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Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Navy Aircraft
By Mike Hanlon
May 1, 2007 The first Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, being built for the U.S. Navy, made its first public appearance at rollout ceremonies yesterday. While the E-2D’s external appearance is similar to the E-2C, the Advanced Hawkeye’s systems and capabilities are completely redesigned. At the heart of the aircraft is the new Lockheed Martin APY-9 radar that can "see" smaller targets and more of them at greater ranges than the E-2C. The new rotodome, developed by L-3 Communications Randtron Antenna Systems, contains the critically important, continuous, 360-degree scanning capability, while adding an electronically scanned array. This system allows operators to focus the radar on selected areas of interest. The new E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, in development by Northrop Grumman since 2001 and unveiled on April 30, has been the U.S. Navy's number one aviation priority. It will make its first flight this summer. Read More
Advanced video games for US Navy pilot training
By Loz Blain
April 30, 2007 It's the ultimate flight sim video game. 360 degree cockpit views, multiplayer, totally realistic instruments and the option to have a separate gunner in the back seat of your F/A-18 Hornet as you dogfight the others or engage in air-to-ground missions. Sadly, you'll need to sign your life away to play it. Read More
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Review (Xbox 360)
By Tim Hanlon
March 28, 2007 If you have ever doubted just how much advantage the Dominator system equates to on the battlefield, here's your opportunity to sample it first hand. Was the development of the real Dominator and the interface to Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 linked? We don't know but when our games editor saw the real system demonstrated, he visibly paled. Ubisoft has already given gamers in Australia 10,000 good reasons (AUD$10,000) to play this game in an upcoming Xbox Live tournament. This no doubt left the majority of our readers, who can't play online games competitively and don't live in Australia, entirely unconvinced. Here's our games editor with a full review. Read More
Thermal vest keeps troops cool in the heat of battle
By Mike Hanlon
March 19, 2007 Scientists at the University of Portsmouth are testing new high-tech thermal vests to be used by soldiers in Iraq to help them cope with the heat of battle. The vests use a combination of air, liquid and new applications of old technologies such as converting paraffin wax into liquid in chambers within the vests to absorb heat from the body. Read More
Macroswiss Claymore Camera makes a dumb mine much smarter
By Mike Hanlon
March 1, 2007 UPDATED IMAGES Anti Personnel (land)mines cannot distinguish between the footfall of a child and a soldier. The banning of landmines by the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty has left civilised military forces with a problem – landmines have traditionally been used to cover dead ground in the 20 to 200 metre range. The weapon of choice to replace the landmine has subsequently become the Claymore. Named after the 700 year-old two-handed Scottish sword, the Claymore is based on the Misznay-Schardin effect in that its blast is primarily in a single direction. The U.S. Army developed the design half a century ago during the Korean War into an anti-personnel weapon that would fire 700 ball bearings propelled by 650 grams of plastic explosive with lethal effect to 100 meters across a 60° arc in front of the 8 x 3 x 1.5 inch box. Claymores are not buried like mines – they are anchored above ground pointed towards the likely location of the enemy, and are now known the world over for the words "Front Toward Enemy" embossed on their olive plastic casing. For the first 50 years of their existence, Claymores have been dumb – but an ingenious telecommunications system that can be fitted to any Claymore looks set to give new life to the fearsome weapon. The newly available Macroswiss Claymore Camera consists of a video camera attached to the Claymore, which relays information to a remote receiver through a cable system so an operator can monitor events in front of the mine, and detonate it when the time comes. If the user wants to keep a record, the video feedback can be recorded with the GPS position and its even possible to ensure no-one can sneak past the mine by adding a motion detection system that will raise an alarm if there is any movement in the camera’s field of view. Read More
New CH-47F Chinook helicopter begins Operational Testing with U.S. Army
By Mike Hanlon
February 20, 2007 The first production CH-47F Chinook helicopter is heading for the battlefield in the near future with the news that Operational Testing (OT) for the U.S. Army has begun at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. The aircraft successfully completed acceptance and developmental flight testing last December. The aircraft is the first of 452 CH-47F helicopters included in the U.S. Army Cargo Helicopter modernization program. It features a newly designed, modernized airframe and a Rockwell Collins Common Avionics Architecture System cockpit and BAE Digital Advanced Flight Control System. The advanced avionics provide improved situational awareness for flight crews with an advanced digital map display and a data transfer system that allows storing of preflight and mission data. Improved survivability features include Common Missile Warning and Improved Countermeasure Dispenser Systems. Read More
AeroVironment Aqua Puma UAV completes Royal Australian Navy Sea trials
By Mike Hanlon
