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ICBM Weapon System upgraded
By Mike Hanlon
November 12, 2006 An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), is a very long-range (more than 5,500 km) missile designed for delivering one or more nuclear warheads. In an all-out nuclear war, submarine and land-based ICBMs would carry the vast majority of the destructive force. Currently only five countries, U.S., Russia, France, U.K., and China have ICBMs, while India, Pakistan and North Korea are developing the capability. In 2002, the U.S. and Russia to reduce their deployed stockpiles to 2,200 warheads each. Accordingly, it's a good idea if you're going to have so much firepower on hand, that it should be ready for action, and this week the contracts were signed to deploy a replacement Environmental Control System (ECS) for more than 550 U.S. Air Force Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) launch, missile alert and Class 1 trainer facilities. The ECS regulates climate controls and ensures that electronics and ground support systems are maintained at specified pre-set temperatures in launch control centers and launch facilities. Read More
Airborne Laser prepares for flight tests
By Mike Hanlon
October 28, 2006 The U.S. Missile Defense Agency rolled out the Airborne Laser (ABL) aircraft for the first time yesterday during a ceremony marking major program achievements on several fronts. When finished, ABL will be capable of destroying a ballistic missile during its boost phase, while it is still climbing in the Earth’s atmosphere and before it can deploy its warheads – all at the speed of light. The Northrop Grumman-developed high-energy laser, which achieved lethal power and run-times in a ground laboratory in 2005, will be installed in the ABL aircraft in 2007 to prepare for the program’s missile shoot-down test in 2008. Read More
Very-Shallow-Water Mine-Neutralizer System
By Mike Hanlon
October 26, 2006 The naval mine, like its earthbound sibling the land mine, are extremely effective offensive, defensive and psychological weapons, particularly cost-effective in uneven contests, so it’s not surprising that the U.S. Navy is working to overcome enemy deployments. This week EDO was awarded a contract from the engineering and technical support to develop and demonstrate a Very-Shallow-Water (VSW) Mine-Neutralizer concept. The development effort will require EDO to design a console and launcher for the neutralizer concept that will allow future integration with unmanned surface-vehicle applications on the Navy’s new Littoral Combat Ship. Read More
The mobile modular bridge-building machine
By Mike Hanlon
October 24, 2006 Need a bridge? Like really urgently? The army often needs such a capability and when the need is great, there’s always a way. The PSB2 offers the latest generation of modular bridging capability combined with maximum mobility and minimum overall costs. The PSB2 is operated by a crew of two and can carry loads of military weight class MLC 70 for tracked vehicles and up to MLC 100 for wheeled vehicles. Thanks to an optronics observation, driving and range-finding system as well as an IR imager, laser and CCD camera, a bridge can be launched day or night under tank protection. The special advantage of the modular concept lies in the numerous bridging solutions that can be carried. The Rapid Bridge Launcher 2 carries three modules each 9.7m in length. Each individual module can overcome most obstacles, as statistics show that 80 percent of them are less than nine meters long. Read More
The RATTLRS Penetrator missile - Mach 3 and deadly accurate
By Mike Hanlon
October 19, 2006 Here's a riddle for would-be enemies of the state - what’s 20 feet long, weighs 2000 pounds, cruises at 70,000 feet and comes down the chimney at Mach 3? Give up? You should! It's the Revolutionary Approach To Time-critical Long Range Strike (RATTLRS) Penatrator missile and will deliver itself with pinpoint accuracy anywhere within 500 miles within a few minutes of being launched. Combatants of the United States will no doubt feel particularly uncomfortable after reading this story, because the inside 10 minute time-to-target references them as the target and it shows the U.S. military machine is well on the way to achieving its RATTLRS goals. With its speed, accuracy, range and responsiveness, RATTLRS will be able to address a wide variety of target types including mobile, time-critical, hard or buried targets. The tests completed this week by Lockheed Martin were penetrator warhead sled tests against hardened bunkers. During the tests, the RATTLRS airframe was accelerated to speeds greater than Mach 2 and slammed into the bunker (pictured). The warhead penetrated cleanly and completely through the concrete barriers. Read More
Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod demonstrates Maverick missile compatibility
By Mike Hanlon
