US Army

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 :

KONGSBERG Awarded Increased Scope of U.S. Army CROWS II Framework Agreement


PROTECTOR CROWS II mounted on an MRAP vehicle. (Photo: U.S. Army)

07:20 GMT, July 5, 2012 KONGSBERG has signed a contract modification with the US Army increasing the existing CROWS II frame contract with NOK 508 million* for purchase of spare parts and depot support.

KONGSBERG has also received purchase orders for spare parts and depot support valued NOK 198 million under this modification.

CROWS is a joint acquisition program for weapon stations for the US Army`s vehicle programs. A common solution will result in substantial efficiency gains in respect of protection, training, support and further development.

The initial CROWS II framework agreement was disclosed on 22 August 2007.

The Protector Weapon Control System protects military troops by allowing the vehicle's weapons to be operated from a protected position inside the vehicle.

defpro

quelques photos de snipers américains

Citation :

Un radar antimissile US au Qatar

Publié le 17/07/2012 à 16:35

Les États-Unis ont entamé la construction d'une station radar sur un site tenu secret au Qatar afin de servir d'alerte avancée en cas de lancement de missiles iraniens, affirme ce mardi le Wall Street Journal.

Cette mesure vise notamment à "rassurer Israël et d'autres alliés inquiets en montrant que le Pentagone prend des mesures pour contrer l'Iran après des mois de négociations apparemment stériles avec Téhéran sur son programme nucléaire", explique le quotidien. Le radar d'alerte avancée qui doit être mis en service au Qatar doit permettre de repérer et de suivre la trajectoire de missiles balistiques lancés du territoire iranien.

Un radar similaire est déjà déployé sur le mont Keren dans le désert du Néguev (Israël) depuis 2008 et un autre est installé en Turquie dans le cadre du bouclier antimissile de l'Otan. Ces radars sont couplés à des intercepteurs embarqués à bord de navires américains croisant en Méditerranée orientale. L'Otan doit par ailleurs déployer d'autres missiles antimissile en Pologne et en Roumanie.

Selon le Wall Street Journal, le Pentagone pourrait également déployer le système antimissile THAAD, qui intercepte les missiles à haute altitude, dans les prochains mois, vraisemblablement aux Emirats. Les tensions restent vives dans le Golfe et avec l'Iran. Les Etats-Unis ont renforcé de façon significative leur présence militaire dans la région et on prévenu Téhéran que toute tentative de blocage du stratégique détroit d'Ormuz constituerait une "ligne rouge".

Washington cherche par ailleurs à empêcher toute action militaire d'Israël contre le programme nucléaire iranien. La secrétaire d'État américaine Hillary Clinton a achevé hier une visite en Israël par un engagement à mobiliser tous les moyens des Etats-Unis pour empêcher l'Iran d'accéder au nucléaire militaire. "Nous utiliserons toutes les composantes de la puissance américaine pour empêcher l'Iran d'accéder à l'arme nucléaire", a-t-elle dit après une rencontre avec lepPremier ministre israélien Benyamin Nétanyahou. Le secrétaire à la Défense Leon Panetta doit lui aussi se rendre en Israël dans les prochaines semaines, selon le Pentagone.


http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2012/07/17/97001-20120717FILWWW00478-un-radar-antimissile-us-au-qatar.php

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Sikorsky Delivers 500th ‘M’ Model BLACK HAWK Helicopter


A HH-60 Pave Hawk over Afghanistan in February 2011. (Photo: U.S. Air Force, Erick Saks)

07:42 GMT, July 19, 2012 STRATFORD, Connecticut | Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp., and the U.S. Army today celebrated the delivery of the 500th H-60M BLACK HAWK helicopter. The deliveries to date comprise 400 UH-60M utility and 100 HH-60M MEDEVAC aircraft, the latter used exclusively as an air ambulance by the U.S. Army to rush wounded soldiers to field hospitals. Also included in the 500 are 73 UH-60M aircraft sold by the Army to six foreign militaries via the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales program.

“I speak for more than 17,000 Sikorsky employees — many of us service veterans — when I say we are truly honored to build a modern combat-proven helicopter that men and women in uniform around the world can count on to perform their critical multi-role missions,” said Sikorsky President Mick Maurer during remarks spoken a short distance from the BLACK HAWK helicopter production line.

