US Army

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« J'aime les USA, et je combats pour elle», c'est ainsi que Lamia Lahlou commente son adhésion à l'armée américaine, et sa participation à la guerre contre l'iraq- depuis déjà 8 mois-. Née au Maroc en 1986, Lamia Lahlou rejoint l'armée américaine 3 ans après les attentats du 11 septembre 2001.

Tempérée par sa propre volonté, «la marocaine», ne mâche pas ses mots pour affirmer que ce pas emboité s'inscrit dans le cadre d'un «vrai Jihad». Rapporte une idéo diffusée largement sur Internet (Voir ci-aprés).

Choquée par la mort de sa meilleure amie, Lamia croit dur comme fer que l'adhésion à l'armée américaine est le seul et unique moyen susceptible de calmer le feu de sa vengeance.

A noter que les USA continuent à «renforcer » son armée via le recrutement des marocains, à l'heure où ALQIADIA ciblent d'autres recrues du Maroc vers la Hollande et la Belgique, tout en passant par la Syrie, l'Espagne et l'Iraq.

source: emarrakech.info

Rafi

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U.S. army has tested improved version of M270A1 MLRS rocket launcher with new armored cabin.

Over 100 artillery rockets were launched June 16 at White Sands Missile Range to test an improved version of the M270A1 Multiple Rocket Launch System. The test, conducted at WSMR's G-16 impact area, saw an M270A1 MLRS vehicle equipped with a new armored cab fire 138 rockets to ensure the improvements didn't negatively impact the vehicle's mission performance.


The M270A1 is a tracked vehicle equipped with a missile and rocket launch rack capable of firing many different kinds of artillery rockets and missiles. This makes the vehicle a highly-capable weapons platform, able to perform many different artillery missions in support of many different Army and joint operations. With the original system adopted in 1983, and an improved version in 2001, the MLRS has proven itself in several different armed conflicts, including Operation Desert Shield and Storm, as well as more recently Operation Iraqi Freedom.

As armed conflict has evolved so have the requirements of systems like the MLRS, while it's seen several upgrades to improve its ability to put rockets and missiles on target, recent conflicts have shown a need to improve the protection the vehicle provides its crew. The Improved Armored Cab project under the Precisions Fires Rockets and Missile Systems Project office is expected to meet this goal by proving the vehicle with an enhanced armor on the cab and improving related components, like the windows.

While the core system is already proven technology, the upgrades are new, and so the Army requires the vehicle to go through a rigorous series of tests to ensure the system is ready to go to the Soldiers who will use it. By taking the system to WSMR and conducting extensive firings, the test officers were able to evaluate the improvements and ensure the new cab would hold up under the stress of combat.

To conduct the test a larger launch area had to clear then is usually needed for MLRS missions on WSMR. Typically MLRS tests involve evaluating the rockets and missiles launched from the system, and WSMR has 16 launch complexes, already equipped with concrete vehicle pads and protective berms for MLRS testing. This test however required the launchers to move between shots, so an area had to be cleared that would allow for these maneuvers without risking damage to the environment.

In the filed, Soldiers manning the MLRS system have to move after shooting as modern artillery radar systems can be used to identify where an artillery shell or rocket came from, allowing an opposing artillery unit to return fire. As a mobile and self-propelled system the MLRS can fire and move, getting clear of possible counter-battery fire. This firing and movement can put a lot of stress on the vehicle though, and so the test was needed to ensure the improved cab would hold up under theses conditions.

In addition to its extensive experience testing the MLRS family of weapons, WSMR also is a good operational test environment for other reasons. The widely varying temperature, rough terrain and dusty environment can put additional stress on systems undergoing testing like this, improving the realism of the test.




WSMR conducts MLRS testing around three to 10 times a year, testing guided and unguided rockets and missiles as well as the various launch platforms and supporting systems. These tests can range simple reliability testing, or more complex tests focusing on new systems, and capabilities.

Under current Army requirements, these improvements will bring the M270A1 in line with related systems like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, a lighter weight rocket system related to the MLRS, but lighter and mounted on a newer armored medium truck.

By modernizing the MLRS, the system will be able to see continued use for the foreseeable future.

http://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/u.s._army_has_tested_improved_version_of_m270a1_mlrs_rocket_launcher_with_new_armored_cabin_13107151.html

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Curtiss-Wright enters US Army's Multi-Mission Launcher system development program

Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced Tuesday August 4 that it has received an initial contract to supply elevation and hatch control electromechanical actuators for use on the U.S. Army Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) in support of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) program. Under the agreement, Curtiss-Wright will provide modified solutions based on its Exlar® electromechanical actuation technologies, as well as hatch actuation controls and engineering services.





The actuation systems will be modified Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (M-COTS) solutions in-line with the Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center's (AMRDEC) requirement for open system architecture. The estimated potential contract value over the life of the program is approximately $75 million.

