniques. Additionally, we are planning improvements to the Stinger missile to increase lethality against the micro-UAS threat. In the long term, we see UAS defeat as a joint undertaking with other components of the Department of Defense. To that end, we have been participating in both joint and Army experiments and demonstrations—Black Dart, Joint Forcible Entry Warfighting Experiment, fires combined arms maneuver experiments, and combined arms maneuver/wide area security experiments—while working diligently on examining affordable, versatile, relevant solutions that are able to defeat the most likely, lethal threat encountered.
Finally, all these improvements and systems provide little use-fulness if they cannot properly integrate air and ground capabili-ties. Sensor and communications advancements have greatly aided our ability to do this. However, the real advantage we have is the knowledge and experience gained in the last 10 years of conflict. The experiences of our warfighters, and the subsequent changes in doctrine and training, are what will continue to give us an advan-tage as we look forward to the fires force of 2020. Based on these considerations and others, the fires portfolio and force structure will continue to adapt to meet emerging threats, and we are doing so in a manner that meets the need of the commanders on the ground while being prudent in our spending and investments.
Q: What is your assessment of the Avenger air defense system and the Stinger missile’s ability to defeat incoming air threats? And does the Patriot missile system equip warfighters for an era where insurgents now are wielding cruise missiles?
A: The Avenger and the Stinger missile are viable air defense systems that provide the Army a capability to defeat air-breathing threats such as fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. The Avenger, however, does have limited effectiveness against advanced cruise missiles and a marginal capability in defeating threat unmanned aerial systems. To close the gap in the UAS arena, we are pursuing a modernization effort to add a proximity fuse to the Stinger missile that will increase its lethality against UAS by upwards of 70 per-cent. Additionally, since both Avenger and Stinger will remain key components in the active and reserve force structure well into the next decade, we have implemented an aggressive equipment reset program for the Avenger and service life extension program for the Stinger to ensure these systems’ viability in the future.
www.GCT-kmi.com GCT 3.1 | 23
U.S. ARMY FIRES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
Mr. Kirby BrownDeputy to the
Commanding GeneralU.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill
Command Sgt. Maj. Dwight Morrisey
Command Sergeant MajorU.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill
Maj. Gen. David D. HalversonCommanding General
U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill
Col. Brian DunnChief of Staff
U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill
Col. Lloyd CavinessSenior Guard Advisor
Col. Daniel GarciaCommander
31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade
Command Sgt. Maj. Bryan PinkneyCommandant
U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy
Col. Thomas QuinteroDirectorate of Training
Development
Col. Timothy DaughertyCommander
214th Fires Brigade
Col. (P) Daniel KarblerCommandant
U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery School
Col. Matt R. MerrickDirector
Capability Development & Integration Directorate
Col. Gregory DewittCommander
434th Field Artillery Brigade
Col. Gary HisleJoint and Combined
Integration Directorate
Col. Alfredo NajeraCommander
75th Fires Brigade
Brig. Gen. Brian McKiernanCommandant
U.S. Army Field Artillery School
FORSCOM UNITS
DIRECTORATES
www.GCT-kmi.com24 | GCT 3.1
Col. Edward J. O’NeillTRADOC
Capability ManagerArmy Air & Missile Defense
Command
Col. Michael J. HartigTRADOC
Capability ManagerBasic Combat Team Fires
Col. David J. BrostTRADOC
Capability ManagerFires Brigade
Col. Gene D. MeredithConcepts Officer
Senior Field Artillery
Col. Craig M. NewmanTRADOC
Capability ManagerFires Cells
Col. Victor H. Losch IITRADOC
Capability ManagerAir Defense Artillery Brigade
Col. Steven ScioneauxCommander
U.S. Army Operational Test Command
Fires Test Directorate
Col. Mary Jo CorbettCommander
U.S. Army Dental ActivityFort Sill
Col. Paul HossenloppCommander
U.S. Army GarrisonFort Sill
Col. Jennifer BedickCommander
U.S. Army Medical Department Activity
Reynolds Army Community Hospital
TENANT UNITS
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U.S. ARMY FIRES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
There is no evidence at this time that insurgents have used cruise missiles in this period of conflict. That’s not to say cruise missiles could not proliferate. With that, we are very confident that evolving Patriot capabilities can meet challenges posed by the variety of air and missile threats. We have invested in Patriot enhancements to extend Patriot life cycle, capable to meet and defeat the full range of air and missile threats that U.S. forces face, now and in the future.