October 10, 2006 The Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) is the targeting system of choice for both the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard and recently became an even more valuable bit of kit when it successfully demonstrated its compatibility with the launch of a Maverick missile from an adjacent A-10C wing pylon. Combat proven on the F-15E and F-16, Sniper’s advanced targeting technology and features are changing the way the armed forces operate in theatre by providing new capabilities in non-traditional intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). The Sniper is understandably very sensitive – in order to do its job, it contains a high-resolution, mid wave 3rd generation forward looking infrared (FLIR), a dual-mode laser and a CCD-TV along with a laser spot tracker and a laser marker. The advanced image processing algorithms, combined with rock steady stabilization techniques, provide cutting-edge performance but there are obvious issues in firing the rockets it does the precision strike mission targeting for when they are just a few inches away. The ability to fire missiles so close to the Sniper ATP uniquely qualifies Sniper for this weapon configuration, doubling the previous A-10C Maverick loadout capabilities. Read More
Next generation mine-protected 6x6
By Mike Hanlon
October 10, 2006 BAE Systems rolled out its new production-ready 6x6 Mine-Protected Vehicle, to be unveiled Monday to military leadership at the U.S. Army Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Washington yesterday, the latest in its long line of highly survivable vehicles for the military. The RG33 is a next-generation 6x6 that offers more volume under armor than any other C130 transportable mine protected vehicle and incorporates a monocoque V-shaped hull design for protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The RG33L is equipped with a hydraulic ramp, a gunner's protection kit, a robotic arm, survivability gear, and dedicated space for equipment stowage. In addition, the vehicle is remote weapon capable and network enabled. RG33L features additional systems to enhance survivability, such as modular add on armor kit provisions, TRAPP transparent armor that provides excellent visibility and situational awareness, and run-flat tires. The vehicle is equipped with multi-positional mine protected seating and air conditioning. Read More
First laser test conducted using recycled fuel
By Mike Hanlon
October 5, 2006 The world’s first firing of a laser using recycled fuel was conducted by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy Directorate and Boeing recently, and the success of the tests suggest a major breakthrough for lasers in general and for affordable and low risk military weapons applications. During the test, a chemical laser was supplied with its two main fuels (basic hydrogen peroxide and chlorine) which were regenerated from waste products produced during prior laser operations. Testers fired the laser at high power, in the order of several kilowatts, proving its performance. This breakthrough substantially improves warfighting logistics as it removes the need to dispose of used fuel, and as the fuel recycling process can be continued indefinitely, it provides a practical way to fuel laser weapons without costly and complex fuel resupply to the battlefield or to an aircraft. Read More
NLOS Cannon firing platform unveiled
By Mike Hanlon
September 30, 2006 The world got its first look at the Future Combat Systems (FCS) Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) Cannon Firing Platform last week. The NLOS Cannon is the lead Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) of the U.S. Army's foremost modernization program - an integrated family of air systems and both manned and unmanned ground systems connected by a robust network. The 155-mm Firing Platform is the first step toward development of NLOS Cannon prototypes scheduled to begin testing in 2008. The NLOS Cannon Firing Platform features a 38-caliber length, fully automated 155-mm howitzer, and will soon be shipped to Army test facilities, where it will begin qualification of its ultra-lightweight cannon and breech. The Firing Platform will undergo testing through 2008. Test data from these tests will support obtaining a safety release, which will allow soldiers to begin testing the NLOS Cannon prototypes. Read More
Compact Kinetic Energy Missile (CKEM) successfully tested against reinforced urban structure
By Mike Hanlon
September 28, 2006 Things are progressing swimmingly for the Compact Kinetic Energy Missile (CKEM) following a successful guided test flight of its Compact Kinetic Energy Missile (CKEM) against a reinforced urban structure (RUS) recently at Eglin Air Force Base. CKEM is the next generation anti-tank missile. It is less than 60 inches long and weighs less than 100 pounds, yet has an extended range for direct fire, line-of-sight engagements and provides the Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, Stryker Brigades and Future Combat System platforms overwhelming lethality overmatch against all potential target sets. CKEM will provide an extended range kill capability that does not exist in currently fielded ground-to-ground anti-armor systems. Read More
Small Diameter Bomb quadruples the number of aircraft weapons
By Mike Hanlon