"Curtiss-Wright has a proven record of developing and delivering state-of-the art solutions, providing advanced technology and high reliability to support the needs of our military customers," said David C. Adams, Chairman and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. "Our ability to support AMRDEC's rapid development and prototyping approach on the MML program, along with our unique product and service capabilities, is key to our success. We look forward to working with the U.S. Army on this important program."

The MML is a next generation air defense launcher built on open system architecture and will have the capability to launch a variety of interceptors for comprehensive air defense against a variety of unmanned and cruise missile threats. AMRDEC is the lead developer on the MML program. The Curtiss-Wright Sensors & Controls division facility in Chanhassen, MN is performing the work under these contracts.

In March 2015, the US Army successfully completed a launch demonstration of three missile launches from the Multi-Mission Launcher Launch Demonstration Unit.

The successful firing of the missiles served to verify the tube integrity and missile stack integration of the MML. The IFPC Inc 2-I program remains on schedule to conduct an engineering demonstration in March 2016.

The AMRDEC MML Program is designing, fabricating and will deliver two MML prototypes for integration into the IFPC Inc 2-I system during the technology maturation and risk reduction phase of development. The MML is a next generation air defense launcher that is built on open system architecture and will have the capability to launch a variety of interceptors for comprehensive air defense against a variety of unmanned and cruise missile threats.

The Army plans to field the system in 2019.

http://www.armyrecognition.com/august_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/curtiss_wright_enters_us_army_s_multi-mission_launcher_system_development_program_20508154.html

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US Army to acquire enhanced MH-47G Block 2 Chinooks

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's International Defence Review
05 August 2015

The US Army is looking to renew production of the Boeing MH-47G Chinook special mission helicopter in an upgraded Block 2 configuration, it disclosed on 3 August.




With production of the final eight Block 1 MH-47Gs set to be complete by the end of the year, the US Army Aviation Integration Directorate is proposing the resumption of production after this date to deliver an undisclosed number of additional MH-47G helicopters in a Block 2 configuration, according to a solicitation posted on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website.

The US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) currently fields 61 remanufactured Block 1 MH-47Gs (62 were delivered - 35 CH-47Ds, nine MH-47Ds and 18 MH-47Es - although one was lost on operations in Afghanistan). The USASOC is to receive the additional eight new-build MH-47Gs by the end of 2015 to offset the fleet's high operational tempo.

The army is known to be looking at options for replacing some or all of its remanufactured Block 1 MH-47Gs with new-build airframes, and it is this requirement that the solicitation posted on FedBizOpps site likely pertains to. Boeing deferred questions related to the solicitation to the US Army, which did not respond to a request for information by the time of publication.

Derived from the baseline CH-47F heavy-lift Chinook, the MH-47G is a specialist special-mission platform that features double-capacity 'fat' fuel tanks, an in-flight aerial refuelling probe, a digital advanced flight control system, and classified sensors and electronic warfare kits specified by SOCOM.

According to the solicitation, rather than build more of the same Block 1 standard helicopters, the army is looking to integrate a Block 2 upgrade into its new MH-47Gs. Speaking to reporters at the company's Philadelphia plant earlier this year, Boeing officials said that the Block 2 enhancements for both the MH-47G and CH-47F helicopters were still being defined, but that they will likely be based on already existing technologies.

One option being proposed by the company is the Advanced Chinook Rotor Blade (ACRB). Still under development, the ACRB is not a flat blade as currency fitted, but features lots of geometry and a new asymmetric aerofoil to increase the lift by approximately 900 kg per blade (5,400 kg for the helicopter). An interesting design criterion of this blade is that the first 45 cm, where it attaches to the hub, is identical to the old blade for easy retrofit (the ACRB is also made of the same materials as the old blade). Boeing said that the ACRB should be ready for fielding in about 2019, raising the baseline CH-47F helicopter's current payload from 10,886 kg to 16,286 kg.

The Block 2 upgrade is expected to be fielded by the US Army in the early 2020s, although this will be dependent on the government's acquisition funding process, and other factors. Once in service, the army's earlier Block Chinooks will likely be upgraded to the Block 2 configuration for a common standard across the fleet.
http://www.janes.com/article/53462/us-army-to-acquire-enhanced-mh-47g-block-2-chinooks

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US Army seeks Stinger-based defence against cruise missiles

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Missiles & Rockets
05 August 2015


The US Army issued a request for information (RfI) for a Raytheon FIM-92 Stinger-based air defence system to counter cruise missiles on 4 August.

The RfI, which was posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website, calls for sources with the capability to provide engineering services in support of the Stinger missile in relation to the development of the Cruise Missile Defense Systems (CMDS) for both United States and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers.

As highlighted in the RfI, the Stinger is a short-ranged fire-and-forget shoulder-launched man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) designed to provide point-defence for ground forces against attack or observation by low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, and fixed-wing threats out to 4.5 km.

