Military
PAC-3 Missile Receives NDIA Gold Medal For Exemplary Performance
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July 6, 2005 The PAC-3 Missile has received one of the US National Defense Industrial Association's (NDIA) Gold Medal Award for industrial development and manufacturing, one of the Association's highest honours. The "hit-to-kill" PAC-3 Missile is the world's most capable air and missile defense interceptor. It uses the kinetic energy of "hit-to-kill" intercept to defeat ballistic missiles carrying weapons of mass destruction, advanced cruise missiles and aircraft. The PAC-3 Missile, the world's first operationally deployed missile employing hit-to-kill technology, made its combat debut with U.S. Army forces in Iraq in 2003. Sales of the missile to non-US Patriot users commenced this year, with orders from The Netherlands and Japan. Read More
Next-Generation Communications for Unmanned Systems
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June 28, 2005 Technology continues to add ever increasing, capabilities, firepower and situational awareness to the modern warfighter. Indeed, the ability for soldiers on the ground, at sea and in the air to share information in real time has been the goal for all fighting forces around the world and will soon be a reality thanks to next-generation signal intelligence and data link products shown at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI's) Unmanned Systems North America 2005 Conference in Baltimore, Maryland today. The products build on Cubic's field-proven data link technologies, which transmit real-time data, video and other sensor information from airborne systems to ground-based and shipboard platforms. Read More
The toughest bus on the planet
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June 18, 2005 “Route Irish” is the local name for the heavily travelled, and highly dangerous road between the secure Green Zone in Baghdad and Baghdad International Airport. There have been so many ambushes and IED explosions on that route that all U.S. State Department personnel were forbidden from travelling the route by road last December (2004) and must use helicopters instead. If you don’t have a helicopter at your disposal in Baghdad, as nearly all Military and civilian contractor personnel don’t, there’s really only one certain option if you wish to remain alive and that’s to travel in one of the heavily armoured Rhino Runner buses. Without a shadow of doubt, the Rhino Runner is the toughest bus on the planet – when the human value of the cargo is V.I.P. and above, it is the military’s vehicle of choice to provide safe ground transportation. Regular users of the vehicle in Baghdad include U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, General Dick Myers, Saddam Hussein and all other V.I.P. prisoners. The stories surrounding the massive attacks that Rhino Runners have withstood border on the preposterous. Read More
US Airforce testing remotely manned security vehicles
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June 16, 2005 The mundane duties of routine patrolling and perimeter control take on new and dangerous meaning in a war zone, as has been found in Iraq, so it’s not entirely unexpected to see the US Air Force Research Laboratory experimenting with how unmanned detection, challenge and response systems might integrate robotics into the day-to-day security forces mission. “These systems are not intended to replace human interaction,” said Kevin Hodges, AFRL robotics program manager. “They remain under human control at all times and are designed to help our Airmen by keeping them out of harm’s way. Our focus is saving lives.” Read More
The networked battlefield moves a step closer
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June 1, 2005 The network centric battlefield moved a step closer this week with the first live-fire testing of the Quick Reaction Unitary (QRU) Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) using a network centric integrated High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher. If it sounds complex, that’s because it is, but the big idea is to save time when a time-critical target is identified in the battle space. The test went like this: an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) identified a Time Sensitive Target (TST), relaying the information to the proper system node in order to generate a "call-for-fire" message to a Battle Command Cell (BCC) prototype. The BCC prototype provides embedded battle command capabilities, including command and control, situational awareness and direct sensor feeds of target imagery. The UAV provided geographic location data to the BCC, which then ordered a fire mission for an ATACMS QRU off the network-integrated HIMARS launcher, significantly reducing the time to hit the target. The test proved that in those defining moments when seconds matter, a directly networked HIMARS firing ATACMS in the command and control structure will prove to be a considerable force multiplier. Read More
XM25 Prototypes in testing – 500% lethality increase over existing weapon systems
