US Army

Rappel du premier message :

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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

J'ai trouvé ça au sujet des Marlboro...

http://www.cigarettespedia.com/index.php/Marlboro_%28with_cow-boy_on_horse%29_KS-20-H_%28white_and_blue%29_-_USA

http://www.cigarettespedia.com/index.php/Marlboro_%28with_cow-boy_with_cigarette%29_KS-20-H_%28white_and_blue%29_-_USA

source: http://www.cigarettespedia.com/index.php/BrandMarlboro

merci rafi,normal donc

l'intégralité des équipements de l'armée de terre américaine (42 Mb )


http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/wsh2010/index.html

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Washington - Le nombre de suicides dans l’armée de Terre américaine a atteint 160 en 2009, un nouveau record. Le Pentagone a évoqué "une année cruelle".


Des responsables de l’armée de Terre avaient averti que le nombre de suicides risquait de dépasser celui de 2008, qui était de 140. "Il ne fait aucun doute que 2009 a été une année cruelle pour l’armée de Terre en termes de suicides", a déclaré le colonel Christopher Philbrick, qui fait partie d’un groupe de travail pour la prévention des suicides au sein de l’armée. Les soldats sont soumis à rude épreuve par des années de conflit en Irak et en Afghanistan. Les officiers citent la fréquence des rotations sur le terrain et le stress des combats pour expliquer une hausse des dépressions et des problèmes de couples que connaissent les soldats. Mais les suicides ne sont pas forcément la conséquence de déploiements sur le terrain : les causes semblent varier selon les bases militaires, et environ un tiers des soldats qui se sont suicidés n’avaient jamais participé à des missions de combat en Irak ou en Afghanistan, selon l’armée, qui a effectué une enquête interne.
De hauts responsables de la défense en ont appelé aux officiers pour qu’ils fassent en sorte que les militaires ayant besoin d’une aide psychologique ne soient pas exposés au ridicule ou à des sanctions dans leur carrière.


L’armée a pris plusieurs initiatives pour tenter d’endiguer le problème, recrutant notamment des centaines de spécialistes de la santé mentale. Des responsables ont également fait part de leurs inquiétudes concernant les suicides d’anciens combattants.
16 janvier 2010

• 
  swissinfo swissinfo/Radio Suisse Internationale

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Washington - Le nombre de suicides dans l’armée de Terre américaine a atteint 160 en 2009, un nouveau record. Le Pentagone a évoqué "une année cruelle".

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Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on Jan. 15, 2010 a $923,716,895 firm-fixed-price contract for the funding of Fourth Program Year of multi-year contract for Army Lot 34 consisting of 46 each UH-60M and 21 each HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and 10 each Option UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters for Army and also tooling: program systems management; and technical publications. Work is to be performed in Stratford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2012. One bid solicited with one bid received. U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, AMSAM-AC-BH-A, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W5RGZ-08-C-0003).

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BAE Systems Rokar vient de signer un contrat de 25 millions de dollars avec l’US Army
BAE Systems Rokar , implantée à Jérusalemn vient de signer un contrat de 25 millions de dollars avec l’US Army. D’après ce contrat, l’entreprise israélienne fournira des caméras thermiques de vision de nuità l’armée US. Les caméras seront installées sur les feux arrière des véhicules tous terrain et elles permettront de fournir aux soldats des images de derrière la voiture.
La transaction implique l’équipement de 10.000 véhicules. Rokar est une filiale israélienne de la Corporation Internationale de BAE Systems.
L’entreprise emploie 140 travailleurs en Israël.
Pour rappel, BAE Systems est une entreprise britannique travaillant dans les secteurs de la défense et de l’aérospatial, dont le siège social se trouve à Farnborough.
Dans le secteur de la défense, c’est la troisième entreprise mondiale et la première européenne. L’entreprise est née le 30 novembre 1999 par le rapprochement de l’ancienne British Aerospace (BAe) et de Marconi Electronic Systems (MES).
BAe joue un rôle important dans la production d’avions militaires : les Eurofighter Typhoon, Panavia Tornado et autres bombardiers AV-8B Harrier II font partie des principaux appareils de la RAF. C’est également un des premiers partenaires du projet F-35 Ligthning II. Son avion d’entraînement BAe Hawk a été exporté dans de nombreux pays.

www.israelvalley.com

un symbole du vietnam disparaitre prochainement de l´Army

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Fort Hood stands as last home to Hueys

By Heather Graham, Sentinel News Editor
February 11, 2010 | News

They are among the last of their kind and soon will be the last in the Army.

Four UH-1 Iroquois helicopters, affectionately known as Hueys, sit at Hood Army Airfield in the care of Fort Hood’s 21st Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat).

Eventually they will join nearly 100 other Hueys in a field outside Temple’s Draughon-Miller airport before they are scrapped.