The missile currently utilises a high-explosive, hit-to-kill warhead with a contact fuze, and can be fired from a range of platforms, including ground vehicles, UAVs, and helicopters. While no configuration has been disclosed, in the CMDS role it will be either a static or mobile ground-based system.

Having first entered service in 1981, the Stinger is now in its Advanced FIM-92E Stinger Block 1 configuration. A FIM-92E Block 2 configuration with an improved infrared/ultraviolet seeker that could defeat low-signature cruise missiles was shelved not long after engineering and manufacturing development was begun in 2000.

The RfI provides no details on the configuration of the proposed CMDS, or if it will be a mobile vehicle-based or a static solution. No details of timelines, numbers, or contract values were released either.

More than 44,000 Stinger missiles have been delivered to US forces and 17 export customers, with Raytheon claiming a more than 90% success rate in over 1,500 tactical firings, resulting in more than 270 kills against helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Besides the US Army, customers include Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Qatar, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey. On 4 July, the Latvian government confirmed to IHS Jane's that it too is to buy the Stinger system, with a procurement programme commencing in 2016.

The identity of the potential FMS customers for the Stinger-based CMDS has not been revealed.

http://www.janes.com/article/53459/us-army-seeks-stinger-based-defence-against-cruise-missiles

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US Army's combat vehicle strategy seeks capability, not platforms

Daniel Wasserbly, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
10 August 2015


The US Army is taking a new approach for developing and fielding combat vehicles, hoping a broader capability requirement - which could include unmanned weapons - nets more success.

Previously the army approached vehicle acquisition by outlining the "things" it wants to buy, but has not had "a strategy for capability", General David Perkins, head of army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), said during a briefing at the Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium in Novi, Michigan.

Recent major combat vehicle developments have ended in failure, with the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) terminated in last year's budget, the Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) family of systems in 2009, and the Crusader self-propelled howitzer in 2002. The army now hopes a new Combat Vehicle Modernisation Strategy can achieve success by focusing more on an 'end state' rather than certain equipment types
"The strategy is a combination of ends, ways, and means" and ultimately is meant to deliver an 'end' that is "a combination of mobility, protection, and lethality," Gen Perkins said earlier this month.

In the US political system it is often easier to secure funding for specific equipment or for addressing a specific threat; it is much harder to sell Congress on investing in something amorphous, such as a general combination of attributes.

"The product of our combat vehicle modernisation strategy is not a tank, it may not even be a combat vehicle as we know it now," he said. "The end of our strategy is a capability to apply mobility, protection, and lethality" that provides the army a competitive advantage.

Many observers expect that the end product will be an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) - especially given the need to replace ageing Bradley IFVs - but Gen Perkins stressed a need to look at this differently.

An IFV or a main battle tank is "merely a way to get at an end state", he suggested, "maybe the lethality [weapon system] is not organic to the vehicle, maybe the vehicle is plugged into something else, some other autonomous capability that can deliver lethality."

Over the next five years the army hopes to recapitalise its M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks, Bradley IFVs, and Stryker combat vehicles, while working towards slowly introducing Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicles (AMPVs) to replace ageing M113-series armoured personnel carriers.

From fiscal year 2021-29 the service plans to prioritise lethality improvements for its Infantry and Stryker brigade combat team (BCT) formations with "a Mobile Protected Firepower platform" and for its Armoured BCTs with "the addition of third-generation Forward Looking Infrared [3G FLIR] technologies". Moreover, in that timeframe the army expects to invest in "Active Protective Systems [APS]/and Hostile Fire Detection [HFD]", according to its modernisation blueprint.

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ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT COMBAT VEHICLES AT THE NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER AT FORT IRWIN

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Raytheon funded for certification testing of upgraded AN/ARC-231 Communications System

The U.S. Army has awarded Raytheon Company a $36 million contract to fund the certification and testing of a significant upgrade to the AN/ARC-231 Multi-Mode Communications System. The upgraded systems will provide the highest level of security for voice and data communications for more than 7,000 rotary, fixed wing and unmanned Army platforms – including Apaches, Blackhawks, Chinooks and Gray Eagles.

The AN/ARC-231 is a VHF/UHF multi-band tactical communications system that provides high quality, reliable, secure, internationally compatible and interoperable voice and data links. The software-defined AN/ARC-231 is ready for a seamless transition to the emerging Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite communications networking waveform, while retaining full compatibility with legacy air-to-air and air-to-ground Line of Sight and SATCOM communication requirements.
The U.S. Army awarded the contract after receiving the last of 18 Engineering Development Models (EDM). The AN/ARC-231 advanced hardware design will offer untapped capabilities to meet emerging communications requirements through software-only upgrades.

"The completion of EDM deliveries and the start of certification testing mark significant milestones for the AN/ARC-231 upgrade program," said Scott Whatmough, vice president of Integrated Communications Systems for Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems business. "These are critical steps in the process of ensuring Army aviators have the secure communications capabilities they need to accomplish their missions in today's rapidly evolving threat environment."