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May 27, 2005 The XM25 Advanced Airburst Weapon System is an entirely new class of weapon that takes the concept of a grenade launcher and adds some smarts, thereby increasing the probability of hit-to-kill performance by up to 500 percent over existing weapons. The advanced design allows the soldier to program the air bursting 25mm round so that it flies to the target and detonates at a precise point in the air. It does not require impact to detonate and is hence capable of defeating an enemy behind a wall, inside a building or in a foxhole. Read More
Warfighter Simulation program provides training for battle command
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May 24, 2005 As computers become more powerful and simulation software becomes more realistic, America's technological leadership will push its military capability far beyond its current dominance to a new level of sophistication. Once regarded as a past-time for nerds and geeks, simulation software is becoming so advanced that it is training a new generation of command to make good decisions in the heat of battle. Lockheed Martin's computer-based Warfighter Simulation program WARSIM was last week selected as one of the US Department of Defense's Top Five Software Projects by a panel of government and industry judges. WARSIM is a computer-based constructive simulation and the Army's next generation command and control training environment. Read More
Navigation aids for covert HAHO Special Ops insertions
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May 10, 2005 Parachuting into heavy fog, dense cloud cover, rain or snow may not be everybody’s idea of fun, but it’s much better than clear blue sky when Special Operation Forces wish to covertly insert themselves into unfriendly places. This infiltration technique is called High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) and the only problem is that if there are no visual cues available, you can land a long way from where you’re supposed to be. This can be further exacerbated if there are several parachutists in the group. Accordingly, the Natick Soldier Center’s (NSC) Airdrop Technology Team is currently evaluating three prototype Military Free Fall (MFF) navigation systems to safely and accurately insert forces into hostile environments. Read More
Marines Live Fire Training System
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May 10, 2005 Lockheed Martin has been awarded a five-year contract to provide live fire training systems to the U.S. Marine Corps' Air Ground Task Force Training Command. The contract encompasses production, deployment and support of a variety of live fire targetry devices and simulators including infantry lifters, armor lifters, shoot back devices, black smoke generators, dust generators, three-dimensional targets representing various military vehicles, range control station and hand held controllers. Live fire training is just one of the methods being used by the U.S. Marine Corps to prepare for combat in both traditional and urban settings Read More
U.S. Navy Completes Initial Testing Of Lockheed Martin Naval Gun
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May 4, 2005 The U.S. Navy has completed initial testing of Lockheed Martin's Millennium Gun as part of its effort to validate and qualify new naval cannon technology for fleet self protection. The gun's capabilities -- including its high rate of fire and air-bursting Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction (AHEAD) ammunition – were recently evaluated during two weeks of testing. The Millennium Gun is a multi-mission, close-in weapon system capable of engaging multiple fast-attack surface craft and near-shore land targets in littoral and riverine waters, as well as defending against anti-ship missiles and aircraft. Creating a "wall of lead," the Millennium Gun fires 35-mm ammunition, including the AHEAD round, at 1,000 rounds per minute. Each AHEAD dispenses 152 subprojectiles that form a cone-shaped pattern to destroy a target's control surfaces, seeker and other vital components as it moves through this lethal cloud. Read More
Heavy Metal - A Tank Company's Battle to Baghdad
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May 3, 2005 During the Iraq War, Captain Jason Conroy commanded Charlie Company, a tank unit equipped with M1A1 Abrams tanks that found itself at the very tip of the U.S. Army’s drive into downtown Baghdad – they were the first unit into the heart of Saddam Hussein’s empire. As co-author of the book “Heavy Metal - A Tank Company's Battle to Baghdad” Conroy paints an authentic picture of what the war was really like, from the unique perspective of an armour unit that was in nearly continuous combat for four straight weeks. His descriptions of tank battles in narrow streets make fascinating reading. Tanks are designed to destroy from long distances a thousand metres and more – pitched battles in an urban environment had never been envisioned before the war started, so tactics had to be developed on the fly, in the heat of battle. Read on for an exciting excerpt from the book: Read More
Germany approves Medium Extended Air Defence System program
