US Army

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quote]Strengthening The Ukrainian Army
(Source: U.S Army; issued Aug 21, 2016)
YAVORIV, Ukraine ----The Ukrainian army, with the assistance of U.S. and multinational partners, continues to strive to improve the capability and capacity within its armed forces. Approximately 20 Ukrainian cadre recently completed their first rotation training Ukrainian Soldiers on individual combat skills at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center.

The training is part of the ongoing operations of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine. The JMTG-U mission is focused on building a sustainable, enduring combat training center here. Part of this mission includes building training capacity quickly through the consolidation and resourcing of dedicated training cadre.

These instructors are the first group of cadre trained on conducting the first six modules of a nine-week rotational training set. The modules include weapons training, land navigation, combat lifesaving skills, and section live-fire. Soldiers of 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division certified the instructors by observing and gauging their ability to put the six modules into action and effectively train other Ukrainian Soldiers.

Spc. Brett Jones, a rifleman assigned to 6-8 Cav., is a fourth generation veteran and is excited to be able to continue the family tradition. Jones said that he is optimistic about training alongside the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

"Every time we go out and observe the Ukrainian Soldiers, they do the training to a T," said Jones. "They are very hands on with the training and make sure each Soldier knows how to effectively do each task to standard."

Staff Sgt. Alex Fernandez, a squad leader and instructor assigned to 6-8 Cav. spent two years as a drill sergeant and was able to use the skills he acquired to ensure the Ukrainian instructors were fully up to speed on training their Soldiers on individual tasks.

"They have always been comfortable teaching the Soldiers, but now I feel they are more confident with their teaching techniques," said Fernandez. "They have built that trust and bond with the Soldiers and they listen to the instructors when given instructions."

After the training has been conducted, the Soldiers from 6-8 Cav pull the Ukrainian instructors aside and brief them on their performance during the exercise.

According to Jones the Ukrainian Soldiers respond well when they receive praise, validation and feedback from the multinational force trainers. "They do training by the book and listen to recommendations that we make," he said.

1st Lt. Taras Tanailov, an instructor assigned to the Combat Training Center mentored the newly graduated Ukrainian instructors over the past three weeks. Tanailov has been with the instructors since they were certified to teach and observed the progression in their ability to train Soldiers.

Tanailov said that over the last few weeks his instructors had learned a lot about leading and training Soldiers. He said that they are more confident in the training, which allows them to be more effective leaders.

Cpt. Abdullah H. Clark, company commander for Charlie Troop, 6-8 Cav., had the opportunity to observe the Ukrainian instructors and was able to view military tactics from a different perspective.

"So far I've learned a different method of every aspect of military affairs from logistics to tactics to unofficial dynamics of the social system," said Clark. "They have taught me a different way to run things other than the way we normally do for our military."

The ultimate goal of the JMTG-U is to establish a sustainable Combat Training Center staffed and led completely by the Ukrainian military.

"I think if we left here today, they would do everything they need to do to train their military," said Jones. "I definitely think they are doing a good job."

Now that the initial six modules are complete, the Ukrainian instructors will move on to learn the next two modules, which is a milestone for the JMTG-U. This marks the first time Ukrainian instructors will learn modules seven and eight, which include squad, section and platoon collective tasks.



http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/176345/us-army%2C-partner-nations-strengthen-ukrainian-army.html






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Citation :

U.S. Army conducts most significant Patriot modernization since the early 1990s

Aug 23, 2019



Patriot missile defense system consisting of radars, command-and-control technology and multiple types of interceptors remains fixtures among the U.S. Army’s top priorities.

According to a statement released by Army News Service, the Army’s Patriot Air Defense battalions are upgrading their fire-control computers, communications, radars and operator interfaces while adding more capable missiles in a refit that is scheduled to continue through 2021.

“Right now we’re conducting the most significant Patriot modernization since the early 1990s,” said Col. Mark A. Holler, commandant of the Air Defense Artillery School at Fort Sill.

Patriot is Raytheon-made combat-proven missile defense system developed to detect, identify and defeat tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, advanced aircraft and other threats.

Since it was first fielded, Raytheon’s Patriot has been used by five nations in more than 250 combat engagements against manned and unmanned aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles. Since January of 2015, Patriot has intercepted more than 150 ballistic missiles in combat operations around the world; more than 90 of those intercepts involved the low-cost Raytheon-made Guidance Enhanced Missile family of surface-to-air missiles.

About 25 years ago, units began receiving Patriot Advanced Capability 3 — or PAC-3 — missiles combined with an overhaul to command and control systems and related software.

Upgrading again, the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement — or MSE missiles — fielded a few years ago brought extended range and more maneuverability due to a more powerful rocket motor and larger fins. However, radar limitations prevented utilizing PAC-3 MSE missiles to their full capability.

Now Patriot units are undergoing a system-wide upgrade, to include radar improvements that will enable them to use the full capability of the PAC-3 MSE missile.

An upgrade called Post-Deployment Build 8, or PDB8, is providing Patriot units with a more capable radar by transitioning from analog to digital processing.

“It’s really a depot-level rebuild of much of the components of the Patriot System,” Holler said.

The internal components of the Patriot radar went from analog “70s- and 80s-based circuit-card technology to digital processing”, he said.

The AN/MPQ-65 radar for Patriot became AN/MPQ-65A with about 30% additional range and increased processing speed.

“It also gives that radar a lot more reliability,” Holler said.

The new upgraded radar should also be cheaper to operate, he said, “because you’re not replacing so many parts.” In addition, he said it will be more survivable against an electronic attack.

Nine of the Army’s 15 Patriot battalions have already undergone the upgrade.