Testing of the upgraded AN/ARC-231, which will become the newest member of the SkyFire product family, will be conducted at Raytheon's facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and at the U.S. Army's Software Engineering Directorate laboratory in Huntsville, Alabama. Testing will ultimately result in full cryptographic certification for the upgraded system.

http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-news-2015/august/2005-raytheon-funded-for-certification-testing-of-upgraded-anarc-231-communications-system.html

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Lockheed to upgrade US Army's AH-64E Apache targeting and pilotage system

The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $21.7 million Lot 4 follow-on contract to continue production of the Modernized Day Sensor Assembly (M-DSA) for the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter, the defense giant announced Wednesday.

This first phase of upgrades to modernize the Apache’s Day Sensor Assembly includes producing Modernized Laser Rangefinder Designator (M-LRFD) kits. M-LRFD is the principal targeting aid for the Apache, enabling pilots to designate targets and establish target range for accurate weapon engagement. M-DSA is an upgrade to the Apache’s targeting and pilotage system, or Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS).

A total of $21.7 million was obligated to Lockheed Martin through this Lot 4 contract award; the total value is not-to-exceed $50.9 million. Lockheed Martin is on contract to produce and deliver 786 M-LRFD kits for the U.S. Army and international customers. More than 200 kits have been delivered to the U.S. Army to date.

“We are currently fielding laser kits as part of the M-DSA Phase 1 upgrade and are on track to equip approximately seven Apache battalions a year,” said Matt Hoffman, M-TADS/PNVS director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

In addition, Lockheed Martin has already qualified M-DSA Phase 2 upgrades and is ready to transition into production. Phase 2 M-DSA upgrades allow Apache pilots to see high-resolution, near infrared and color imagery on cockpit displays. Phase 2 upgrades also include a new laser pointer marker and a multi-mode laser with eye-safe lasing capability. These improvements allow for better coordination with ground troops and safe flight in urban environments and during training exercises.
http://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-news-2015/august/2009-lockheed-to-upgrade-us-armys-ah-64e-apache-targeting-and-pilotage-system.html

RIP

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USA: deux femmes militaires réussissent la prestigieuse Ranger school


AFP 18/08/2015

Deux Américaines sont devenues lundi les premières femmes à terminer la Ranger school, une formation d'élite de l'armée américaine réputée pour sa dureté physique et morale, a annoncé lundi soir l'armée américaine.

"Félicitations à tous nos nouveaux Rangers (...). Cette session a prouvé que chaque soldat, quel que soit son genre, peut développer tout son potentiel" dans l'armée, a déclaré le secrétaire à l'armée de terre américaine, John M. McHugh.

Dix-neuf femmes avaient commencé en avril la première session de la Ranger school ouverte aux femmes.
Elles ont toutes été éliminées, à l'exception des deux qui ont décroché l'insigne lundi et d'une troisième qui n'a pas encore réussi toutes les épreuves imposées. La qualification des deux femmes est une victoire importante pour tous ceux qui défendent la complète intégration des femmes dans l'armée y compris aux postes de combat.

L'administration Obama a décidé en 2013 que tous les postes de l'armée devaient être ouverts aux femmes.
Mais tous les bastions ne sont pas tombés pour autant car les différents services (Terre, Air, Mer, Marines) ont jusqu'à cet automne pour demander des exemptions à ce principe.

Certaines unités des forces spéciales pourraient demander une telle exemption. Et aucune femme pour l'instant n'a réussi les épreuves de la formation d'officier d'infanterie des Marines, corps d'élite de l'armée américaine. Les femmes représentent environ 15% des effectifs de l'armée américaine.

http://www.lorientlejour.com/article/939712/usa-deux-femmes-militaires-reussissent-la-prestigieuse-ranger-school.html

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US Army is ready to award a contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
The US Army is poised to award a contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), its Humvee replacement, in the coming days — a much anticipated milestone with the power to reshape the ground vehicles industry.

One of three competitors, AM General, Oshkosh Defense and a Lockheed Martin-BAE Systems team, will walk away with a contract for three years of low-rate initial production and five years of full-rate production, for a total of 49,100 for the Army and 5,500 for the Marine Corps.

"Everybody needs this, and one thing I get asked a lot is who needs the contract the most," said James Tinsley, managing partner of Avascent, a strategy and management consulting firm. Tinsley has worked for Oshkosh, Lockheed and a number of subcontractors on JLTV-related efforts at different phases.

The winning firm or team would build 17,000 vehicles for the Army and Marines in the first three years of low-rate initial production, followed by five years of full-rate production, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

The Army seeks a replacement for the Humvee that is as mobile, but with the same protection as a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle (MRAP).

As part of engineering and manufacturing development contracts awarded to the three companies in 2012, each company delivered 22 prototype vehicles.