September 27, 2006 Boeing has met the necessary U.S. Air Force requirement to support Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of the Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I) weapon system, and the new four-bomb capacity carriage is ready for action. The first of a new generation of weapons whose small size and robust performance greatly increase mission capability, SDB I is an all-weather, 250-pound class weapon system that quadruples the number of weapons each aircraft can carry. At 71 inches long and with a standoff range of 60 nautical miles, the weapon is compatible with every U.S. fighter and bomber aircraft and Boeing will manufacture more than 24,000 such weapons and 2,000 carriages for the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force is investing US$1.2 billion for production, with deliveries planned beyond 2015. Great image gallery. Read More
The armoured tank turns 90
By Mike Hanlon
September 15, 2006 Yet another Leonardo da Vinci invention conceived hundreds of years before its time, the armoured tank began its impact on world military history 90 years ago today when it was first deployed by British troops to break the stalemate of trench warfare during the Battle of the Somme. Named because of its resemblance to a water tank, the first prototype (bottom left) was developed in England in secrecy under the sponsorship of Winston Churchill and the first 49 tanks powered by 105 hp Daimler engines were shipped from England to France after the crews had been trained in secret, and the first tank attack in history commenced on the morning of September 15, 1916. Though 31 broke down almost immediately, six got bogged (top right pictured with German troops), eight were hit by German artillery and two caught fire, two of the 3 mph (yes, three) metal monsters achieved major breakthroughs and tank warfare was born, forever changing ground warfare. The tank precipitated the initially cumbersome anti-tank mine, which was so easy to dig up and redeploy against its makers that the smaller, harder-to-detect anti-personnel mine was born, becoming a modern scourge. Ironically, the German Army against which the armoured tank was first deployed, used the tank as one of the cornerstones of its highly effective blitzkreig ("a war as fast as a lightning"), a tactic which emanated from a thinktank of senior German officers who evaluated the lessons from the country’s loss of WW1. The current main battle tank of the U.S. Army is the Abrams (bottom right), and a worthwhile read if you're into tanks can be found in this article, entitled "Heavy Metal - A Tank Company's Battle to Baghdad" Read More
The land mine - one of history's cruelest inventions
By Mike Hanlon
September 15, 2006 One of the most effective and cost-efficient inventions in history, the anti-personnel or land-mine came into its own in the 20th century. Though its first recorded use was by the Chinese against the invading Mongols of Ghenghis Khan eight hundred years ago, the landmine’s ability to extend and multiply the casualties of war for many subsequent decades has seen it become the most feared of all military weapons. The advent of the tank during WW1 precipitated the development of the anti-tank mine, a clumsy, cumbersome device which was easily dug up and re-deployed by opposing forces. To prevent this redeployment, the anti-personnel mine was developed and used extensively, targeting military personnel. Today, there are more than 100 million landmines buried and active. Another 100 million are stockpiled and ten million are produced annually. Landmines from WW2 still today claim large tracts of land in France and Holland, though the world-wide proliferation of land-mines and their indiscriminate use against civilian populations did not begin until the Vietnam War. Read More
Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) making cannons more accurate
By Mike Hanlon
August 17, 2006 As we reported on July 6, BAE Systems was recently selected to participate in the U.S. Army’s six-month Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) technology development program designed to make cannons MUCH more accurate. While the first increment of the PGK program is focused on improving accuracy of 155-mm rounds, BAE Systems today released the first look at a 105-mm projectile equipped with the company’s PGK solution hardware (that’s it standing upright in attached photo). You can also see a video of this technology here. Read More
International MXT-MVA Extreme Armored Vehicle
By Mike Hanlon
August 15, 2006 The world’s most macho vehicle range has added an armoured variant in the form of the International MXT-MVA (Military Vehicle - Armored) shown for the first time yesterday at the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The MXT-MVA is an all-terrain, armored wheeled vehicle platform designed to provide a new level of ballistics and blast protection on the battlefield and against the new threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). It is a derivative of the MXT 4x4 Pickup which makes an ideal base as it is so big that the crew cab can seat five sumo wrestlers with ease (providing one of them can drive) and the tray can carry a jet ski or a motorcycle with the tailgate up. Not surprisingly, the MXT-MVA can handle the weight of the armor with ease, especially over long distances, rugged terrain and when maneuverability is critical. Powered by a 300-horsepower International V8 diesel engine with 530 lb.-ft. of torque, additional armor does not adversely affect the vehicle's superior payload ability, towing capacity or durability. The cab can be configured to fit as many as six crew members in full gear, while the body of the MXT-MVA is versatile enough to accommodate an array of weapons, navigation and communications systems and applications such as convoy protection, field shelter, ambulance and communications units, which are seamlessly integrated with the company's proprietary multiplexed electrical system. Read More