Under PDB8, equipment is often replaced when a unit returns from deployment. However, some battalions have upgraded equipment while still overseas, as Holler did with 2nd Battalion of the 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment and 6th Battalion of the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment when he commanded the 35th ADA Brigade in South Korea.

Those battalions were the first to undergo the PDB8 upgrade, which began in 2017.

“We brought some equipment from the States and from outside Korea to maintain that ‘fight tonight’ readiness mission,” Holler said, “while we took two batteries at a time offline and upgraded them.”

The same type of forward upgrade of equipment was completed for a Patriot battalion in Germany. In Japan, a Patriot battalion did a one-for-one exchange. It sent equipment back to the States and received modernized equipment in return. The battalion in Japan also received some of its newer equipment as systems redeployed from the Central Command area of responsibility, Holler added.

The next unit to be upgraded is the 1st Battalion of the 43rd Air Defense Artillery, which recently returned to Fort Bliss, Texas, from its deployment to the United Arab Emirates. The unit is scheduled to undergo recapitalization in fiscal year 2020 and its equipment is already being upgraded at Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania.

Patriot units are also upgrading their operator interfaces from analog to digital technology.

The operator interfaces in a Patriot fire unit are manned by three operators. The interfaces have two consoles, including a digital weapon control computer, and three radio relay terminals.

“We updated the communications relays and fire-control computers,” Holler said.

New digital display consoles replaced old cathode-ray tubes that had been in the system for over 50 years. The modern color consoles enhance operator situational awareness, said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric D. Maule, chief warrant officer of the Air Defense Branch. He said these improved operator interfaces are stepping-stones that enable future efforts like Warfighter to Machine Interface, a planned upgrade that will provide 3D displays and fully modernized and customizable Graphical User Interfaces.

Another upgrade is the Combined Crypto Modernization Phase 1 which provides routers and connections at the operator interface consoles that allow both classified and unclassified internet to be available at the Patriot tactical site. It also provides Beyond Line of Sight capability with the Patriot Data Information Link, known as PADIL, allowing units to separate and maintain connectivity.

Before PDB8, Maule said it was difficult for the Patriot system to recognize if it had been affected by Advanced Electronic Countermeasures, or AECM, which could result in false tracks and firing on false targets. PDB8 AECM mitigation now uses advanced algorithms to determine AECM attack patterns and remove false tracks from the operator scope, he said.

Non-cooperative target recognition, or NCTR, is being added to the system. Operators can now request additional combat identification information about the target and Maule said “This will help prevent fratricide”.

“Full Mode 5 Integration provides aircraft position data and provides more identification certainty when looking at aircraft that are closely spaced together”, CW5 Maule said.

“The overall achievement by doing this upgrade is we maximize our search ability and we maximize the capability of the MSE interceptor,” Holler said.

“It’s been a big success story,” he added about the Patriot upgrades.

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-army-conducts-most-significant-patriot-modernization-since-the-early-1990s.html

Citation :

U.S. Army soldiers tested Russian-made T-80 main battle tanks


Aug 24, 2019



The 1st Cavalry Division’s 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team “Greywolf” Soldiers were able opportunity to test Russian-made T-80 main battle tanks.

Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team “Greywolf”, 1st Cavalry Division, visited South Korean 3rd Armored Brigade – is the only unit in the armed forces of South Korea that has Russian-made armored vehicles.

Nowadays, South Korea operates Russian-builds T-80U main battle tanks and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, that were delivered to Seoul in the 1990s towards Russian state debt payments.

When the Soviet Union was dissolved, Moscow offered South Korea to repay debt with the one thing it had in abundance: state-of-the-art weaponry. Seoul at first resisted but by 1994 it agreed that one half of the debt would be settled by a transfer of Russian arms.

To date, Russian combat vehicles are in service with two battalions of the 3rd Tank Brigade. Deliveries of BMP-3 from Russia began in 1996. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute`s (SIPRI) arms transfers database, Russia delivered to the Republic of Korea 43 T-80U MBTs and 67 BMP-3 IFVs in 1995-2006.

According to checkpointasia.net, T-80U remained South Korea’s hands down most potent tank for nearly 20 years, until 2014 when its domestically-produced K2 which boasts a 120mm gun and is it’s equally begun entering service.

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-army-soldiers-tests-russian-made-t-80-main-battle-tanks.html

Citation :

U.S. Army to integrate drones with Assault Breacher Vehicles


Aug 28, 2019


Photo by Cpl. Alisha Grezlik


The U.S. Army is seeking to integrated tactical unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with its heavily armored obstacle breaching system, called the Assault Breacher Vehicle.

The Army Contracting Command plans to integrate small tactical UAS with the heave armored mine- and explosives-clearing vehicle, based on the M1 Abrams-chassis, to increase its battlefield survivability and combat effectiveness.

On Aug. 26, the service made public its update draft request in support of obtaining Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to be embedded with the Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) platform through a notice posted on the U.S. government’s main contracting website.

“The primary objective of the UAS will be to carry a smart radio to retransmit a Radio Frequency/Signal and to provide additional situational awareness (vision) to troops that would be operating from a concealed and covered location,” the notice reads.

The ABV is a heave engineering vehicle in U.S. Army and Marine Corps services.

With increased capabilities and efficiency, the ABV greatly reduces the clearing time from hours to minutes. This allows assets in the rear to advance forward faster to provide additional support or aid as needed.

It consists of an M1A1 Abrams tank hull; a unique turret with two Linear Demolition Charge Systems (employing two Mine Clearing Line Charges (MICLIC) and rockets); a Lane Marking System (LMS); Integrated Vision System; and a High Lift Adapter that interchangeably mounts a Full Width Mine Plow (FWMP) or a Combat Dozer Blade.