(Joe Gould)

http://www.armyrecognition.com/august_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/us_army_is_ready_to_award_a_contract_for_the_joint_light_tactical_vehicle_jltv_32408152.html

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US Army awards MK 90 propellant grain production contract to BAE

25 August 2015

BAE Systems has received a multi-million dollar contract to continue production of the MK 90 propellant grains for the US Army.
Under the $50m contract, the company will continue manufacturing the propellant grain, which provides propulsion for the MK66 rocket motor, a key element of the Hydra 70 family of rockets used by the US military and several allied nations to support overseas operations.
BAE Systems Ordnance Systems vice-president and general manager Reed McPeak said: "The Hydra 70 missile is the work horse of the unguided missile category.
"It is the most commonly used helicopter-launched weapon system in the world, and we are pleased to fuel this multi-service, multi-national system."
Manufactured at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in south-western Virginia, the MK 90 propellant grain incorporates a minimum-smoke, double-base, low-signature formulation, and is used in all Hydra weapon systems.
Since 2012, BAE has been serving as the managing operator at Radford Army Ammunition Plant, which is said to be a leading producer of military-grade propellants and is currently the primary supplier of solventless propellants.

he company started manufacturing MK 90 propellant grains in October 2012, with the first delivery in August 2013.
According to BAE, the MK 90 production process involves more than 300 people in five manufacturing areas at the facility. To date, around 500,000 grain units are believed to have been delivered to the US Department of Defense.
Production work under this current contract is scheduled to commence in 2016 and continue through 2017.
The Hydra 70 rocket system is used on a variety of fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms, including the AH-64 Apache, the UH-60 Black Hawk, and the A-10 Warthog close air support aircraft.

http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsus-army-awards-mk-90-propellant-grain-production-contract-to-bae-4654819

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USSOCOM Awards Polaris Defense New Contract for MRZR Highly Mobile Off-Road Vehicles
USSOCOM has awarded Polaris Defense a new, sole source, firm-fixed-price contract for the MRZR off-road vehicle platform and vehicle delivery started earlier this month. The $83 million, five year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, signed in July, continues delivery order options on MRZR 2 and MRZR 4 vehicles – along with contractor logistics support (CLS) for spares, training and support as part of the light tactical all-terrain vehicle (LTATV) program. Since 2013, Polaris Defense has been delivering MRZR vehicles to USSOCOM under a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) against a GSA contract.





“We’ve been providing the MRZR for three years to USSOCOM and this contract reiterates that ultralight mobility is still a critical component of Special Operations Forces missions,” said Rich Haddad, Polaris Defense General Manager. “These are extremely configurable platforms, providing operators the ability to quickly prepare for missions even in the most extreme terrain. MRZRs provide extreme mobility SOF can count on, that deploys in tactical air, providing maximum flexibility.”

The MRZR is a highly mobile off-road platform that is CV-22 internally transportable and can be configured a number of ways to help expeditionary forces meet mission requirements for emerging threats, while forward deployed. Some common tactical features of these off-road platforms include increased payload, standard winch, electronic power steering, aircraft tie-downs, fold down rollover protective structures (ROPS), large cargo boxes, IR light capability and blackout mode.

“Our customers appreciate that we use robust commercial off-the-shelf components for intuitive operation and easier maintenance worldwide,” said Haddad. “Our MRZRs are in service in more than 20 countries, providing a high degree of interoperability and commonality among U.S. and allied forces.”






http://armyrecognition.com/august_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/ussocom_awards_polaris_defense_new_contract_for_mrzr_highly_mobile_off-road_vehicles.html

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US Army announces Raytheon’s Excalibur Ib compatibility with M198 howitzer

24 August 2015

Raytheon's Excalibur Increment b (Ib) precision-guided, extended-range projectile has been determined by the US Army's Excalibur Program Office to be fully compatible with the M198 howitzer when used with the modular artillery charge system.
The compatibility is said to enable allied military forces to use the artillery round when firing the M198 medium-sized, towed howitzer.
The munition extends the howitzer's reach to 50km, while offering an all-weather strike within 2m of the target.
Raytheon Excalibur programme director Mark Hokeness said: "Many of our international partners have an urgent need to address vital security interests, and Excalibur lb meets that need.
"This eliminates the time and cost of further compatibility testing in the M198 howitzer."