Q: How well has the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System per-formed in combat?
A: Major General Nick Carter, the former commander of ISAF forces in Southern Afghanistan, told The New York Times that “devastating HIMARS strikes have given coalition troops the initiative in the ongo-ing Kandahar campaign.” Operationally, HIMARS has performed as well as, if not better than, expected. But I think it is also important that logistically, it has proven to be a durable and reliable precision strike capability. The HIMARS program has received two secretary of defense performance based logistics awards, both in 2006 and 2009. It also received the William J. Perry Precision Strike Association Award in 2008, and the GAO [Government Accountability Office] identified the HIMARS as one of the five stable case study programs in the DoD port-folio of major weapon system acquisition programs. What this means is that HIMARS delivers the precision strike capability and devastating effects the operational environment requires at a sustainable price.
Q: In terms of range and accuracy, are there artillery systems that you would like to see improved, or are the current systems close to optimal?
A: In terms of accuracy, today’s GPS-aided rockets and missiles are providing tremendous effects on the target while minimizing col-lateral damage. In fact, the range and accuracy demonstrated by the munitions have outpaced that of the sensor systems. So our focus con-tinues to be on improving the range and accuracy of sensor systems to leverage the capabilities of our munitions. Extending the umbrella of fires is an enduring goal. We continue to increase the range of the GMLRS to shape the battle at greater ranges. As propellant technol-ogy progresses, a 50 percent increase in current range capability in the same size package is not out of the realm of the possible and is something for which we are striving during later increments of the GMLRS development program. These increased capabilities, combined with the proven effectiveness of HIMARS and PGK discussed earlier, will keep us in a position to best support the soldiers and commanders on the ground.
However, we need to reduce target location error. It is a focus area of mine to improve. We need more lightweight, handheld sensors that have the capability to fuse with other sensors on the modern battle-field, like the current generation of fire-finder radars do. As we do this, we will empower our fires force to meet the needs of the joint ground force commander.
Q: There is ample discussion currently about reducing defense spending. What steps have you taken to create efficiencies and achieve cost savings?
A: Simply put, we have declared war on costs. We are changing our culture from one of consumption to one of cost management. Winning
a cost war requires leaders to consider cost in their decision-making and governance processes. Leaders set goals for reducing costs and then require subordinate leaders to periodically report back on how well they are doing. At Fort Sill, the first step was to begin educating our work force on cost management theory and principles. In the last six months, we hosted the Army’s top cost management experts here on two separate occasions, in which they educated and informed our top leaders and general work force. On their second trip, they trained more than 100 of our professionals from all across Fort Sill on how to develop a cost-benefit analysis. We established a Fort Sill Enterprise Cost Management Working Group, which will soon transition to a permanent team of analytical cost experts who assist leaders in scrutinizing issues to reduce costs through efficiencies and continuous process improvement. Additionally, my deputy conducts a monthly contract review board to make sure we are getting the deliverables for which we have contracted. We are in the second year of utilizing an omnibus contract, which was designed to increase competition among a small group of contractors, resulting in quicker turnaround at a better price. Our cost war is a long-term campaign designed to see incremental savings of 2 to 3 percent per year. When you do that for several years in a row, the savings really add up.
We are also analyzing how we acquire new capabilities to make the process more cost-effective. We are working to reduce the high cost drivers on the key performance parameters within the require-ments process. We are also working with the Army Capabilities Integration Center to feed into a more realistic, iterative capability acquisitions process to the fires force.