ABV, which requires a crew of two Soldiers, improves the mobility and survivability of combat engineers while having the speed and ability to keep pace with the maneuver force. It creates a tank-width cleared lane through a minefield by launching and detonating one of its MICLIC systems across the minefield, then proofing the lane with its FWMP while marking the cleared lane with its LMS.

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-army-to-integrate-drones-with-assault-breacher-vehicles.html

Citation :

U.S. Army deploys M270 rocket launchers to Europe

Published 11:11 (GMT+0000) September 12, 2019


Photo by Gertrud Zach


The U.S. Army has announced that M270 multiple launch rocket systems, or MLRS, along with several support vehicles have deployed to Europe.

The unique 41st Field Artillery Brigade, the only U.S. rocket artillery brigade in Europe, has received various military wheeled and tracked vehicles at the 7th Army Training Command’s Rail Head, Grafenwoehr, Germany, Sept. 11, 2019.

According to the current information, the 41st Field Artillery Brigade, which activated in November, received the shipment of at least 16 M270A1 multiple launch rocket systems.

The M270 MLRS entered service with the U.S. Army in 1983.

A unique feature of the M270 is that it has got no launching rails. Rockets are fired straight away from containers. Each disposable container holds 6 rockets. Rockets can be stored in containers without any maintenance for up to ten years. Vehicle carries two such containers with a total of 12 rockets.

The MLRS launcher unit comprises an M270 launcher loaded with 12 rockets, packaged in two six-rocket pods or two pods for MGM-140 ATACMS surface-to-surface missiles. Mounted on a stretched Bradley chassis, the launcher is a highly automated self-loading and self-aiming system.

Without leaving the cab, the crew of three: a driver, gunner and section chief can fire up to 12 MLRS rockets in fewer than 60 seconds.

Rockets can be fired individually or in ripples of two to 12. Accuracy is maintained in all firing modes, because the computer re-aims the launcher between rounds. The MLRS computerized fire control system enables a reduced crew, or even a single Soldier to load and unload the launcher. A portable boom control device and cable hook assembly is used for loading and unloading. The fire control computer allows firing missions to be carried out either manually or automatically.

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-army-deploys-m270-rocket-launchers-to-europe.html

Citation :

L’US Army finance des travaux pour mettre au point une armure en plastique bien plus résistante que l’acier

par Laurent Lagneau · 22 septembre 2019



Le poids est sans doute le premier ennemi du fantassin… D’autant plus qu’à l’équipement individuel viennent s’ajouter le gilet pare-balle, dont la masse varie de 2,5 à 16 kg selon les niveaux de protection qu’ils offrent. D’où les travaux menés ces dernières années pour mettre au point des protections balistiques à la fois plus légères et plus résistantes.

Dans ce domaine, l’US Army a déjà indiqué qu’elle finançait des recherches basées sur l’utilisation de la soie d’araignée, laquelle a la particularité d’être cinq fois plus résistante que l’acier et trois fois plus que le Kevlar… Mais le défi reste à en produire en quantité industrielle pour en faire des gilets pare-balle, sachant que le rendement des aranéides n’est pas suffisant…

Cela étant, observer la nature peut donner des idées… Et des chercheurs du RENEW Institute [Université de Buffalo – New York] sont allés chercher l’inspiration en étudiant la nacre, un matériau relativement résistant aux acides et à la chaleur que produisent les mollusques.

Or, la nacre est 3.000 fois plus résistante que l’aragonite, le minéral qui la constitue. Et cela, grâce à une structure particulière que les chercheurs américains ont donc étudié de près pour développer un nouveau matériau à base de polyéthylène à haut module.

Ainsi, cette semaine, l’Army Research Office [ARO] a indiqué que ces travaux avaient permis de mettre au point un plastique 14 fois plus résistant et 8 fois plus léger que l’acier, qui plus est « idéal pour absorber l’impact de balles et d’autres projectiles. »

« Tout comme la nacre, les chercheurs ont conçu le matériau de manière à ce que sa coque extérieure soit extrêmement solide et dotée d’un renfort interne plus souple, capable de déformer et d’absorber les projectiles », a expliqué l’ARO.

« Le matériau est rigide, solide et résistant », a précisé le Dr Shenqiang Ren, professeur au département de génie mécanique et aérospatial du RENEW Institute. Il pourrait servir à produire des « gilets, casques et autres types de protections » ainsi que des « blindages pour les navires, les hélicoptères et autres véhicules », a-t-il ajouté.

Ces travaux « pourraient conduire à de nouvelles générations d’armures légères offrant à la fois protection et mobilité aux soldats », a confirmé le Dr. Evan Runnerstrom, responsable de la conception des matériaux au sein de l’Army Research Office.

« Contrairement aux armures en acier ou en céramique, l’UHMWPE pourrait également être plus facile à mouler selon des formes complexes, offrant une protection polyvalente aux soldats, véhicules et autres équipements de l’armée », a-t-il ajouté. Qui plus est, ses performances pourraient encore s’améliorer, avec l’ajout de nanoparticules de silice.

En outre, ce nouveau matériau présente une conductivité thermique élevée. « Cette capacité à dissiper rapidement la chaleur l’aide également à absorber l’énergie des balles et autres projectiles », souligne l’ARO.

http://www.opex360.com/2019/09/22/lus-army-finance-des-travaux-pour-mettre-au-point-une-armure-en-plastique-bien-plus-resistante-que-lacier/

Citation :

23.09.2019

Le 510e Groupe de soutien officiellement recréé pour soutenir 6000 soldats en Pologne



Il aura fallu 17 mois pour recréer le 510e Regional Support Group, une unité de l'Army Reserve. La cérémonie officielle de réintégration dans les forces d'active a eu lieu le 14 septembre dernier (photo ci-dessus US Army Europe).