A co-development programme between Raytheon and BAE Systems / Bofors, the projectile has been designed to provide accurate, first round fire-for-effect capabilities to the current and future 155mm howitzers in urban environments.
Based on the combat-proven Excalibur Ia-1 and Ia-2 projectiles, the 155mm precision-guided, extended-range projectile uses GPS precision guidance to offer soldiers an accurate, first-round, fire-for-effect capability in any environment.
Equipped with a non-spinning fixed and fewer parts, the projectile follows a simplified development approach compared with Excalibur Ia, and addresses the army's objectives for improved reliability at significantly reduced costs.
The projectile has been fielded by the US Army, Marines and several foreign military forces worldwide. To date nearly 770 rounds have been fired in combat.
In addition, Raytheon is developing the Excalibur N5, which will enable navies to provide extended range, precision naval surface fires from existing 5in / 127mm guns.

http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsus-army-announces-raytheons-excalibur-ib-compatibility-with-m198-howitzer-4653827

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US Army, Raytheon demonstrate ground-based air defense capability of the AIM-9X Block II missile

The U.S. Army and Raytheon Company successfully test fired an AIM-9X Block II missile from the Army's ground-based Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-I (IFPC 2-I) Block 1 Multi-Mission Launcher (MML). AIM-9X is traditionally fired from aircraft toward aerial targets and this test demonstrated that the latest AIM-9X can be used in both air-to-air combat and now, without modification, in ground-based air defense.

The AIM-9X missile first locked onto an unmanned aerial system (UAS) before launch, and then intercepted and destroyed the UAS, which was flying 1,500 meters above ground level.

"This is another example of how Raytheon is leveraging its proven portfolio of products to fulfill gaps in other mission areas, such as ground-based air defense," said Mike Jarrett, Raytheon Air Warfare Systems vice president. "AIM-9X can perform well against fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial systems or cruise missiles and retain the 'first look, first shot, first kill' reputation – in the air and from the ground."

This test also validated the operation and design of the Army's prototype IFPC Multi-Mission Launcher and demonstrated the surface launch performance of the AIM-9X Block II missile against a UAS.

AIM-9X is a U.S. Navy-led, joint Navy and U.S. Air Force program, with program offices in Patuxent River, Md., and Tucson, Ariz. Raytheon has more than 14 years producing AIM-9X missiles. AIM-9X entered operational service in 2003; international deliveries began in 2005. Block II development began in 2011 and completed operational test and evaluation in early 2015. The US Navy declared initial operational capability with the Block II in March 2015.



The Block II will also be the baseline effector for the US Army Indirect Fires Protection Capability Increment 2, Block 1 making AIM-9X a true dual use missile, effective in either air-to-air or surface-to-air applications with no modifications required to the missile. AIM-9X currently has 18 international customers, nine original Block I customers followed by nine new and 5 repeat Block II customers.

The AIM-9X Block II adds a redesigned fuze and a digital Ignition Safety Device that enhances ground handling and in-flight safety. The Block II variant also features updated electronics that enable significant enhancements, including lock-on-after-launch capability using a new weapon datalink to support Beyond Visual Range engagements.
http://www.armyrecognition.com/august_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/us_army_and_raytheon_demonstrate_ground-based_air_defense_capability_of_the_aim-9x_block_ii_missile_22708153.html

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US Army To Choose New Landing Craft Next Year
By Dylan Vosman -  Aug 28, 2015





WASHINGTON — In line with the Pentagon’s so-called Pacific pivot, the US Army wants to buy a new fleet of boats to replace its Vietnam-era “Mike Boat,” the service’s first major watercraft procurement in 15 years, acquisitions officials said Tuesday.

The Army plans to solicit proposals for roughly two dozen multipurpose landing craft called the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light), or MSV(L), according to Col. Steve George, transportation capabilities manager for Army Training and Doctrine Command. They would replace the Landing Craft Mechanized 8, known as the LCM-8 or Mike Boat.

Army leadership, according to George, has realized the criticality of watercraft based on their use in the Middle East, South America and especially the Pacific, where they have been used for humanitarian and partnership efforts. In terms of transportation procurement priorities, MSV(L) was second only to the Army’s major Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, Army officials said.

The MSV(L) is intended for sustainment missions and as a maneuver option to conduct riverine operations, or to get into a denied area, where there is a degraded port or none at all. It is envisioned as having an operational capability from ship to shore and along coastal waters, narrow inland waterways and rivers, according to budget documents.

A force might use it to traverse a lake or river to surprise an enemy, George said. The boat itself, according to budget documents, “would be furnished with a subsurface surveillance device, protection from small arms fire, and two Common Remotely Operated Weapon Stations for vessel defense and force protection, and to mitigate detection through reduction of thermal and acoustic signature.”

The newer boat is intended to be larger and faster, with a longer range and twice the capacity. The MSV(L) would be roughly 100 feet long, with a draft of less than four feet, a speed of 18 knots and the capacity to carry either an Abrams tank, two Strykers with bar armor or four Joint Light Tactical Vehicles.

The 2016 president’s budget submission includes $10 million to start the engineering, manufacturing and development phase and projects $18.6 million in 2017 and $14.5 million in 2018.

The Army plans to issue a request for proposals before the end of the year, make an award later in 2016, have a prototype in 2017, and be testing in 2018 and 2019. A 10-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract would cover three years of engineering and manufacturing development, two years of low rate initial production and five years of full production.

www.defensenews.com

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US to deploy heavy weapons to Poland in 2016
By Agence France-Presse -August 28, 2015


Warsaw: Poland’s defence minister said Thursday the United States would deploy heavy weapons to the EU state next year, as regional tensions run high over Russia and the conflict in Ukraine.