Q: Do you have any closing thoughts on your command, and on its personnel?
A: I am incredibly proud of what our fires soldiers and leaders do every day. We recently hosted the Army Profession Junior Leader Forum at Fort Sill. It is part of the Army’s Unified Quest—our ini-tiative to define and shape the Army of 2020. We had more than 80 junior leaders from across the Army here for three days discussing leader development, training and the future. The discussions during those three days highlighted what I see at the Fires Center on a daily basis—professional and dedicated junior leaders who are proud of their Army and of their service. Sitting in on those conversations reminded me that the last 10 years of war have put enormous stress on our soldiers and our family members. It is true that not since the Revolutionary War has America asked so much of an all-volunteer force. The chief of staff has it right when he says that, “The strength of our nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our soldiers. The strength of our soldiers is our families.”
Even after 10 years of persistent war, our Army and Fires Force is still the best trained, best equipped and best led force ever to exist. As we move forward, we must sustain our all-volunteer force. We do this, in part, by honoring our obligations to our country’s wounded warriors, veterans and families. In order to sustain the quality of soldiers and leaders we have, our troops must know that they will have the resources and training required to win the nation’s wars, and that while they are away from home fighting those wars, their families will be taken care of. We have to honor those obligations, and I have no doubt that we will do so in a manner befitting the great generations that have come before us. O
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GCT CALENDAR & DIRECTORY
Calendar
February 22-24, 2012AUSA's ILW Winter Symposium & ExpositionFort Lauderdale, Fla.www.ausa.org
March 19-21, 2012Military Antennas West San Diego, Calif.www.militaryantennasevent.com
April 1-4, 2012AAAA (Quad A) Army Aviation Association of AmericaNashville, Tenn.www.quad-a.org
April 11-12, 2012Marine SouthCamp Lejeune, N.C.www.marinemilitaryexpos.com/
April 23-26, 2012Tactical Vehicles SummitWashington, D.C.www.tacticalvehiclessummit.com
April 30-May 2, 2012USMC Systems Command &Program Executive Officer, Land Systems 2012 APBI Norfolk, Va. www.ndia.org/meetings/2900/
Richard “Rick” Burnett is the program manager for Bradley Derivatives within the Combat Vehicles line of business of BAE Systems Land & Armaments operat-ing group.
As program manager, Burnett is responsible for the development and mar-keting of Bradley-based platforms, includ-ing the Bradley-based Armored Multi Purpose Vehicle program.
Prior to his current assignment, Bur-nett served as director of combat systems technology development programs and deputy program manager for the FCS Manned Ground Vehicle Program.
A graduate of the U.S. Military Acad-emy at West Point, N.Y., and holder of an MBA degree from Arizona State University, he served 21 years in the U.S. Army, where he was a certified member of the Acquisi-tion Corps and served at locations globally. He also was a faculty member of the Infan-try School at Fort Benning, Ga. He joined BAE Systems in 2004.
Q: What types of enhancements or improvements are you working on to make the Bradley a better vehicle to replace the M113 and protect our soldiers?
A: Our Bradley AMPV incorporates a num-ber of important improvements to directly meet soldiers’ mission-specific needs. Add-ing a V-shaped blast-resistant hull while preserving the engine and transmission components of the original vehicle provides combat-proven protection without com-promising the functionality of an M113. At the end of the assembly line, different roof sections with varying heights and equipment would be added based on the vehicle’s role on the battlefield, which will allow easy reconfiguration as that role evolves. We’ve also included a common mounting provision, which allows the crew to easily install and move systems inside the vehicle. The floating floor and bolt-on bottom developments significantly improve IED protection.
Q: Why is flexibility on the battlefield so important for our soldiers today?
A: Flexibility is extremely important for our soldiers today because in tomorrow’s uncer-tain landscape, the Army may not be able to fully forecast how and where it will be called to fight, making this type of versatility abso-lutely imperative, especially with a decline in funding resources. The BAE Systems approach focuses on a common chassis and combines flexibility with low cost. The ability to change heights as mission roles change, as well as the ability to tailor underbelly protec-tion, provides the soldier with flexibility and low cost. Our design could be modified to any of the five variants within a day, given the proper equipment, to more effectively meet the needs of our soldiers on the ground.