Cette unité est chargée de coordonner le soutien du combattant au niveau brigade; elle sera responsable plus particulièrement des quelque 6 000 soldats américains actuellement déployés en Pologne dont ceux de la Regionally Aligned Force dont l'état-major est fourni par la 1ere division d'infanterie installé à Poznan.

Au 510th Regional Support Group basé à Sembach sont par ailleurs subordonnées plusieurs autres unités nouvellement "activées":
- le 83rd Sustainment Support Battalion à Kaiserslautern
- la 319th Military History Detachment de Wiesbaden,
- le 530th Movement Control Team à Grafenwoehr,
- le 603rd Movement Control Team à Vicenza, en Italie.

Cette "réactivation" s'inscrit dans le cadre du renforcement de la présence US en Pologne, renforcement détaillé en juin dernier par les présidents américains et polonais. Il comprend entre autres la création d'un état-major de niveau divisionnaire et le déploiement d'une unité de drones MQ-9 (arrivés en mars puis redéployés en Grèce, le temps que des travaux soient achevés à Miroslawiec Air Base)

http://lignesdedefense.blogs.ouest-france.fr/archive/2019/09/23/le-510e-groupe-de-soutien-active-20477.html

Citation :

US Army Lays Keel for New Watercraft

23 September 2019


With tribow monohull Vigor MSV landing craft could reach speed 21-30 knots could compare with CNIM LCat shore-to-shore speed 25-35 knots
with catamaran hull (all images : Vigor)

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- A keel-laying ceremony took place Monday for the first of a new class of Army watercraft, the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light).

The Army chief of transportation and other officials attended the ceremony at the Vigor shipbuilding facility near Portland, Oregon. Vigor has been awarded a 10-year contract to construct up to 36 of the new watercraft. The current Army objective is to build 13, officials said.



The MSV(L) will replace the Landing Craft Mechanized-8, a Vietnam-era watercraft that is unable to transport some of today's equipment due to the weight of modern combat vehicles, according to the Program Executive Office for Combat Support and Combat Service Support.

The new watercraft will not only have an increased payload capability compared to the LCM-8, but also an improved draft for better access to waterways, along with increased speed and maneuverability, according to PEO CS&CSS.



"Beginning a new class of boats is truly something worth celebrating as we lay the keel for the Army's first class of digital vessels," said Timothy Goddette, the Army's program executive officer for CS&CSS.

"The entire team is doing a terrific job keeping the program on track, on schedule and within budget," Goddette said at the ceremony. He was referring to the program management team for Army Watercraft Systems, the Army transportation corps, the Army acquisition community and industry partners gathered for the keel laying.



The first MSV(L) prototype is expected to be delivered to the Army in just over a year. A low-rate initial production decision on the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) is expected in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, officials said.

Army watercraft enables commanders to deliver combat-configured equipment with personnel, vehicles and sustainment cargo, through fixed, degraded and austere ports, inland waterways, remote and unimproved beaches and coastlines for missions across the spectrum of military operations.



Col. Jered Helwig, chief of Army transportation, and his regimental warrant officer represented all Army mariners and transporters at the ceremony. Helwig also participated in a ceremonial welding of the vessel's keel.

The Army's strategy for the MSV(L) is to integrate mature commercial off-the-shelf subsystems into a new hull form, which takes advantage of the marine industry design innovation and competition, officials said.



They said the vessel's improved maneuverability and surveillance capability will better equip it to operate in inter-coastal areas, rivers and inland waterways and in anti-access/area-denial environments.

The overall length of the vessel will be 117 feet. It will have a speed of 21 knots when laden with cargo and 30 knots when empty. Its range will be 360 nautical miles when fully loaded.



It will have three 2,600-horsepower MTU 2000 engines, three 750 MJP waterjets and three 65kW generators. The vessel's payload will be 82 short tons, which means it can haul one M1 Abrams tank or two Stryker combat vehicles or four Joint Light Tactical Vehicles.

The plan is for the MSV(L) to have a crew of eight Army mariners.

(US Army)  

http://defense-studies.blogspot.com/2019/09/us-army-lays-keel-for-new-watercraft.html

Citation :

Au moins 23 parachutistes de l’US Army blessés lors d’un saut d’entraînement

par Laurent Lagneau · 4 octobre 2019



Les opérations aéroportées ne se passent pas toujours comme prévu. Et les parachutistes de la 4e Brigade relevant de la 25e Division d’Infanterie de l’US Army viennent d’en donner un nouvel exemple.

En effet, cette unité basée en Alaska a été sollicitée pour tenir le rôle de force adverse dans le cadre de manoeuvres organisées à Camp Shelby [Mississippi] et appelées « Operation Arctic Anvil« .

Ainsi, dans la nuit du 2 au 3 octobre, les parachutistes de la 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team ont embarqué à bord de trois avions C-130 Hercules, « avec un préavis minimal, comme pour un déploiement d’urgence. »

Seulement, l’exercice, mené de nuit, a mal tourné puisque, selon CNN, au moins 23 parachutistes [sur 87] ont été blessés lors de ce saut, qui s’est terminé dans une forêt de pins, à 400 mètres environ de la zone prévue. Certains d’entre eux sont restés accrochés à des arbres tandis que d’autres se sont blessés en arrivant brutalement au sol. Tous ont été pris en charge par les équipes médicales avant d’être admis à l’hôpital le plus proche. Et quatre d’entre-eux sont encore hospitalisés pour des fractures.