For now, Hueys remain in regular use at one place in the Army – the 21st Cav. Bde.

The brigade uses the Hueys for Bambi bucket missions during fires, troop and dignitary transport, downed aircraft recovery training, medical evacuations and other training missions to augment 21st Cav.’s AH-64 Apache helicopter training program.

When the Hueys are gone, the brigade is scheduled to receive two UH-72 Lakota helicopters that can take on all required missions except firefighting.

Although the brigade is authorized three Hueys, they accept UH-1s that are due to be turned in to Temple for scrap and use the aircraft until the 150 hours before maintenance is required has expired, said Chief Warrant Officer Jimmy Green.

Green, a III Corps standardization pilot, has been flying Hueys since 1977.

“We all used to fly them in flight school,” he said.

Now, Army aviators are trained in OH-58 Kiowas at Fort Rucker, Ala., the home of Army aviation.

Since the first Huey entered Army service in 1959, the aircraft has been a familiar sight with the distinctive “whoop, whoop” of its rotor.

They remain an enduring symbol of the Vietnam War where Hueys were the cavalry’s workhorses.

They also have enjoyed a long tenure at the brigade.

“The Huey has been a symbol of 21st Cav. for a while,” Green said.

Huey-qualified pilots are becoming scarcer in the Army, but the brigade does have a few Apache pilots who can fly the Huey.

Green retired from the brigade in 2000 but came back in the service to train a new generation on the beloved UH-1.

Captain Chris Anthony, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop commander at 21st Cav., could be the last Army aviator to qualify on a Huey.

A UH-60 Black Hawk pilot originally, Anthony volunteered to learn the Huey.

“I am getting lucky,” he said. “It’s something out of the ordinary.”

Though the Black Hawk and the Huey share some qualities, there are some distinct differences.

Black Hawks have received updates and modern technologies absent in the Huey.

“You actually have to fly this aircraft,” Anthony said.

Or as Green often tells Anthony, “It’s not gonna fly itself.”

Anthony has served a deployment as a Black Hawk pilot, but elected to enter the Huey program for the stability and the flight hours, as well as the opportunity to command an aircraft that has already gained its footing in aviation history.

“It’s a unique honor,” he said.

Just don’t ask him which aircraft is better.

http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/story.php?id=3098

In Vietnam, Hueys were vital for troop insertions and MEDEVAC. Courtesy photo


Fort Hood’s 21st Cav. Bde. is the last unit in the Army to use UH-1 Iroquois helicopters. By June 2012, Hueys will no longer be used in the U.S. Army. Heather Graham, Sentinel News Editor

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Northrop Grumman has received a contract to support the U.S. Army M1A1 Abrams tank program with its two-axis rate sensor technologies.

U.S. company Northrop Grumman received the contract from General Dynamics' Land Systems business unit to support the M1A1 Abrams tank with its LRS-2000 Rate Sensor Assembly systems.
Officials say the LRS-2000 sensor, a gun and turret stabilization support technology, will be used by General Dynamics with the Stabilized Commander's Weapon Station M1A1 Abrams tank under the $18 million agreement.
"The LRS-2000 Rate Sensor Assembly offers the high performance needed for the Stabilized Commander's Weapon Station program at a reasonable cost," Gorik Hossepian, Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems Division vice president of navigation and positioning systems, said in a statement.
"It will help to increase soldier safety and effectiveness in urban areas where attacks can come from many directions."

http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_news&rid=96477&catid=60

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Lockheed Martin Completes Production Of Its First Two JLTV Technology Development Vehicles Ahead Of Schedule

08:26 GMT, February 17, 2010 Owego, N.Y. | Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has completed, ahead of schedule, production of its first two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV), both new six-passenger Infantry Carrier variants. The vehicles will be delivered to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps for a year-long testing period as part of the Technology Development (TD) phase of the JLTV program. As part of the 27-month TD contract awarded in October 2008, Lockheed Martin will deliver multiple JLTV variants and trailers to the Army and Marine Corps for the testing program, scheduled to begin in April of this year. The testing will be conducted primarily at Aberdeen Test Center, MD, and Yuma Test Center in Yuma, AZ. "Successfully completing production of our first two TD vehicles ahead of schedule is a major achievement for our program," said Steve Ramsey, vice president of Ground Vehicles at Lockheed Martin. "The team's tireless efforts to design, assemble and test our previous six operational prototypes culminated in the production of technology development vehicles that are mature, low-risk and thoroughly tested." In addition to the TD vehicles, the Lockheed Martin JLTV team has produced multiple test vehicles. The team's current JLTV family of vehicles includes five prototypes, all of which are in system test and have accumulated more than 70,000 combined miles: • The original Infantry Carrier JLTV Category B model, designed for troop transportation; • The Utility Vehicle Light Category C model, designed with a focus on payload; • The General Purpose Mobility Category A model, designed for logistical support; • The second variant of the Utility Vehicle Light Category C model; and • The Command and Control on the Move Category B model. This vehicle is scheduled to make its public debut at the Association of the United States Army Winter Symposium in February 2010. "We are confident that we'll continue to remain on schedule and deliver a high-quality family of vehicles that meet all transportability requirements by air, land and sea," Ramsey added. "We look forward to final delivery to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps this spring and having our vehicles rigorously tested." The Lockheed Martin-led JLTV Team includes leaders in their respective fields. Lockheed Martin serves as the prime contractor and design agent, providing advanced systems, systems engineering, platform and components integration, design expertise, and program and supply chain management. The BAE Systems Global Tactical Systems and Security & Survivability Systems businesses are providing production facilities for high volume assembly, and advanced armor solutions for protection. Alcoa Defense is supplying materials experience, design services and aluminum components that give the vehicle its structural strength at reduced weight. JWF – Defense Systems is offering state-of-the-art machining and cost-effective fabrication.