The Steerable Guided Gun Pod system
By Mike Hanlon
July 31, 2006 The Steerable Guided Gun Pod system is a vast improvement in capability for not much extra cost, as it enables the current non steerable, gun system (the last unguided weapon system used on modern aircraft), to be aimed very accurately without needing to direct the flight path of the aircraft towards the target. Modern aircraft guns are static (non steerable, or un-slaved) and require the pilot to fly the aircraft directly at the target. Accordingly, they have a poor hit rate and needlessly endanger the aircrew due to the requirements of close and slow flight pattern. The Steerable Guided Gun Pod system offers a steerable gun housed inside a rigid pod mounted on the aircraft's external store station. Barrel movement is controlled by the aircraft's Fire Control Computer (FCC) and system offers slaving capability to weapon sensors, such as Helmet Mounted Sight (HMS), RADAR, D.L and FLIR. Read More
ThreatViewer enables you to see in all directions at once
By Mike Hanlon
July 24, 2006 It’s the one super ability which every security officer would choose first from SuperMan’s armoury of powers – to be able to see in all directions at once. As thousands gathered for Major League Baseball's All-Star game in Pittsburgh on July 11, a new technology known as ThreatViewer was being deployed for the first time that enables security personnel to do just that. Designed as a technology for critical asset protection and remote monitoring, ThreatViewer was used to enhance security surrounding the All-Star week events and monitor critical infrastructure in Pittsburgh. Typically in such circumstance, multiple cameras are utilized to monitor a location, each providing images within a narrow line of sight. ThreatViewer provides 360-degree, panoramic images from a single position, can be integrated with existing systems or used on a stand-alone basis and can be wireless or hardwired. Interestingly, developer Augusta Systems was recently awarded a US$750,000 grant to research automatic target recognition technology for UAVs. As the complexity of homeland security and military missions increase, both robotic vehicles and security systems will need the ability to instantly recognize relevant objects and behaviours on their own without the direction of human operators. Read More
Paveway IV precision guided weapon tests successful
By Mike Hanlon
July 19, 2006 The Paveway IV dual-mode GPS/INS laser guided bomb moved a step closer to active service when it was successfully dropped from a Royal Air Force Harrier GR9 in a test over the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s Aberporth Range in Wales earlier this week. The Paveway IV is developed from the foundation of the combat-proven Enhanced Paveway II, the most widely used precision munition in Operation Iraqi Freedom, with more than 8,700 dropped so far. The Paveway IV offers expanded capabilities that include the highly lethal penetrating 500-pound MK82 warhead, height-of-burst sensor, advanced programmable fuze, in-weapon LAR (launch acceptability region) generation and advanced guidance algorithm that takes full advantage of the new warhead while maximising its fly-out performance. Paveway IV also features MEMS IMU (microelectro-mechanical space system inertial measurement unit) that provides required accuracy using a more compact, less expensive system. Also featured is the RAPToR (Raytheon Anti-jam Protection Technology Receiver), the most advanced military GPS technology available. Production deliveries are scheduled to begin in September and the unit is due to enter service with the British Royal Air Force in 2007. Read More
Skyguard uses lasers to create a protective bubble that defends against rockets, missiles and mortar attacks
By Mike Hanlon
July 14, 2006 Northrop Grumman unveiled its Skyguard laser-based air defense system yesterday offering near-term defense against short-range ballistic missiles, short- and long-range rockets, artillery shells, mortars, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles. Derived from the Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL), one Skyguard system is capable of establishing a protective shield roughly 10 kilometres in diameter over an airport, military installation, small city or deployed forces. Read More
Electric military vehicle system of the future
By Mike Hanlon
July 12, 2006 Swedish BAE Systems subsidiary Hagglunds AB offered a glimpse of the future of military land systems at the recent Eurosatory military equipment exhibition in Paris when it showed a completely reconfigurable electrical vehicle with interchangeable, specialized mission modules, and a choice of wheeled or tracked drives, both electrically driven. SEP has a low total weight of just 17 tonnes and an ingenious load changing system which enables a vehicle to be quickly refitted with specialized mission modules suitable for different tasks (from towing and ambulance through to troop carrier, rocket launcher, command centre, etc). The vehicle can run in stealth mode on the battery in complete silence and the electrical drive and electrical gearbox enable a number of new capabilities not possible with a traditional diesel power. For example, with the 6X6 configuration, the six wheels can be controlled individually which enables the vehicle to turn on the spot. An 8X8 version is under development and expected by the end of the year. Read More