Dans un premier temps, le colonel Boby Ginn, qui commande Camp Shelby, a avancé que le vent aurait sans doute perturbé le saut des parachutistes. Un hypothèse toutefois prise avec prudence par le colonel Christopher Landers, le chef de corps de la 4e Brigade. « Il n’est pas certain que la météo ait été un facteur déterminant », a-t-il dit. En revanche, « il est possible qu’une erreur humaine en soit la cause », a-t-il avancé. « Les blessures lors des sauts sont assez courantes. A voir un tel nombre [de blessés] est relativement rare », a-t-il souligné.

« Les opérations aéroportées comportent toutes un risque inhérent. Nous nous efforçons de l’atténuer autant que possible », a fait valoir la 4e Brigade, via Facebook. « Maintenant que tous les soldats ont été retrouvés, notre objectif est de poursuivre l’entraînement. Malgré les défis auxquels nous sommes actuellement confrontés, les soldats placent toujours la mission en premier », a-t-elle ajouté.

Les troupes aéroportées américaines ne sont pas les seules à avoir récemment connu des déboires. En septembre, lors manoeuvres ayant mobilisé la 98e division parachutiste russe, deux véhicules de combat d’infanterie de type BMD se sont écrasés au sol, leur parachute ne s’étant pas ouvert après leur largage par un avion Il-76MD.

http://www.opex360.com/2019/10/04/au-moins-23-parachutistes-de-lus-army-blesses-lors-dun-saut-dentrainement/

Citation :

U.S. Army selects Raytheon for next generation Patriot radars

Published 07:04 (GMT+0000) October 18, 2019


Photo by Simon Petersen


The U.S. Army has selected Raytheon to build next generation, 360-degree capable radar for its Patriot air and missile defense system.

Raytheon will receive more than $384 million to deliver six production representative units of the advanced Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) radar under an Other Transactional Authority U.S. Army agreement.

LTAMDS is a new radar that will ultimately replace the current U.S. Army’s Patriot radars. It will operate on the Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense network.

“Our clean-sheet approach to LTAMDS reinforces Raytheon’s position as the world’s premier air and missile defense radar capability provider,” saidRalph Acaba, President of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. “Patriot is the world’s leading, combat-proven air and missile defense system, and 17 nations have procured 240 radars from Raytheon. With the U.S. Army’s approval, these Patriot partners will have the opportunity to add Active Electronic Scanned Array, 360-degree capability to their inventory, extending the life of their systems for many decades.”

Raytheon’s winning LTAMDS solution is a 360-degree, Active Electronically Scanned Array radar powered by Raytheon-manufactured Gallium Nitride, a substance that strengthens the radar signal and enhances its sensitivity. Over the past two decades, Raytheon has invested significantly in AESA GaN technology and advanced manufacturing capability, positioning the company as the global leader in advanced GaN technology and product development.

“For decades, we have invested in radar technology to address our customer’s most pressing needs. As a result, we’ve developed the ability and capacity to provide the Army an advanced capability on an accelerated timeline,” saidTom Laliberty, vice president of Integrated Air and Missile Defense for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. “Our in-house advanced manufacturing capability and strong supplier network will enable us to meet the Army’s urgent material release requirement.”

Raytheon has unveiled for the first time the next generation missile warning radar system at the Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA).

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-army-selects-raytheon-for-next-generation-patriot-radars.html

Citation :

U.S. Army takes next step toward new M17 weapons system

Published 08:05 (GMT+0000) October 20, 2019


Photo by Pvt. Matthew Marcellus

The U.S. Army has taken another important step towards the newest M17 adaptable weapons system, according to a recent service news release.

The new M17 modular handgun system is now being placed into service with all branches of the U.S. Military.

The modular handgun systems program is the first in a line of modernization efforts that the service will pursue over the next few years.


Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division fired the M17 pistol for the first time during a qualification range, October 10. Within 1AD, 3ABCT is the first brigade to field and fire the new weapons system.

“The M17 pistol is an adaptable weapons system. It feels a lot smoother and a lot lighter than the M9,” said 2nd Lt. Michael Preston, an armor officer assigned to 1-67 AR. “I feel like the transition to the M17 will benefit us greatly in combat. Just from being out here today I was able to shoot well and notice that it felt lighter.”

The M17 is a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, which offers a lighter weight than the previous M9 pistol, weighing 30.8 ounces. It has an improved ergonomic design and a more modern internal striker firing mechanism, rather than an external hammer firing mechanism, to reduce trigger pull and improve accuracy and lethality.

The striker design of the M17 is less likely to snag on clothing or tactical gear when firing than an external hammer and furthermore, the M17 has a capacity of 17 rounds, two more than the M9.

The M17 pistol is the full-sized variant of the Modular Handgun System which also includes the compact M18 pistol, designed to replace the M9 and M11 pistols.

Soldiers using the new M17 pistol will potentially have greater maneuverability and operational flexibility while in combat, due to the reduced weight and improved design compared to the M9 pistol.

“When we climb out of our tanks, less weight is good,” said 1st Lt. Shannon Martin, an armor officer assigned to 1-67 AR and native of Scituate, Massachusetts. “Every ounce that you shave off the equipment is less weight for Soldiers to carry. So for those infantrymen who are rucking miles at a time, it is good for them to have less weight that they’re carrying so that they can focus on staying fit for the fight and being ready to go.”

The Modular Handgun System has an ambidextrous external safety, self-illuminating tritium sights for low-light conditions, an integrated rail for attaching enablers and an Army standard suppressor conversion kit for attaching an acoustic/flash suppressor.

“Coyote brown” in color, it also has interchangeable hand grips allowing shooters to adjust the handgun to the size of their hand.