defpro.com/

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U.S. Army: 'What Do You Do With The MRAPs?'

After three years of buying 16 kinds of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, the U.S. Army is trying to figure out how best to distribute them through the force.

The U.S. Marine Corps is facing a similar problem.Related Topics
"What do you do with the MRAPs?" asked Don Tison, assistant deputy chief of staff for Army programs, during a Feb. 17 conference in Washington.
The Army is looking at creating task-organized sets, Tison said. About 3,600 vehicles will be available in deploying units, with some remaining at bases for home-station training and others going to the war reserves, he said.
At the same conference, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Duane Thiessen, deputy commandant for programs and resources, echoed the Army official and described the vehicles as "very simple" and "very heavy." Both service officials said sustaining existing vehicles and aircraft is becoming increasingly important as budget constraints limit the numbers of new ones the services can buy.
Earlier this month, while traveling in Turkey, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the United States would share surplus MRAPs with allies in an effort to reduce casualties in Afghanistan. He said the vehicles were available because of the drawdown of forces in Iraq.

defensenews

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U.S. Army Surges CROWS Weapons Stations to Afghanistan

Establishing Additional Field Support Sites to Support Advanced Weapon Systems
With the surge to Afghanistan underway, thousands of advanced CROWS weapon systems are taking flight to support U.S. Army forces in theater. The CROWS systems mount what is essentially a small turret on top of Army combat vehicles that provides soldiers the ability to employ their machine guns while using a control grip and video monitor from inside the protection of an armored vehicle. In response, PEO Soldier's PM Soldier Weapons office is ramping up its stateside logistics support and is in the process of establishing three new support sites in Afghanistan to manage the fielding, soldier training, and sustainment of the XM153 Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS) systems.
"We are embedding the new CROWS support sites with units that are farther afield," said Lt. Col. Michael Ascura, Product Manager Crew-Served Weapons. "Our new sites will put the support closer to the units that need it and reduce system down time. We fielded one new site this month, and will bring two more online by April in Afghanistan."
The complexity of the fielding is magnified by the sheer number of vehicles and vehicle variants that are now employing CROWS; including MRAPS, HMMWVs, RG31A1 route clearing vehicle, the Buffalo EOD vehicle, the new MATVs, and others. Each of these vehicles require customized vehicle integration kits to bring the units online.
Maj. Michael Pottratz, Assistant Product Manager for Crew-Served Weapons, manages the logistical support of the entire system. To accomplish his mission, Maj. Pottratz has devised a "building in a box" concept that enables the Field Service Representatives (FSR) that staff the support sites to independently set up sites in a matter of days. All they need is a piece of real estate and some fuel.
"We wanted to put together a custom kit for our Field Service Reps that enables them to get operational as soon as possible," said Maj. Pottratz. "All the components necessary to establish the support site come in a single container: tools, equipment, computers, classroom space and materials, generators, air conditioners, even a Gator ATV. Our FSRs can provide CROWS support within 48 hours after offloading."
Once operational, FSRs begin comprehensive, hands-on training sessions with soldiers. Lt. Col. Ascura recommends that every member of a unit receives training on the system, not just operators. CROWS training provides leaders with critical knowledge on how best to employ CROWS to support a diverse set of missions. With its day and night cameras, CROWS provides target identification and surveillance capabilities that are well beyond what small unit leaders have had previously.
"Soldiers learn how they can turn 'area weapons,' such as the M2 machine gun, into precision engagement weapons," said Lt. Col. Ascura. "Beyond the guns, leaders begin to think about how to integrate the system capabilities into their tactics. In the past, soldiers had to perform the same functions with the naked eye from an exposed position in the turret. Thanks to CROWS, those days are coming to an end."

defpro.com

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February 24, 2010 11:45 AM
BAE Systems Secures More Than $140 Million Contract for 250 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles

BENONI, South Africa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BAE Systems Land Systems OMC, through its partnership with General Dynamics Land Systems Canada (GDLS-C), was awarded a follow-on order for the supply of 250 RG31 Mk5E vehicles in support of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program for U.S. forces.

