US Army

Sujet: US Army Mer 9 Jan 2008 - 18:32

Rappel du premier message :

Citation :: « 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

Citation :: Apache to field ground fire-detection system

Photo credit PEO Aviation

Apache attack helicopters will soon field a new high-tech Ground Fire Acquisition System, or GFAS.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Army News Service, April 22, 20110 -- Apache attack helicopters will soon field a new, high-tech Ground Fire Acquisition System which uses cameras and infrared sensors to instantly identify the source location of ground fire, service officials said.

"GFAS detects ground fire. It allows us to take information about incoming fire, get our sensors on it and identify and prosecute ground targets," said Maj. Justin Highley, Assistant product manager for the Longbow Apache.

The IR sensors built into the GFAS system detect muzzle flashes from the ground, allowing Apache pilots to get their sensors on potential targets and immediately know the location, and distance of ground fire, Highley explained.

Next spring, 1-101 Aviation out of Fort Campbell will become the first unit equipped with GFAS, he said.

The cameras on the aircraft detect the muzzle flash from ground fire - and move the information through an Aircraft Gateway Processor into the cockpit so pilots will see an icon on their display screen, said Lt. Col. Jeff Johnson, product manager, Longbow Apache.

"The beauty of this system is that we are not changing the aircraft software. We are not adding displays. It's integrated through an Aircraft Gateway Processor," he said.

Upon receiving the information about the ground fire on their display screens, the aircraft crew can move their Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensors, or MTADS/PNVS, onto the target at the touch of a button, Johnson said.

"The crew sees the point of origin where the muzzle flash was detected,"
he saaid. "It is not just about the aircraft, but about getting information to guys on the ground who are in the fight. Apache has led the way for other platforms with net-centric operations and situational awareness. It is about getting the information to our guys on the ground so they can develop the situation and take appropriate action."

The GFAS effort - called an Early User Evaluation - has undergone a range of key tests at places such as Mesa Ariz., and Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., Johnson explained.

Pending successful outcome of the User Evaluation, the Apache PM will look at expanding GFAS' capabilities, including integrating the technology with Blue Force Tracker display screens, Johnson said.

"Crews often return from missions in Afghanistan with small-arms damage to the aircraft. GFAS is an offensive targeting system. It is not a piece of aircraft survivability equipment. It helps us fulfill our mission of closing with and destroying the enemy. How many of those forces who've been trying to shoot down our helicopters with small arms would have been eliminated by now if we had been able to pinpoint their location?" Johnson said.

"A recent historical example of why we need GFAS is the battle for Camp Keating in October 2009. We lost 8 Americans and wounded 24 in one day because we could not locate an attacking enemy during the daytime.

"Medevac could not extract our wounded until 2100, when it was dark and those small-arms weapons had finally been located and destroyed -- after 8 or 9 hours of fighting," Johnson said. "To me, that's unacceptable. Our Soldiers deserve better."

army.mil/-news

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Citation :: DRS Technologies Awarded $68.2 Million from U.S. Army for Follow-On Order of Advanced Thermal Weapon Sights

PARSIPPANY, N.J. | DRS Technologies, Inc., a Finmeccanica Company, announced that its Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) group has been awarded a $68.2 million contract by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) to provide advanced Thermal Weapon Sights (TWS).

As a result of this follow-on order, totals have now reached over $460 million against a five year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract awarded to DRS Technologies in July 2007.

The order of the infrared-detecting devices—which enable soldiers to conduct surveillance and target acquisition, day or night—includes Light-, Medium- and Heavy-Weapon Thermal Sights from the DRS Thermal Weapon Sights (TWS) II family of systems.

Since 2004, RSTA has manufactured and delivered over 50,000 Thermal Weapon Sights. This new award will further expand the military deployment of technology from DRS.

DRS Thermal Weapon Sights employ 25-micron uncooled vanadium oxide (VOx) detectors which enable troops to view the battlefield and pinpoint targets clearly through smoke, dust, haze, light fog and total darkness. Regardless of lighting conditions, the DRS Sights detect infrared (heat) waves from people and objects in their field of view and display sharp images from hundreds of meters away.

“We are pleased that the Army has continued to call on DRS Technologies for Thermal Weapon Sights to enable its soldiers to engage even more effectively in combat situations,” said RSTA President Terry Murphy.

“As the largest producer of uncooled focal plane arrays in the world, RSTA has set the pace for the development of military infrared technology applications. We are privileged to offer our latest thermal technology to help maximize the capabilities and impact of troops.”

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Citation :: Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Onboard pilot optional with Northrop's Firebird spy plane

Northrop's new aircraft, expected to be unveiled Monday, can fly 30,000 feet high and switch from being a traditional aircraft to a drone with just a few modifications.

Aerospace giant Northrop Grumman Corp. has quietly developed a new spy plane that can listen in on phone conversations, use high-powered radar and shoot live video footage as it flies at 30,000 feet above the Earth.

And the spy plane, expected to be unveiled Monday, would operate with or without a pilot sitting in the cockpit.