The primary service round is the M1153 9mm special purpose cartridge, which has a jacketed hollow point projectile. It provides improved terminal performance against unprotected targets as well as reduced risk of over-penetration and collateral damage compared to the M882 9mm ball cartridge and the Mk243 9mm jacketed hollow point cartridge.

The M1152 9mm ball cartridge has a truncated, or flat, nose full metal jacket projectile around a solid lead alloy core. It provides improved terminal performance compared to the M882 ball cartridge.
The fielding of the M17 pistol has generated great excitement and energy among 1AD Soldiers, most of whom have never fired a handgun other than the M9 pistol.

“I think having a new weapons system has sprouted interest. We have Soldiers who say ‘Cool, I’m so excited to go and shoot these’, so it creates more interest in qualifying with a handgun,” said Martin. “During our deployment to Korea, we saw the M17 and we were all excited to get our hands on them, train with them and to see what’s different about them.”

The adoption and implementation of the M17 pistol reflects the Army’s continued commitment to modernization, ensuring that Soldiers are best equipped to deal with any threat and to project lethal force with efficiency.

The division began fielding and distributing the M17 to its units in August and have used classroom training time with these live-fire ranges to familiarize their Soldiers with the new handgun, ensuring that they are ready and proficient with the weaponry.

Soldiers learn through innovation and iteration. As part of ongoing modernization efforts, research teams rapidly develop new prototypes and arm Soldiers with new technologies, including protective gear, weaponry and communications capabilities.

“Adopting the M17 pistol is good for our readiness and lethality,” said Martin. “It forces us all to go out, shoot and be familiar and proficient with our new weaponry.”



Photo by Pvt. Matthew Marcellus

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-army-takes-next-step-toward-new-m17-weapons-system.html

Citation :

U.S. Army awards $17 million contract for Abrams’ aluminum road wheel inserts

Published 05:46 (GMT+0000) October 22, 2019


Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jacob McDonald

The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Monday that Advanced Structural Technologies Inc. was awarded a contract for manufacture and supply of M1 Abrams tank aluminum road wheel inserts.

The contract, from U.S. Army Contracting Command, is valued at more than $17 million.

Work will be performed in Oxnard, California, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 21, 2021.

The M1 Abrams tank can reach a maximum speed of approximately 68km/h with a maximum cruising range of 426 km. The torsion bar suspension of the M1A1 Abrams consists of each side of seven road wheels with rotary shock-absorbers at the first, second and seventh road-wheel stations. All this power must rely on what are known as “road wheels,” which are mounted on the Abrams before the tank’s track is installed.

Aluminum inserts are used to resist corrosion and creep at the bolted interfaces between the component and the vehicle.

For the modern military powers of the world, strength must meet mobility and durability. This is especially true for vehicles operating in extremely hostile conditions, without these properties military vehicles and the people they protect are exposed to high risk. Often the mechanical properties of the vehicle are the difference between life and death.

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-army-awards-17-million-contract-for-abrams-aluminum-road-wheel-inserts.html

Citation :

US Army:

The award for an additional 168 upgraded Bradley A4 Infantry Fighting Vehicles is part of the Army’s combat vehicle modernisation strategy and helps ensure force readiness of the Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCT).

The Bradley A4 is equipped with an enhanced powertrain that maximises mobility and increases engine horsepower, providing rapid movement in reaction to combat or other adverse situations. Wide angle Driver’s Vision Enhancer, improved Force XXI Battle Command Bridge and Below (FBCB2) software integration improves friendly and enemy vehicle identification, enhancing situational awareness. The addition of a High Speed Slip Ring, greater network connectivity and Smart Displays that simultaneously display classified and unclassified information also improve situational awareness.

https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/u-s--army-extends-contract-for-bradley-fighting-vehicle-upgrades

Citation :

U.S. Soldiers in the 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina Army National Guard, attached to the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Carolina Army National Guard, provide M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles for support to Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) eastern Syria Nov. 1, 2019. The mechanized infantry troops will partner with Syrian Democratic Forces to deny Daesh access to critical infrastructure in eastern Syria. CJTF-OIR remains committed to the enduring defeat of Daesh. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Spc. DeAndre Pierce)









U.S. Soldiers in the 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina Army National Guard, attached to the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Carolina Army National Guard, provide M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles for support to Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) eastern Syria Oct. 31, 2019. (U.S. Army Reserve photos by Spc. DeAndre Pierce)

Citation :

U.S. Army set to acquire various Glock handguns

Published 10:36 (GMT+0000) November 2, 2019


Photo by Sgt. Steven Galimore

The U.S. Army Reserve is set to acquire various GLOCK firearms, holsters and associated spare parts, according to a recent request for proposals released on Federal Business Opportunities.

The Army Contracting Command – New Jersey (ACC-NJ) on behalf of the Combat Capabilities Development Command – Armaments Center (CCDC-AC) and the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and several other program offices is seeking potential sources to supply GLOCK-17, GLOCK-19, and GLOCK -26 handguns.

Systems of interest include Gen3, Gen4, and Gen5 generations for the models listed as well as MOS versions where available. Optional configurations include night sights or standard sights and threaded or non-threaded barrels. Spare parts include replacement factory Glock magazines, Concurrent Spare Parts (CSP) kits for above listed models, as well as à la carte spare parts. Holsters for systems of interest include holsters suitable for duty use as well as for concealed carry use.

The G17, G19, and G26 are lightweight magazine fed pistols without compensated or ported barrels. They are equipped with the “Safe Action” System, a fully automatic safety system consisting of three passive, independently operating, mechanical safeties, which sequentially disengage when the trigger is pulled and automatically reengage when the trigger is released. Barrels are equipped with polygonal rifling.