The new RG31 Mk5E version utilizes the same driveline as the RG31 Mk5EM, 100 of which were sold during the previous MRAP contract completed in May 2009. A further enhancement includes an independent suspension system, which improves vehicle mobility and ride comfort. Combined with ease of handling, improved crew comfort, V-shaped hull for excellent mine and IED protection, the RG31 is one of the best vehicles for the harsh off-road conditions of Afghanistan, where the vehicles will be deployed.

All vehicles will be manufactured in South Africa and delivery of the vehicles to GDLS-C will take place in 2010.

Johan Steyn, Managing Director of BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa, said: “This follow-on order testifies both to the reliability of the RG31 design and its build quality, but more importantly, the capability this battle proven vehicle with its superior protection levels gives to the men and women in uniform. It proves once again the integrity of BAE Systems’ engineering and manufacturing excellence.”

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100224006262&newsLang=en

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Raytheon Company's Surface Launched Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (SLAMRAAM) program has received approval from the U.S. Army for long-lead purchases, not to exceed $18 million, leading to low rate initial production.

U.S. Army has awarded $18 million contract to Raytheon for SLAMRAAM Long-Lead Purchases

This approval is significant as it underscores the Army's confidence in the system and the capability it brings to the warfighter. This funding will accelerate the manufacturing schedule for key command and control components subsequent to the U.S. Army Milestone C decision planned for next year.

"SLAMRAAM represents an important step forward in the defense of our troops on the battlefield as well as our nation and allies," said Karen Kalil-Brown, vice president for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' National & Theater Security Programs. "SLAMRAAM will field the first command and control air defense system supporting the Army's vision of 'system of systems'".

SLAMRAAM is a tailorable, state-of-the-art air defense system that can defeat current and emerging cruise missile threats, unmanned aerial systems and a wide range of air breathing threats. It provides the warfighter with a system of highly mobile battlefield elements networked and geographically distributed to provide integrated fire control capability against airborne threats.

defenseworld

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U.S. Army 'Moving Rapidly' To Add V-Hull to Strykers
A double V-shaped hull could be added to the U.S. Army's Stryker vehicle quickly, the service's top uniformed official told lawmakers who voiced concerns about its survivability
"I can't tell you exactly how long it's going to take, because we're in the early design stages of that, but we are moving rapidly to get it built, tested and into the hands of the forces as quickly as we can," Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey told the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee on March 3.Related Topics
In January, Stryker manufacturer General Dynamics presented the Army a plan to accelerate the introduction of a double V-shaped hull to the flat-bottomed Stryker, increasing the vehicle's protection against improvised explosive devices.
One source said the Army currently plans to reduce monthly Stryker production from 35 to 20 by January, which could delay the improvements. The source said that if the vehicle's production rate is held steady, the company could deliver 130 vehicles in the infantry carrier configuration in time for the next Stryker brigade's deployment to Afghanistan in July 2011.
In late February, Lt. Gen. Robert Lennox, deputy chief of staff for Army programs, said service officials intended to make a decision soon.
At the March 3 hearing, Army Secretary John McHugh said he's optimistic the Army will be able to field the V-shaped hull quickly.
"I think it's worth noting that the manufacturer recognized this early on and has been working on this and studying it for some time. That's a great compliment to them," said McHugh.
Casey said that the Strykers had received survivability improvements before they were deployed to Afghanistan.
"We are in the process of evaluating whether those are enough to operate in an IED environment," he told lawmakers.
Asked by Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., whether deploying Strykers with a double V-shaped hull was "a probability more than a possibility," Casey responded, "Absolutely."
Subcommittee chairman Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, asked the Army leaders whether the vehicle was too heavy for some operations.
"I'm less concerned about the weight and the decrease in mobility," said Casey.
He said the Strykers in Afghanistan have been shifted "to a mission of road security that actually takes advantage of the mobility they provide."
The hearing was cut short for a memorial for Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., but Inouye said he would submit further questions to the Army regarding brigade combat team modernization, the future role of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle, the Aerial Scout Helicopter and the Joint Cargo Aircraft.

defensenews

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EADS North America delivers 100th UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter to the U.S. Army

