SOTECH 10-4 (June)

World’s Largest Distributed Special Ops Magazine

SOF Leader Adm. Bill H. McRaven Commander Special Operations Command

Sniper Rifles O Breaching Systems Handheld IT Devices O Tactical Combat Casualty Care

www.SOTECH-kmi.com

June 2012

Volume 10, Issue 4

U.S. Army Photo

Photo by SFC David D. Isakson USA

RESPONSIVE GLOBAL SERVICES AECOM stands ready to support SOCOM’s campaign to take SOF global with our extensive worldwide maintenance, management, and logistics services. We have gained local knowledge and global perspective from our operations in 130 countries; including hostile and remote locations.

Contact us at AGS-BD@AECOM.com

NASA/courtesy of nasaimages.org.”

www.aecom.com

Special Operations Technology

June 2012 Volume 10 • Issue 4

Features

Cover / Q&A Handheld IT Devices Warfighter awareness increasingly depends upon electronic systems that confer an intel edge, systems that provide voice, data, blue force tracking and more.

By Jeff Goldman

6 Tactical Combat Casualty Care The devices that medics carry on the battlefield often spell the difference between life and death for wounded special operators. Here are the latest advances showing up in medics’ bags.

By Dave Ahearn

10

47 Admiral Bill H. McRaven Commander Special Operations Command

SOCOM Program Management Updates

17

In this authoritative annual overview, James W. Cluck, the SOCOM acquisition executive and senior procurement executive, and staff including program executive officers provide a detailed status report on each SOCOM acquisition program.

Departments 2 Editor’s Perspective

Breaching Systems

52

Whether breaking down doors, shattering windows or smashing through walls, these systems permit special operators to track enemies into their lairs. And grappling gear and ladders make quick work of surmounting walls and obstacles.

By Henry Canaday

4 Whispers/People 16, 45 Black Watch 59 Calendar, Directory

Sniper Rifles, Accessories We examine some of the best rifles on the planet, which are paired with some of the best snipers for unparalleled accuracy and lethality.

By Peter Buxbaum

Industry Interview

55 60 Michael J. Donnelly President AECOM Government Services

Special Operations Technology Volume 10, Issue 4 June 2012

World’s Largest Distributed Special Ops Magazine Editorial Editor Dave Ahearn davea@kmimediagroup.com Managing Editor Harrison Donnelly harrisond@kmimediagroup.com Online Editorial Manager Laura Davis laurad@kmimediagroup.com Copy Editor Laural Hobbes lauralh@kmimediagroup.com Correspondents Christian Bourge • Peter Buxbaum • Henry Canaday Jeff Goldman • William Murray • Leslie Shaver Art & Design Art Director Jennifer Owers jennifero@kmimediagroup.com Senior Graphic Designer Jittima Saiwongnuan jittimas@kmimediagroup.com Graphic Designers Amanda Kirsch amandak@kmimediagroup.com Scott Morris scottm@kmimediagroup.com Kailey Waring kaileyw@kmimediagroup.com Advertising Associate Publisher Scott Sheldon scotts@kmimediagroup.com

KMI Media Group Publisher Kirk Brown kirkb@kmimediagroup.com Chief Executive Officer Jack Kerrigan jack@kmimediagroup.com Chief Financial Officer Constance Kerrigan connik@kmimediagroup.com Executive Vice President David Leaf davidl@kmimediagroup.com Editor-In-Chief Jeff McKaughan jeffm@kmimediagroup.com Controller Gigi Castro gcastro@kmimediagroup.com Administrative Assistant Casandra Jones casandraj@kmimediagroup.com Trade Show Coordinator Holly Foster hollyf@kmimediagroup.com Operations, Circulation & Production Distribution Coordinator Duane Ebanks duanee@kmimediagroup.com Data Specialists Arielle Hill arielleh@kmimediagroup.com Tuesday Johnson tuesdayj@kmimediagroup.com Raymer Villanueva raymerv@kmimediagroup.com Summer Walker summerw@kmimediagroup.com Donisha Winston donishaw@kmimediagroup.com

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE Special Operations Command, which stands to receive full financing that President Obama requested plus additional support in a list of priorities, could receive even more backing to counter new challenges.

That was the word from Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee, speaking in an interview with Special Operations Technology.

He spoke after the subcommittee in a unanimous bipartisan vote approved the portion of the fiscal year 2013 defense authorization act that contains SOCOM finances. Thornberry wrote the chairman’s mark measure.

“They got everything the administration asked for,” Thornberry observed, Dave Ahearn Editor “plus a good bit of the unfunded requirements” list that SOCOM would like to see approved.

And that might not be all that SOCOM receives, he indicated, since challenges and threats confronting special operations forces are constantly changing, a situation Congress will continue to monitor as the defense authorization bill wends its way from the subcommittee to the full HASC, to the House floor and into a conference with the Senate.

“We’ll keep on talking with [SOCOM], because it’s obviously a very dynamic process as things happen in the world,” Thornberry explained. “Between now and [action on the House] floor or certainly conference, as those adjustments change, we will be talking with them all along and make our adjustments, too, to reflect their needs—because we want to make sure they got what they need.”

At this point, however, SOCOM needs are met fully in the subcommittee-approved legislation, he said.

“There’s nothing that stands out to me that they said they need that they’re not being provided.”

The subcommittee, in a document, said the authorization bill will “enable special operations forces to sustain the current fight and rebalance across the globe where appropriate to counter and mitigate threats, and work with partner nations.”

The bill also will “preserve and institutionalize other capabilities such as irregular warfare and security force assistance within the services and U.S. Special Operations Command.”

In the bill, the lawmakers also say they expect Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to finalize and formalize making SOCOM the executive agent and lead component for the NATO Special Operations Headquarters.

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WHISPERS Night Vision Goggles Set for SOCOM L-3 Communications announced its Warrior Systems-Insight Technology unit has been awarded a $50 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity contract for binocular night vision devices (BNVD) for use by Special Operations Command.

The equipment will provide special operations forces with enhanced surveillance, identification, recognition and detection capability in all light conditions, especially where vision is limited or restricted due to low light conditions.

“Our BNVD is a miniature dual-tube goggle that incorporates advanced optics and the highest performance image intensifier tubes in a clever mechanical format that makes it the world’s smallest, lightest, best-performing and most costeffective product available,” said Ken Solinsky, president of L-3 Warrior Systems. “This innovation is the result of a collaborative internal effort and serves as a clear example of how the integration of L-3’s Warrior Systems businesses leads to significant new products and contract awards that expand our business base.”

The Naval Surface Warfare Center awarded this contract.

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Hard Body Armor Inserts Procured BAE Systems has received a $75 million order from the Defense Logistics Agency to produce and deliver hard armor inserts used to protect soldiers and other men and women in combat.

The enhanced small arms protective insert (ESAPI) plates are worn in soft armor vests, such as the improved outer tactical vest, to protect against a variety of ballistic threats. Since 1998, BAE Systems has produced more than 1.2 million hard armor inserts, including ESAPI and other SAPI derivatives, under various Department of Defense contracts.

“The ESAPI plate protects against multiple hits from small arms threats,” said Don Dutton, vice president and general manager of protection systems at BAE Systems Support Solutions. “These hard armor inserts help to save lives on the battlefield.”

The $75 million order is part of a new three-year contract from DLA Troop Support. The total value of contract orders could reach approximately $236 million over the next three years. ESAPI plates are manufactured at the BAE Systems facility in Phoenix, Ariz., and deliveries are expected to begin this September and continue through August 2013.

“BAE Systems and its employees continue to demonstrate their commitment to producing top products to protect our troops worldwide,” said U.S. Representative Ed Pastor (D-Ariz.). “I’m proud of the work being done in my district to bring our men and women back home safely.”

PEOPLE

Adm. (Ret.) Gary Roughead

Admiral (Ret.) Gary Roughead, former chief of naval operations, has joined the Northrop Grumman board of directors.

Army Specialist 4 Leslie H. Sabo Jr., a

4 | SOTECH 10.4

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

101st Airborne rifleman in Vietnam, received the Medal of Honor posthumously. He saved lives of several fellow warriors in an ambush when he shielded a comrade from an enemy grenade detonation and silenced a machine gun bunker before he was killed.

L-3 Communications named David M. Van Buren senior vice president of business strategy. He previously was an Air Force

service acquisition executive.

on January 1, 2013.

Stevens will remain chairman through January 2014. Marilyn A. Hewson becomes president and COO.

Chris Kubasik

Lockheed Martin Chairman and CEO Bob Stevens will retire at the end of 2012, and COO Chris Kubasik will become CEO of the largest defense contractor

Michael Chertoff

Michael Chertoff, former secretary of

homeland security, was elected chairman of BAE Systems Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc.

Science Applications International Corp. announced that Tony Moraco, executive vice president for operations and performance excellence, has been appointed to president of SAIC’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance group.

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Warfighters gain intel edge; systems provide voice, data, blue force tracking.

By Jeff Goldman SOTECH Correspondent For warfighters in the field, the large and ever-growing number of rugged handheld devices available for use can provide access to a wide range of key functionality while on the move. From specialized IT devices to rugged headsets, these products can help ensure that warriors are connected and able to communicate when they’re mobile—even while in free fall or underwater.

Companies such as DRS Technologies and TEA Headsets have long been providing rugged solutions that are specifically designed to survive the rigors of the battlefield.

According to Bill Guyan, vice president of programs and strategy at DRS Tactical Systems Inc., a division of DRS Technologies, his company’s products have been in use by the military for several years.

“More than 30,000 of our MRT [military rugged tablet] … family of products have been delivered to Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Special Operations Command,” he said.

6 | SOTECH 10.4

DRS’s products, Guyan said, are currently in use in theater by the Air Force and Marine Corps by close air support teams, by mortar teams to provide dismounted fire control, by Army logistics vehicles to provide on-the-move asset visibility and situational awareness, by SOCOM as part of the platform electronics suite in the family of special operations vehicles, and by U.S. Army and U.S. Marines as the computing and display system for FBCB2 (Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below) and blue force tracking on wheeled and tracked vehicles, among many others.

Guyan said DRS specifically designs products that are rugged enough to support truly mission-critical applications. “DRS delivers the latest [commercial off-the-shelf] technologies and integrated systems in a best value mission-critical configuration,” he said. “We don’t believe that compromises in performance have to be made to have a mission-critical system.” www.SOTECH-kmi.com

SOTECH_AmpsInTheDust:Layout 1

Capabilities The point is, for a long time, warfighters have needed three things in combination: mission-critical systems, robust network access and sufficient network bandwidth. “For many years this has been the elusive holy grail of capabilities, but now we have the ability to leverage the new and emerging network capabilities and the advanced capabilities of COTS smartphones and tablet technologies to begin closing this critical capability gap,” Guyan said.

And as it continues to expand, Guyan said that kind of functionality is likely to be as transformative for the warfighter as it has been in the civilian world. “New applications and increasingly powerful handheld devices will serve to truly empower the warfighter,” he said. “He or she will be able to fight smarter because of the information that is at his/her fingertips. Our warfighters will also become more lethal and effective because they will be able to employ the combined combat power of the joint and allied forces via a networked touch-screen display.”

Still, Guyan noted, it’s not a one-size-fits-all world: A range of different form factors will always be needed in different situations. “The handheld works best when mobility is required and size, weight and power constraints are greatest,” he said. “A commander might require a larger display to better view and command his forces. A mounted warfighter might also require a larger display to enable error-free touch-screen menu selections and easier viewing during on-the-move vibrations.”