Washington had said in June it would store battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other heavy weapons for as many as 5,000 American troops in several Baltic and eastern European countries.

“We expect this deployment to take place in mid-2016,” Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak told the local news agency PAP.

He said two locations for the weaponry had been identified in the west and northeast of the country following talks with the United States but would not specify the exact locations.

Siemoniak added that the terms would be finalized during a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels in early October.

The deployment of weaponry will represent the first time since the Cold War that the United States has stationed such equipment in NATO members that were once under Soviet sway.

Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to the US plan by announcing in June that Moscow would in turn expand its nuclear arsenal and accused NATO of “coming to our borders”.

Poland and other countries in eastern Europe have been rattled by Russia’s actions in Ukraine, where pro-Moscow separatists have been fighting Kiev’s forces since April 2014.



http://www.defencetalk.com/us-to-deploy-heavy-weapons-to-poland-in-2016-65190/

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US Army prepares systems, partner nations for network exercise
By Army News Service -August 31, 2015



Several unit command posts and a full fleet of tactical vehicles are built and ready to be equipped with the most advanced technology the Army has to offer.

The rush of activity is in preparation for Network Integration Evaluation 16.1/Army Warfighter Assessment, also known as NIE/AWA 16.1, which is set to begin in late September.

In the past, the semi-annual NIEs have put Army communications technology to the ultimate test by allowing Soldiers to formally evaluate systems in a field environment between Fort Bliss, Texas, and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

This fall, NIE 16.1 will serve as a proof-of-concept for the AWAs, new annual events held at the same venue that will allow Soldiers to experiment with new technologies and provide feedback – rather than conducting a formal test. Moving forward, NIEs will be executed in the spring while AWAs will occur in the fall.

Before the 16.1 exercise begins, the mission at hand is for Soldiers and civilians to validate the networked systems so they are stable, loaded and ready to support warfighting functions during the assessments. This is accomplished through the Validation Exercise, or VALEX, which is a four-phased event that readies the network for participating units so the network may be utilized during NIE.

Even for personnel with experience integrating the network for past NIEs, the enlarged scope of this exercise has posed new challenges. NIE/AWA 16.1 will include approximately 12,000 Soldiers, from the 1st Armored Division and other U.S. Army units, as well as coalition personnel from 13 NATO countries. For VALEX, there will be more than 300 platforms, almost 20 command posts and 1,600 people expected to participate.

“Previous Validation Exercises only required one brigade, so we worked with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division,” said Maj. Carlito Flores, trail boss for the capability package directorate, or CPD, which is a part of the Army’s System of Systems Engineering and Integration Directorate. “Now, we have about 16 external units not local to Fort Bliss participating, and that creates challenges as well as opportunities.”

Despite the new challenges, the load phase of VALEX has gone very smooth and is nearing completion, Flores said. This success has been attributed to the experience the CPD team acquired over a series of NIEs conducted since 2011.

“Due to the increased number of participants and the joint/multinational focus of AWA, our planning this time around has been more detailed and has involved more action officer work up front,” said Col. Terrece Harris, director of the CPD. “We have had to ramp up our external communications to ensure those who are not normally part of the NIE understand what needs to be done and what their VALEX mission encompasses, which will set the tone for the NIE event.”

Traditionally, all the equipment that needed to get checked for VALEX was housed at a single site, where the CPD trail bosses are headquartered. Now, with five separate locations where VALEX will occur, the CPD team has substantially increased coordination and tracking activities for the external locations.

The trail bosses have also worked meticulously to communicate with liaison officers who speak on behalf of the foreign units.

“With the introduction of AWAs, I believe the trail bosses’ responsibility has extended beyond our usual scope for NIE,” Flores said. “We are working with coalition partners and supporting external units to maximize their readiness for this event.”

As learned throughout numerous past exercises, a successful VALEX is essential to a successful NIE. As VALEX 16.1 comes to a close, the CPD team is enthusiastic about the progress that has been made to establish the network, Harris said.

“Despite many challenges and unknowns, NIE 16.1/AWA is definitely off to a tremendous start,” he said.




http://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-prepares-systems-partner-nations-for-network-exercise-65226/

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US Army issues Request for Proposal for its new XM17 Modular Handgun System
The US Army has requested submissions for what will be the most expensive and one of the biggest handgun contracts in history worth $580 million, the Army Times reported. And for the first time, the US Army’s official sidearm may be capable of firing expanding or fragmenting bullets, the report published on Tuesday August 28 noted.



"The solicitation issued August 28 calls for key features of the Army's new Modular Handgun System — dubbed the XM17 — to include enhanced accuracy, ergonomics, terminal effects and reliability," local media said.