Until now, U.S. military aircraft have been designed to either have a pilot on board or be an unmanned drone. But Northrop's new plane, dubbed the Firebird, can switch from being a traditional aircraft to a drone with just a few modifications.

The Century City company is developing the propeller-powered Firebird at its own expense. It is betting that the hybrid plane will appeal to the Pentagon as defense budget cuts loom and the federal government deals with rising deficits.

"The government is always going to want options with its aircraft," said Tom Captain, aerospace analyst with Deloitte. "Unmanned aircraft is taking on increasingly difficult missions. However, in the fog of war, there are still situations where you need a pilot's instinct inside the cockpit."

If the military has a plane that can do both missions, it may save money on maintenance personnel and spare parts, Captain said. "It's the same engine. It's the same airframe. The only difference is how it's piloted."

The Firebird would compete for Pentagon contracts with the Predator and Reaper drones that have become ubiquitous in skies over Iraq and Afghanistan. Made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. of the San Diego area, Predators and Reapers are often armed with Hellfire missiles or laser-guided bombs as they buzz over the war zone.

Although the Firebird is being touted mainly as an unarmed spy plane, Northrop officials said the Firebird would have the capability to be outfitted with missiles.

Northrop has been testing the aircraft, which resembles a massive dragonfly, at the Mojave Air and Space Port for more than a year as engineers fine-tune the technology.

The Firebird will have a demonstration flight for military brass this month at the Pentagon's Empire Challenge, a showcase where defense firms demonstrate technologies that can be used in the field in the near term.

Designed to fly for as long as 40 hours at a time with a top speed of about 230 mph, Northrop foresees the Firebird carrying out a variety of reconnaissance and surveillance missions for the military, said Rick Crooks, the company's program manager.

"Firebird is an adaptable system that makes it highly affordable because of the number of different missions it can accomplish during a single flight," he said. "It's a real game changer."

Crooks also sees the Firebird appealing to law-enforcement organizations for surveillance and government agencies that need spy planes to assess damage after natural disasters.

But the ideal customer is the military. Northrop would like the Firebird to join the military's growing fleet of robotic spy planes. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has said he wants to increase the number of 24-hour drone patrols to 65 a day by 2013 from 39 currently.

Northrop would not reveal how much the Firebird costs. But the company has recently run into problems with the Pentagon over the soaring costs of its higher-flying Global Hawk drone. The robotic jets, which spy at 60,000 feet, cost about $100 million apiece — an increase of 11% since the project started in 2000.

The Firebird was designed, built and tested by Northrop's Scaled Composites design shop in Mojave. The aircraft was one of the last designs overseen by renowned aerospace engineer Burt Rutan before he retired from the company in April.

http://chaffandflare.blogspot.com/2011/05/onboard-pilot-optional-with-northrops.html

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Citation :: Boeing Awarded CH-47F Chinook Modification Work by US Army

MILLVILLE, N.J., May 12, 2011 — Boeing received a $23.7 million contract on May 9 to perform Initial Production Fielding Support modifications on 49 CH-47F Chinook helicopters at the Boeing Millville Modification Center. The contract period extends the current work of modifying Chinook aircraft at the Boeing Millville facility for another year, from May 2011 through April 2012.
“This important program for our U.S. Army customer is a result of the quality work our employees do every day,” said Peri Widener, Boeing director of Rotorcraft Support. “Their responsiveness to schedule needs has helped Boeing to provide an affordable, service-focused offer for our customer.”
After the Chinooks are delivered from the production line in Philadelphia to the Army, they are flown to Millville, where Boeing structural and electrical employees make specialized avionics and airframe modifications to support new Army requirements. In February 2010, Boeing opened the Millville facility at the local airport and was awarded the initial Army contract that included modifications for 35 aircraft. Those modifications were completed earlier this month.
“Our successful support to the warfighter is leading to follow-on work and maintaining our workforce in Millville,” said Raymond Haddad, Boeing director of Chinook Rotorcraft Support. “We are using expertise from across the company to establish an innovative service that addresses customer requirements and affordability.”
The follow-on contract also includes training support for Army Chinook units on the upgrades. Boeing is deploying two New Equipment Training teams that consist of CH-47F mechanics and technicians. Over the period of the contract, the teams will support Army units in the United States and overseas.
Source and photo: Boeing

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Citation :: Boeing Awarded PAC-3 Seeker Production Contract

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | Boeing today announced it has received a $274 million contract from Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] to produce more than 300 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile seekers.

The firm fixed price contract is Boeing’s ninth consecutive PAC-3 seeker production award -- following three low-rate initial production buys -- and the largest PAC-3 contract received by Boeing to date. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is the PAC-3 Missile Segment prime contractor, supporting the U.S. Army Lower Tier Project Office.

“Our skilled Boeing team in Huntsville is proud to continue its role as a critical partner to the PAC-3 system, supporting U.S. warfighters on today’s changing battlefields,” said Ron Eckels, program director for Boeing’s Terminal Missile Defense business. “The battle-proven PAC-3 missile system, which includes the highly accurate Boeing seeker, provides unrivaled in-theater defense for America’s military and its allies.”