Key challenges faced by warfighters using rugged handheld devices, Guyan said, include such communication issues as distance, terrain and heterogeneous radio systems (adding terrestrial/celestial capabilities, as well as the ability to communicate with civil, coalition, NGO and/or cellular radios as needed), which can require the use of several different radios to ensure connectivity. “DRS has developed communication gateway solutions that enable the seamless interoperability of these disparate radio combinations,” he said. Those solutions, Guyan said, have been demonstrated at Fort Benning, Ga., during the Advanced Expeditionary Warfighting Experiment and during Network Integration Evaluation at Fort Bliss, Texas, and are currently in use in theater by U.S. and coalition forces.

Easily Learned In choosing a handheld device for deployment, Guyan said it’s crucial to ensure that any mobile device is easy to learn, easy to use, easy to maintain and easy to repair and replace. “Our warfighters already know how to use a smartphone or a tablet computer,” he said. “As long as the user interface of the application is kept intuitive, commanders should be able to easily introduce this game-changing capability with little overhead or learning concerns.”

Steve Tocidlowski, director of business development at TEA Headsets, said his company’s headsets are purpose-built specifically to meet the needs of special operators. “They’re built to be rugged from the get-go—and we also specialize in interfacing to the different devices that the special operations community needs, such as various types of radios and intercom systems,” he said.

The company’s most popular product line, Tocidlowski said, is its Invisio range of in-ear headsets. “What sets those apart from www.SOTECH-kmi.com

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SOTECH 10.4 | 7

A handheld ID system scans a man’s eye. [Photo courtesy of DoD]

other in-ear headsets is the bone conduction microphone that’s located on the earpiece,” he said. “It picks up sound directly from your jawbone inside the ear, allowing clear speech in high noise and also with protective masks.”

The Invisio products are also good for covert use, Tocidlowski said, thanks to their small size. “As the complete headset is built to be worn in the ear, there’s very little that’s showing,” he said.

Challenges A handheld system checks an Afghan’s fingerprint. [Photo courtesy of DoD]

Combat Survivor Evader Locator handheld radio [Photo Courtesy of Boeing]

8 | SOTECH 10.4

Tocidlowski said TEA Headsets products meet many of the unique challenges faced by warfighters. “For instance, communicating on a radio or a smartphone would not be possible while you’re doing a HALO operation in the air—whereas if these devices were equipped with our headsets, comms would come through loud and clear even while in free fall or under canopy,” he said.

Many of the company’s headsets are also submersible. “Submersibility is important, especially when the users are [transferring] from one vehicle to another through water, but they’re primarily designed to be used on land after being subjected to these maritime or other environments,” Tocidlowski said. “For instance, a Navy SEAL can swim with our headsets, and then be prepared to do a tactical entry on the shore when they arrive.”

Hearing protection, Tocidlowski said, is also a significant issue for warfighters. “Our products allow the warfighter to communicate and have hearing protection, but also have situational awareness of their ambient sound while they’re wearing the headset,” he said. “There are external microphones on the earphones … that simulate your normal hearing while you’re being protected against excessive noise.”

And of course, ruggedness is a key concern for any equipment being used in combat. “All of our products were designed from the beginning to survive the rigors of military use … our stuff is designed to be rugged and will last many years, even with the abuse that it’ll be subject to in the environments and the types of work that our customers are in,” Tocidlowski said. O

For more information, contact SOTECH Editor Dave Ahearn at davea@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.sotech-kmi.com.

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With lives at stake, medics should work with the best.

By Dave Ahearn

SOTECH Editor Special operators slip silently toward their objective, a squat house where the enemy lurks. But suddenly, the SOF are taking fire because someone tipped off the bad guys that the special operators were approaching. Two SOF are hit and seriously wounded by enemy rounds.

A combat medic is on the scene, stat, and he has time on his side: He reaches the wounded warriors early in that golden hour after enemy fire hits them, when chances of saving them are greatest. But will the medic have all the right gear to save the warfighters’ lives?

He holds their lives in his hands, and this is no time for measures that don’t work.

We look at tactical combat casualty care equipment, systems and more that 10 | SOTECH 10.4

can spell the difference between success and failure for a medic.

Casualty Evacuation The sooner a wounded combatant reaches a medical facility, whether it’s a field hospital in a tent or a major brick-and-mortar hospital, the greater his chances of pulling through and surviving his wounds.

But a medic may not have the luxury of driving an ambulance or other vehicle able to transport the wounded. Rather, he may have to crawl over rough terrain—with the armed enemy nearby—to reach several wounded SOF requiring evacuation.

That’s where a product from Skedco is in its element, providing precisely what

the medic needs. The Sked, or Skedco, is much like a board on which a wounded combatant can be hauled over the ground to a point away from the enemy, where the patient can be transferred to a vehicle with litters or a medevac helicopter.

Bud Calkin, Skedco owner, explained how the designs of all the products he makes to save wounded warriors are informed by lessons learned in theater.

For example, that’s why there are varying sizes of the Sked, including some smaller patient litters.

“We have several variations of it,” Calkin said. “We have just designed a new one for the Army, by request from downrange. And it’s a very small stretcher.

The regular Sked is 3 feet by 8 feet when you lay it flat. This one is 22.5 inches by www.SOTECH-kmi.com

6 feet 7 inches, and it’s still hoist-able in the horizontal position. But it’s carryable, hands-free. We make a little harness that you can carry it with, and those harnesses will double as an emergency rappel harness, too. And that is in the process of testing as we speak. So [the military] bought 110 of them to try them out, and they’re all downrange, from what I understand.”

Another thing learned from the realities of combat is that a medic crawling on the ground to reach a combatant needs less weight to carry. “So we’re making things lighter weight, more efficacious,” Calkin said. “We’ve got another product called the TJ Sked. It’s 8 inches narrower than the standard Sked—28 inches wide—and that one has become very popular recently.”

One critical concern is that in moving a wounded person on a Sked, it is critical that the patient doesn’t fall off and incur critical injuries in addition to the wounds threatening his life. Dependably securing the patient on the Sked is paramount.

“We’ve put what we call Cobra buckles on there, which are extremely strong, a buckle that’s machined out of highgrade, extremely hard aluminum,” Calkin explained. “Both buckles break at about 5,000 pounds,” far more than the beefiest special operator weighs.

“We put those on Skeds because it cuts your patient packaging time by about twothirds,” Calkin said, referring to the time it takes to secure a patient to a Sked. “So one person can roll a patient on or drag him on to the Sked, fasten the buckles really

quickly, adjust them and they’re on their way.”

Calkin wants to ensure that this better fastener is available not only to military units procuring new Skeds, but also to those who long ago bought the patient mover. “So now what we’re doing is selling buckle kits, so that they can retrofit their old Sked and not have to buy a brand-new Sked in order to get the quick-release buckles,” he explained.

“And those buckles won’t release under tension, which is good, because if you’re hoisting somebody into an aircraft and grab a buckle, it won’t release and dump your patient. That’s pretty important.”

But Skedco is about more than just moving the wounded away from the enemy.

“We’ve got a couple of other products that are extremely important,” Calkin continued. SOF often work in darkness, and a medic on a rescue mission must have sufficient visibility to help a wounded warrior to start breathing again. “If you’ve got somebody with a difficult airway, you need light in order to [insert a laryngoscope], so that you can open their airway.

And we have a laryngoscope kit that you put a night vision filter in. Nobody can see [a light] except the people that are wearing night vision [goggles], so they actually can see vocal chords and the trachea very easily with this kit, and nobody knows you’re even working a patient.

“And you also can shine it on the inside of the hand or on the inside of the

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wrist … You cannot start an IV in total darkness. So that is pretty important.”

All of these systems can help a highly skilled medic to perform his duties well and save lives. But Skedco is able to help train those who are newly recruited as medics to learn how to respond instantly with precisely the correct moves, reflexively providing the right care.

Calkin noted that often in medic training, when trainees first see a patient with profuse bleeding, the students are horrified and unable to act. So Skedco has devised a bleeding simulation system that permits them to learn how to steel themselves to the sight of blood when a patient’s life isn’t at stake—for example, during medic school training at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston near San Antonio.

“The other product that we have that is extremely important is a bleeding simulation system that will simulate arterial, venous or capillary bleeding, all simultaneously, and it’s all remote-controlled,” Calkin noted.

With arterial bleeding, since the arteries carry blood away from the heart, a severed artery may emit blood in spurts as the heart pumps. A vein, carrying blood back to the heart, may emit blood in a smoother flow. And there may be less bleeding from tiny capillaries that carry blood filled with food and oxygen to each cell in the body. “PEO STRI just placed a big order for the bleeding simulator,” he recalled.

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SOTECH 10.4 | 11

Once a medic in training learns to ignore the blood and focus on treating the patient, “that makes your new medics prioritize the wounds and treat the most important ones first,” Calkin said.

The simulation system is realistic in many ways, he said. “If you’ve got a general bleed, it’s going to bleed out in three minutes, just like a real person does,” he continued. Further, this sim system, which works on a live actor who plays the part of a wounded warfighter, is low cost, at $3,000 to $3,500. “Instead of having to supply a manikin that costs $50,000 to $150,000 and just lies there and does nothing, we put this on a real live person. So that will [confront a medic trainee with] a live, screaming, combative, profusely bleeding patient. And that’s what makes the new medics who have never seen blood go into total panic mode, and forget everything they learned in school.

But it forces them to develop this … memory where they are able to treat a patient without having to stop and think about all the blood and gore that they are working with. So they are able to—after they have

12 | SOTECH 10.4

used it three, four, five times—they are able to treat a patient without hesitation. Everything that they learned in school is retained, instead of forgotten when they go into panic mode when they see all the blood.”

Administering an IV Administering an intravenous fluid to a patient in a hospital is one thing, where you are in a clean environment, the patient is stabilized and an IV bag can be hung on a convenient stand. But administering an IV to a wounded warrior writhing in pain, lying in dirt, where anything elevated may be shot to pieces by the enemy, is another matter entirely.

Doug Nesbit, with Mobile I.V. Systems LLC, explained the situation. “Over the years, the need for gravity flow in IV therapy has resulted in some pretty creative ways to elevate the bag or otherwise deliver the fluids—recruiting a bystander to hold the bag up, hanging it on nails sticking out of nearby structures, clipping it on your uniform, holding it in your teeth, or jamming

it under the patient’s leg, which is far from ideal.”

All of those solutions may have major drawbacks; the IV bag may not be sufficiently elevated to start the fluid flowing into the patient’s arm, or the bag may burst.

Fortunately, Nesbit said, a solution has been devised.

“The revolutionary Mobile I.V. System is a new device that is designed to deliver all IV fluids evenly, from any position, without elevating the bag and without electricity or pumping,” Nesbit explained. “It was designed with and for combat medics, but also has superior applicability in a broad range of situations, both on and off the battlefield.”

So how does it work? The system uses carbon dioxide to compress a sleeve that fits around the IV bag. The medic gives a twist, and the sleeve swiftly squeezes the IV bag so the fluid in the bag begins to flow. It comes with a tube set that includes a proprietary all-position drip chamber, enabling the system to deliver IV fluid to the patient from all positions.

www.SOTECH-kmi.com

“Its portability enables the medic to start vital IV therapy in early stages of treatment, under any battlefield conditions,” Nesbit explained. Starting the flow of fluids to a wounded combatant on the battlefield may improve survival, in situations where evacuation is delayed. “The gravity free flow allows the medic to start the IV and lay the bag next to the patient, instead of finding some other way (usually a team member) to elevate the bag,” he added.

The Mobile I.V. System allows for simpler, safer transport, with less clutter, less chance of detached IV lines, needle sticks and fluid spatter, and warmer fluids since the bag can be placed next to the patient, according to Nesbit. “This means you can continue an IV during a helo/basket recovery, during rough stretcher carries, on the water, in rubble or low-clearance environments—potentially even in space!” he continued.

The system takes mere seconds to deploy, requires minimal training and weighs only 10 ounces, using standard IV

bags up to 1000 ml. An even smaller 500 ml version is being developed.