The need for an all-new ‘M’ BLACK HAWK platform emerged during the late 1990s with the requirement to upgrade the analog UH-60A and UH-60L aircraft with a integrated digital cockpit, dual digital flight controls, wide-chord rotor blades, more powerful engines and structural enhancements. The resulting ‘M’ model saw measurable improvements to aircraft control, survivability, lift, range, navigation and situational awareness, engine durability and maintenance costs.

Sikorsky delivered the first production UH-60M, affectionately called the Mike model, helicopter in December 2007, preceded by 31 low rate initial production aircraft from 2005-2007. The first production HH-60M MEDEVAC, outfitted with a dedicated clinical cabin followed in August 2008. The aircraft have accumulated a combined 200,000 flight hours to date.

According to Colonel Thomas Todd, the U.S. Army’s Utility Helicopters Project Manager: “The UH-60M and HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters are performing extremely well in theater, and I receive positive comments from our combat commanders frequently. The platform receives very high marks for the situational awareness the system provides the crew. These comments are also common from the other services, agencies and countries that have purchased H-60M aircraft. Accordingly, this 500th roll out of the H-60M underscores that the U.S. Army's Utility Helicopters Project Office and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation continue to provide our Soldiers with quality equipment in a timely and cost efficient manner."

The 500 H-60M aircraft are part of a planned production run of 1,375 ‘M’ models (956 UH-60M and 419 HH-60M aircraft) the Army plans to order through 2026. By then, the Army’s total BLACK HAWK fleet, including upgraded UH-60A and UH-60L aircraft, is expected to reach more than 2,100 aircraft.

The Army purchased the majority of the 500 H-60M helicopters as part of a five-year agreement that ended this month. Sikorsky will continue to build Mike models as part of a new five-year contract (Multi-Year valued at $8.5 billion, which Sikorsky and the U.S. Army and Navy signed on July 6, 2012. Actual production quantities will be determined year-by-year over the life of the program based on funding allocations set by Congress and Pentagon acquisition priorities.

To meet Multi-Year 8 requirements, Sikorsky will deliver a baseline quantity of 234 UH-60M and 120 HH-60M BLACK HAWK aircraft for U.S. Army use and additional aircraft for Foreign Military Sales. The contract also includes 193 MH-60 SEAHAWK helicopters for the U.S. Navy, as well as MH-60R SEAHAWK aircraft for the Foreign Military Sales program.

defpro

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Lockheed Martin Receives $68.9 Million Contract for PAC-3 MSE Production




Demonstration of the MSE development of the Patriot PAC-3 missile. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

15:21 GMT, July 19, 2012 DALLAS | Lockheed Martin received a $68.9 million contract to prepare the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile production line for the introduction of the Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) version of the combat-proven PAC-3 Missile.

The facilitization contract provides funding for PAC-3 MSE-specific tooling and test equipment at the company's Camden, Ark., facility, as well as other sites and subcontractors in anticipation of a production decision by the U.S. Army in 2013. The U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting agency.

"The PAC-3 MSE is a true spiral development that will enable a very capable interceptor to grow to the requirements of defeating new and evolving threats," said Richard McDaniel, vice president for PAC-3 Missile programs at Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business. "These enhancements will assure the PAC-3 Missile Segment will be capable of defeating these threats far into the future."

The PAC-3 MSE Missile provides increased performance, greater altitude and range than the PAC-3 Cost Reduction Initiative Missile. The PAC-3 Missile is the only Patriot missile that utilizes hit-to-kill technology to engage incoming targets.

The PAC-3 MSE Missile will be packaged in a single canister that stacks to provide flexibility for the Patriot air defense system launcher load-out requirements. The PAC-3 MSE Missile was selected as the primary interceptor for the multi-national MEADS in September 2006.

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is prime contractor on the PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade to the Patriot air defense system. The PAC-3 Missile Segment upgrade consists of the highly agile hit-to-kill PAC-3 Missile, the PAC-3 Missile canisters (in four packs), a fire solution computer and an Enhanced Launcher Electronics System (ELES). These elements will be integrated into the Patriot system.

defpro

Citation :

High Winds Damage Several Apaches At Fort Riley






FORT RILEY, Kan. (WIBW) -- Sources say several Apache helicopters were damaged at Fort Riley's Marshall Army Airfield during a thunderstorm that blew through the area Wednesday night.

According to officials in the Combat Aviation Brigade, the helicopters sustained various degrees of damage. One of the Apaches was reportedly severely damaged when was flipped over by strong winds. An anonymous WIBW viewer sent in a picture of the overturned attack helicopter.