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April 21, 2005 MEADS International (MI) announced that Germany has approved entry into the Design and Development (D&D) phase for the tri-national Medium Extended Air Defence System (MEADS). MEADS is a mobile air defence system designed to replace Patriot systems in the United States, Patriot and HAWK systems in Germany, and Nike Hercules systems in Italy. It also meets the requirements of a "capabilities oriented" air defence concept in Germany and the United States. MEADS incorporates the proven hit-to-kill PAC-3 missile in a system that includes surveillance and fire control sensors, battle management/communication centres, and high firepower launchers. The system will combine superior battlefield protection with unprecedented flexibility, allowing it to protect maneuver forces and to provide homeland defence against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and aircraft. Read More
Joint Common Missile demonstrates ability to penetrate and destroy urban targets
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March 16, 2005 Lockheed Martin successfully tested its Joint Common Missile (JCM) multi-target warhead and fuze in a series of warhead penetration tests at the Redstone Technical Test Center in Alabama. The series of four tests was designed to assess the missile's ability to penetrate and destroy Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) targets. The tests included detonation of the precursor warhead, penetration of a brick-over-block wall, and emergence of the intact warhead in an interior space, where in a tactical scenario the warhead would be detonated. Read More
New Cornershot 40 can launch grenades too
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27 January 2005: Isreali company Corner Shot has developed a new model of its high-tech weapon system that can shoot around corners - a 40mm Projectile Launcher. Designed specifically for urban combat situations, the cornershot system provides the ability to observe, acquire and engage targets from around a corner. The new Corner Shot 40 can utilise a variety of 40 mm calibre special-purpose projectiles, such as high-explosive grenades, smoke grenades, illumination grenades, less or non-lethal fragmentation projectiles, tear gas and OC (irritant) projectiles. Read More
High Mobility Artillery Rocket System production approved
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January 4, 2005 Lockheed Martin has received a US$109 million contract for production of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. HIMARS provides fire support for lighter, more mobile fighting forces. HIMARS is not only highly mobile on the battlefield, it is also deadly accurate to a distance of 70km thanks to being able to accommodate the entire family of Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) munitions, including the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile and Guided MLRS rocket (effectively a millimetre perfect ballistic missile with a range of 70 kilometres). Read More
Navy Awards Contract Option for First Littoral Combat Ship
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December 17, 2004 The US Department of Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a US$188.2 million contract option for detail design and construction of the first Flight 0 Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). The Littoral Combat Ship is an innovative combatant designed to counter challenging shallow-water threats in coastal regions, specifically mines, diesel submarines and fast surface craft. A fast, agile, and networked surface combatant, LCS will utilise focused-mission packages that deploy manned and unmanned vehicles to execute a variety of missions. Read More
TOP TEN INNOVATIONS FOR THE WAR ON TERROR
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December 8, 2004 By the year 2014, innovations in intelligence gathering and decision support, sensors, monitoring, and a greater emphasis on cross-cultural communication will lead to a more effective response to worldwide terrorism, according to a Battelle forecast released recently. Read More
BodySearch security technology improves safety
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November 27, 2004 In an era of heightened security concerns - particularly at airports and major events - the ability to detect hidden materials quickly and unobtrusively has never been more paramount. AS&E's BodySearch personnel inspection system safely and quickly detects and displays threats or contraband hidden on a person - both in and under clothing. Designed to replace intrusive and time-consuming strip searches, the system provides better security than pat searches wherever these procedures are regularly performed. Read More
US Marines RST-V Hybrid Tactical Vehicle
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The US Marine Corps' first 4x4 hybrid-electric tactical vehicle - the Shadow RST-V - has been tested by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and may soon challenge the Humvee as the dominant vehicle for military use. The Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Targeting Vehicle (RST-V) is a high mobility, electric drive technology demonstrator that incorporates a lightweight diesel engine coupled to a permanent-magnetic generator which drives four in-hub permanent-magnet electric wheel motors. The RST-V is ideally suited as a reconnaissance vehicle, as its lithium-ion battery pack enables silent movement for upwards of 20 miles with extremely low thermal and acoustic signatures. Read More