Nesbit added that the system has been airworthiness certified, has undergone trials in Afghanistan and recently was used in live training exercises. Many units view it as a force-enhancement strategy, since fewer individuals are needed to deliver an IV (i.e., hold up the bag) for a patient.

Overall feedback from active duty members of all branches has been outstanding, according to Nesbit.

Pelvic Injuries One of the most serious and difficult-to-treat injuries can be inflicted not only by enemy fire, but in accidents such as vehicle rollovers: pelvic trauma. But a company, SAM Medical Products, has devised a way for medics to handle such challenging injuries.

The company was founded by a Vietnam medic and orthopedic surgeon who recognized an unmet need, and the company became a pioneer in the field of

pre-hospital fracture management with the introduction of the SAM Splint in 1984. Since then, the company has selectively introduced additional products when they meet strict criteria of offering a substantial leap in quality and function when compared to the currently available clinical solution and offering a measureable enhancement to pre-hospital care.

Because of the potentially devastating hemorrhage associated with pelvic ring fractures, standard first aid protocol has historically included applying some type of circumferential binder around the victim’s hips. What medics said they needed was a reduction of hip-ring fractures prior to and during transport.

Lance Hopman, director of research and development at SAM Medical Products, stated, “Although a window of desired force has been described, there had been no device available to the marketplace that removed the guesswork involved and enabled the accurate and repeatable application of force to the pelvic ring with each application.”

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The SAM Pelvic Sling II was developed as the first and only force-controlled circumferential pelvic belt scientifically proven in peer-reviewed studies to safely and effectively reduce and stabilize openbook pelvic ring fractures, according to Hopman. The device allows for emergent temporary intervention that reduces the risks associated with diffuse pelvic hemorrhage during transport and until definite pelvic stabilization can be provided.

The sling features a patented self-locking buckle that emerged from a development effort partially funded through a grant supplied by the Office of Naval Research, and Legacy Health Foundation.

Hopman explained, “When secured, the buckle automatically limits applied force to a safe and proper level, providing a consistent, reliable and safe treatment that eliminates any guesswork in application.”

A medic can place the belt-like device around the hips and pull tight until it clicks and locks into place with the desired force, eliminating any chance of over- or under-tightening. The resulting

mechanism ensures that the pelvis will be bound with the optimal amount of force while the patient is transported to the next level of care.

Several of the SAM Pelvic Sling II’s features were designed to specifically meet unique and challenging needs that present in the field casualty scenario. The sling incorporates a simple, one-piece design with no detachable hardware, is compact, easy to use and quick to apply (usually in less than one minute). The standard size fits (without cutting or trimming) 98 percent of the adult population. It does not require a fine touch to operate and gives clear feedback by sound and feel to confirm correct application of force.

Additionally, the sling is durable and unaffected by extremes of moisture and temperature or by exposure to hard or sharp objects. It is also radiolucent—an X-ray may be taken while the patient wears the device. It also is magnetic resonance imager safe, and can be cleaned for re-use with common detergents or anti-microbial solutions.

SAM Medical plans to continue to monitor trends and scientific literature to uncover new opportunities to improve pre-hospital fracture management.

Feedback from the Force For makers of medic gear, the rewards can be multiple. A case in point: Calkin was in an airport in Tennessee when a passerby saw the Skedco patch on Calkin’s sleeve, and walked up to thank him. That man and a buddy were hauled to safety in Afghanistan on Skedcos. Medics, too, have sent him letters of appreciation, telling him how Skedcos helped save patients by getting them to treatment quickly, Calkin said. O

For more information, contact SOTECH Editor Dave Ahearn at davea@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.sotech-kmi.com.

Advanced Technology and Products for the Most Difficult Missons

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Beacon Systems include Combat Identification / Identification of Friend or Foe (CID/IFF) as well as Tagging, Tracking, and Locating (TTL) systems. Our products are available in spectral bands that include UV, Visible, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR.

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SOTECH 10.4 | 15

BLACK WATCH

What’s Hot in Special Operations Gear

Maker of Little Bird Helicopters Introduces New Aircraft

MD Helicopters released details of its new armed scout helicopter—the MD 540F, the newest addition to MD’s fleet of single engine turbine helicopters. The 540F is an upgrade to the popular MD 530F, boasting a six-bladed, fully articulated rotor blade system made up entirely of composite material, in addition to a more rugged landing skid built for heavier take-off and landing weights.

“This aircraft will be a game changer for our company,” commented Lynn Tilton, CEO of MDHI. “The commercial and military markets have long sought an affordable, light, single engine helicopter that can perform exceptionally well at hot and high altitudes while carrying a larger useful load. The MD 540F will be that aircraft. Our engineers have bolstered performance to achieve a dramatic increase in max gross take-off weight and useful load capability. This increase will allow the MD 540F to carry a full avionics and weapons package while hovering at 6,000 feet/95 degrees F.” The MD 540F will be equipped with a fully integrated digital glass cockpit. Information will be displayed to the pilots on large, easy to read, multi-function color displays, and directly onto the pilot’s eyes using a sophisticated Helmet Display and Tracking System (HDTS). The weapons system will include fixed forward firing rockets and guns, laser guided rockets and Hellfire missiles. The targeting FLIR with laser designator coupled with the HDTS and laser-guided rockets or Hellfire missile, will allow the pilot to easily locate and destroy hostile targets—day or night.

“The 540F will be a lethal fighting machine,” said Tilton. “The 540F will carry much of the same punch as the heavier attack helicopters at a fraction of the acquisition expense and life cycle operation costs.

Using precise aim points and laser guided missiles and rockets, the MD 540F will be able to destroy enemy armor and infantry positions with little collateral battle damage.”

The increased useful load will allow the armed version of the 540F to carry an advanced, lightweight weapons platform with four stations. Various mixes of guns, rockets and missiles can be carried simultaneously.

16 | SOTECH 10.4

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Submersible Upgraded to Provide Better Speed, Range, Payload Stidd Systems announced it is upgrading its submersible craft to provide more speed, range and payload capability.

The Diver Propulsion Device-XT (DPD-XT) will provide those advanced capabilities for SEALs as they slip unseen underwater toward mission objectives.

DPD-XT also boasts two independently redundant propulsion systems.

According to Stidd, all those enhancements were incorporated into the submersible while still maintaining its exterior dimensions and U.S. Navy certifications.

Submersibles allow SEALs to move from ship to a mission objective ashore, or to an underwater objective, without a long and tiring swim.

Using a submersible also means that the SEALs don’t have to endure the cold of ocean waters for nearly as long as if they swim to the objective, so that the special operators arrive at the fight without being exhausted.

Those Stidd submersible advancements also come as SOCOM is likely to focus increasingly on providing better submersible technologies to SEALs.

James Cluck, acquisition executive with Special Operations Command, said recently that after a decade of wars on land in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is time for SOCOM to focus on undersea capabilities for SEALs. “We spent the last 10 years without the sea in SEALs,” he said. “We have got to get back to” a focus on maritime special ops capabilities, and that means a renewed focus on undersea systems.

He recalled that a catastrophic fire struck an earlier undersea transport platform, the Northrop Grumman advanced seal delivery system, in December 2008.

“We lost our capability,” he recalled, so the focus now must shift to the joint multi-mission submersible, a program that has continued for more than three years.

For lack of money, SOCOM dropped plans for a dry combat submersiblelight plus a dry combat submersiblemedium, and settled for just the medium undersea SEAL transport.

Working with the Naval Sea Systems Command, “our intent would be to build a prototype,” Cluck said.

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U.S. Special Operations Command Special Operations Research, Development, and Acquisition Center The Special Operations Research, Development, and Acquisition Center (SORDAC) workforce of acquisition professionals, the SOF acquirers, are committed to excellence and continue to deliver the most effective capabilities to our special operations forces (SOF).

The Program Executive Officers (PEOs), directors, and the cadre of SOF acquirers manage the entire material acquisition lifecycle process for special operations-peculiar equipment employed by SOF—a unique responsibility they possess over any other combatant command. SOF acquirers are mindful of their responsibility to execute taxpayer-sourced operating funds. They wisely, prudently and openly manage and spend these funds to effectively acquire goods and services on behalf of their supported organizations.

PEOs and their managed program and equipment portfolios are aligned to support and deliver requirements to multiple USSOCOM lines of operation. Our continued recapitalization of critical assets across the fixed wing, rotary wing, maritime and land mobility portfolios bring superior and enhanced capabilities to support SOF’s global missions.

Ongoing C4, special reconnaissance and exploitation, and SOF warrior efforts ensure SOF operators are equipped with effective and interoperable intelligence, information and individual equipment systems. SORDAC is rapidly inserting technology to increase our intelligence gathering capabilities, provide greater access to the SOF information environment and improve personal protective equipment and casualty care for our warfighters. Our Directorate of Science and Technology efforts are aligned with our SOF operators, the service labs, international and other agency partners, industry, and the services to identify key emerging technologies.

We’ve embraced initiatives across the PEOs, directorates and the entire SORDAC enterprise to achieve better buying power and to minimize overhead costs and maximize contracting efficiencies by streamlining requirements, incentivizing innovation, increasing competition and harnessing emerging technologies.

As we move forward, our success is only achieved as a team effort; it requires continuous collaboration with our industry partners. SORDAC remains committed to working with our industry stakeholders to ensure SOF operators are well equipped and able to successfully perform their critical operational missions today and into the future.

James W. Cluck Acquisition Executive U.S. Special Operations Command

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Program Executive Office for Fixed Wing Air Force Colonel Michael Schmidt leads the Program Executive Office for Fixed Wing (PEO-FW). Its mission is to deliver special operations (SO)-peculiar manned and unmanned fixed wing airpower capabilities to effectively enable special operations forces (SOF). To meet this mission, PEO-FW partners with the warfighter and various development and support organizations to synchronize acquisition activities to field an array of advanced technology sensors, defensive countermeasures, advanced avionics and mission training systems.

This process ensures SOF fixed wing aircraft can accomplish missions in expected threat environments and address supportability challenges of an aging legacy fleet.

SOCOM’s manned and unmanned fixed wing aircraft provide the backbone for SOF airborne mobility, aerial refueling support, airborne precision engagement and aerial surveillance capabilities. They provide critical infiltration and exfiltration, and they resupply capabilities for SOF in and out of hostile territory through weapon systems such as the MC-130P Combat Shadow, MC-130H Combat Talon II and CV-22 Osprey aircraft. The AC-130H Spectre, AC-130U Spooky and the MC130W Dragon Spear provide critical precision engagement and closeair support. Various manned and unmanned systems deliver real-time aerial surveillance of the battlefield for the individual soldier, sailor, airman, Marine and task force commander.

The low-density, high-demand nature of the SOF fixed wing fleet is a key driver in the acquisition approaches used to continue to improve and sustain the force. The high operational tempo of these aircraft requires innovative means to incorporate capability and sustainment improvements while ensuring adequate aircraft availability.

C-130 – Backbone of the SOF Fixed Wing Fleet PEO-FW continues to face the mounting challenges of sustaining the low-density, high-demand legacy SOF C-130 fleet while simultaneously satisfying roadmaps for modernization. PEO-FW manages numerous SOF C-130 sustainment, modification and modernization programs.

SOCOM, in conjunction with the Air Force, is procuring 37 new MC-130J aircraft through a joint program with Air Combat Command’s combat search and rescue community to recapitalize the aging MC-130E/P tanker fleet. The first MC-130J was delivered to Cannon Air Force Base (AFB), N.M., in September 2011. Two additional aircraft were delivered to Cannon AFB, and one was delivered to Kirtland AFB, N.M., in October 2011. An additional six aircraft are scheduled to deliver in 2012.