Latest milestone marks another accomplishment for one of the most successful acquisition programs in U.S. Army aviation history EADS North America delivered its 100th UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopter to the U.S. Army today, marking another on-time and on-budget achievement for a highly successful program that supports America’s warfighters and contributes to the nation’s homeland security. "The UH-72A Lakota program has progressed on schedule and within budget constraints,” said Col. L. Neil Thurgood, the U.S. Army’s Project Manager of the Utility Helicopter office. “The aircraft has been well received by Army aircrews and we have maintained a remarkably high operational availability rate combined with an admirable safety record. We especially look forward to fielding even more of these capable aircraft to Army National Guard units throughout the United States," he added. Delivery of the 100th Lakota occurred at American Eurocopter’s production facility in Columbus, Miss. where the twin-engine helicopter is produced. The American Eurocopter facility was significantly expanded to accommodate production of the Lakota, which created and supports hundreds of high-value aerospace jobs throughout the United States. “Delivering on our commitments to the U.S. Army has been the industry team’s number one priority since being selected for the Lakota program in June 2006,” said Sean O’Keefe, EADS North America’s CEO. “Our performance of 100 percent on-time deliveries reflects an unwavering commitment to fully support our customers’ current and future needs.” The 100th Lakota aircraft will be deployed to Germany with the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) – becoming part of this unit’s Combat Training Center and further expanding the Lakota’s mission applications. “When EADS North America and American Eurocopter decided to invest in Mississippi several years ago – Mississippians made a commitment to help these companies succeed. When the Army chose EADS North America to supply the UH-72A Lakota, EADS made a commitment to help the warfighter succeed. Today the 100th Lakota helicopter is evidence of that commitment,” said Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. “I’m extremely proud of the work they do to support America’s men and women in uniform.” The U.S. Army plans to acquire 345 Lakotas through 2016, and the service has ordered 182 of the helicopters so far, along with five H-72A versions for the U.S. Navy. Aircraft already delivered to the Army are used in missions that include medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), search and rescue, drug interdiction, VIP transport and support – with the in-service UH-72A fleet logging more than 25,000 flight hours to date at an operational readiness rate of more than 90 percent. The Navy’s five H-72A versions are utilized by the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., for the training of test pilots from the U.S. military and allied countries. “The UH-72A Lakota program is crucial to modernizing the U.S. Army’s aviation assets, and the delivery of the 100th Lakota helicopter to the Army is a significant accomplishment for the Mississippians who build these capable aircraft in the Golden Triangle,” commented Sen. Thad Cochran, the ranking member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. “This achievement proves that off-the-shelf commercial air frames can be successfully adapted for military applications at a lower cost to the taxpayer. It also reflects well on our state’s industrial capabilities and our ability to support the Armed Forces.” The UH-72A is a Defense Acquisition Category (ACAT) I major defense acquisition program for the U.S. Defense Department, and the Lakota’s service entry in 2007 marked one of the most rapid introductions of a new aircraft in the U.S. Army’s history. Deliveries of the aircraft to National Guard units allow aging OH-58 and UH-1 rotary-wing aircraft to be retired, while UH-72As assigned to the active component of the U.S. Army free up UH-60 Black Hawks for assignment to warfighting missions. “Time and again, Mississippi workers have answered the call and produced the tools our military needs to keep our country safe,” commented Sen. Roger Wicker. “The Lakota has made a substantial contribution to this important effort. The Lakota program has been delivered on time and on budget. This is a testament to the men and women who build these helicopters, as well as to the Army and EADS North America.” The Lakotas’ current basing across the continental United States and in Puerto Rico will be expanded during the coming months – along with the missions they perform – as Lakotas are deployed to Germany and the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific. “It’s a privilege to represent the workforce that has successfully built and delivered 100 Lakota helicopters to the U.S. Army on schedule and on budget,” said Mississippi Rep. Travis Childers. “This program represents the hard work and dedication of hundreds of Mississippians, and I commend EADS for its commitment to our national security.” For their service in Germany at the Joint Multinational Training Command, the helicopters will be used to train pilots in combat engagements, and are to carry equipment that includes a Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES), a SMart On-Board Data Interface Module (SMODIM), and an electronic data manager. When deployed to the Pacific Ocean’s Kwajalein Atoll, the UH-72As will perform transport and support duties. They are to be painted in a high-visibility orange color scheme and outfitted with skid-mounted floats, a life raft and jettisonable cockpit doors for rapid egress. Production of the UH-72A averages three to four helicopters per month at the Columbus, Miss. production site, which is operated by EADS North America’s American Eurocopter business unit. The 220,000 square foot facility, located adjacent to the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, is capable of producing up to five aircraft a month. The company continues to meet its goal of creating new job opportunities in the region, with total employment reaching 250 employees as the UH-72A program attains full rate production.