The 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs Office released the following statement late Thursday: "High winds damaged six aircraft located on Fort Riley’s Marshall Army Airfield a little after 6 p.m. on July 18. No personnel were hurt in this incident. The aircraft, which belong to the 1st Infantry Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade, were in pre-flight status at the time in support of training flights scheduled for the day. In addition to the aircraft, a trailer and several buildings located on the airfield received minor damage. The battalion continued training on July 19. The incident is under investigation."

Fort Riley is the first installation to receive the new Apache Block III helicopters, valued at $36 million each. The first of 24 new Apaches landed at Marshall Airfield in April and more are scheduled to arrive throughout the rest of the year. The new fleet is replacing the Apache Block II's that Fort Riley has been using. Officials could not confirm whether the Block II or Block III helicopters were damaged during Wednesday's storm. Damages estimates were not provided.

/www.wibw.com

dommage pour le radar

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La deuxième vie des MRAP

un MRAP arrive en sol coréen dans la soute d’un C-5 Galaxy de l’US Air Force


Les avions cargo de l’US Air Force ont commencé le transfert des MRAP depuis l’Afghanistan vers la Corée du Sud, au rythme de deux camions par rotation d’avion cargo Galaxy ou C-17. Les Américains disposent d’environ 20.000 de ces véhicules conçus dans l’urgence pour faire face à la menace des IED. Tous ne survivront pas à la fin de l’engagement US en Irak et en Afghanistan. Selon les projections actuelles du Pentagone, 30% des véhicules concernés resteront en service au sein des brigades de combat, pour le transport des troupes et les ouvertures d’itinéraire. 10% supplémentaires seront utilisés à l’entrainement. Les 60% restant (12000 véhicules tout de même…) seront tout simplement placés en réserve, en attendant la prochaine aventure militaire de l’Empire.

forces opérations

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L-3 Wins Recompetition for Contractor Logistics Support at Fort Rucker




07:09 GMT, July 25, 2012 L-3 Army Fleet Support awarded a $1.98 billion contract to provide U.S. Army helicopter maintenance and logistics support

NEW YORK | L-3 Communications announced today that it has been awarded a contract with a one-year base period and four one-year options, with an estimated contract value of $1.98 billion, from the U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone on behalf of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command (AMCOM) for rotary-wing aircraft maintenance and logistics support at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Under this contract, L-3 will provide maintenance, logistics and other related sustainment support for over 600 helicopters used by the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and the U.S. Air Force Air Education Training Command.

“We are proud that L-3 has been selected as the Fort Rucker aircraft maintenance contractor,” said John McNellis, president of L-3 Integrated Systems Group. “We have worked closely with our Government partners, as well as with our dedicated Army Fleet Support workforce, to continually deliver excellent, best-value performance in support of our military aviators and their training mission. This award is a very important one for our business, especially in this current environment, and we remain focused on our commitment to operational readiness and the high-quality services that we have provided the Army and Air Force at Fort Rucker since 2003.”

defpro

Citation :

TeleCommunication Systems Receives $7.3 Million Funded Order from U.S. Army

Company to Provide SNAP Deployable Satellite Systems Equipment and Support

ANNAPOLIS, Md. | TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS), a world leader in highly reliable and secure mobile communication technology, announced Jul. 25 that it has received a $7.3 million funded order for equipment, field services support and maintenance of Secret Internet Protocol Router and Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Access Point (SNAP) Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite systems. The U.S. Army Project Manager for the Warfighter Information Network - Tactical (PM WIN-T) Commercial Satellite Terminal Program is funding this procurement through the Army's $5 billion World-Wide Satellite Systems (WWSS) contract vehicle.

"The U.S. armed forces benefit greatly from secure, easy-to-deploy and reliable satellite communications systems," said Michael Bristol, senior vice president and general manager of government solutions for TCS. "TCS' SNAP VSAT satellite systems equipment gives our fighting forces the communications advantages they demand."

The TCS SNAP VSAT systems provide multimedia communications capabilities which convey encrypted voice, video and data. TCS SNAP products are highly transportable and ruggedized, and have a graphical user interface that facilitates easy set-up and operation. The modularity and plug-and-play interfaces between all radio frequency (RF) and baseband configurations inherent in the SNAP product line result in communication solutions tailored to the end-user's specific needs.

defpro

Citation :

Raytheon to Upgrade Army Field Artillery System
Raytheon Company has received an $81 million contract from the U.S. Army to develop and produce a new version of the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS). It will provide general and fires command and control capabilities to ground forces, from mission planning to execution.