In 2011, SOCOM began a program to replace the aging AC-130H gunship fleet with new AC-130J aircraft. The AC-130J program will modify MC-130J aircraft with the Precision Strike Package. This program executed risk reduction in 2011 in preparation of the first aircraft modification scheduled for 2013.

Ongoing operations continue to stress the legacy SOF C-130 fleet. In 2011, SOCOM and Warner Robins Air Logistics 20 | SOTECH 10.4

Center, Ga., implemented a new program to replace obsolete mission computers on the AC-130U and the MC-130H aircraft. A competitive contract was awarded in June 2011, and the new mission computers will begin fielding in 2013. The center wing box replacement (CWR) on the AC-130U and MC-130H aircraft also continued in 2011. To date, six AC-130Us and 14 MC-130Hs have had their center wing boxes replaced. An additional five AC-130U and three MC130H aircraft will complete the CWR modification in 2012. In December 2011, the final AN/AAQ-39 sensor was installed on the last AC-130U gunship; this new gunship multi-spectral sensor greatly enhances the AC-130U mission capability.

A consolidated, low-cost modification program also continues in 2012 to address ongoing obsolescence and other sustainment issues across the SOF C-130 fleet.

MC-130W Dragon Spear – SOF’s Multi-Mission Aircraft In response to direction from the secretary of defense, SOCOM executed a rapid acquisition strategy to field 12 modified multimission aircraft with enhanced combat capabilities. These modifications—designated the Precision Strike Package (PSP)—were completed in 20 months, and SOCOM’s fleet of MC-130Ws became Dragon Spear aircraft. With delivery of the 12th (and final) aircraft in 2011, the production line closed three months ahead of schedule and 13 percent under budget.

The modular PSP modification equips Dragon Spear with enhanced electro-optical/infrared sensors, a trainable 30 mm cannon, the StandOff Precision Guided Munition family of missiles, and a networked Battle Management System. These modifications provide Dragon Spear the capability to execute intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), strike and mobility missions in support of deployed forces. In addition to supporting immediate combat operations, Dragon Spear’s modular PSP provides a risk reduction platform for SOCOM’s AC-130J program. The PSP combat-proven modular capability will provide the initial combat capability for the AC-130J. The Dragon Spear platform continues to serve as a test bed for risk reduction activities and the evaluation of future enhanced capabilities.

Two Dragon Spear aircraft have been continuously deployed since 2011. Crews have flown over 700 sorties in support of combat operations. The MC-130W Dragon Spear aircraft are operated by crews based at Cannon AFB.

CV-22 Osprey – SOF’s Long-Range Insertion Platform The CV-22 fulfills the requirement for high-speed, long-range insertion and extraction of SOF in hostile or denied territory in a single period of darkness. The range, altitude and speed of the CV-22 provide flexibility, unpredictability and less dependency on staging bases or www.SOTECH-kmi.com

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refueling assets. As a result, the CV-22 can self-deploy worldwide to satisfy current combat operations and higher authority taskings. CV-22s have deployed to multiple locations around the globe and have been actively supporting Operation Enduring Freedom since 2010. SOCOM has delivered 24 of the programmed fleet of 50 CV-22s.

The unique characteristic of the CV-22 is its ability to take off and land like a helicopter, but once airborne, its engine nacelles tilt to convert the aircraft into a high-speed, high-altitude turboprop airplane. The CV-22 is tailored for special operations missions through an enhanced electronic warfare suite, specifically the AN/AAQ-24 Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM), the AN/ALQ-211 Suite of Integrated Radio Frequency Countermeasures (SIRFC), and the AN/ APQ-186 Terrain Following/Terrain Avoidance (TF/TA) multi-mode radar. The DIRCM system provides active protection against infrared homing missiles. SIRFC counters threats through its missile-warning receivers and jammers and provides real-time threat information to the aircrew through a dedicated display unit in the cockpit. The TF/ TA radar provides the aircrew with the ability to mask the aircraft by flying low and taking advantage of surrounding terrain. To further enhance aircraft and crew survivability, the CV-22 includes a GAU-18 .50 caliber or M-240D 7.62 mm ramp-mounted weapon system. The CV-22 is powered by two turbo shaft engines that produce 6,150 shaft horsepower each, which enable a cruising speed of 230 knots. The CV-22 is a fly-by-wire aircraft that provides twice the speed, three times the payload, five times the range, and more than twice the altitude of a conventional CH-46 helicopter.

U-28A In response to an escalating need for ISR, PEO-FW procured six Pilatus PC-12 aircraft in 2005. These aircraft were modified with a suite of military communications and sensor equipment and were subsequently fielded as U-28A aircraft in 2006. The aircraft was selected for its versatile performance and ability to operate from short and unimproved runway surfaces. Weight-reduction and missionenhancement modifications were implemented on these aircraft in 2007, extending their operational range and effectiveness. Nine additional aircraft were procured in 2007 for subsequent delivery during 2008. Through DoD supplemental funding in 2008, SOCOM procured another six aircraft to meet increased operational demands and stan-

dardize the entire fleet. The final aircraft delivered in January 2010, and the fleetwide modifications were completed in September 2010.

RC-26B Aircraft SOCOM partnered with the National Guard Bureau to support SOF objectives for overseas contingency operations. Six RC-26B aircraft were expeditiously modified and fielded with a SO-peculiar communication and sensor suite. These aircraft provide critical, manned, persistent ISR capabilities for SOF operations. Two aircraft support a training mission in the continental United States, and four assets are continuously deployed for immediate real world operations.

Non-Standard Aviation The Non-Standard Aviation (NSAV) mission provides dedicated intra-theater airlift and contractor logistics support for the geographic combatant commander’s theater special operations commands. The NSAV program delivers 21 light aircraft (11 Pilatus PC-12s and 10 M-28 Skytrucks) and 17 medium aircraft (Do-328s) to support command mobility requirements worldwide. All NSAV aircraft are modified with a common suite of military communications equipment. Light aircraft funding and deliveries began in fiscal year 2008 and continue through FY12. Of the 21 light aircraft, all 11 PC-12s have been procured and delivered to the 318th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon AFB. NSAV initial operational capability was met when two of the PC-12s successfully forward deployed with full contractor logistics support in mid-2008. Nine of the 10 M-28s have been delivered to Cannon AFB, and the last remaining M-28 delivered in March 2012. The Do-328 aircraft procurement began in FY10. Of the 17 medium Do-328 aircraft, 12 aircraft have been procured and five more are on contract. Seven Do-328s have delivered to the 524th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon AFB; the remaining Do-328 aircraft will deliver between 2012 and 2013.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), from the Puma small UAS (SUAS) to the larger Air Force MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper systems, support many different ISR requirements across each of the component commands.

The MC-130J provides special operations forces infiltration, exfiltration, resupply and aerial helo refueling. [Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin]

22 | SOTECH 10.4

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The hand-launched Puma of the SUAS family was fielded in FY09 to expand the operational environment of the current SUAS and provide SOF units with enhanced capability. The Puma was upgraded with an encryption-capable digital data link to improve security and increase overall performance.

The Medium Altitude Long Endurance Tactical (MALET) platforms are SO-peculiar variants of the Air Force MQ-1s and MQ-9s.

These platforms are equipped with capabilities to support SO-peculiar missions and personnel. Capability enhancements include video transmission, infrared modifications, signals intelligence and delivery of low collateral damage weapons. SOCOM currently operates a full squadron of MQ-1s and 15 MQ-9s. The remaining MQ-9 platforms are scheduled for delivery in FY12–14.

UASs are proving their value in a wide range of current combat operations by providing SOF with day and night surveillance platforms, the ability to see over the next hill or corner, and “eyes in the sky” to protect them from improvised explosive devices. SOCOM continues to develop and field advanced unmanned airborne capabilities in support of ongoing operations around the world.

Munitions and Emerging Technology PEO-FW procures stand-off precision guided munition (SOPGM) variants for use on the MC-130W Dragon Spear and AC-130J and surrogate aircraft. The SOPGM provides a small, lightweight precision guided weapon for irregular warfare. The architecture was established under an advanced concept technology demonstration and utilizes a common launch tube (CLT), a government-developed battle management system (BMS), and various munitions that either fit into the CLT or, if not, use the BMS. The Griffin missile is a SOPGM that is procured as a commodity product. There are two versions: an aft ejecting A version and a forward firing B version. Since initial fielding, PEO-FW has worked with the Griffin vendor to continually improve the missile’s one shot lethality and reliability; an improved Block II missile was fielded in 2011. PEO-FW is also working with the vendor to develop a land-based SOPGM for ground forces.

PEO-FW is developing an ongoing emerging technology effort to ensure SOF aviation forces maintain their technological edge over all opponents. Improved warheads, better seekers and target auto-trackers are a few of the areas that are being explored to improve operational effectiveness. PEO-FW is also looking for other munitions as part of the emerging technology effort; the laser small diameter bomb and other SOPGM are being considered. PEO-FW will use advanced concept technology demonstrations, joint capability technology demonstrations, cooperative research and development agreements, and foreign comparative tests to evaluate new technologies to rapidly transition new capabilities to the field.

Directional Infrared Countermeasures Program – Protecting the Fleet Infrared guided missile systems have become the adversary’s weapon of choice due to their passive nature (i.e., low probability of detection prior to launch), simple operation, low cost and availability. At least 80 nations on six continents employ infrared guided 24 | SOTECH 10.4

An RC-26B with the 130th Airlift Wing out of Charleston, W.Va., is poised for flight. [Photo courtesy of U.S. Army]

surface-to-air missiles that can be carried and launched by one person. To address this evolving threat, SOCOM teamed with the United Kingdom to execute a cooperative acquisition program with merged requirements.

The AN/AAQ-24 DIRCM system, the first successful program of its type, ensures fast, accurate threat location through on-board missile warning sensors. DIRCM was designed in modular fashion to allow multiple installation configurations on a wide range of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. The front-end production qualification and performance certification phase of the effort was completed in early 1999, and final installation occurred in 2004.

The success of the DIRCM system is self-evident. The Air Force requirement has grown to well over 400 aircraft, resulting in the transition of program management and sustainment responsibilities for all common components to the Department of the Air Force. SOCOM is transferring sustainment responsibilities of the SO-peculiar components to Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in the third quarter of 2012.

Aircrew Training Systems – Training the Fleet Aircrew training system acquisitions address training needs for the Air Force Special Operations Command’s multiple C-130 variants, along with CV-22 and U-28A. Additional aircrew training systems are being studied to address non-standard aviation and small unmanned aircraft systems. A current priority is the MC/AC-130J simulator program to develop and procure capability to support MC-130J and AC130J aircrew training. Along with a front-end weapon system trainer for the pilots, this program procures an AC-130J mission training device that will support training back-end gunship aircrew. It will also deliver a simultaneous independent operations capability for AC-130J, allowing the front-end and back-end devices to operate either simultaneously as one interoperable training system or independently as two separate training capabilities. This capability enhances aircrew collective training, individual training and overall training management flexibility, resulting in greater training throughput and proficiency for mission crews.

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subsystems to maintain fidelity, enhance reliability and maintainability, and ensure operational availability. In addition to upgrade procurements, the SBUD program sustains the operational availability of aircrew training devices and overall training management through contractor logistics support.