defpro

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Opportunities for the U.S. Army to Position its Ground Force Modernization Efforts for Success

the Future Combat System (FCS) program has been the centerpiece of the Army’s efforts to transition to a lighter, more agile, and more capable combat force. In 2009, however, concerns over the program’s performance led to the Secretary of Defense’s decision to significantly restructure and ultimately cancel the acquisition program. As a result, the Army is outlining a new approach to ground force modernization. This statement outlines the Army’s preliminary post-FCS actions and identifies the challenges DOD and the Army must address as they proceed. This testimony is based on GAO’s report on the Army’s Ground Force Modernization effort scheduled for release March 15, 2010. It emphasizes the December 2009 decision to begin low-rate initial production for Increment 1 of the Brigade Combat Team Modernization. In its draft report that is currently with DOD for comment, GAO recommended that the Secretary of Defense mandate the Army correct the identified maturity and reliability issues with the Increment 1 systems and network prior to approving any additional production lots. The GAO also recommended the Secretary of the Army not field the Increment 1 network or systems until the identified maturity and reliability issues have been corrected. DOD has not yet responded to the GAO recommendations. What GAO Found The Army is implementing DOD direction and redefining its overall modernization strategy as a result of the Secretary of Defense’s decision to significantly restructure the FCS program. It is transitioning from the FCS long-term acquisition orientation to a shorter-term approach that biannually develops and fields new increments of capability within capability packages. It now has an approved acquisition program that will produce and field the initial increment of the FCS spinout equipment, which includes unmanned aerial and ground vehicles as well as unattended sensors and munitions. It has preliminary plans for two other major defense acquisition programs to (1) define and develop follow-on increments and (2) develop a new Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV). The individual systems within Increments 1 and 2 are to be integrated with a preliminary version of an information network. Currently, the Army is continuing selected development work—primarily that related to Increments 1 and 2, and the information network—under the existing FCS development contract. The Army has recently released a request for proposals for the technology development phase of the proposed GCV development effort. The Army’s projected investment in Increments 1 and 2 and GCV is estimated to be over $24 billion through fiscal year 2015. With these modernization efforts at an early stage, DOD and the Army face the immediate challenge of setting themon the best possible footing by buying the right capabilities at the best value. DOD and the Army have an opportunity to better position these efforts by utilizing an enhanced body of acquisition legislation and DOD policy reforms—which now incorporate many of the knowledge-based practices that GAO has previously identified—as well as lessons learned from the FCS program. Preliminary plans suggest the Army and DOD are strongly considering lessons learned. However, DOD recently approved the first of several planned low-rate initial production lots of Increment 1 despite having acknowledged that the systems and network were immature, unreliable, and not performing as required. That decision reflects DOD’s emphasis on providing new capabilities quickly to combat units. This decision did not follow knowledge-based acquisition practices and runs the risk of delivering unacceptable equipment to the warfighter and trading off acquisition principles whose validity has been so recently underscored. The Army needs to seize the opportunity of integrating acquisition reforms, knowledge-based acquisition practices, and lessons-learned from FCS into future modernization efforts to increase the likelihood of successful outcomes.

defpro

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M-ATVs to replace Humvees in Afghanistan, U.S. Army Vice COS says