February 9, 2007 AeroVironment's Aqua Puma small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS) has successfully completed sea trials for the Royal Australian Navy to explore adding a UAS capability to the Navy’s new Armidale class patrol boats. AV’s Aqua Puma is launched by hand, lands directly onto the sea surface and is recovered by hand from vessels. It is a next-generation FQM-151 Pointer, with the same form factor but increased endurance (1.5 hours) and enhanced sensor capability. Adding the Aqua Puma to the Armidales will require no ship modifications and will add significant day and night reconnaissance and surveillance capability. Read More
U.S. Navy orders a second Trimaran Littoral Combat Ship
By Mike Hanlon
December 21, 2006 The U.S. Navy has approved funding for the construction of a second General Dynamics trimaran version of Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) featuring an innovative, high-speed trimaran hull. The 127-meter surface combatant LCS is intended to operate in coastal areas of the globe, and will be fast, highly manoeuvrable and geared to supporting mine detection/elimination, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, particularly against small surface craft. The LCS's large flight deck sits higher above the water than any U.S. Navy surface combatant and will support near-simultaneous operation of two SH-60 helicopters or multiple unmanned vehicles. The ultra-stable trimaran hull allows for flight operations in high sea conditions. In addition, the deck is suitable for landing the much-larger H-53 helicopters, should that become a future requirement. The Littoral Combat Ship will have one of the largest usable payload volumes per ton of ship displacement of any U.S. Navy surface combatant afloat today, providing the flexibility to carry out one mission while a separate mission module is in reserve. Read More
100th Aegis Weapon System ready for duty
By Mike Hanlon
November 28, 2006 Aegis is the most successful air defence weapon system and multi-mission combat system in the history of the U.S. Navy. Aegis delivered revolutionary capability to the fleet immediately upon its introduction in 1983 and the periodic delivery of progressive spiral development upgrades has since maintained the Aegis Weapon System at a state-of-the-art technology level to take on new, more complex threats. Appropriately, the 100th Aegis Weapon System to be delivered to the U.S. Navy by chief contractor Lockheed Martin will be installed on a destroyer to be named Wayne E. Meyer, after the retired rear admiral who is widely regarded as the "Father of Aegis." The latest Aegis Weapon System has eight times more computing power and costs 66 percent less than the first Aegis of a quarter century ago. Read More
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
New Royal Navy unmanned fast inshore attack craft
By Mike Hanlon
October 30, 2006 Last week saw the commissioning of two new boats into the UK’s Royal Navy in the form of two remotely controlled Fast Inshore Attack Craft for use during live firing training exercises. Comprising a rigid inflatable boat capable of moving at speed either independently, or while towing a target, the FIAC RT is operated remotely. This allows its operator to conduct manoeuvres safely and realistically whilst live firing training exercises are conducted with small calibre weapons at close proximity to the Naval platform 'under attack'. The design of the craft exploits the technology developed by QinetiQ engineers that helped the RN to clear a key strategic waterway of mines in Iraq during Operation TELIC - the first time the RN used unmanned surface vessels in an operational role. 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
The ruggedized wireless Rapid Deployment Kits for response to Chemical, Weapons of Mass Destruction or Radiation incidents
By Mike Hanlon
October 19, 2006 This is the latest ruggedized, wireless, AreaRAE Rapid Deployment Kits for response to Chemical, Weapons of Mass Destruction or Radiation incidents. Made by RAE Systems, it’s one of a number of new rapidly deployable sensor networks that enable first responders to identify safety and security threats in real time. One of the first to order the new system was the United States National Guard which has already taken delivery of 55 custom configured AreaRAE RDKs to equip all 55 Civil Support Teams (CSTs) with portable toxic gas and radiation detection equipment. Key to the selection process was the ability for the CST deployed systems to interoperate, provide mutual aid, as well as interface to existing AreaRAE systems already in use by civilian first responders. The AreaRAE RDK is designed to be quickly configured and deployed in any response scenario and can integrate a wide range of detection equipment including RAE Systems’ portable monitors and third-party devices, all operating wirelessly and instantly providing data for incident commanders through a single real-time interface. 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
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 Airborne Weapon Re-Arming system - making airforces more efficient
By Mike Hanlon