Special Operations Mission Planning Environment – Preparing the Fleet The Special Operations Mission Planning Environment (SOMPE) program is a computer-based suite of software products

developed in response to SOCOM user-specified needs for rapid and accurate SOF time-sensitive planning. SOMPE products enable detailed mission planning using imagery, digital terrain/ nautical/man-made structural data, two- and three-dimensional mission views, threat positions, weapon system ranges, friendly positions, weapon system performance data and limited environmental data. Looking forward, SOMPE program objectives are to address SOCOM air, ground and maritime operator mission planning gaps, enable a three-dimensional planning environment in a network disconnected environment, and migrate to a modern software architecture

Program Executive Office for Rotary Wing Army Colonel Douglas Rombough leads the Program Executive Office for Rotary Wing (PEO-RW), which is responsible for providing the special operations forces community with the most advanced vertical lift capability available to the U.S. military. PEO-RW has placed emphasis on rotary wing transformation, with the initial focus on commonality of platforms and inventory reduction from 11 different platforms to three newer, more capable platforms while accommodating programmed growth in numbers. The rotary wing fleet now consists of the MH-47G Chinook, three different models of the MH-60 Black Hawk and the A/MH-6M Little Bird. The Silent Knight Radar (SKR) program was realigned to the PEO-RW portfolio in 2011 to better address the integration and testing of SKR into the MH-47G lead platform. This realignment is another significant step in providing a complete capability to PEO-RW’s primary customer, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).

PEO-RW continues its focus on rotary wing transformation with growth in numbers and an increase in the capabilities of an already capable fleet of aircraft. Various mission equipment programs address increased payloads, lethality, survivability and situational awareness while decreasing crew workload. Additionally, PEO-RW is involved in

providing SOF with an increased future vertical lift capability through the execution of developmental programs, such as the YMQ-18A Vertical Lift Unmanned Aerial System, and participation in the Under Secretary of Defense Science & Technology-led Future Vertical Lift Science & Technology Working Group.

Along with the Technology Applications Program Office at Fort Eustis, Va., the PEO-RW mission is primarily accomplished by integrating special operations (SO)-peculiar mission equipment packages onto proven U.S. Army helicopter platforms. This acquisition strategy supports the SOF warfighter while providing SOCOM with a costeffective method of supplying a SOF platform capable of completing worldwide SOF-unique missions. Both the U.S. Army and SOCOM benefit from the partnership of merging U.S. Army and SO-peculiar components and technologies.

MH-47G Chinook

The heavy lifter of the SOF rotary wing fleet is the venerable MH47G Chinook. With a maximum gross weight of 54,000 pounds and the ability to travel at more than 150 knots, the MH-47G provides SOF with a proven durable workhorse that fulfills a variety of missions around the world. The MH-47G was deployed in fiscal year 2007 and is currently supporting deployed SOF in multiple locations.

The SOF MH-47G completed its service life extension program in 2011, and work has begun on a new build of additional MH-47G Chinook consisting of a zero-time monolithic machined airframe and new dynamic components. The new-build Chinook will have the same extended range fuel tanks, improved transportability provisions, advanced aircraft survivability equipment, and a new cockpit structure with the common avionics Coalition special forces wait for the MH-47G Chinook to land so they can extract their high value target. [Photo courtesy of U.S. Army] 26 | SOTECH 10.4

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architecture systems. Based on the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, work is continuing on the MH-47G program, which will increase the total number of MH-47Gs to 69 by FY15.

MH-60M Black Hawk Complementing the MH-47G is the medium lift MH-60M Black Hawk. The SOF Black Hawk supports two configurations: a troop transport configuration and a defensive armed penetrator (DAP) configuration. The DAP aircraft provides armed security for the MH47G and MH-60 aircraft. The MH-60M modernization program began delivering new-build MH-60M aircraft in the second quarter of FY11.

Once complete, the MH-60M modernization program will provide the 160th SOAR with 72 MH-60M SOF Black Hawks. The MH-60M program will complete its transition to a common MH-60M fleet in FY15.

The MH-60M SOF modernization program takes Sikorsky’s newbuild UH-60M aircraft from the U.S. Army and modifies them with SO-peculiar mission equipment. The MH-60M aircraft will feature common avionics architecture systems, the suite of integrated radio frequency countermeasures, wide-chord rotor blades, active vibration reduction and the improved electro-optical sensor system. The most significant modification, however, is the incorporation of two 2,500 shaft horsepower engines, which will give the aircraft a high/ hot capability unmatched by any H-60 variant currently fielded. As the MH-60M is fielded, the 160th SOAR will continue phasing out the current MH-60K/L fleet.

A/MH-6M Little Bird The A/MH-6M Little Bird program transforms a civilian aircraft into the Mission Enhanced Little Bird through a series of SO-peculiar modifications, including an improved tail boom and tail rotor drive system, a full complement of weapon systems, an enlarged aft cargo door, an increase of the maximum gross weight to 4,700 pounds, and Mark IV rails. The Little Bird is fully configurable and is capable of serving in an attack or assault role. The aircraft is in the final stages of an upgrade to Block 2.0 configuration, which provides an improved mission processor, transponder, Ethernet data bus, embedded global inertial navigation system, and new ergonomic crashworthy seat.

An upgrade to a Block 3.0 configuration will start in 2012 to address improved cockpit avionics, airframe structures and rotor systems. The serial block upgrade acquisition strategy is designed to extend the service life of the A/MH-6M while analyzing the long-term alternatives for replacement.

YMQ-18A Unmanned Aerial System The A-160T vertical lift unmanned aerial system (UAS) received the DoD mission designation series YMQ-18A in 2009. The YMQ18A rotary wing UAS is designed to perform long endurance vertical take-off and landing. The system has demonstrated endurance flights of 18.7 hours with a 300-pound payload and 8.1 hours with a 1,000-pound payload during developmental flight tests in the continental United States. During a recent operational assessment outside the continental United States, the YMQ-18A with Forester payload www.SOTECH-kmi.com

demonstrated a 10.5-hour flight. The aircraft’s current maximum gross weight is 5,500 pounds, with a design objective of 6,500 pounds, and it has demonstrated speeds over 140 knots, with a design objective of 165 knots. The YMQ-18A’s mission radius is designed to exceed 300 nautical miles upon completion of ongoing beyond line-of-sight control capability integration.

The YMQ-18A’s speed and endurance is combined with a designed service ceiling of 20,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) based on a commercial off-the-shelf 207D turbine engine certification and a demonstrated out-of-ground effect hover of 20,000 feet MSL. Although there is an immediate interest in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and cargo UAS precision resupply, the YMQ-18A is designed to support a variety of modular payloads and a wide range of mission scenarios to meet the ever-changing demands of SOF. PEO-RW maintains close coordination with U.S. Army PM UAS and U.S. Navy PMA 266 for further development of YMQ-18A ISR and cargo UAS support to deployed operational forces.

Mission Equipment PEO-RW continues its focus on rotary wing mission equipment improvement with a concentration on conducting software modifications to existing sensors and electronic equipment. These software modifications will provide new capabilities at a reduced cost while minimizing size, weight and power usage.

PEO-RW worked with numerous service acquisition offices on the inaugural Office of the Secretary of Defense-led rotorcraft aircraft survivability equipment experiment at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., in August. This experiment utilized three Maverick unmanned aircraft to allow for near miss unguided shots to determine different approaches to the hostile fire indication system solution. By working with the Army and Navy, PEO-RW was able to see the effectiveness of nine different types of sensors on aircraft in flight and more than 20 different types of sensors on the test tower. PEO-RW’s partnership with the Helicopter Survivability Task Force (HSTF) has been a great success and has led to other joint efforts with the Army for modifying the AVR2B sensor to detect unguided threats. PEO-RW expects to leverage this capability and conduct tests with the Army in 2012.

Another HSTF initiative was the multi-hit transparent armor system effort that replaced opaque down look windows on the MH-47 with transparent windows. Once complete, these windows will have a mosaic pattern that allows the panel to absorb multiple shots without degrading the visibility of the pilot. It is critical that these windows are transparent so pilots can see through them during take-off and landing in a brownout environment.

While the majority of recent mission equipment acquisition efforts have been focused on aircraft survivability equipment upgrades, PEORW has not neglected critical avionics systems. This year was the beginning of a seven-year program to upgrade the mission processors for each aircraft’s control display units and multi-function displays.

This effort will support the common avionics architecture systems by upgrading the processing power from a Power PC 750 to a Power PC 7448, and it will provide flexibility to add complex software programs that will aid in route selection and flight in degraded visual environments.

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The SOCOM degraded visual environments (DVE) program is a combination of science and technology efforts to address aircraft operations and obstacle avoidance under reduced situational awareness conditions. An FY13 DVE program of record illustrates SOCOM’s participation in the development of a technical solution expected to become a service-common item. The program addresses various aspects of reduced situational awareness common to all rotary wing aircraft operations, and SOCOM’s effort is part of a larger effort being conducted by the individual services with significant coordination from the HSTF. SOCOM is currently working on a synthetic vision backbone using digital terrain data and undefined sensors. Additionally, the command is sponsoring technology demonstrations of sensors such as LADAR to expand the overall solution to the DVE challenge.

Silent Knight Radar The Silent Knight Radar (SKR) program provides SOCOM with an affordable replacement for today’s aging terrain following/terrain avoidance (TF/TA) multi-mode radars employing Cold War radar technology. The required capabilities of SKR include TF/TA capability with a low probability of intercept and detection feature, color display of weather and weather intensity, high-resolution display of prominent terrain features, and detection and location of other aircraft and ships.

The program initiated a contractor flight test in May 2010 when the first Silent Knight engineering unit was integrated onto a contractor-owned Convair. Testing of basic radar functionality continued until December 2010 when the contractor flight test program transitioned to a contractor-owned Huey UH-1 that continued throughout 2011.

Five pre-production radars completed assembly in March 2011. A pre-production radar was installed in a government-owned MH-47G helicopter in October 2011, and the system completed safety of flight ground testing in December 2011. Developmental flight testing started in January 2012 on board an MH-47G and will continue into 2014.

Low-rate initial production is planned for FY13.

Rotary Wing Simulation Rounding out the rotary wing portfolio is the family of simulators supporting SOF platforms and missions. PEO-RW, along with the SOF Training Systems Product Manager in Orlando, Fla., provides the 160th SOAR with high-fidelity, full-motion training systems for

The new special operations MH-60M Black Hawk brings many impressive capabilities, including state-of-the-art day and night optics systems, enhanced integrated weapons systems, multi-mode radar with all-weather capability and new high-performance engines. [Photo courtesy of 160th SOAR]

the MH-47E, MH-47G, MH-60K, MH-60M and A/MH-6M aircraft that support SOCOM requirements. The combat mission simulators (CMS) provide aircrews a real-world capability to practice, validate and verify tactics, techniques and procedures to support training and mission rehearsal. Additionally, the aquatics training device provides for aircrew emergency egress training in a variety of environmental conditions.

The simulators are continuously updated to reflect the latest aircraft modifications and to ensure SOF aircrews are provided training systems that are reliable, technically advanced and concurrent with the operational aircraft on the flight line.

The MH-47E CMS started a legacy upgrade to an MH-47G CMS in 2011 and will be followed by an upgrade of the MH-60K to MH-60M. The upgrades will parallel the induction of newer-model aircraft into the fleet and accommodate increased training requirements while taking advantage of the latest simulation technology and processor advancements

Program Executive Office for Special Operations Forces Warrior Army Colonel James Smith leads the Program Executive Office for Special Operations Forces Warrior (PEO-SW). This diverse organization provides rapid and focused acquisition of special operations (SO)-peculiar capabilities to SOCOM operators conducting decisive ground special operations forces activities and global operations against terrorist networks. PEO-SW is a critical enabler to the Special Operations Research, Development and Acquisition Center’s no-fail 28 | SOTECH 10.4

mission to provide effective, wide-ranging, time-sensitive capabilities to widely dispersed and often isolated SOF in several unique commodity areas. PEO-SW manages a portfolio that includes 160 programs and projects, using an investment budget of over $1 billion of Major Force Program-11 (MFP-11) funds over the future years defense plan.