The contract extends over a 24-month period, with an $18 million, 12-month option.

AFATDS is designed to integrate and use information from a variety of sources to create a common operational picture. The system utilizes the information and common operational picture to plan, coordinate and control battlefield elements, including mortars, close air support, naval gunfire, attack helicopters, offensive electronic warfare, field artillery cannons, rockets and guided missiles
Our system brings the network to the battlefield and to front-line personnel, providing them with complete and accurate information about their environment,” said Kim Kerry, vice president of C4I Systems for Raytheon’s Network Centric Systems business. “Soldiers in the line of fire will be able to select the right weapons for the right targets at the right time.”
Version 6.8X of the system will focus on improving and simplifying the user interface while enhancing speed and capabilities

AFATDS is an Army program with significant joint interest that provides the automated command and control (C2) system for the Fires Warfighting Function used by the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps. To date, more than 5,100 systems are fielded worldwide. Raytheon provides full life-cycle support, beginning in the development phase, supporting stringent government testing, and supporting the product in the field.
Raytheon Company, with 2011 sales of $25 billion and 71,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass
http://www.defencetalk.com/raytheon-to-upgrade-army-field-artillery-system-43960/#ixzz21j0rMtXw

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AAI Test & Training Delivers 51 MAST Trainers to the U.S. Army's PEO-STRI

HUNT VALLEY, Md. | AAI Test & Training, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, announced Jul. 30 that it has delivered 51 Man-Portable Aircraft Survivability Trainer (MAST) systems to the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO-STRI). These low-rate initial production (LRIP) units were delivered under the Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Omnibus Contract II.

The MAST LRIP units follow delivery of nine first article systems in late 2011, as well as successful system integration testing in early 2012. The contract has four additional option years, with a total potential for up to 300 MAST systems.

Aircrews use MAST to assess their responses to surface-to-air threats during live training exercises. MAST replicates significant launch characteristics associated with an infrared Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) using a light-emitting diode ultraviolet emitter threat simulator.

"The MAST system builds on our proven experience in aircraft survivability training, flight line testing and long-range, electro-optic and infrared test and training equipment," says Senior Vice President and General Manager Robert Peters. "It provides users a high-fidelity, challenging, live MANPADS training experience on the ground — supporting aircrew safety through understanding of tactics, techniques and procedures."

The MAST system is interoperable with the AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning System and AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System. It creates a threat declaration in the aircraft cockpit and simulates a surface-to-air missile engagement sequence, including seeker lock and break lock, all based on environmental and situational conditions. In addition, MAST is capable of interfacing with a Weapon Effects Simulation System to emulate the visual launch signature of a MANPADS and signify the location where the MAST was fired. Interoperable with aircraft instrumentation systems such as the Multiple Integrated Laser System, the MAST system enables force-on-force and force-on-target training at Maneuver Combat Training Centers and aviation unit home stations. Visual or infrared recordings of the live training exercises enable after-action review and debriefing for a comprehensive, well-rounded training experience.

AAI Test & Training leads an experienced team for the MAST program, including its U.K.-based strategic business ESL Defence Ltd. and Inter-Coastal Electronics of Mesa, Ariz.

Man-Portable Aircraft Survivability Trainer (MAST)

defpro

Citation :

GNOMAD Offers Vehicle Connectivity in Tight Quarters
Jul. 31, 2012 - 10:23AM
A mobile satellite networking technology recently shipped to the U.S. Army’s 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea, as well as to the 4th Infantry Division fighting wildfires in Colorado, is one of the most promising solutions being considered for the service’s vexing inability to connect Bradley fighting vehicles and Abrams tanks to its marquee battlefield network of the future.

An Army official speaking confidentially said the Global Network on the Move-Active Distribution system, known as GNOMAD, which has been evaluated at the service’s Network Integration Evaluation as well as in Iraq, has showed promise, and the service plans on further exploring its capabilities.

The biggest issue with installing the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical on a Bradley or Abrams is a simple one: There’s just not enough room inside the already crowded vehicles for the new hardware.

Enter the GNOMAD, an 8-inch-tall, 120-pound roof-mounted system capable of meeting the threshold requirements for WIN-T and global Ku-band operations, according to Ross Osborne, ITT Exelis’ senior manager, business development. The Army has made fielding the WIN-T network its No. 1 priority.