The electro-magnetic gun program gets US$14.7 million
By Mike Hanlon
July 7, 2006 The United States Navy has awarded two contracts for the development of an electro-magnetic gun system capable of deployment on board naval surface combatant ships. The development work preliminary design for an Electro-Magnetic (EM) railgun prototype and the preliminary design of the U.S Navy's 32 megajoule (MJ) Laboratory Launcher. An electro-magnetic railgun uses electrical energy to accelerate projectiles to extreme velocities. Railguns do not require powders or explosives to fire the round and therefore free magazine space for other mission areas. In addition, electro-magnetic guns provide a highly consistent and uniform explosive charge that gives much greater accuracy. Thirty-two megajoule is equivalent to a firing speed of Mach 8 or eight times the speed of sound. This will be an intermediate step on the road to a 64-MJ Tactical System capable of deployment on-board naval surface combatant ships. Read More
New kit converts earthmovers to full remote control
By Mike Hanlon
July 7, 2006 If you're a remote control enthusiast seeking the ultimate toy, the birthday present wish list will become frightfully expensive by the end of this paragraph. Defence technology specialist QinetiQ has launched a range of Applique Robotic Kits (ARKs) that convert the current in-service military JCB 4CXM or Caterpillar CAT320B families of vehicles into fully integrated remote controlled units for use by the military in hazardous environments. Operators can be up to a kilometre away and don't even need to directly see the vehicle they are operating, but still have full control of it. By simply flicking a switch, existing vehicles can change between full remote or manual mode, immediately reducing potential dangers to the operators but still enabling it to be fully used for the tasks for which it was designed. Read More
Cannon artillery to get precision guidance too
By Mike Hanlon
July 6, 2006 The advent of precision guided munitions has completely changed the battlefield inside a few decades. Once bombs were dropped in vast numbers, as each one had a small probability of hitting its target. once computers and advanced guidance entered the fray, bombs became deadly accurate. Now the artillery section is getting in on the act. BAE has received a contract from U.S. Army Combat Ammunition Systems to participate in a competitive technical development program of a Precision Guidance Kit for use with Army cannon artillery ammunition. The guidance kit is a low-cost system that will improve the accuracy of conventional 105 mm and 155 mm artillery projectiles. The BAE Systems-led team received the award after demonstrating a two-directional precision guidance kit solution referred to as the Course Correcting Fuze (CCF). The fitting of the low-cost CCF kit makes conventional cannon projectiles at least three times more accurate. Read More
Airborne Laser demonstrates optical beam train
By Mike Hanlon
June 27, 2006 The United States’ Airborne Laser (ABL) program sounds so fantastic that it’s hard to believe that it’s on track to be operational within two years. ABL will feature the world's first megawatt-class laser weapon system integrated on a specially configured aircraft to autonomously detect, track and destroy all classes of hostile ballistic missiles at the speed-of-light. The ABL team and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) took a major step toward demonstrating the capability of ABL this week by successfully firing surrogate lasers from inside the aircraft. The high-energy laser, which achieved lethal power and run-times in a ground laboratory, will be installed in the ABL aircraft in 2007 to prepare for the program's first missile shoot-down test, slated for 2008. Read More
The Cougar - zero casualties
By Mike Hanlon
June 23, 2006 Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are the number one killer of US soldiers in Iraq, and the focus of an enormous effort by the US military - in 2005, the U.S. military spent US$3.3 billion to defeat IEDs and one of the key answers found in the quest was the 28,550-pound Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Cougar. The Cougar’s v-shaped hull assists deflection of a mine or improvised explosive device blast away from the vehicle’s capsule, keeping the passengers safe and the vehicle intact. The ballistic glass with gun ports allow the passengers to engage insurgents ambush attempts without leaving the cab. The Cougar is driven by a six-speed, split-shift, all-wheel drive transmission, produced in both 4 and 6 wheel form and can be customized for multiple tasks including troop transport, mine and EOD disposal, command and control, reconnaissance, ambulance, and as a lead convoy vehicle. The Cougar is also built to roll over to absorb blast and is equipped with multi-point, motor racing harnesses, so passengers avoid injury. Read More
Freedom Glen
- November 25, 2009 @ 02:47 UTC