The PAC-3 missile is a high-velocity, hit-to-kill missile and the newest addition to the Patriot family of missiles. It provides increased capability against advanced tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and other airborne threats. The seeker acts as the missile’s "eyes" by detecting and tracking the target during the terminal phase of the engagement.

PAC-3 successfully completed operational testing and began fielding in 2002. It was first used in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

Boeing is the largest aerospace company in Alabama and one of the state's largest employers. Current company operations in Huntsville include the Ground-based Midcourse Defense program and other missile defense work, such as the Arrow system and the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 seeker, as well as work associated with Ares I, the International Space Station, Army Integrated Logistics, Brigade Combat Team Modernization, and engineering for the 787 and the P-8A Poseidon.

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ADMC receives first THAAD missiles

A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Missile is off-loaded from its transfer truck May 16 by a forklift in Anniston Army Depot's Ammunition Limited Area. The missile is one of...

Citation :: Army receives first THAAD missiles

ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Lockheed Martin delivered the first two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Missiles to the U.S. Army, capping off years of planning and development.

The two missiles arrived at Anniston Defense Munitions Center May 16 and were quickly taken to the ammunition bunker that will be their home until the need arises to ship them to the warfighter.

The THAAD missile is a U.S. Army missile system designed to intercept and destroy short, medium and intermediate ballistic missiles. The THAAD missile uses kinetic energy to destroy its target, meaning it does not carry a warhead like traditional missiles, but makes a direct hit and destroys the enemy missile.

ADMC will be responsible for maintaining, shipping and escorting the missiles to their destination.

This has required extensive training and preparation by the employees of ADMC to ensure mission success.

Representatives from various DOD agencies, such as the Missile Defense Agency and Army Aviation and Missile Command, who had a part in the planning, testing and production of the THAAD missile, were on-hand to witness this historic moment.

“Our new mission to receive, store and ship THAADs is a great example of how the team here at ADMC can work with our customers to provide outstanding and unique munitions services to ensure ADMC remains a valuable asset to the warfighter,” said ADMC Commander Lt. Col. Randall DeLong.

army.mil

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Citation :: U.S. Army Showcases Quantum Hybrid at Indy 500

IRVINE, Calif. | Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. announced that the U.S. Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) demonstrated the Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle (CERV) as part of special events ramping to the Indianapolis 500. The U.S. Army labeled the CERV as one of the "greenest technologies" and demonstrated how its advanced hybrid electric powertrain developed by Quantum and TARDEC saves taxpayer dollars and Soldiers' lives.

In support of the U.S. Army's drive for energy efficiency, Quantum developed the Military Aggressor, a first generation fuel cell hybrid electric alternative mobility vehicle (AMV) several years ago. This high performance vehicle was designed for quick-paced mobility operations such as reconnaissance, surveillance and target designation. The CERV is a newer generation stealth vehicle that incorporates Quantum's Q-Force all-wheel drive diesel hybrid-electric technology and a light-weight chassis to produce a torque in excess of 5,000 foot-pounds. The unit has a top speed of 80 mph and climb 60 percent grades, while reducing fuel consumption by up to 25 per cent compared with conventional vehicles of comparable size.

In a recent press release, TARDEC NAC Director Paul Skalny noted, "In keeping with the Nation's interest in fuel efficiency, renewable power and energy security, TARDEC is fully engaged in ambitious programs that push development of hybrid electric vehicles for U.S. military use. Having CERV at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – the proving ground from which both the defense and automotive industry have learned so much – is a solid indicator of where this technology can go."

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Citation :: U.S. soldiers conduct training on Fort Pickett's convoy live fire training lane and IED defeat lane

Three years after development of counter-improvised explosive device training lanes, the Army is poising itself to standardize and enhance the technology that helps Soldiers defeat the signature weapon in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 39 training lanes are located at 37 Army installations around the world and help Soldiers build the skills they need to detect and defeat IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldiers learn the basics on a computer, called Virtual Battlespace, before going to the field.

"This will replicate the area of operations as closely as we can get it here in the United States," said Donald Karcher, chief of operational counter IED training at Training and Doctrine Command. "This can increase the realism of training."

The lanes were originally funded by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization in 2008 and were designed by each installation and tailored to their specific needs. The lanes were turned over to the Army for sustainment and soon TRADOC will start to examine how to standardize the lanes and update the training software, said Karcher.

That standardization will create a baseline of competencies that each lane must train Soldiers on and will mandate certain types of training scenarios, he said.

Computer-simulation training happens before the Soldiers take to the lanes and makes training more efficient, said Karcher. In the classroom, an entire company can learn how to clear a route by using interconnected monitors. If something goes wrong, the unit can stop and discuss the learning points as they go.

Once on the lanes, the Soldiers use the skills learned in the classroom to detect IEDs along a route that is built to look like a village in southeast Asia. If a unit fails to identify a training IED, an effects simulator is triggered and pyrotechnics and loud noises follow.

"You can't simulate a real blast, but we try our best to prepare the Soldier," said Ron Doxtrader, a counter-IED training specialist with TRADOC.

With the lanes located at home installations, units don't have to travel far to become proficient in counter IED tactics.