The portfolio is diversified and includes six primary war fighting commodity areas: www.SOTECH-kmi.com

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Ground Mobility Visual Augmentation Systems Weapon Systems Ammunition/Demolition Soldier Protection and Survival Medical Systems

To preserve critical MFP-11 funding and compress acquisition cycle times, PEO-SW participates in joint, collaborative war fighting equipping boards. Through participation in these inter-service boards, PEO-SW has found creative solutions through leveraging the research and development (R&D) efforts of the services and other government organizations. In addition, PEO-SW works in conjunction with component commands to ensure service-provided logistics support is utilized to the maximum extent possible.

Ground Mobility The Program Manager for Family of Special Operations Forces Vehicles (PM-FSOV) is responsible for the acquisition, product improvement, modification and sustainment of four classes of SOF vehicles: individual, light, medium and heavy. As the land contingent of SOF mobility, the FSOV portfolio being developed and sustained includes allterrain vehicles, lightweight tactical all-terrain vehicles, non-standard commercial vehicles, ground mobility vehicles, RG-31 and RG-33 mine resistant ambush protected vehicles, and the mine resistant ambush protected all-terrain vehicles. These SO-peculiar vehicles provide enhanced tactical mobility and force protection as well as platforms to support command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities. Currently, PEOSW is managing all acquisition and procurement production initiatives for these specialized SOF combat wheeled vehicles. Concurrently, PMFSOV is providing cradle-to-grave sustainment for more than 4,600 SOF-configured vehicles supporting SOF operations around the world.

The all-terrain vehicle (ATV) provides individual, all-terrain mobility to deployed SOF in austere locations to support a myriad of special operations missions. These vehicles are internally transportable within rotary wing assets and provide mobility to fully equipped SOF operators. ATVs enable them to rapidly maneuver in terrain not easily navigated by larger, heavier vehicles. They fulfill an enduring capability need by enabling operators to efficiently manage and transport their combat load. In 2012, PM-FSOV will field 431 ATVs as part of a life cycle management strategy to replace an aging fleet of 450 previously fielded ATVs. The lightweight tactical all-terrain vehicle (LTATV) incorporates a side-by-side seat design and provides a lightweight, all-terrain capability to allow SOF to undertake operations across a wide variety of missions with increased mobility and maneuverability. The LTATV is internally transportable by CH-47 rotary and V-22 variant aircraft. It carries two personnel and can be used for a multitude of operations spanning logistic support to casualty evacuation. It also provides a high degree of speed and mobility over rough terrain. To date, PEO-SW has fielded 530 LTATVs and will field an additional 353 this year.

The non-standard commercial vehicle (NSCV) is a medium class vehicle and provides low-profile commercial vehicles modified www.SOTECH-kmi.com

with ballistic protection, mobility enhancements, communications, navigation and night vision equipment, enabling SOF to operate non-obtrusively supporting a multitude of special operations. NSCVs provide SOF with the capability to conduct missions where a low visual signature is preferred or the vehicles must be maintained on the local economy. To date, PEO-SW has fielded 120 NSCVs and will field an additional 255 this year.

The ground mobility vehicle (GMV) is a medium class wheeled tactical combat vehicle that provides general support to numerous SOF activities. The M1165A1B3 high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) is the current base vehicle with standardized SOFspecific modifications, including enhanced C4ISR capabilities. This year, PEO-SW will field 126 GMVs to complete the first increment of production, bringing the quantity of GMVs being sustained to 1,216.

In September 2011, SOCOM approved a capability production document update. This update, referred to as GMV 1.1, sets the stage for the next increment of production to provide SOF with a new and improved variant of a medium class of vehicles. The GMV 1.1 is designated to replace the SOF-modified, service-common HMMWV. Purpose built, different configurations of the vehicle will be available to support a variety of combat, combat support and combat service support roles. PEO-SW has begun initiating acquisition planning activities seeking potential materiel solutions. A significant key performance parameter driving vehicle design is meeting an internal transport capability in a CH-47 helicopter.

PEO-SW is executing the sustainment phase of the mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) life cycle. To date, 618 RG-31s/RG-33s/ RG-33 auxiliary utility vehicles have been fielded to SOF warfighters.

These vehicles provide operators with protection against the expanded use of improvised explosive devices; they also enable direct support action by hosting an offensive capability in the form of an integrated remote weapon station. In the last year, PEO-SW completed a block upgrade for the existing RG-33 fleet, which included the installation of an improved suspension system for enhancing ground mobility, and they completed other engineering changes that emerged as requirements from the deployed operators in the field.

The 101st Airborne Division is receiving sensors that mount on Kevlar helmets to record blast data.

U.S. Army Maj. William Schaffer in the Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier at Fort Belvoir, Va., displays the helmet. [Photo courtesy of DoD]

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imagers (COTI); and 343 laser markers. During 2012, the PEO expects to field a COTI, providing the operator with a fused I2/thermal image using the existing PVS-15 night vision goggles and a small, lightweight handheld laser marker.

Weapon Systems

The RG-31 vehicle. [Photo courtesy of DoD]

The MRAP all-terrain vehicle (M-ATV) provides a mine-resistant all-terrain vehicle capability specifically for the conduct of small unit combat operations in highly restricted rural, mountainous and urban environments. SOCOM determined approximately 30 modifications must be made to the vehicle to provide a platform with greater protection and mobility, including a larger windshield, improved gunner’s platform, rear cargo access door, cargo bed protection, and several safety-related items. PEO-SW has fielded a total of 455 M-ATVs and will field the final 46 on/around the third quarter of fiscal year 2012`. PEOSW will also begin a block upgrade for the M-ATVs beginning in late FY12, which will address emerging requirements from the operators in the field.

Visual Augmentation Systems The Program Manager for Target Engagement Systems (PM-TES) is responsible for the acquisition, product improvement, modification, and sustainment of visual augmentation systems (VAS). This commodity area provides SOF operators with an ability to conduct missions while operating at night and during periods of low visibility when battlefield obscurants or bad weather are encountered. By minimizing the effect of these adverse conditions, VAS enable continuity of fire control, surveillance and land navigation while performing mounted and dismounted operations.

The VAS commodity area focuses on materiel solutions for headmounted goggles, weapon-mounted night vision sights and day scopes, handheld imagers, ground vehicle-mounted systems for drivers and crewmembers, and laser rangefinders and designators to ensure the accurate delivery of precision-guided missiles and munitions. Emerging requirements include a capability need for sensor and clip-on thermal image fusion, expanded field-of-view color night vision goggles, digital technology, SOF VAS accessory kits, SOF VAS countermeasures and a handheld target location device.

A scope for the precision sniper rifle was produced off of a new fiveyear indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity scope contract. This scope is also interchangeable with the MK13 for long-range shooting. The delivery/fielding of approximately 1,000 scopes will continue throughout FY12.

During 2011, PEO-SW fielded 107 ground vehicle-mounted VAS; 1,840 head-mounted night vision goggles; 1,566 clip-on thermal 30 | SOTECH 10.4

PM-TES develops, acquires and manages weapon systems that provide SOF with highly reliable and accurate direct action offensive capabilities to increase the combat effectiveness of operators.

The multi-purpose anti-armor anti-personnel weapon system (MAAWS) is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, recoilless, line-of-sight, re-loadable, anti-armor, anti-structure and anti-personnel weapon system. The MAAWS development effort includes a cannon caliber training round used to maintain operator proficiency while not having to consume the more expensive 84 mm combat round.

The lightweight assault weapon development activities have been updated, adding a fire-from-enclosure capability that will allow operators to fire both the M72A7 anti-armor and M72A9 anti-structure rounds from confined spaces. This improvement will also dramatically reduce the firing signature of the projectiles as they leave the weapon, helping to conceal the location of the shooter. This enhancement program will transfer to the U.S. Marine Corps in 2012 and become Navy/ Marine Corps common.

The MK13 MOD5 is part of the family of sniper weapons systems.

This weapon provides a sub minute of angle accuracy out to ranges of 1,200 yards. During FY11, the basis of issue was increased for the MK13 MOD5 (300 WINMAG) sniper rifle for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC). A quantity of 259 MK13 MOD5 sniper rifles was fielded to USASOC, and 30 were fielded to MARSOC. An additional 117 of these rifles will be fielded to USASOC during FY12.

The combat assault rifle (CAR) family of weapons includes the 40 mm enhanced grenade launcher modules, the MK17 CAR heavy (7.62 mm) assault rifles, and the MK20 (7.62 mm) sniper support rifles.

The CAR program achieved the goal of caliber modularity by fielding a 5.56 mm conversion kit for the MK17. This kit enables the MK17 to fire either 5.56 mm or 7.62 mm ammunition. In FY11, the following CAR family of weapons was fielded to SOCOM component commands: 148 each MK13 40 mm enhanced grenade launcher modules; 1,258 each MK17 CAR heavy (7.62 mm) assault rifles; and 531 each MK20 (7.62 mm) sniper support rifles. In FY12, overseas contingency operations procurement funds were acquired supporting the procurement of additional quantities of MK13s (279) and MK20s (163) for the Air Force Special Operations Command.

A precision sniper rifle (PSR) requirement (rifle and ammunition) exists to increase the effective engagement range of SOF snipers at 1,500 meters and beyond. The PSR is envisioned to replace the existing M24 and MK13 sniper systems for anti-personnel engagements.

The procurement package for a PSR system occurred in November 2011. Product bid sample testing commenced in the second quarter of FY12, followed by source selection, with contract award(s) scheduled for third quarter. A future increment will seek to replace the M107 and MK15 heavy sniper rifle for anti-materiel engagements. www.SOTECH-kmi.com

A number of weapons accessories successfully completed operational test for crew served weapons. These accessories are set to operationally enhance the M2-HB .50 caliber by providing aiming, illuminating and targeting capabilities to improve target recognition and engagement. Fielding is scheduled for the third quarter of FY12.

The Integrated Fire Control program is an approved defense acquisition challenge effort that kicked off in FY11. The goal for this program is to provide a low-cost modular and preferable integrated fire control for the M2HB, MK47, M240 and MK44 mini guns. Contract award for this effort is expected during the fourth quarter of FY12.

Two contracts were awarded in September 2011 as part of the family of muzzle brakes and suppressors program. The focus is to provide accessorized components that minimize flash, sound and thermal signature for currently fielded machine guns, M4 carbine, and the MK13 sniper rifle. The first contract was awarded for flash hiders and suppressors for the MK46 lightweight 5.56 mm belt fed machine gun and the M240B 7.62 mm belt fed machine gun. The second contract was awarded for flash hiders and suppressors for the M4 carbine and the MK13 MOD5 sniper rifle. All material is scheduled to begin fielding in the third quarter of FY12. During FY11, the program procured approximately 3,150 10.3-inch M4A1 upper receiver groups and 3,400 14.5-inch upper receiver groups.

Also in FY11, a small arms signature reduction (SASR) capabilities development document was prepared outlining the requirements for the next generation of suppressor technology. This is an R&D program and will be conducted in a phased approach with the initial contract award(s) scheduled for early fourth quarter of FY12. The objective is to provide revolutionary advancements in flash, sound and thermal suppression over current commercial off-the-shelf solutions. In addition, advancements in the areas of durability, maintainability, overall size, weight, etc., will be considered. The development effort will begin with the belt fed machine guns and then transition to the assault rifles.

Ammunition/Demolition The program manager for munitions (PM-Munitions) develops, acquires and manages SO-peculiar ammunition, demolition and breaching devices that provide SOF operators with a multitude of mission performance capabilities.

This commodity area is very dynamic, with challenges to develop ammunition and munitions that enable operators to maintain precision and accuracy at greater stand-off ranges against high-value targets (personnel and material). Ongoing munitions efforts include support to the aforementioned multi-purpose anti-armor anti-personnel weapon system and shoulder-fired lightweight assault weapon as well as the improved flash bang grenade.