The new sidearm will replace the Army's Beretta M9 pistol, currently in service, the report said. The total value of the Beretta contract over the past 30 years is estimated as $400 million.

The deadline for submissions from industry is January 28, 2016.




The competition will be open caliber, opening the door for larger rounds than 9 mm ammunition, such as .40- and .45-caliber. Each manufacturer can submit two gun/ammunition combinations if they are differing calibers.

Several companies already announced their intention to compete for the MHS program, such Sig Sauer with its new P320 Pistol, and the General Dynamics/Smith & Wesson team.


http://www.armyrecognition.com/september_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/us_army_issues_request_for_proposal_for_its_new_xm17_modular_handgun_system_20209153.html

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Northrop Grumman lands US Army helo protection programme

Marina Malenic, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
01 September 2015



The US Army has awarded Northrop Grumman a USD35.3 million contract with options for engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) and low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) programme, the Pentagon announced on 31 August.

CIRCM is a laser-based countermeasure system designed to work with missile warning systems. In addition to helicopters, it is intended for use on tilt-rotor and small fixed-wing aircraft. The technology is being developed to replace heavier, ageing systems such as the legacy BAE Systems Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM).

As the only infrared-jamming survivability suite planned for purchase by the army for its rotorcraft, the system could be used on both legacy and future fleets. It could also be employed for decades to come because of the ease with which it can be upgraded as threats evolve, Jeff Palombo, sector vice-president and general manager of Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems, told IHS Jane's on 1 September.

"The beauty of the system we proposed is the open architectures that enable us to mix and match capabilities from throughout industry," he said. Even when new rotorcraft are introduced into the army's fleet, "likely the heart of the system will remain the same but components will be replaced with new technologies", he added.

Palombo said his team will begin meeting with army officials this week to better understand the scope of the work under the current contract award, which focuses initially on EMD efforts such as environmental testing to guarantee high reliability of the final product. Northrop Grumman is also expected to deliver 21 CIRCM ship sets for the work.

Contract options through October 2017 include the purchase of various A-kits - cabling, electronics, and mechanical parts that attach the system to different rotorcraft types - as well as commencement LRIP, according to Palombo. "The government has the ability to exercise those options at any time," he explained.

Palombo added that pricing negotiations on the options are already in place. "It's strictly a matter of the government deciding to exercise options," he said.



The army has previously said that initial CIRCM work would centre on the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, followed by the Boeing AH-64 Apache. Palumbo said the company is prepared to offer A-kits for any type in the army's inventory.

Northrop Grumman's Land and Self Protection Systems division facility in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, will conduct the work. Partners Selex ES of Edinborough, Scotland, and Daylight Solutions of San Diego, California, will make the dome-shaped pointer/tracker and the laser, respectively. Northrop Grumman then integrates those components with its processor and algorithms. Palombo said he anticipates the same arrangement to continue through LRIP, but Northrop Grumman has an agreement with both suppliers to co-produce at the Rolling Meadows facility if additional capacity is needed.

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US Army Reserve orders additional EST 3000 trainers from Cubic

2 September 2015

Cubic Global Defense (CGD) has secured a contract to deliver additional Engagement Skills Training (EST) 3000 virtual training systems to the US Army Reserve.
Under the $1.3m contract, the Cubic subsidiary will supply an undisclosed number of EST 3000 trainers, as well as simulated weapons and services.
The US Army Reserve is combining EST 3000 system and Virtual Battlespace 3 (VBS3) laptop trainers into a Mission Leader Trainer (MLT) containerised configuration, which will be used to support three core training functions, including EST 3000 for marksmanship, VBS3 laptop trainers, and tactical operations or leadership training.
Cubic Global Defense president Bill Toti said: "Cubic's EST 3000 uses the ballistic accuracy of the EST 2000, which is the only marksmanship system certified by the US Army to be an accurate simulation of the live-fire ballistics of actual small arms weapons.

"The smaller, versatile and portable capabilities of the EST 3000 not only maximise the available time, as it moves the system to the soldier, but also increases the training effectiveness to the point of need while reducing costs."
The trainer is expected to provide the army reserve with enhanced fundamentals of firing capabilities through immediate feedback from indicators, such as trigger pressure, pitch, cant, and 3D targets.
The trainer will enable soldiers to familiarise at army reserve centres before firing at a weapons range, which decreases costs and time on ranges, while increasing overall weapons qualification proficiency.
The EST 3000 is a high-fidelity weapons training system designed to teach soldiers marksmanship, offensive and defensive collective, and 'shoot-don't shoot' judgmental firing skills in numerous environments.
The system leverages high-fidelity game engine graphics to add realism to marksmanship and collective scenarios, and also has an after action review feature to provide instant feedback on all modes, which permits commanders to evaluate the effectiveness of their unit.

http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsus-army-reserve-orders-additional-est-3000-trainers-from-cubic-4661185