The GLOCK is a series of polymer-framed, short recoil-operated, locked-breech semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Austrian manufacturer Glock Ges.m.b.H.

Despite initial resistance from the market to accept a perceived “plastic gun” due to both unfounded durability and reliability concerns, as well as fears that its use of a polymer frame might circumvent metal detectors in airports, Glock pistols have become the company’s most profitable line of products as well as supplying national armed forces, security agencies, and police forces in at least 48 countries.

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-army-set-to-acquire-various-glock-handguns.html

Citation :

Les forces spéciales américaines testent une armure légère de combat

par Laurent Lagneau · 16 novembre 2019



En 2013, le commandement des opérations américaines [US SOCOM] avait présenté le programme TALOS [Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit], lequel visait à mettre au point une tenue de combat « révolutionnaire » digne d’Iron Man, le « super héros » des studios Marvel.

Il était alors question d’exosquelette [qui décuple la force physique], de systèmes informatiques et de communication dernier cri, de capteurs pour assurer une surveillance médicale constante du combattant et d’une arme composée de fluides magnéto-rhéologiques, permettant de passer à l’état solide en quelques millisecondes.

Seulement, en février 2019, l’US SOCOM fut bien forcé d’admettre qu’il s’était montré beaucoup trop ambitieux. « TALOS, ce ne sera pas Iron Man. […] La technologie est actuellement hors de portée. […] Mais nous n’allons pas arrêter de chercher une meilleure armure, une meilleure prise de conscience de la situation et une meilleure létalité. Nous allons continuer à regarder toutes ces choses », expliqua James H. Smith, le responsable des acquisitions des forces spéciales américaines.

Et cela voulait dire que des sous-systèmes du programme TALOS allaient continuer à faire l’objet d’études. Ainsi, selon les confidences recueillies par le site Task and Purpose, les forces spéciales américaines testent actuellement un armure légère de combat en Polyéthylène [PE], offrant une protection contre les tirs d’armes légères sur plus de 44% du corps, contre 19% pour les gilets pare-balles « classique », comme le Modular Scalable Vest [MSV] de l’US Army. Les épaules, l’aine, les avant-bras et les obliques sont ainsi protégés.

En outre, cette armure légère de combat est pèse 1,4 kg de moins qu’une protection balistique standard. Et elle est donc « en cours d’évaluation au combat par les unités des forces spéciales sur le terrain », a indiqué le capitaine de frégate Tim Hawkins, le porte-parole de l’US SOCOM.

Quant au matériau utilisé pour cette armure, il s’agit du polyéthylène de masse molaire très élevée [UHMPE ou UHMWPE pour ultra high molecular weight polyethylene], lequel a déjà fait l’objet de travaux au sein de l’Army’s Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center [NSRDEC]. En 2017, ce centre de recherche avait présenté le un casque de combat expérimental qui, réalisé avec cette matière, offrait une protection accrue de 40% par rapport aux modèles en service.

En septembre, l’Army Research Office [ARO] a fait savoir qu’il avait mis au point une matière plastique 14 fois plus résistante et 8 fois plus légère que l’acier, grâce à un nouveau matériau à base de polyéthylène à haut module.

Cependant, le porte-parole du SOCOM a refusé de dire si l’armure de combat actuellement en cours d’évaluation était issue de ces recherches. « C’est un matériau qui faisait partie d’un effort pour le projet TALOS », a-t-il simplement dit.

Photo : Archive

http://www.opex360.com/2019/11/16/les-forces-speciales-americaines-testent-une-armure-legere-de-combat/

Citation :

U.S. Army awards BAE Systems with $249M to build and deliver M109A7 howitzers

08:37 (GMT+0000) December 14, 2019


Photo by Sgt. Benjamin Northcutt


The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a $249,1 million to contract for the self-propelled howitzers, according to a statement issued Friday by U.S. Department of Defense.

Under the contract modification, BAE Systems will build and deliver M109A7 self-propelled howitzers and M992A2 field artillery ammunition support vehicles for the U.S. Army.

Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of Jan. 31, 2023.

The UPI.com has reported that under the original contract BAE received $133.5 million for the vehicles. In February 2018 the contractor received $148 million to procure materials to build the vehicles. Also, in October, BAE Systems has awarded a $48 million contract modification to support producing of M109A7 artillery system.

The M109A7 is the latest howitzer in the BAE Systems M109 family of vehicles, the primary indirect fire support system for the ABCTs. It uses the existing main armament and cab structure of a Paladin M109A6, and replaces the vehicle’s chassis components with modem components common to the Bradley vehicle. The improved chassis structure provides greater survivability and commonality with the existing systems in the ABCT, reducing operational sustainability costs by replacing obsolete components.

The M109A7 is supported by the Army as a vital technology enhancement program to maintain the combat capability of its ABCTs. The M109A7 will solve long-term readiness and modernization needs of the M109 family of vehicles through a critical redesign and production plan that leverages the most advanced technology available today. This state-of-the-art “digital backbone” and power generation capability provides a more robust, survivable and responsive indirect fire support capability for ABCT Soldiers.

The M109A7 is considered to be the most cost-effective method to significantly improve sustainability and survivability, while reducing the logistics burden on the ABCT and supporting fires brigades.

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-army-awards-bae-systems-with-249m-to-build-and-deliver-m109a7-howitzers.html

XM-1299

Ma main à couper que les FAR lorgne cette pièce pour le futur, 50-70 km de range c'est pas de refus.