The mine-resistant ambush- protected all-terrain vehicle, or M-ATV, is on its way to Afghanistan to replace many of the up-armored Humvees. "It will not be too long before we will be able to get everybody who can be out of the up-armored Humvee into the MRAP ATV," said Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. General Peter W. Chiarelli. Chiarelli spoke April 14 before the Senate Armed Services Committee readiness and management support subcommittee. The general, along with vice chiefs from the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, testified before the subcommittee regarding the current readiness of U.S. forces. The general said the M-ATV offers Soldiers more protection than the up-armored Humvee. Third Army is now in the process of moving equipment such as M-ATVs out of Iraq as part of the drawdown, resetting that equipment, and sending what is needed to Afghanistan. "We have had great success getting equipment into Afghanistan thanks to the great work of Third Army," he said. While the Army isn't finished with the Humvee, it did recently announce that it has reached its "acquisition objective" for the vehicles -- meaning that it had finally received as many as it had planned to buy. The last purchase of Humvees comes to about 2,662 of the vehicles, Chiarelli said. Last week, the Department of Defense sent Congress a reprogramming request for Fiscal Year 2010. Included in that request was a $573-million reduction in the $1.3- billion Humvee procurement funding Congress initially approved for the Army. Chiarelli said with the remaining money, the Army will buy more Humvees, but he also said the Army will begin to recapitalize -- make like-new -- the Humvees it already has. Chiarelli said the Army plans to recapitalize 5,046 unarmored Humvees, at a cost of about $55,000 per vehicle, and will recapitalize 4,270 up-armored Humvees in FY 2011 at a cost of about $105-$130,000 per vehicle. The general also told senators the Army expects to reach its dwell goals for Soldiers in most military occupational specialties by 2012, but said the Army is aware that for Soldiers, it's critical that success in achieving dwell goals applies to individual Soldiers -- not to units. "The only thing that counts is individual dwell," he said. "Keeping track of an inanimate object, like a flag, means nothing. It's the individual that's critical. We do not allow anybody to redeploy that doesn't have 12 months of dwell time." One senator asked the vice chief about the increasing number of non-deployable Soldiers. The general said the reasons for non-deployable Soldiers can be attributed to the loss of "Stop Loss" in January, and also to medical concerns. "One of the reasons we've seen it go up is because the Army has taken units off Stop Loss since the first of the year," Chiarelli said. "That alone, given the fact we can only give them a 90-day drop on their contract, we have to hold onto them until they reach that point -- which drives up the non-deployable rate." Also, the general said, there are medical reasons the non-deployable numbers are rising. "After three rotations, the knee operation they needed after the first rotation won't wait until after the fourth rotation," he said. "We owe it to them to make sure they have the opportunity to be taken care of.” The general said the largest increase in non-deployable Soldiers has been from those held back due to medical reasons. "It's because many of those muscular skeletal kinds of issues that arise," he said. He also said he's seen an increase in individuals that are left behind when their unit deploys. Those individuals would have recently transitioned to a unit that is deploying, and would themselves not have had a full 12 months of dwell time. They eventually deploy to their unit when they reach a full 12 months dwell, the general said. For injured Soldiers, Chiarelli said, the Army is putting Soldiers with a single disqualifying injury of 30 percent or greater into the Army Wounded Warrior program. "Of that population, 56 percent have either post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injury," Chiarelli told senators. "We are instituting new protocols in theater that require Soldiers that are either in a vehicle that is within 50 meters of a blast or in a building with an explosion to go through an evaluation for a concussion as soon after the event as possible and 24 hours later." He said Soldiers that pass such an evaluation return to duty. Those that don't are treated by a doctor until their brain has had an opportunity to heal. Addressing post-traumatic stress, the general said the Army is concerned with Soldiers both at home and downrange. The Army is training medics to better identify PTS when it occurs downrange, and is using telemedicine to evaluate every Soldier that comes back to the United States, he said. So far, Chiarelli said, two units have gone through the evaluations, one battalion in Hawaii and one brigade in Alaska. "The results using this telemedicine are very, very encouraging," he said. The vice chief also addressed the cost of reset for the Army -- a concern for Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. In the next three years, the Army expects reset to cost between $30-36 billion, Chiarelli said. That includes close to $11 billion for both FY 2010 and 2011. The general also said that currently, active-duty components that are not deployed are equipped at a level of about 80 percent, whereas National Guard units are equipped at about 75 percent. "But critical dual-use equipment is at 83 percent and is expected to make it to 87 percent in the next six months," he said.

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Lockheed Martin Receives $1.5 Million Contract for Lightweight Kinetic Energy Net Armor

DALLAS, TX, April 27th, 2010 -- The U.S. Army Applied Aviation Technology Directorate has awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.5 million contract that continues development of the Kinetic Energy Net (KEN) armor design. KEN is a modular composite armor system developed by Lockheed Martin that is lighter than current aircraft armor, but offers comparable protection.

“Kinetic Energy Net is a new direction in armor that doesn’t trade weight for strength,” said Glenn Miller, vice president of Technical Operations and Applied Research at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Aircrews operate in some of the most exposed places on the battlefield, but due to weight constraints users don’t have as much armor protection as they’d like. We developed KEN armor so it can also be integrated directly into the aircraft structure instead of attaching plates to the fuselage, which adds weight.”

Tests have confirmed that the KEN system offers more protection than steel plates, and it has a significant weight advantage. Additionally, Lockheed Martin realized a 13 percent reduction in weight against advanced ceramic and composite armor designs. The company’s goal in the next phase of the program is to cut total weight by over 40 percent, all without losing protective capability.

“Our passion for invention is making a world of difference for the people on the other side of that armor,” said Gil Metzger, director of Force Projection & Power Management Systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “The Lockheed Martin development team comprises some of the best innovators in the advanced materials and armor industries. We are moving forward and improving an already impressive design to realize the lightest, most effective armor technology known today.”

Lockheed Martin will further improve KEN armor performance by incorporating new forms of advanced ballistic materials and experimental strike faces. Future efforts may see armor applications transition from air vehicles to ground vehicles and even ground structures requiring lightweight ballistic protection.

KEN is an impressive addition to Lockheed Martin’s armor family, which also includes TekShield. The TekShield System of Survivability Solutions includes armor for ground vehicle applications, transparent armor, armor for buildings and reactive armor.