The GNOMAD was sent to South Korea after the 2nd Infantry Division filed an operational needs statement to identify capabilities that would provide secure, vehicle-mounted, on-the-move satellite communications when it became clear that the unit would not receive the WIN-T system for some time.

In response, the Army mounted three GNOMAD systems on Caiman mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, Osborne said, and deployed them earlier this year. The unit is also scheduled to receive capability set 13, a communications suite that uses WIN-T as its backbone, later this year.

This is not the system’s first deployment, however. In 2011, the 4th Infantry Division deployed to Iraq with five Caiman-mounted GNOMADs.

“The systems performed very well,” Osborne said, successfully providing on-the-move satellite voice and data communications as well as nonclassified connectivity while traveling 35 to 75 mph. The gear remains deployed in Kuwait as part of the strategic response force stationed there.

The division’s 3rd Brigade, which is performing firefighting missions in Colorado, has also tapped the company for three GNOMADs, which ITT Exelis recently shipped within 36 hours of the initial request.

“They’re running commercial Internet and bridging between civilian and military radios,” Osborne said.

Three systems have also been issued to the Army’s 20th Support Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., which handles chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives missions.

In addition to these deployments, the Army’s heavy brigade combat team program manager is running a feasibility assessment of the GNOMAD for possible integration on Bradley and Abrams platforms. The assessment is scheduled to wrap up in early September and be briefed to Heidi Shyu, acting assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, in mid-October.

GNOMAD has already taken part in the last two NIEs in the fall of 2011 and spring of 2012, and will participate in the next one coming up in October. It is also being considered for the NIE scheduled for next spring.

The system has been integrated on Humvees, Chevrolet Suburbans, MRAP all-terrain vehicles and MaxxPro Dash MRAPs, as well as the Caiman, Osborne said. As it runs these assessments for the Army, the company continues to work on reducing size, weight and power requirements, Osborne stressed, by introducing capabilities such as a Soldier Radio Waveform module “so maybe you could eventually reduce the number of radios in a vehicle.”

While not going into details, he also said it is possible that in the next few months the system could again deploy to a combat zone.

Osborne maintains that the low profile of the system and its lack of antennas is an added security measure, since Iraqi insurgents often targeted command-and-control vehicles that bristled with antennas.

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120731/C4ISR01/307310012/GNOMAD-Offers-Vehicle-Connectivity-Tight-Quarters?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

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US Military Orders More King Air 350ER Aircraft
Aug 02, 2012 15:22 EDT
Despite all of the high-tech fighter hours flown in theater, Hawker Beechcraft’s twin-propeller King Air 350 continues to gain traction as an affordable, long-endurance option for light cargo delivery in remote areas – and effective manned battlefield surveillance and attack. Iraq’s Air Force was the first to order them, and an initial 6-plane UC-12W order from the US Marines/Navy followed in July 2008.

Former US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates pushed hard to improve ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) capabilities on the front lines, and one of those planned purchases involved about 30 King Air 350/ C-12 aircraft for the Army. These “MC-12s” have proven to be very useful as a component of the Army’s Task Force ODIN, which has combined the respective advantages of UAVs and manned aircraft to improve aerial surveillance and response over Iraq. ODIN is credited with a number of successes on the ground, and the concept is being exported to Afghanistan. Part of that process involves buying new, updated aircraft, and the US military continues to buy KA350 turboprops for use in different configurations.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/US-Military-Orders-More-King-Air-350ER-Aircraft-05165/

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Saab Awarded Training Contract for U.S. Army

Defence and security company Saab has received an MUSD 14.4 order (approximately 99 MSEK) to U.S. Army for radio systems for communication for live training.

Saab Training USA received an order for three exercised options of the Live Training Transformation Interim Range System (LT2-IRS) contract by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office of Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI).

Saab Training USA will produce and field three more range systems in 2013 at Fort Campbell and Fort Drum and an Exportable Training Capability (ETC) system that deploys to different training sites. Under the LT2-IRS contract, Saab Training USA is fielding communication network systems with more than 5,000 radios to enable soldiers to engage in instrumented force on force training at the home stations. Saab Training USA has fielded 17 communication networks to the U.S. Marine Corps for similar instrumented training.