SeaCoaster high speed military catamaran launched
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November 15, 2004 Austal USA has launched a High Speed Vessel catamaran with advanced hullform technology for the United States Office of Naval Research (ONR). The 31.2 metre vessel was built for American Marine Holdings, which has been awarded a contract to deliver and demonstrate its "AMH SeaCoaster" military vessel design to the ONR. High Speed Vessels (HSV) enable significantly enhanced brigade-sized (up to 5000-7000 soldiers/marines) operational manoeuvre from the sea by the Navy/Marine Corps team at high speed and over long range. Read More
XADS to produce non-lethal 'phasers' for riot control
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November 8, 2004 Xtreme Alternative Defense Systems (XADS) Ltd., has been tapped by the U. S. Marine Corps to develop a directed energy weapon for use in riot control and other situations requiring less-than-lethal force. The proposed 'StunStrike' prototype will temporarily disable an enemy combatant without using any form of projectile or other means of direct contact. Pictures are unavailable of the SunStrike but XADS has a working model Personal Defence Laser Pointer (see main picture) on the market to dazzle targets. Read More
R-Gator unmanned military ground vehicle unveiled
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NEW PICS - UPDATED October 29, 2004 John Deere and iRobot have unveiled the Military R-Gator, an intelligent unmanned ground vehicle that will use off-the-shelf technology to autonomously perform dangerous and taxing missions. The R-Gator combines John Deere's rugged utility Gator with iRobot's robotics technology.
The Robotic Gator, or R-Gator as it is called, is built on the combat-proven John Deere M-Gator military utility vehicle platform, and enhanced with proven iRobot military robotic controls and navigation and obstacle avoidance systems.
The intelligent, durable and flexible R-Gator is designed to serve numerous important roles, including acting as an unmanned scout, "point man," perimeter guard, pack/ammo/supply carrier and more for soldiers, marines and airmen.
Assault Humvee may change future battlefield
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October 17, 2004 The Army has developed a prototype vehicle that may change the future battlefield. The Assault Weapon System, an experimental turret-mounted, multifunctional weapon system attached to General Motors' Humvee, may put the firepower of an entire heavy-weapons platoon into one vehicle in the near future.
The system is the brainchild of Training and Doctrine Command, Raytheon and TRADOC System Manager- Close Combat Weapon Systems, and features an MK-19 grenade launcher, .50-calibre machine gun and two TOW missile-firing platforms.
NASA's X-43A Scramjet Breaks Speed Record - again!
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UPDATED November 21, 2004 NASA's X-43A research vehicle screamed into the record books again, demonstrating an air-breathing engine can fly at nearly 10 times the speed of sound. Preliminary data from the scramjet-powered research vehicle show its revolutionary engine worked successfully at nearly Mach 9.8, or 7,000 mph, as it flew at about 110,000 feet. The November 16 flight took place in restricted airspace over the Pacific Ocean northwest of Los Angeles. The flight was the last and fastest of three unpiloted tests in NASA's Hyper-X Program. The program's purpose was to explore an alternative to rocket power for space access vehicles. Read More
Kevlar gauntlets to protect soldiers in combat
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The almost universal use of Kevlar armoured vests by US soldiers in combat situations has resulted in a big increase in arm injuries from combat situations. The Kevlar vests have proven to be so effective that they are reducing deaths, but those that survive do so with arms often damaged beyond repair due to burns and shrapnel penetration. A new arm-armour known as the Sandia Gauntlet could prove to be the solution to the problem. Read More
Future Warrior Suit 2020
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Two future soldier combat uniform concepts were demonstrated to members of the US congress recently - a vision of what the American soldier will be wearing in 2010 and ten years hence in 2020. Both systems look straight out of a science fiction movie, with the 2020 concept bearing more than a passing resemblance to Star War's Darth Vader, complete with armour, weapons systems and information advantages that border on unsporting. The two new uniform systems are being developed under the Future Combat System Program and include a weapon, head-to-toe individual protection, onboard computer network, soldier-worn power sources, and enhanced human performance. Read More
Advanced Integrated Soldier to use heads-up display