Q: Is your AMPV solution the most cost-effective option, and how does it compare to the solutions proposed by your competi-tors?
A: By refurbishing existing Bradleys—that the Army has already paid for—we are minimizing the Army’s initial investment and decreasing overall development costs. Removing the Bradley’s turret saves weight and money, reducing operating costs by more than half. When you couple the low acquisition cost with real capabilities and margin—as opposed to some of the sig-nificantly more expensive wheeled carrier vehicles that are maxed out on size and weight and have no growth capability—without a huge modernization investment, the Bradley AMPV is an incredibly smart buy for the Army. The Bradley AMPV solution is inexpensive and most capable with real growth margin.
In comparison to our competitors, we have made improvements that will help to lower the operation and sustainment costs in the future, including developing
new long-life double pin tracks. The double pin tracks provide significant reliability and maintainability.
Q: Given increased budget pressure, is there a need for this vehicle on the battlefield?
A: With the aging Vietnam-era M113 being phased out, there is a capability gap on the battlefield that must be filled. Our AMPV solution reuses existing Bradley vehicles, thus providing our soldiers the capabilities they need without the cost of a new pro-gram. It builds on the existing and efficient Bradley production capability and supply base to provide a modern M113 replacement that has the margin of future uncertainties at an extremely affordable price.
Q: What makes your HMMWV recap solution affordable while also providing additional capabilities for the Army and Marine Corps?
A: We believe our solution for HMMWV recap, the Integrated Smart V, or ISV, provides the greatest value to our customers, not only because it is affordable by design, but because of the protection it provides. The ISV fea-tures a lightweight, monocoque V-hull with detachable front and rear bolt-on frame clips, providing significantly improved underbody blast protection—the most rigid side and mine-blast protection available. Addition-ally, its use of high-strength weld-able steels instead of more exotic materials and high commonality with existing HMMWV compo-nents keeps costs low.
Q: What differentiates your HMMWV recap solution from the rest?
A: The ISV leverages BAE Systems’ unparal-leled expertise in developing mine-resistant tactical vehicles. We have more than 40 years of experience in mine-resistant vehicles as well as 60 years of survivability expertise. We are confident that BAE Systems’ proprietary technology—combined with its legacy of mine protection, survivability and providing armor protection to more HMMWVs than any other defense company—sets the ISV apart from other solutions. O
Richard “Rick” BurnettProgram Manager for Bradley Derivatives
BAE Systems
INDUSTRY INTERVIEW Ground Combat Technology
www.GCT-kmi.com28 | GCT 3.1
April 2012Volume 3 Issue 2nextiSSUe
FeaturesBetter HMMWVs the HMMWV, numbering in the tens of thousands, is about to become a vastly improved asset to combatants, giving them enormously improved safety, a smoother ride and more.
Network Integration Evaluation the military looks for the best way to bring advanced assets to the edge so that warriors have the best gear. Will this include better comms? Smart phones? Video streams? New helmets? Hearing protection? the NiE will help determine that.
Rifle Gear How can warriors become more effective, more lethal? Better gear can transform their weapons into advanced tools of war, including lights, range finders, suppressors and much more.
Ground Combat Vehicle Update Amidst uncertainty about budgets for defense programs, we examine the Ground Combat Vehicle—which would be a safe and lethal means of transporting warriors—and examine why it is needed in the fight. AUSA Fort Bragg
Bonus Distribution:
Insertion Order Deadline: March 26, 2012 • Ad Materials Deadline: April 2, 2012
Brig. Gen. Michael E. Williamson
Cover and In-Depth Interview with:
Joint Program Executive OfficerJoint Tactical Radio System
Major General Dana J.H. Pittard Commander 1st Armored Division