“Under LT2-IRS, Saab Training USA is providing a state of art integrated instrumentation training capability at the home stations with a focus on reduced operational, support and sustainment costs” says Lars Borgwing, President of Saab Training USA.

defpro

U.S. ARMY NORTH RECEIVES ITS EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES FROM AT CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA FROM FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX DURING VIBRANT RESPONSE 13.

Citation :

Premier vol du LEMV, un dirigeable destiné à l’armée américaine
9 août 2012 – 10:23
Depuis quelques années, le Pentagone tente de remettre au goût du jour les dirigeables, ces derniers, utilisés à des fins militaires lors de la Première Guerre Mondiale, ayant perdu leur vocation militaire en raison de leur trop grande vulnérabilité face à l’aviation de chasse.

Mais quand la supériorité aérienne est acquise, comme elle peut l’être dans des conflits asymétriques comme en Afghanistan, par exemple, le dirigeable retrouve de l’intérêt en raison de son autonomie. En effet, doté de caméras et de capteurs, ce type d’engin peut mener des missions de surveillance et de renseignement en restant sur une position pendant suffisamment de temps et servir de relai pour les communications.

D’où l’idée de l’armée américaine de relancer les dirigeables. En 2011, deux projets étaient à l’étude. Le premier, appelé Blue Devil, aurait dû être le plus imposant conçu depuis la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, avec une volume de 40.000 m3 pour une centaine de mètres. Il devait pouvoir évoluer à 6.000 mètres d’altitude pendant au moins une semaine et emporter des capteurs WAAS ainsi qu’un calculateur devant traiter 330 tera-octets d’informations par heure.

Seulement, et alors qu’il avait été prévu de déployer un Blue Devil en Afghanistan en février 2012, l’US Air Force a décidé, il y a quelques semaines, de mettre un terme à ce programme en raison de performances décevantes et de coûts de développement trop importants.

Le second projet, appelé Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) Hybrid Airship, confié à Northrop Grumman et à Hybrid Air vehicles par l’US Army, a été poursuivi, malgré, là encore, des retards dans la gestion du programme.

Cela étant, un LEMV a effectué son premier vol le 7 août dernier, depuis la base de Lakehurst, dans le New Jersey. Le dirigeable de 91 mètres est resté en l’air pendant 90 mn, ce qui est encore bien loin des 3 semaines d’autonomie pour lesquelles il a été conçu.

Pour ce vol inaugural, retardé à plusieurs reprises, le LEMV avait à son bord un équipage, bien qu’il soit également prévu de le piloter à distance. Il s’est agi de tester les procédures de lancement et de récupération ainsi de vérifier le bon fonctionnement du système de commande de vol. Les autres essais consisteront à valider les performances de l’appareil.

Selon Northrop GrummanAu total, il suffirait de déployer que de quelques dizaines de personnels sur un théâtre d’opérations pour mettre en oeuvre 18 LEMV.


http://www.opex360.fr/

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Ball Aerospace demonstrates ONR’s MMLCA phased array antenna
9 August 2012
The US Office of Naval Research's (ONR) mobile multifunction low-cost array (MMLCA) system, a prototype of the X-band Satcom on-the-move (SOTM) phased array antenna, has been successfully demonstrated at the US Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground facility in Maryland, US.

Developed and tested by Ball Aerospace and Technologies under ONR's FORCEnet future naval capabilities programme, the prototype antenna exhibited how it could help in providing high-speed data communications to the troops in operational theatre by making use of military and commercial satellite systems.

Ball Aerospace vice president and general manager for Tactical Solutions Jim Oschmann said that MMLCA was significantly more rugged than conventional designs, making it more resistant to weather and battlefield operations.

"It incorporates the advantages found in advanced phased array antennas, including a lower profile design for hemispherical coverage, high-reliability, and lower total ownership cost," he said.

As a self-sufficient low profile antenna system, the MMLCA has been designed with no rotating subcomponents, making it suitable for use on a range of military combat vehicles and platforms.

Capable of offering improved antenna coverage, the system allows existing and future military platforms to decrease the number of antennas, while reducing the overall profile of vehicles.

Before deploying the Satcom antenna with active-duty military forces operating in the battlefield, the vehicle-mount system will be integrated with further enhancements that were detected during demonstrations.

The phased array antenna technology can also be used on military platforms, such as aircraft, missiles and small craft, as well as for space applications.


http://www.naval-technology.com/news/newsball-aerospace-demonstrates-onrs-mmlca-phased-array-antenna/

Citation :

Division West Soldiers test new technology to defeat IEDs
By Army News Service on Tuesday, August 14th, 2012




Military combat engineers and civilian technical experts gathered here recently to conduct a series of experiments aimed at providing Soldiers with new technology in the counter-improvised explosive device fight.