Lockheed Martin

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Lockheed Martin Delivers 10,000th GMLRS Rocket To The U.S. Army

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] marked the delivery of the 10,000th Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rocket during a ceremony held at its Camden, AR, facility today. GMLRS is an all-weather, precision strike, artillery rocket system that achieves greater range and precision accuracy requiring fewer rockets to defeat targets and limiting collateral damage.
“The delivery of the 10,000th GMLRS marks a significant milestone in the program,” said Col. David J. Rice, U.S. Army program manager for Precision Fires, Rocket and Missile Systems. “This is a superior system that provides responsive, precision fires enabled by unsurpassed system reliability and maintainability. The team, led by Lockheed Martin, consisting of both government and industry partners, has worked diligently to ensure mission success through this technology.”
The system is produced at the company’s facilities in Camden, AR, and Dallas, TX.
“The success of this system speaks for the quality work that our team is doing every day,” said Col. Tony Daskevich, Army capability manager for Field Artillery Rocket and Missiles. “We are a constant in this fight, always mission ready and on target. Precision is the name of the game when it comes to our missions, and that is why our soldiers and leaders so appreciate this system.”
GMLRS provides the Joint Warfighter with persistent, responsive, long-range precision strike capability against traditional and hybrid threats. GMLRS’ reliability rate exceeds 98 percent and, to date, more than 1,500 rockets have been successfully fired in combat.
“This production milestone was made possible through the commitment of our hardworking employees here in Camden who are proud to provide this combat proven capability to the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, and our allied forces,” said Scott Arnold, vice president for Precision Fires at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
Guided Unitary is the newest variant of MLRS rockets which integrates a unitary warhead with a multi-mode fuze to expand the MLRS target set to include point targets within urban and complex environments, significantly minimizing collateral damage. In January 2005, the U.S. Army issued an Urgent Needs Statement for acceleration of Guided Unitary deliveries in support of ongoing operations. Lockheed Martin delivered the first 72 GMLRS Unitary rockets in June 2005 satisfying the requirements of the Urgent Needs Statement. The first 900-plus rockets were delivered to the U.S. in 2005 and 2006.
Camden Operations produces the combat-proven High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher and a family of munitions, which includes the Guided MLRS Rocket.

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U.S. Army soldiers fire a round from the 60mm mortar launcher during training at Outpost Loyalty, Nangarech, Afghanistan, May 15, 2010. The soldiers are assigned to 4th Infantry Division's Company D, 1-102nd Infantry Regiment, Task Force Mountain Warrior. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Steven Doty

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More Fuzes For The Army From L-3
May 24, 2010 by Matthew Potter

Since 9/11 the U.S. military has consumed a great deal of ammunition. This has been of all types — small arms, machine guns, 30 millimeter cannon rounds, Hellfire missiles, aerial bombs and even 155 millimeter artillery. Because of this demand the U.S. has actually invested in new and more production. In the last month the Army has awarded L-3 Communications (L3) two contracts to make ordnance and fuses. The most recent is one worth about $19 million to be carried out at the company’s Anderson Township plant.

Many of the companies involved in ammunition and high explosive production utilize the facilities of existing military arsenals as well as their own facilities.

http://www.defenseprocurementnews.com/2010/05/24/more-fuzes-for-the-army-from-l-3/

U.S. Army soldiers fire .50-caliber machine gun rounds at the base of a training target to indicate to nearby helicopters where to fire their rockets during partnered aerial-ground integration training between U.S. and Iraqi forces on Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, May 21, 2010. The soldiers are assigned to the 558th Military Police Company. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod

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Members of the 401st Military Police travel through the village of Hesarak in Afghanistan's Logar province, Afghanistan, May 30, 2010 The MP's are assigned to the 401st Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade. U.S. Army photo by Spc. De'Yonte Mosley

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U.S. Army testing rugged, autonomous robot vehicle

The U.S. Army's Autonomous Platform Demonstrator, or APD, is a 9.6-ton, six-wheeled, hybrid-electric robotic vehicle currently undergoing developmental and mobility testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.; the demonstrator vehicle represents the state of the art in unmanned ground vehicle mobility technology.

With its advanced hybrid-electric drive train, the 15-foot-long vehicle, being developed by the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, or TARDEC, can achieve speeds of over 50mph.

When equipped with its autonomous navigation system, the APD is configured with GPS waypoint technology, an inertial measurement unit and computer algorithms which enable it to move autonomously at speeds up to 50mph while avoiding obstacles in its path.

"The vehicle has obstacle detection and avoidance technology," said Dr. Jim Overholt, senior research scientist in robotics, Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center.

The mobility testing is aimed at advancing and developing the robot's ability to maneuver at higher speeds while maintaining extreme terrain-ability at lower speeds.

"We've run it through courses, slope testing and brake testing," said Chris Ostrowski, associate director for Vehicle Electronics and Architectures at TARDEC.

The APD is currently testing high-speed maneuverability, such as lane changing. "This is a challenging controls problem with a skid steer vehicle. We want the robot to be stable when performing maneuvers like this, but we also want it to retain the other mobility characteristics that it possesses at lower speeds," said Ostrowski.

Other mobility characteristics include the ability to climb a one-meter step, navigate a 60-percent slope, and pivot turn in place.