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Information technology is playing an increasingly important role in the battlefield, and the best equipped forces of the not-too-distant duture will be carrying an array of wearable IT to assist them in their tasks. One such system recently shown at Soldier Technology 2004 in Belgium was the NA-OR Advanced Integrated Soldier System. The Advanced Integrated Soldier System (AISS) has been designed to significantly enhance combat and control capabilities of the infantry in both urban and open-terrain environments. One such system recently shown at Soldier Technology 2004 in Belgium was the NA-OR Advanced Integrated Soldier System. The Advanced Integrated Soldier System (AISS) has been designed to significantly enhance combat and control capabilities of the infantry in both urban and open-terrain environments. Read More
Seriously ruggedised battlefield computer
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The US Army is digitising the battlefield to such an extent, that it has awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract valued at approximately US$100 million for the supply of DRS Technologies rugged Applique Computer Systems for the U.S. Army's Force XXI Battle Command. The US Army already has over 9000 DRS FBCB2s which incorporate advanced digital information processing and networking for improved combat support, real-time command and control, and enhanced operability and situational awareness throughout the military's force structure. Under the new contract, the FBCB2 will complete transition to full-rate production. Read More
The next generation military carbine?
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The Heckler & Koch XM8 modular assault weapon system may be the immediate future of individual weapons systems. Currently undergoing its second round of testing by the American Military, the XM8 could replace existing M4 Carbines in the US Army arsenal as soon as Q4, 2005. Read More
US Army buys US$100 million rugged computers
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The US Army is digitising the battlefield to such an extent, that it has awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract valued at approximately US$100 million for the supply of DRS Technologies rugged Applique Computer Systems for the U.S. Army's Force XXI Battle Command.
The US Ar... Read More
US ARMY develops SMARTRUCK III
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Imagine a truck that can detect an airborne bio-hazard and alert authorities before it can cause harm or havoc. Or spot and track illegal trespassers or attackers in complete darkness -- and repel them should they try to disable the truck's advanced surveillance and communications capabilities. Or sense an incoming missile and knock it out of the sky. No, it's not a multi-million dollar sci-fi fantasy, it's the US Army's new SMARTRUCK III, designed for America's homeland, a war zone or private security. Read More
Kitchen in a carton
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December 20, 2003 Getting three square meals a day has a whole new meaning for American troops thanks to an innovative new package which provides everything necessary to feed up to 18 troops hot food in one small package. The Remote Unit Self Heating Meal (RUSHM), also referred to as "Kitchen in a Carton," takes the hassle out of serving hot food to warfighters in far away places.Developed by the Department of Defense Combat Feeding Directorate at the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Centre in Natick, Mass., the latest prototype of the remote meal reduces the carton's volume compared to previous prototypes by 20 percent by reconfiguring the package, trading larger dining trays for smaller ones, and swapping paper cups and beverage mixes for new resealable drink pouches. Read More
US Army testing autonomous Stryker Combat Vehicles
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The next time the US military goes to war in a foreign land, there will be a lot more robots and a lot less soldiers doing the grunt work. One of the first tasks that will be assigned to robots instead of soldiers will be driving - resupply, convoy operations, ground medical evacuation and unmanned reconnaissance are all areas targeted for autonomous vehicles. Read More
New Weapon System shoots around corners
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January 2004 Corner Shot is a new weapon system designed for urban combat which enables the user to observe and engage a target from behind a corner without exposing any body parts. The highly technological system was officially unveiled in late December 2003 in Israel and is already being used by some of the world's elite Special Forces. Corner Shot attaches to most handguns currently used by Special Forces, for example the GLOCK, SIG SAUER, CZ or BERETTA. It includes a small, high-resolution camera and monitor, which can observe and view a target from various vantage points. Read More
Personalised, electronic handgun headed for commercialisation
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The 100% electronic O'Dwyer VLe "Smart Gun" is to incorporate biometric authorising technology that should enable it to meet new US requirements for "personalised" handguns according to a joint release from Metal Storm and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Read More