A diverse group of scientists, trainers and Soldiers from across the country — including Soldiers of 3rd Battalion (Engineer), 364th Regiment, 5th Armored Brigade,”Task Force Rampant,” Division West — spent five days testing and evaluating the HUSKY Vehicle Mounted Mine Detection Cause and Effect System trainer, known as the HMDS-CES.

The HMDS-CES was designed to replicate a critical detection capability currently used in the route clearance mission in Afghanistan.

Prior to the HMDS-CES, Soldiers had to wait until they arrived in Afghanistan to train on this critical route clearance system. With the HMDS-CES, Soldiers will be able to conduct highly realistic training before deploying overseas.

Once fielded, this advanced counter-improvised explosive device, or C-IED, trainer will be used by the 5th Armored Brigade to train Army Reserve and Army National Guard route clearance units.

“This new system will enhance the training we provide to Soldiers as they train for deployment to Afghanistan,” said Master Sgt. Warner Stadler, a senior route clearance trainer in the 3rd Battalion (Engineer), 364th Regiment. “When they arrive in country and fall in on the live system, they will become ready to conduct the critically important route clearance mission in a short period of time with minimal additional training.”

With the trainer’s high-tech “cause-and-effect” system that simulates improvised explosive device, or IED, warnings, Soldiers will be able to train in conditions that replicate the Afghanistan theater of operations without fear of damaging an expensive live system.

“The CES system has many of the same features as the live system,” said Staff Sgt. Johnathan Jacoba, an observer controller/trainer with 3rd Battalion (Engineer), 364th Regiment, and an experienced Sapper with recent combat experience in Afghanistan. “This system improves the operator’s field of vision and also aids in detecting threats near the vehicle.”

The new trainer also simulates explosions when operators fail to respond to critical warnings or indicators.

“This greatly enhances training and will save Soldiers’ lives,” said Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Lindquist, a Task Force Rampant HUSKY operator and trainer. “The Cause and Effect trainer is a great improvement to the current surrogate trainer because it provides feedback similar to the live system.”

At the conclusion of the week-long experiment, Alfred Myers, the organizer and member of the Joint IED Test Board, thanked the scientists, engineers and Soldiers who made the testing successful. “The support provided by Task Force Rampant and the Soldiers at Fort Bliss (Texas) was outstanding,” he said.

Participants in the HMDS-CES evaluation also came from the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, the Research and Development Command, Program Manager Explosive Ordnance Development and Counter-Mine, White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Program Executive Office — Simulations Training and Instrumentation, Army Test and Evaluation Command, and the United States Army Evaluation Center.

“This experiment was a great opportunity to bring all of the key stakeholders together to test and evaluate an important system,” Stadler said. “Developing training systems with Soldier input is critical to getting first-hand experience into the hands of the developers



Read more: http://www.defencetalk.com/division-west-soldiers-test-new-technology-to-defeat-ieds-44202/#ixzz23WPJMtvZ

BONNE INITIATIVE

Citation :

Lockheed receives fifth THAAD battery production contract
16 August 2012
Lockheed Martin has received a contract for production and delivery of terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) weapon system launchers and fire control and communications equipment to the US Army.

Awarded by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the $150m contract covers production of a total of 12 launchers, two fire control and communications units and associated support equipment.

The first six of 12 launchers will be delivered for the fifth THAAD battery, while an additional three each are intended for batteries one and two respectively, bringing all the batteries to the standard six launcher configuration.

Mat Joyce, Lockheed Martin THAAD Weapon System vice president and programme manager, said: "THAAD brings advanced hit-to-kill technology to the warfighter combined with ease of operation designed into the system."
Manufacturing work, including final assembly, integration and equipment testing, will be performed at the company's facility in Camden, Arkansas, US, and delivery of battery five equipment to Fort Bliss, Texas, is scheduled to be completed by 2015.

Lockheed secured a production contract for the first two batteries in late 2006, while contracts for batteries three and four were awarded in 2011.

Developed by MDA, the THAAD missile system is designed to intercept and destroy short, medium and intermediate ballistic missiles using hit-to-kill technology, and is capable of engaging ballistic missiles at both endo and exo-atmospheric altitudes.