In order to support the SOF weapon systems mentioned earlier, approximately 19.5 million rounds of small arms ammunition were procured in FY11, including the enhanced SOF rounds that consist of the 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm special operations special technology rounds, the 7.62 mm special ball long range, and the 220 Grain 300 WINMAG product improved sniper round. Additional rounds include the MK318 5.56 mm round, the MK319 7.62 mm round, the MK316 7.62 mm special ball long range round, and the MK248 MOD1 .300 WINMAG sniper round that extends the range of the current MK13 www.SOTECH-kmi.com

MOD5 rifle from 1,200 to 1,400 yards. All rounds provide the SOF warfighter with better accuracy, insensitivity to extreme temperatures, reduced visible signature, and consistent terminal ballistic effects over service-common small arms rounds. For MAAWS, PEO-SW fielded more than 10,000 rounds in FY11.

The improved flash bang grenade development effort is under way with funding from the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons program to improve the currently fielded flash bang devices. This program will increase the visual flash incapacitation, remove all the perchlorate oxidizers from the payload, and decrease the smoke output while keeping all other grenade parameters the same. The removal of the perchlorates will ensure the DoD is in compliance with new Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

Soldier Protection and Survival The systems acquisition manager for survival and the program manager for SOF survival, support and equipment systems are responsible for protection, individual equipment and casualty care improvements for our SOF warriors; thus R&D, testing and acquisition of personal protective and tactical casualty care continue.

The SOF Personal Equipment Advanced Requirements (SPEAR) program provides individual and personal protective equipment for special operations. The SPEAR program fields equipment that is worn or carried by SOF warfighters to increase their survivability, mobility and effectiveness. During 2011, PEO-SW fielded 740 sets of body armor plates; 1,500 body armor vests; 1,422 sets of soft filler; 926 sets of modular supplemental armor plates; 99 MICH helmets; 417 VAS mounts; 4,362 load carriage systems; 8,475 backpacks; 2,198 protective combat uniforms in various camouflage patterns, including AOR 1, AOR 2, and Multi-Cam; 2,788 modular glove systems; 78 ops-core helmets; and 3,778 MICH communications headsets. All SPEAR products are designed and developed to provide an integrated modular system for the SOF warfighter. Recent Office of the Secretary of Defense ballistic test initiatives have been integrated into the SOCOM acquisition process, and several mission-specific protective systems are now available. Optimization of signature management and camouflage initiatives are underway to provide multi-spectral protection for SOF operators. These and other technology advancements are part of the continuous product improvement efforts to advance the survivability and individual equipment for SOF operators.

The SOF counter radio controlled improvised explosive device electronic warfare (CREW)/electronic countermeasures (ECM) program provides continuous threat detection and neutralization systems to counter a range of high- and low-powered radio controlled threats.

Currently, the SOF CREW/ECM systems include both a vehicle mount and dismount system, the EGON and THOR II, respectively. In January 2011, PEO-SW completed production and fielding of both systems while sustaining 2,340 fielded EGONs and 435 THOR-IIs.

Medical Systems The program manager for medical systems (PM-Medical) is responsible for product improvement, fielding and sustainment of a full spectrum of medical devices and equipment enabling SOF personnel to SOTECH  10.4 | 31

treat and sustain the force. SOCOM continues to focus robust efforts in the medical R&D arena to discover new lifesaving technologies that can benefit our SOF warfighters at the point of injury, often in remote, denied areas. One example of SOCOM responding to an urgent medical readiness issue involved the acquisition of a freeze-dried plasma (FDP) capability for SOF medical use outside the continental United States. As a result of a series of high-level engagements, USASOC gained authorities to procure a critical lifesaving French FDP product until a domestic product is approved for use in 2016.

The program manager for SOF survival, support and equipment, in conjunction with PM-Medical, is the program manager for the SOF Tactical Combat Casualty Care program that provides for individual first-aid kits, combat medic kits and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) sets. During 2011, the program manager fielded 5,838 operator firstaid kits and 907 combat medic kits. Another high priority requirement for medical care at the point of injury includes a CASEVAC set enabling SOF to care for casualties from the point of wounding to the employment of definitive medical treatment.

In October 2011, PEO-SW awarded a contract to a system integrator to produce the CASEVAC set for SOF use; this system will provide SOF with an organic capability to extract, stabilize, mobilize and transport from the point of wounding to the point of definitive medi-

A U.S. Army soldier, from 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, trains on the advanced mobility course on an all-terrain vehicle, in Boeblingen, Germany. [Photo courtesy of U.S. Army]

cal treatment. The CASEVAC sets bring a broad range of medical and casualty evacuation capabilities such as extraction, mobility, transport and sustainment modules to SOF units in FY12.

Program Executive Office for Maritime Navy Captain Timothy Kelly leads the Program Executive Office for Maritime (PEO-M), which is dedicated to providing special operations forces warfighters with operationally effective and sustainable surface and subsurface maritime mobility platforms and maritime equipment.

PEO-M manages over $1 billion of Major Force Program-11 (MFP-11) dollars over the current Future Years Defense Plan. PEO-M’s MFP-11 management responsibility includes a wide latitude of control and decision-making authority for all budget activities, regardless of whether the SOCOM program is managed within the PEO or by a program manager in a military department. PEO-M’s portfolio includes 25 surface and subsurface acquisition programs and subprograms, with its primary customer being the Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM).

Undersea Programs Undersea programs include the SEAL delivery vehicle, dry deck shelter, diver propulsion device, semi-autonomous hydrographic reconnaissance vehicle, hydrographic mapping unit and a variety of related subsystems and pre-planned product improvement programs.

New acquisitions under development include the Shallow Water Combat Submersible [SWCS] program, Dry Combat Submersible [DCS] program, and Dry Deck Shelter/SSGN replacement studies.

The SWCS is a new wet submersible program (SWCS Block I) capable of operating from an existing dry deck shelter (DDS), and will replace the legacy SEAL delivery vehicle. The SWCS will be able 32 | SOTECH 10.4

to operate from future large ocean interfaces or surface ships and will provide the capability to conduct undersea missions in support of theater and national taskings. The primary method of launch and recovery will be from a DDS on board a host submarine, but alternative methods are available.

SOCOM has a long-term goal to develop and field an affordable small lock-in/lock-out submersible system. Prior studies and analyses have determined a number of technical challenges exist that must be overcome on the path toward fielding an affordable operational dry combat submersible. The DCS program is currently in the technology development phase and is pursuing commercial prototype submersibles. Prototypes will be utilized in conducting early operational assessment and demonstrating potential key performance parameters.

The current prototype project is progressing toward a detailed design phase. A Broad Agency Announcement was issued soliciting qualified companies to develop concept designs for prototype submersibles.

SOCOM has solicited industry solutions and plans on an anticipated delivery of the first production units in 2017.

Surface Mobility Programs Surface mobility programs include the MK V Special Operations Craft (MK V SOC), Naval Special Warfare Rigid Inflatable Boat (NSW RIB), Special Operations Craft-Riverine (SOC-R), Patrol Boat-Light (PBL), Maritime Craft Air Deployment System (MCADS), Security Force Assistance (SFA) Craft, Combatant Craft Assault (CCA) and Combatant Craft Forward Looking Infrared (CCFLIR) systems as well www.SOTECH-kmi.com

as a variety of related subsystems. New acquisition programs underway include the Combatant Craft Medium MK1 (CCM MK1), which is intended to replace the legacy NSW RIB and the SFA Craft.

Surface mobility programs are managed by the Surface Systems Program Management Office (SSPMO), which includes the Combatant Craft Medium MK1 Program Management Office. SSPMO has cradleto-grave management responsibility for in-service NAVSPECWARCOM combatant craft systems. SSPMO duties include program acquisition strategy and planning; decision risk analysis; scheduling; funding profiles; resource allocation throughout the planning, programming, budgeting and execution system; design and engineering; production; fielding and systems integration. The office also explores the commercial market for new technologies, foreign technologies and non-developmental items that offer innovative alternatives for current and future acquisitions. The SSPMO staff has the inherent capability to manage systems acquisition for engineering, procurement, program control, configuration, test, manufacturing and integrated logistics support. Currently, the office is responding to SOF requirements for new, more capable combatant surface craft to replace legacy systems and meet future demands.

SSPMO has three new acquisition programs in the next year: the CCA, the SFA-Patrol Coastal Officer (PCO) Craft and the CCM MK1.

The CCA program is the interim platform solution that will bridge the gap between the phasing out of the NSW RIB and the introduction of the CCM into the SOF inventory. The SFA-PCO Craft program will be used to train partner nations at the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School at Stennis Space Center, Miss. The CCM MK1 program will replace the legacy NSW RIB at the end of its service life. Additionally, it will function as an interim replacement for the MK V Special Operations Craft. The CCM MK1 will be a multi-role surface combatant craft with the primary mission of inserting and extracting SOF in low-to-medium threat environments. Compared with the NSW RIB, the CCM MK1 will be faster, have longer range, operate in higher

An M-ATV, the newest MRAP vehicle. [Photo courtesy of DoD]

sea states, be more survivable against modern and future threats, have superior communications and situational awareness, and have increased shock mitigation for the crew and passengers. CCM MK1 is envisioned as an essential step in providing a modern, clandestine, agile, adaptive and operationally capable maritime craft as a force multiplier within the SOF structure.

Additional Roles PEO-M actively participates in Small Business Innovation Research, Joint Capability Technology Demonstrations, and Special Operations Special Technology processes, which are administered

by SORDAC’s Directorate of Science and Technology. To fulfill these requirements, PEO-M serves as an interface among the end user, doctrinal proponent, developer, test evaluator and the SOCOM staff.

Program Executive Office for Special Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Exploitation Douglas Richardson, senior executive service, leads the Program Executive Office for Special Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Exploitation (PEO-SRSE). This PEO is responsible for the acquisition, fielding and sustainment of intelligence systems for special operations forces that contribute directly to SOCOM priorities to deter, disrupt and defeat terrorist threats and sustain and modernize the force in persistent intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance. The current and projected threats to our national security continue to evolve in response to the increased technological sophistication and effectiveness of our fielded capabilities. PEO-SRSE acquisition strategies have evolved as well—relying primarily on innovative contracting approaches, robust systems engineering processes, evolutionary technology insertions, and a prudent balance of cost, schedule and performance requirements. www.SOTECH-kmi.com

PEO-SRSE’s broadly scoped system acquisition responsibilities include technical collection, intelligence support and identity operations, supported by a uniquely organic and focused research and development (R&D) program. Responsiveness, with technical depth and program management excellence, is accomplished through product line expert matrix support of SRSE program managers.

Tagging, Tracking and Locating Systems Tagging, tracking and locating systems and enabling technologies provide SOF with critical tools to enhance situational awareness for the planning and execution of SOF missions. These capabilities allow SOF to find, fix and finish targets, such as enemy personnel and SOTECH 10.4 | 33

mobility platforms, through the emplacement of sophisticated tagging and tracking devices that feed into an integrated command and control architecture. The fielded portfolio of tagging/tracking, close-target audio and video tracking, optical tracking and close-target reconnaissance systems is continuously adapted and updated to meet dynamic SOF operational requirements across all theaters of operation.

Sensor Systems The Tactical Video System/Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition program provides sensor systems that equip SOF with enhanced stand-off capabilities for both manned and unmanned special reconnaissance missions. Capabilities within the portfolio range from man-in-the-loop imagers and data transmission devices to fully automated, programmable unattended ground sensors emplaced by SOF operators that support information and intelligence-gathering operations. Operations planning and decision-making capabilities are further enhanced with real-time and near real-time capture and transfer of imagery and data, increased situational awareness, and state-ofthe-art information display and processing.