"The whole point is to give them the home station capability so the first time that they see this training is not at a [National Training Center] location or a mission-rehearsal exercise," said Donald Gregg, program analyst at Headquarters Department of the Army, Training Simulations and Systems.

The fact that the lanes are always accessible to a unit preparing for a deployment gives unit commanders the opportunity to tailor training to the Soldiers strengths and weaknesses. In the end, that just means better training and, perhaps, faster reaction time.

"We want these lanes to prepare the units to go to NTC and it works with that and closes the loop," said Karcher. "If we are aware of what units are doing well or having problems with at the NTC, we can convey that to the lanes and prepare the units."

The lanes are based at major Army installations in the United States, two in Germany and one in Korea. There are also lanes available for National Guard and Reserve training at mobilization sites.

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Citation :: Advanced Firefinder Radar System Supporting U.S. Troops in Theater Operations

ThalesRaytheonSystems today announced that advanced Firefinder radars have been fielded in theater supporting and protecting U.S. troops and allies. Reliability and maintainability improvements have been added to the AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder Weapon Locating Radar system that support an extended service life with reduced life-cycle costs. Currently fielded in Iraq, upgraded Firefinders are scheduled to be deployed into Afghanistan in the coming months.

ThalesRaytheonSystems, in conjunction with Tobyhanna Army Depot, is delivering modernized radars that include a new modular, air-cooled transmitter; a new Operations Control shelter; and a new, common radar processor applied across the U.S. Army's entire fleet of AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder systems. It is known as the Reliability Maintainability Improvement (RMI) program. Forty percent of deliveries are complete with final delivery scheduled in early 2013.

"These RMI systems can be deployed with confidence for effective operations in challenging environmental conditions," said Kim Kerry, chief executive officer, ThalesRaytheonSystems, U.S. Operations. "The Firefinder modernization provides the U.S. Army and allies around the world with the capabilities needed for detection and troop protection."

Firefinders are precise detection and location systems designed to find enemy artillery, mortar and rocket firing positions. The radar also predicts impact zones and transmits data to friendly forces, allowing time for effective counter-fire tactics. Nearly 400 Firefinders are deployed by 18 nations worldwide. Sized for easy transport, they are prized for their accuracy, mobility, reliability and low life-cycle costs.

Along with its Improved Sentinel Battlefield Air Defense Radar (AN/MPQ-64F1) and the AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder Weapon Locating Radar, ThalesRaytheonSystems' radar capabilities are currently unmatched by prototypes and other unproven technologies too costly and cumbersome to meet 21st century battlefield requirements.

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Citation :: DRS Technologies Selected by the U.S. Army to Develop Handheld Computing Systems for Soldier and Marine Dismounted Situational Awareness

DRS Technologies, Inc., a Finmeccanica Company, announced its DRS Tactical Systems business unit received a cost-plus fixed-fee award for the development of an ultra-rugged handheld device for the U.S. Army’s Joint Battle Command – Platform (JBC-P) program.

The company received the order from the Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

As one of two companies selected for this contract, DRS will develop a solution for dismounted situational awareness requirements for Soldiers and Marines that is interoperable with the current Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) Blue Force Tracking (BFT) system.

As part of the requirement, the handheld system must include an ultra-rugged computing device, software, suite B security, and have the ability to support various communications solutions in order to receive and send friendly force position location and provide communication capability to and from Soldiers and Marines.
DRS Tactical Systems, Inc. located in Melbourne, Florida will design and manufacture the systems with initial prototype deliveries scheduled for September, 2011.

“We are pleased in being selected to develop a system that puts critical network connectivity and situational awareness right in the hands of our Soldiers and Marines,” says Mike Sarrica, vice president and general manager of DRS Tactical Systems.

“This program will demonstrate the advantage of a government-industry team that leverages the speed, cost-effectiveness and innovations of the commercial market, and makes them available as a capability to meet the Mission Command requirements of Joint Battle Command –Platform.”

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Citation :: Oshkosh Defense to Supply New and Recapitalized Heavy Tactical Vehicles for U.S. Army

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), will deliver more than 730 trucks from the U.S. Army’s Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV), including new and recapitalized Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) A4s and new Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) A1s, following orders from TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC).

Oshkosh recently reached a major milestone with more than 10,000 heavy and medium-payload vehicles restored to zero-hours, zero-miles condition for the U.S. Army, National Guard and Marine Corps. Oshkosh recapitalizes and remanufactures vehicles for the U.S. military as part of the company’s extensive life-cycle support and aftermarket services program. Through recapitalization, heavily used vehicles are stripped to their frame rails and rebuilt to like-new condition.

“The restoration of more than 10,000 military-class vehicles is a significant achievement in our continuing support of the military’s fleet management strategy,” said Mike Ivy, vice president and general manager of Army Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “Oshkosh Defense has recapitalized and retrofit vehicles for more than 40 years, significantly increasing their life-span and offering great value to military customers, and equipping soldiers with the latest vehicle safety, survivability, and mobility technologies.”