Serving as a key element of the US Ballistic Missile Defence System (BMDS), THAAD is intended to defend the nation and its deployed forces and allies against ballistic missile threats of all ranges during all phases of flight.

The army activated the first two THAAD batteries in May 2008 and October 2009, and is planning to activate the third in late 2012.

http://www.army-technology.com/news/newslockheed-receives-fifth-thaad-battery-contract/

Citation :

Les Etats-Unis comptent installer deux radars d’alerte avancée supplémentaires en Asie

Les Etats-Unis envisagent d’installer un autre radar X-Band d’alerte avancé au sud du Japon, après avoir en implanté un en 2006, dans le nord de l’archipel nippon, plus précisément sur la base Shakiri, près de Tsugaru City.

“En ce qui concerne la défense antimissile en général, nous sommes en étroite collaboration avec nos partenaires japonais”, a ainsi expliqué, le 23 août, le général Martin Dempsey, le chef d’état-major interarmées américain, à l’issue d’une rencontre avec Shigeru Iwasaki, son homologue nippon.

L’idée est de constituer un bouclier anti-missile en Asie du Sud-Est afin d’écarter la menace balistique nord-coréenne. Mais pas seulement car la Chine peut également se sentir concernée par ce dispositif, elle qui pointerait près de 2.000 missiles sur Taïwan, du moins selon les estimations des services de renseignement de Taipeh.

Pour autant, à Washington, on a pris soin de préciser que cette défense anti-missile ne visera pas Pékin, qui pourrait y voir, à l’instar de Moscou, une atteinte à la crédibilité de ses capacités stratégiques.

“Ce sont des systèmes défensifs, ils ne s’enclenchent pas tant qu’aucun missile n’a été tiré”, a ainsi déclaré Victoria Nuland, porte-parole de la diplomatie américaine. “Dans le cas des systèmes déployés en Asie, ils sont destinés à se défendre contre des missiles nord-coréens, ils ne sont pas dirigés contre la Chine”, a-t-elle insisté.

Sauf que, selon le Wall Street Journal, le Pentagone étudie en fait la possibilité d’installer non pas un mais deux radars X-Band d’alerte avancée supplémentaires dans la région Asie-Pacifique, “afin de créer un arc qui permettrait aux États-Unis et à leurs alliés régionaux de mieux suivre les missiles balistiques lancés depuis la Corée du Nord et la Chine.”

Outre celui qui serait installé dans le sud du Japon, un autre pourrait être implanté aux Philippines. Mais d’après le quotidien économique, aucune décision n’a encore été prise et les discussions en sont encore à un “stade précoce”.

opex360

Citation :

Enfin, des body armor adaptés aux formes féminines US



Les rondeurs (naturelles) des féminines de l'armée US ne seront plus un obstacle ou une gêne lorsque ces militaires devront porter des gilets tactiques comportants des plaques de blindage. Des "Improved Outer Tactical Vests" (3e génération) sont actuellements testés au sein de la 101e division aéroportée. Cette évolution est partie d'un constat, explique Lynne Hennessey, du Design, Pattern and Prototype Team: "Les IOTV actuels ne sont pas adaptés à 85% des femmes". D'où un effort pour mieux adapter le gilet au niveau de la poitrine et des hanches.

http://lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr/

Citation :

CSC Wins $220M U.S. Army C4ISR Logistics Task Order






06:39 GMT, September 13, 2012 FALLS CHURCH, Va. | The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) has awarded CSC a task order to provide worldwide logistics support. Awarded in the fourth quarter of CSC’s fiscal year 2012, the task order has an estimated two-year total value of $220 million and falls under the Strategic Services Sourcing (S3) contract vehicle, originally awarded to CSC in 2006.

Under the terms of the agreement, CSC will provide logistics support to the Army command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) worldwide sustainment services commodity line. This task order is a consolidation of three legacy task orders under the S3 contract vehicle.

“CSC has extensive functional and technical experience supporting Department of Defense (DoD) logistics operations,” said Karl Spinnenweber, vice president of CSC’s North American Public Sector Defense Group Ground Division. “We will draw upon that legacy of deployment and distribution experience to help the U.S. Army increase efficiencies on its C4ISR worldwide sustainment services commodity line.”

CSC’s C4ISR team includes Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH), VSE, EPS Corporation (EPS), Lockheed Martin, McLane Advanced Technologies, and Occam Solutions.

For more information about CSC’s logistics solutions, please visit www.csc.com/logistics.