Far Technologies’ latest clever military aviation idea could have far reaching consequences as it enables military air forces to use fewer resources in performing more missions. Jet fighters are frightfully expensive weapons that require a lot of effort getting them to the fight. Aerial refuelling enables fighters to cover vast differences but once they’ve used their onboard firepower, usually in just a few minutes, they need to go back to base, land, re-arm and start all over again. The Airborne Weapon Re-Arming system (ABRA) removes much of that process by re-arming aircraft in the air close to the fighting zone. ABRA doubles most measurables such as attacks executed and operational tempo, without increasing the aircraft fleet. The operational flexibility is both simplified and improved. Aircraft can remain in the vicinity of targets, the density of the attacks can be dramatically increased, response times (from target detection to attack) reduced, pressure on operating bases decreased and there’s a significant reduction in determining and allocating the sequences of the combat forces and formations for the mission along with increased aircraft availability for alternative real time mission allocation. Aircraft can even take off without ordnance and be configured appropriately enroute. On top of that, ABRA would also enable a continuation of aircraft usage when the home base or carrier ship is under attack and greater aircrew familiarity with the constantly changing battle arena. 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
US Military FCT contract for High Speed Amphibians
By Mike Hanlon
June 19, 2006 It was only a matter of time really – Gibbs Technologies’ High Speed Amphibian (HSA) technology has wowed the world with the Aquada sports car, Humdinga AWD and QuadSki amphibians so sooner or later it was bound to come under the scrutiny of the most technologically adventurous fighting force on the planet. Today it was announced that Gibbs has won a US Department of Defence (DOD) Foreign Comparative Test contract to evaluate its existing HSA technology for military purposes. Founder Alan Gibbs said of winning the contract, “it’s a major milestone for the company because we have solved a problem which has beset every major General since Alexander the Great.” Read More
U.S. Army awards US$396 million battlefield digitization contract
By Mike Hanlon
June 14, 2006 Information is power, and there is no greater need for the information to make good decisions than the ultimate adversarial, winner-takes-all scenerio of the battlefield. And there can be no greater testimonial to a product than yesterday’s announcement that the U.S. Army’s Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below (FBCB2) program will invest US$396 million in an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with DRS Technologies to provide rugged Applique Computer Systems and peripheral equipment. Installed on over 40 vehicle platform types, including wheeled and tracked vehicles, as well as Tactical Operations Centres and other command post platforms, Applique Computers support beyond line-of-sight reporting and tracking, and offer improvements in vertical and horizontal information integration for incorporation into the military’s overall battlefield visualization efforts. Read More
Methanol Micro Fuel Cell System gets U.S. Army backing
By Mike Hanlon
June 8, 2006 We first wrote about UltraCell’s portable micro fuel cells last year and readership surged in March this year when we announced the company’s new hot-swappable fuel cell system could run a laptop for several days. The company gained further momentum this week when it was announced that it has received a contract from the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development, and Engineering Center’s (CERDEC) Army Power Division to accelerate development of the XX25, a 25-watt reformed methanol fuel cell, for use as a portable power device for soldiers. The contract will drive advanced system design for the UltraCell unit to operate in extreme operating temperatures and withstand severe shock and vibration. The XX25 has up to a 75% weight advantage over currently available military rechargeable batteries, based on a 72-hour mission at 20 watts. The XX25 also reduces operational costs through the reduction of throwaway primary batteries and the logistic burden of recharging batteries. In addition to the military’s field testing of the XX25, UltraCell is now seeking lead beta site customers in critical markets for testing the UC25 commercial version, which it aims to take to market next year. Read More
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) competition
By Mike Hanlon
April 14, 2006 BAE Systems' entry in the Army's Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) competition has successfully completed environmental tests that validate the weapon's ability to withstand battlefield conditions. Coupled with successful flight tests last year, these results demonstrate the maturity of BAE Systems' APKWS II offering. APKWS II will provide a low-cost, lightweight guided weapon that is effective against soft and lightly armored targets to fill the gap between the 70mm rocket and the Hellfire missile. The system will be used on all Army aircraft currently using the 70mm rocket. The BAE Systems/General Dynamics team is competing with Raytheon and Lockheed Martin to provide a new 2.75-inch guided rocket that will enable U.S. Army Apache and U.S. Marine Corps Cobra attack helicopters and other platforms to precisely engage non-armored targets with minimal collateral damage. The government is expected to announce the winner later this month. Read More
ULTRA AP (Armored Patrol) Military Combat Vehicle Concept
By Mike Hanlon
April 9, 2006 The ULTRA AP (Armored Patrol) Concept vehicle was created to investigate options for improving survivability and mobility in future military combat vehicles. On the mobility side of things, the designers naturally looked to high-output diesel power (the military has a one fuel policy) but also looked to high-performance automotive engineering practices by adding NASCAR race expertise to the team, along with the use of on-board computers to integrate steering, suspension and brakes. The protective aspects were enhanced by an innovative crew capsule created by a combination of lightweight composite armour materials, a commercial truck chassis, and faceted crew capsule geometries that provide better deflection of pressure waves from blasts compared to current configurations. Read More
Freedom Glen
- November 25, 2009 @ 02:47 UTC