To meet the latest HEMTT A4 configuration, the suspension in the recapitalized vehicle is improved and a fully air-conditioned and armor-ready cab is installed, in addition to a more powerful drivetrain. The vehicles have new components, new technology and a new “zero hours/zero miles” bumper-to-bumper warranty, at a considerable cost savings to the government. Oshkosh also has refurbished more than 2,000 heavy-payload vehicles in theater, including vehicles originally built by other manufacturers, as part of the Army’s Theater Provided Equipment Refurbishment (TPER) program.

The HEMTT A4 is the backbone of the Army’s logistics and resupply fleet, and is available in multiple variants for a wide range of operations. The Light Equipment Transporter (LET) variant is included in the orders and is equipped with durable components to provide optimal maneuverability and versatility in rugged terrain. Its anti-lock braking system, traction and air-ride suspension allow troops to navigate wherever the mission demands while transporting light-duty equipment.

The HET is designed to rapidly transport battle tanks, fighting and recovery vehicles, armored vehicles and construction equipment, as well as their crews, so they arrive in mission-ready condition. The latest Oshkosh HET A1 configuration includes increased horsepower, a six-person armor ready cab, higher capacity front suspension, electrical upgrades, and improved diagnostics and standard air conditioning.

The U.S. Army’s heavy fleet, currently in production by Oshkosh Defense, also includes the Palletized Load System (PLS). Production of the new HEMTT A4s and HETs on these awards is expected to begin in April 2012 and be completed in September 2012. Recapitalization of the HEMTT A4s began in May and is scheduled to be completed in September 2012. Together, these orders have a value of more than $252 million.

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Citation :

An Apache attack helicopter equipped with Hellfire and Hydra 70mm rockets. (Photo: U.S. Army)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. | General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products was awarded a $286 million contract by the U.S. Army for the production of the Hydra-70 air-to-ground rocket. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics.

The U.S. Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, Ala., awarded the contract, which exercises a fiscal year 2011 option on an existing contract. The U.S. Army orders Hydra rockets for all branches of the U.S. military and select allies. Final deliveries under this order are expected to be completed in April 2015.

General Dynamics employs over 300 people at its Camden, Ark., facility, where the company has been the sole manufacturer of the Hydra since 1996. The company recently delivered its four-millionth Hydra rocket. System engineering and program management for the Hydra will be performed at General Dynamics' technology center in Williston, Vt., which employs approximately 400 workers.

"The Hydra is a cost-effective, versatile, combat-proven weapon that enhances the survivability, protection and mission success of the U.S. military and its allies," said Russ Klein, vice president and general manager of weapon systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. "We recently produced our four-millionth Hydra, and we look forward to the five-millionth, in fulfilling our commitment to deliver a high-quality product to warfighters in the field."

The Hydra-70, 2.75-inch (diameter) rocket is fired from U.S. Army's Apache and Kiowa Warrior helicopters, as well as helicopters and aircraft of other armed forces. Hydra rockets are composed of two main components: the MK66 rocket motor and the warhead. Assembled by General Dynamics, the rocket motor is approximately three-and-a-half feet in length and weighs nearly 15 pounds. The rocket's warhead varies to meet the wide range of mission requirements for all branches of the U.S. military. General Dynamics and other suppliers build the various warheads, which are attached to the rocket motor either at the Arkansas facility or by the warfighter in the field.

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Citation :: U.S. Army Awards Lockheed Martin $184.3 Million to Begin Work on Additional Persistent Threat Detection Systems

One of the Persistent Ground Surveillance System (PGSS) aerostats undergoes pre-deployment testing. (Photo: U.S. Navy)

AKRON, Ohio | Lockheed Martin recently received a $184.3 million undefinitized contract agreement from the U.S. Army to begin production of 29 additional Persistent Threat Detection Systems (PTDS) to support coalition forces in Afghanistan.

In 2010, Lockheed Martin delivered 28 PTDS for use in theater, bringing the total number of systems provided to the U.S. Army to 37.

PTDS is a highly effective, combat-proven, aerostat-based intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and communications system in support of force-protection and counter-IED (improvised explosive devices) missions. Used by the Army since 2004, the systems provide around-the-clock coverage of broad geographic areas for weeks at a time with multi-mission sensors.

"Over the past several years, the Department of Defense has placed an increased emphasis on delivering affordable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to the warfighter," said Colleen Arthur, director of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Defense Technologies business. "PTDS has been doing just that in Iraq and Afghanistan. By providing timely and actionable intelligence, PTDS helps protect our troops from IEDs and other types of threats."

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Citation :: U.S. Army M2A2 and M2A3 Bradley fighting vehicles are unloaded from a ship during a photo call at a port in Busan, southeast of Seoul June 29, 2011. The 50 new armored vehicles will be deployed at the U.S. Army's 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea, according to local media.