Stryker MGS



Le dernier né de la famille Stryker Stryker Dragoon 30 mm

Citation :

L’US Army a remis ses Avengers au goût du jour pour contrer les menaces aériennes

par Laurent Lagneau · 29 décembre 2019



Au début des années 2000, et alors que les opérations dans lesquelles elle était engagée se caractérisaient par l’absence d’une menace aérienne, l’US Army a considéré qu’elle n’avait plus besoin de ses missiles sol-air portatifs [MANPADS] comme le FIM-92 « Stinger ». Aussi, elle décida de retirer les unités dites SHORAD [Short Range Air Defense] de son ordre de bataille.

Seulement, l’étude du conflit dans le Donbass, où des séparatistes pro-russes affrontent les forces gouvernementales ukrainiennes depuis 2014, a rappelé à l’état-major américain la nécessité de disposer d’une telle capacité.

Dans un article publié en 2017, le général Randall McIntire, alors commandant de l’école d’artillerie de défense aérienne de l’US Army, avait en effet souligné que la combinaison de drones, de moyens de guerre électronique et d’artillerie à longue portée avait eu des « dévastatrices pour les forces ukrainiennes », lesquelles ne pouvaient pas compter sur un appui aérien dans la mesure où leur aviation avait été chassée du ciel par les capacités anti-aérienne de leurs adversaires.

D’où le retour en grâce des unités SHORAD. « Nous revenons aux bases et fournissons des unités de défense aérienne à courte portée pour manœuvrer », avait en effet expliqué le lieutenant-colonel Aaron Felter, le directeur de la formation et de la doctrine à l’Air Defense Integrated Office.

Désormais, l’objectif de l’US Army est de pouvoir disposer, d’ici 2024, d’au moins 10 bataillons de défense aérienne pour protéger ses unités de manoeuvre. Un premier a déjà été réactivé en Allemagne, avec des systèmes Avenger, c’est à dire des véhicules de type Humvee sur lesquels ont été installée une tourelle dotée de lanceurs pouvant chacun tirer quatre missiles Stinger.

Les Avengers avaient tous été stockés ou confiés à des unités de la Garde nationale. Désormais, 72 ont été remis en première ligne, dont 36 pour les besoins du 5e bataillon du 4e Régiment d’artillerie de défense aérienne réactivé en Allemagne, les autres devant être stockés en Europe.

Cela étant, déjà dotés de capteurs [FLIR, radar, télémètres, etc], les Avengers ainsi sortis de la naphtaline devront être modernisés. Quelques exemplaires sortis des dépôts ont ainsi été équipé d’une nouvelle console de ciblage appelée « Slew-to-Cue » qui permet à la tourelle de se verrouiller automatiquement sur les cibles indiquées par les radars. La décision de lancer les Stinger revient toujours à l’opérateur.

Selon les plans de l’US Army, les Avengers remis en service seront tous modernisés dans le cadre d’un programme dit SLEP [Service Life Extension Program], à partir de 2020. Ce dernier prévoit de leur intégrer un système IFF en mode 5 [identification ami/ennemi] ainsi qu’un nouvel ordinateur de conduite de tir. Il s’agira également de leur installer des systèmes de communications numériques, un système de climatisation et de chauffage et… une mitrailleuse de calibre .50.

Les bataillons SHORAD devraient ensuite recevoir des blindés Stryker, armés de quatre missiles Stinger, d’une mitrailleuse de 7,62 mm, d’un canon de 30 mm et de deux missiles AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire.

http://www.opex360.com/2019/12/29/lus-army-a-remis-ses-avengers-au-gout-du-jour-pour-contrer-les-menaces-aeriennes/

Citation :

US Army Soldiers with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conduct Helocast training with a US Navy SH-60 helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two Six (HSC-26) . Helocasting is an airborne technique used by special operations forces to insert an Operational Detachment Alpha into a military area of operations via the water. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Justin Moeller, 5th SFG(A) Public Affairs)

Citation :

   US AROC approves Spike NLOS acquisition

Robin Hughes, Brisbane - Jane's Missiles & Rockets

14 January 2020


An IDF AH-64D Apache combat helicopter with Spike NLOS mounted on a generic Spike launcher on the outer wing stub (pictured right).
The US Army Requirements Oversight Council (AROC) has approved the acquisition of an undisclosed number of Spike NLOS missiles
to equip the service’s AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters. Source: Israel Defense Force

The US Army Requirements Oversight Council (AROC) has approved the acquisition of an undisclosed number of Rafael Advanced Defence System Spike NLOS (non-line-of-sight) air-to-surface missiles (ASMs) to equip the service’s AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters with a stand-off ASM capability for multi-domain operations (MDO).

Spike NLOS is a multipurpose, multi-platform precision guided missile system equipped with a dual-mode electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) seeker and a real-time encrypted radio frequency (RF) two-way datalink. With a stated maximum range of 30 km, the missile can be equipped with three warhead options: tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), penetrating blast fragmentation (PBF), and fragmentation.

The AROC decision follows a series of tests by US Army combat helicopter personnel in 2019 to evaluate the suitability of the missile for MDO: an evolving joint force concept intended to address the challenge of how to ‘militarily compete, penetrate, disintegrate, and exploit’ adversarial layered stand-off capabilities.

In July 2019 US Army personnel conducted a series of four of Spike NLOS tests in the Negev desert from an Israel Defense Force (IDF) AH-64D platform. In August 2019 the US Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Cross-Functional Team (CFT) hosted a firing demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, to determine if the Spike NLOS could be operated from US combat helicopters. During that demonstration five Spike NLOS missiles were fired from a Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopter.

Conducted in response to an army validated operational needs statements, the demonstration was designed to identify “capabilities supporting the Future Vertical Lift [FVL] ecosystem”, the Army FVL CFT said in a statement to Jane’s.. “The demo will determine whether Spike can be fired from a US aircraft and inform future munition and [air-launched effects] requirements for multi-domain operations,”