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Un Convois des HET transportant des Abrams vers Cap Daraa lors de l'exercice AL11
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Citation :: Bell Helicopter delivers the first “A2D” Wartime Replacement Cabin to the Army

Published July 1, 2011 | By Rob Vogelaar

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (July 1, 2011) – Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT) and the U.S. Army Armed Scout Helicopter program office announced today the delivery of the first OH-58 “A2D” wartime replacement cabin for OH-58 “Kiowa Warrior” platform to the Army. The cabin is being delivered 30 days ahead of the contract schedule.
“The Kiowa Warrior continues to be a combat multiplier in the Joint Operations Area,” said COL Robert Grigsby, Army’s Armed Scout Helicopter project manager. “This cabin is the first of many that are needed to address years of hard use and attrition.”
The “A2D” conversion program is an Army initiative to replace war time losses suffered by the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. This conversion program takes an existing “A” model OH-58 and upgrades them to “D” model. The Cabin will now be shipped to Corpus Christi Army Depot to repopulate it with avionics and dynamic components so it can be returned to the fleet to support the warfighter.
“We are very proud to be delivering the first of our ‘A2D’ wartime replacement cabins to the Army a full month ahead of contract schedule,” said Amy Tedford, from Bell Helicopter program office. “This conversion program is critical in getting the Kiowa Warrior back to its authorized acquisition objective, allowing the aircraft to continue its job as the scout attack work horse.”
“This cabin is the first one delivered for our ‘A2D’ contract with the U.S. Army, which calls for an additional 18 cabin conversions,” said Jim Schultz, Director for Army Programs and Fielded Systems at Bell Helicopter. “The remaining A2D conversions will take place at our Military Assembly Center in Amarillo, Texas where we have established a “hot” production line. Bell Helicopter is also working our U.S. Army customer’s potential requirement to replace wartime losses with “new metal” cabins, reducing overall fleet age.”
With more than 750,000 fleet combat hours, the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is a combat- proven aircraft that is safe, rugged and reliable, maintaining the highest operational tempo and readiness rate of any Army helicopter operating in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Source and photo: Bell Helicopters

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Citation :: Lockheed Martin Delivers First VNsight Sensor to the U.S. Army

ORLANDO, FL | Lockheed Martin recently delivered the first VNsight production unit for the U.S. Army’s Apache Attack Helicopter, which adds a low-light-level display capability to the AH-64D Apache’s combat-proven Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS), or Arrowhead, system.

The VNsight visible/near infrared sensor provides the warfighter with significant tactical advantages and increased situational awareness, particularly in low-light-level conditions. The VNsight sensor is integrated into the Modernized PNVS, the pilotage system for the Apache.

“VNsight gives the Apache fleet a new and improved warfighting capability,” said Lt. Col. John Vannoy, U.S. Army product manager for Apache Sensors. “While the primary purpose of the VNsight camera is for image-blending with the M-PNVS forward-looking infrared (FLIR), the VNsight camera technology permits pilots to see cultural lighting, tracers and some ground lasers. Not only is this an enhancement in our warfighting capabilities, but it also significantly improves pilot safety.”

By blending VNsight imagery with the M-PNVS FLIR imagery, pilots can accurately see and identify cultural and military lighting, including lasers, markers, beacons and tracer rounds. This ensures safer flying conditions and enhanced mission capability by improving situational awareness in low-light-level conditions and situations where existing light sources cannot be imaged by the FLIR.

“The VNsight sensor gives the aircrew the capability to see their own laser while designating targets for laser-guided munition engagements, providing an extra level of certainty that the correct target and aim-point are designated,” said Monty Watson, program manager for Apache fire control at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “Enhanced air-to-ground situational awareness reduces the potential for fratricide. The VNsight first unit delivery is a significant milestone for bringing a much-needed capability to the warfighter.”

The VNsight Lot 1 production contract includes sensors and spares to equip two U.S. Apache battalions and an international customer. Delivering the first unit on schedule establishes the start of a production line capable of producing eight VNsight units per month. With production options for up to ten U.S. Army battalions spanning into 2015, the VNsight production line will continue to provide a valuable asset to AH-64D pilots.

defpro

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Citation :: Sikorsky Delivers 300th UH-60M BLACK HAWK Helicopter to U.S. Army

STRATFORD, Connecticut | Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today announced the delivery of the 300th UH-60M BLACK HAWK helicopter to the U.S. Army. Sikorsky is a United Technologies Corp. company.

"The war-fighter has provided outstanding reviews of the UH-60M BLACK HAWK helicopter’s performance in theater,” said Lt. Col. Heyward Wright, Product Manager, representing Col. Thomas Todd of the U.S. Army's Utility Helicopters Project Office. "In my estimation, the UH-60M aircraft sets the standard for a successful utility platform in a combat environment."

Sikorsky began delivering UH-60M aircraft to the U.S. Army in 2006. With a new airframe, avionics and propulsion system, the aircraft is the most modern in a series of BLACK HAWK variants that Sikorsky has been delivering to the Army since 1978. Sikorsky Aircraft also has delivered UH-60M aircraft to other U.S. federal government agencies, and to international customers.

“The UH-60M platform brings the most up-to-date technology to the war-fighter to keep our troops safe for their diverse missions,” said John Palumbo, Sikorsky Vice President, Army Programs. “We continue to receive very positive feedback from the U.S. Army because the UH-60M BLACK HAWK helicopter provides reduced pilot workload, increased lift, better protection and enhanced survivability. It is a proven, reliable combat aircraft.”

Sikorsky is expected to deliver more than 950 UH-60M aircraft to the U.S. Army by 2025. Additionally, the Army plans to buy more than 400 HH-60M MEDEVAC aircraft used to extract wounded troops from the battlefield. Exact procurement numbers year-to-year and across the life of the program will be determined by budget authorizations and specific contract awards.

Sikorsky continues to improve the aircraft via the UH-60M Modernization program. This includes a fly-by-wire flight control system and FADEC-equipped GE-701 engine.

BLACK HAWK helicopters of all variants flown by the U.S. Army in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of war have accumulated more than one million fleet flight hours without a single Class A material failure. The combined operational sortie rate in both theaters stands at 85 percent. The U.S. Army’s total BLACK HAWK helicopter fleet exceeds 1,945 aircraft.

More than 3,000 BLACK HAWK helicopters of all variants are in use today, operating in 30 countries. Designed to stringent U.S. military standards, the BLACK HAWK helicopter has become the leader in multi-mission type aircraft. Among the mission configurations it serves are troop transport, medical evacuation, electronic warfare, attack, assault support and special operations.

defpro

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US soldiers parachute into Shoalwater Bay Training Area during Talisman Sabre 2011

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Citation :: Oshkosh Defense Pour Livrer Près de 7000 camions supplémentaires FMTV et de remorques pour l'armée américaine

1 août 2011: Oshkosh Defense, une division de Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), prononcera près de 7.000 supplémentaires de la famille des moyennes des véhicules tactiques (FMTV) camions et remorques à l'armée américaine suite à une commande de la direction de l'armée américaine TACOM Cycle de Vie Commande (LCMC). Oshkosh a maintenant reçu des commandes pour les camions FMTV près de 26.000 et de remorques, et apporte des véhicules pour répondre aux délais de livraison de l'Armée.

"Nous continuons à soutenir l'armée sur ce programme couronné de succès avec la livraison à temps de très haute qualité, Oshkosh camions construits FMTV et remorques», a déclaré Mike Ivy, vice-président et directeur général des programmes de l'Armée pour Oshkosh Defense. "Nos capacités de fabrication robuste, combiné avec la valeur exceptionnelle Oshkosh apporte à ce programme en tant que constructeur de véhicules de spécialité, a incité l'armée à l'ordre de plusieurs véhicules à un point antérieur dans le programme que ce qu'ils avaient prévu avant l'attribution d'Oshkosh."

Le FMTV appuie l'Armée et les unités de la Garde nationale à la maison et à l'étranger dans des opérations de combat, les efforts de secours, unité de réapprovisionnement des missions et autres fonctions. Le FMTV est une série de 17 modèles, allant de 2,5 tonnes à 10 tonnes les charges utiles. Les véhicules ont un point commun des pièces de plus de 80 pour cent, entraînant de maintenance rationalisées, la formation, le soutien et l'efficacité globale des coûts.

Oshkosh a plus de 90 ans d'expérience mobiliser l'armée américaine, et la société est le seul fournisseur de support de l'armée et des flottes de véhicules lourds tactiques à roues. Oshkosh incorporé ses contrôles de qualité rigoureux et des normes de production dans ses travaux sur le programme FMTV pour assurer la livraison de haute qualité camions et remorques.

C'est la dernière ordonnance rendue en vertu du contrat de cinq ans FMTV attribué à Oshkosh Defense pour la production de camions et remorques, ainsi que des services de soutien et de formation, à travers l'année civile 2015. La commande est évaluée à plus de $ 904,000,000 et les livraisons sont programmées pour être achevé en Juin 2013.

la défense de technologie

Citation :: U.S. Army Selects Lockheed Martin’s SMSS Autonomous Vehicle For Afghanistan Deployment

August 1, 2011:

The U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force, through the Robotics Technology Consortium, selected the Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) to deploy to Afghanistan for a first-of-its-kind military assessment. SMSS will deploy as the winner of the Project Workhorse Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) competition sponsored by the Army.

The largest autonomous vehicle ever to be deployed with infantry, the 11-foot-long SMSS can carry more than half-a-ton of a squad’s equipment on rugged terrain, easing the individual soldier’s burden, which can often exceed 100 pounds.

“SMSS is the result of more than a decade of robotic technology development, and we welcome the opportunity to demonstrate this capability in theater, where it can have an immediate impact at the squad level,” said Scott Greene, vice president of ground vehicles in Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business. “The Army has tested the system’s capabilities in three domestic user assessments, and SMSS has been deemed ready to deploy.”

As part of the three-month Military Utility Assessment (MUA), four vehicles and a field service representative will support light infantry in theater as the service evaluates how autonomous vehicles can support or ease the equipment burden for deployed troops. A fifth vehicle and an engineering team will remain in the U.S. for analysis and additional support. The Army plans to begin the Afghanistan assessment late this year, after a period of evaluations and training.

“An in-theater assessment is the next logical step in the process of informing the requirements for the Army’s future squad-sized UGV developments,” Greene said.

A fully-loaded SMSS is internally transportable on board CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters, providing new logistics capability to light and early-entry forces. The SMSS Block I variant, which will be deployed, has a range of 125 miles and features three control options: supervised autonomy, tele-operation or manually driven. The SMSS sensor suite allows it to lock on and follow any person by recognizing their digital 3-D profile (captured by the onboard sensors), and it can also navigate terrain on its own following a trail of GPS waypoints.

In addition to a month-long MUA at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2009, SMSS has been selected for further evaluation as part of the Army’s Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE) Spiral G in November this year. While SMSS has already demonstrated its ability to reduce soldier loads and provide portable power, the November experiment will evaluate its ability to field a reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition mission equipment package.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

defense-technology

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"Les belles idées n'ont pas d'âge, elles ont seulement de l'avenir"

Citation :: Navistar Wins $82M Contract for Truck from US Army

Navistar Defense, L.L.C., Lisle, Ill., was awarded an $82,500,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to provide for a general transport truck and spare parts, and a recovery truck and spare parts.
Work location will be determined with each task order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 1, 2011. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received.

The U.S. Army TACOM LCMC, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity

defenseworld

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Citation :: Le DoD réduit les déploiements opérationnels: 9 mois à partir d'avril 2012

Voilà une nouvelle qui réjouira les soldats d'active et ceux de la Garde nationale qui seront déployés en Afghanistan et sur les autres théâtres d'opérations extérieures US. Le secrétaire d'Etat chargé de l'armée de terre, John McHugh, a annoncé que la durée des séjours opérationnels serait réduite de 3 mois à compter d'avril 2012. Cette mesure ne s'appliquera ni aux unités déployées avant le 1er janvier 2012 ni à certaines unités que le Pentagone décrit comme "high demand and low density units" (forces spéciales?).

Cette mesure permettra "d'améliorer la vie de famile tout en permettant de répondre aux exigences opérationnelles". Elle s'inscrit bien sûr dans le cadre des réductions d'effectifs en Irak et en Afghanistan.

L'armée de terre US sera donc passée de séjours de 15 mois en Irak à 12 mois en Afghanistan, avant de réduire à 9 mois la durée des opex.

Citation :: Doutes sur l’efficacité des gilets pare-balles de l’armée américaine

8 août 2011 – 16:00
Une armée peut bien avoir un budget représentant 40% des dépenses militaires mondiales et fournir à ses hommes des gilets pare-balles dont le degré de protection est douteux.

Ainsi, selon un rapport de l’inspecteur général du département américain de la Défense rendu public le 4 août dernier par le Centre pour l’intégrité publique, plus de 5 millions de plaques de protection insérées dans les gilets pare-balles n’ont pas été correctement testées.

Entre 2004 et 2006, ces dernières, qui sont en kevlar ou en céramique, ont été fabriquées par plusieurs sous-traitants (ArmorWorks, Simula Cercom, Composix, Armacel Armor, Ceradyne) dans le cadre d’un contrat d’un montant de 2,5 milliards de dollars.

Et selon le rapport, « l’armée ne dispose pas d’assurance que les 5,1 millions de plaques de protection balistique fournissent une protection appropriée ». Les évaluations qui n’ont pas été effectuées – ou qui ne l’ont été que partiellement – devaient notamment porter sur le comportement de ces éléments en fonction des variations d’altitude, de température et d’humidité.

« Nous avons déterminé que les tests balistiques et les contrôles qualité (…) n’ont pas été soumis aux essais adéquats permettant de vérifier que les plaques répondaient aux spécifications du contrat », a ainsi écrit l’inspecteur général du Pentagone.

L’armée américaine a un vrai souci avec les gilets pare-balles, au point que plusieurs audits ont été réalisés, après la publication d’un New York Times d’une information selon laquelle 80% des Marines décédés en Irak après avoir été touchés au torse auraient pu survivre si leur équipement de protection avait été adéquat et aux normes. Depuis, l’USMC a changé de fournisseur et a opté pour le Modular Tactical Vest (MTV).

Le 29 janvier 2009, l’US Army avait été contrainte de rappeler 16.000 gilets pare-balles, là encore pour une histoire de contrôle de qualité non validé, 3 tests sur 2.300 n’ayant pas été passés. Cela avait révélé par un autre audit de l’inspecteur général du Pentagone, dont les conclusions furent toutefois contestées par le secrétaire de l’Army.

Selon la parlementaire Louise Slaughter, très en pointe sur ce sujet, « de nombreux soldats restent insatisfaits de la qualité de leur gilet pare-balle et ont continué à acheter leur équipement auprès d’entreprises privées ». Seulement, l’US Army a interdit à ses hommes de se procurer du matériel dans le civil… Toute ressemblance avec une situation existante sous d’autres cieux ne serait que fortuite…

Plus grave encore : Pinnacle Armor, le fabriquant du Dragon Skin, un autre type de gilet pare-balle, a accusé les responsables de l’US Army d’avoir favorisé son concurrent, Point Blank, dans l’attribution du contrat.

Pas mal la kalash.

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الله الوطن الملك

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