Biometrics and Forensics Systems Biometrics and forensics system equipment provide SOF with the capability to rapidly and efficiently examine and exploit sensitive sites and to perform timely laboratory analysis of evidence in the theater of operation. Biometric tools are also used to gather and store information on captured combatants and other persons of interest and to verify the identities of local nationals seeking employment or access to foreign and domestic U.S. bases and installations. The collection of forensic evidence and the identity verification of personnel detained onsite produce actionable intelligence that expedites SOF decisionmaking processes on the ground. The deployment of mobile forensic laboratories, called exploitation analysis centers, provide in-theater capabilities for advanced forensic analysis of evidence collected onsite.

Joint Threat Warning System The Joint Threat Warning System (JTWS) provides SOF with a family of signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems that enable SOF

operators to provide their operational commanders with direct and applicable force protection, threat warning, target identification and enhanced situational awareness information. The JTWS family of systems is configured into four variants: Ground SIGINT kit, a lightweight mobile/body worn and team transportable static system with remoting and reach-back capability configurations for SOF ground forces; Air, which provides SIGINT equipment for the Air Force Special Operations Command; Precision Geo-Location, a SIGINT system that provides accurate locations for various signals of interest; and Maritime, which provides situational awareness information for the SOF MK V patrol boat. JTWS uses an evolutionary acquisition strategy with spiral development based on the latest improvements in technology.

JTWS provides systems that are integrated and, as a result, a single interface controls multiple capabilities. It has common software, so the program develops solutions once and then exports those solutions to all variants. Because it is upgradable, JTWS eliminates stovepipes and delivers a new software/hardware system that works in the existing environment. JTWS is scalable, allowing operators to task/organize equipment based on mission and anticipated signal environment.

Additionally, JTWS addresses power and weight challenges by using low-weight, alternative power sources and busing conformal antennas and wireless devices.

Distributed Common Ground/Surface System – Special Operations Forces Distributed Common Ground/Surface System – SOF (DCGSSOF) provides a globally responsive, broad set of end-to-end fixed site command, control, communications computers and intelligence and mobile/tactical tasking, processing, exploitation and dissemination (TPED) capabilities for SOF-collected intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data. DCGS-SOF is a system of systems integrated across the SOF information environment and with DoD DCGS. It is focused on developing solutions that will satisfy both current and future special operations-peculiar capability gaps and provide essential organic net-centric, collaborative and distributed ISR TPED capabilities for SOF. DCGS-SOF will enable SOF to take full advantage of all available strategic, theater and tactical ISR data and exploitation support systems. It is being developed and implemented as part of the DoD DCGS family of systems and evolving joint network-centric enterprise. DoD DCGS is the processing and exploitation component of the ISR enterprise. Key to this capability is the mandated DCGS integration backbone, which provides a common standard technical infrastructure to enable required joint integration and interoperability across the DoD.

Integrated Survey Program

Personnel practice employing a biometrics system. [Photo courtesy of DoD]

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The Integrated Survey Program (ISP) supports Joint Chiefs of Staff contingency planning by conducting comprehensive technical surveys worldwide where U.S. citizens or national interests may be at risk. The ISP surveys produce detailed tactical planning data on high-threat locations and supply the necessary information to support operational planners in formulating their tactical plans to conduct permissive or non-permissive evacuations and/or hostage rescue missions. The ISP www.SOTECH-kmi.com

supports the short-notice, quick turn-around of critical operational planning data during ongoing crises and contingency operations.

The program consists of two subsystems: data survey system (DSS) and production system (PS). DSS consists of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and government off-the-shelf (GOTS) software and hardware that comprise items such as digital still and video cameras, laptops, global positioning systems, rangefinders and common software applications. PS consists of integrated COTS and GOTS applications and hardware fielded to the SOCOM Intelligence Directorate. The ISP production responsibilities are in part delegated under the DoD Intelligence Production Program.

Counter-proliferation Analysis and Planning System The Counter-proliferation Analysis and Planning System (CAPS) program produces engineering assessments of hostile nation and non-state actor weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, facilities and activities. Assessments address DoD priorities and are used in ongoing updates to DoD contingency plans to counter WMD threats. These assessments leverage engineering competencies to analyze proliferators’ weapons production capabilities and processes at multiple levels; identify detectable signatures of proliferation; and communicate information to decision-making agencies through DoD’s computer architecture. Assessments are continuously updated to retain relevancy and support contingency planning. CAPS supports DoD and partner agency activities to understand and categorize WMD proliferation activities at multiple levels throughout the world.

miniaturization and anti-tamper measures. PEO-SRSE also oversees and manages the identification and leveraging of critical enabling technologies under its Rapid Capability Insertion Program Office, which include tactical exploitation of national capabilities (TENCAP), special reconnaissance capabilities (SRC), and clandestine tagging, tracking and locating (CTTL) programs. The key to PEO-SRSE’s success in this area is constant contact with the user and acquisition communities of interest, including their involvement in project selection and transition planning.

The TENCAP program is an intelligence systems R&D rapid prototyping effort focused on national and commercial space systems. TENCAP seeks to improve the combat effectiveness of SOF operators by leveraging service and national agency development efforts on spacebased intelligence and communications technologies and systems.

The SRC program identifies, integrates and operationalizes new capabilities to perform persistent surveillance and clandestine preparation of the battlespace against a variety of targets and mission requirements. SRC develops and delivers unattended ground sensors and other tagging, tracking and locating systems to satisfy SOF warfighterdefined capability gaps.

The CTTL program exploits emerging technologies to locate and track targets or items of interest. CTTL is a science and

Special Operations Forces Planning, Rehearsal and Execution Preparation Special Operations Forces Planning, Rehearsal and Execution Preparation (SOFPREP) provides enhanced geospatial intelligence data and three-dimensional scene visualization databases to support SOF operators worldwide. As a focal point for the gathering of sophisticated geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) source data and the generation of databases, SOFPREP integrates applications to support SOF mission and training preparation systems. GOTS/ COTS systems acquire and consolidate elevation, feature, maps, imagery and other source data required for database production.

Systems validate the geospatial accuracy and certify the use of data in the completed databases and datasets. GEOINT and three-dimensional scene visualizations are also archived for use in contingency planning, humanitarian assistance and response to natural disasters.

Geo-specific training databases use common database, Medallion, and Vital formats for SOF simulators. SOFPREP helps SOF units set the course and understand the area of operations before they get there.

Technical Support Systems The Technical Support Systems Office acquires and sustains common items and supporting systems and services that have application across the entire PEO-SRSE product portfolio. These enabling capabilities include data dissemination architectures, integration facilities, power and antenna subsystems, cabling, concealments, www.SOTECH-kmi.com

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technology development and prototyping program that is unique in its focus on SOF warfighter-defined capability gaps and selection of highly promising technology solutions.

TENCAP, SRC and CTTL resource the foundation of future capabilities that will transition into PEO-SRSE managed programs of record as evolutionary technology insertions.

Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications and Computers Anthony Davis leads the Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications and Computers (PEO-C4). Chartered in March 2009, PEO-C4 manages the development, acquisition and fielding of C4 and military information support operations (MISO) systems that collectively form the SOF information environment (SIE). The SIE is an extension of the Department of Defense Global Information Grid (GIG) that provides additional special operations-peculiar capabilities and extends those capabilities to remote, austere locations.

It allows garrison and tactical special operations forces users to reach back into the GIG to access national assets, allowing SOF elements to operate with any force combination in multiple environments.

PEO-C4’s portfolio consists of 14 programs with a budget of over $3.8 billion across the Future Years Defense Plan. It includes four primary capability areas: 1) enterprise networks, 2) transport systems, 3) tactical communications, and 4) miso and civil affairs systems.

PEO-C4 will continue to focus on the integration of state-of-theart technologies and standardization throughout the SOF community.

An additional future priority is ensuring voice, video, data and services—regardless of the source—can be properly accessed, processed and stored and made available immediately to worldwide SOF users through enterprise services. PEO-C4’s efforts emphasize the utilization of commercial off-the-shelf products and the leveraging of DoD and other government agency programs to supplement SOF capabilities.

Enterprise Networks The Enterprise Networks division is responsible for designing, acquiring, fielding and sustaining the garrison and tactical network automation infrastructure systems. It manages three PEO-C4 programs: Special Operations Command Research, Analysis and Threat Evaluation System (SOCRATES); C4 and Intelligence Automation Systems (C4IAS); and Tactical Local Area Network (TACLAN).

The SOCRATES program is the SOF extension of the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System network and is used to develop, acquire and support garrison automated intelligence system requirements for SOF organizations worldwide.

The C4IAS program is the SOF extension of the Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router Network and Secure Internet Protocol Router Network, and it is used to acquire and support garrison command, control, and collaboration requirements for SOF organizations worldwide.

The TACLAN program is the tactical equivalent of the SOCRATES and C4IAS systems; it is used to develop, acquire and support tactical command, control and collaboration requirements for SOF operational commanders and forward deployed forces.

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The Enterprise Networks programs are an important contributor to realizing some of the SOCOM chief information officer’s key initiatives for efficient and effective delivery of enterprise services to all SOF users worldwide, including consolidation of services to reduce total ownership costs. The programs operate in an evolutionary technology insertion mode through spiral development, acquisition and implementation of next-generation technology solutions.

Transport Systems The Transport Systems division is responsible for developing, acquiring, fielding and sustaining the SIE transport systems. It manages three PEO-C4 programs: SOF Deployable Node (SDN), Product Distribution System (PDS) and Scampi.

The SDN program fields command and control (C2) packages utilizing tri/quad band satellite communications (SATCOM) systems; very small aperture terminals; International Maritime Satellite Broadband Global Area Network packages; microsatellite terminals; beyond line and line-of-sight extension capabilities; and the Mobile SOF Strategic Entry Point. The SDN portfolio is composed of heavy, medium and light evolutionary technology insertion subprograms as well as a capital equipment replacement program. The SDN systems provide unclassified and classified voice, data, video teleconferencing and full motion video support to SOF personnel.

The PDS program provides the SATCOM transport path for the worldwide MISO architecture. PDS consists of fixed, heavy internet protocol presence, medium and light variants. Each variant is used at different levels of command, from the Media Operations Complex to the tactical MISO teams, to link planners with review/approval authorities, production facilities and dissemination elements.

The Scampi program is the telecommunications system that enables garrison and deployed SOF to access the SIE. It provides real-time voice, data, full motion video and video teleconferencing capabilities on various classification levels for all SOF. Scampi provides the ability to disseminate information between SOCOM, SOF deployed forces, component commands and major subordinate units, theater special operations commands, and selected government agencies and activities directly associated with SOF.

Tactical Communications The Tactical Communications Division is responsible for acquiring, fielding and sustaining the tactical communications segment of the SIE. It manages four PEO-C4 programs: Blue Force www.SOTECH-kmi.com

Tracking, Joint Tactical C4I Transceiver System, Joint Base Station/Radio Integration System, and SOF Tactical Communications.

These tactical communications systems provide the critical C2 link between SOF commanders and SOF teams deployed globally. They also provide interoperability with all services, various government agencies, air traffic control, commercial agencies and coalition forces, allowing SOF to operate with any force combination in multiple environments.

Military Information Support Operations and Civil Affairs Systems The MISO and CA Systems division is responsible for developing, acquiring, fielding and sustaining the MISO and CA segment of the SIE. It manages four PEO-C4 programs: MISO-Broadcast (MISOB), Next Generation Loudspeaker System (NGLS), MISO-Print (MISOP), and Civil Information Management Data Processing System (CIMDPS).

The MISOB program is an umbrella program consisting of the Media Production Center (MPC) heavy, medium and light; Special Operations Media System-Broadcast (SOMS-B); Fly-Away Broadcast System (FABS); and Product Distribution System (PDS). These systems primarily provide the capability to develop, produce, distribute and disseminate MISO products to overseas target audiences. The

MPC systems provide fixed and deployable multi-media production and editing capabilities with options for imagery, audio, animation and audio/video products of varying degrees of technical complexity and operational responsiveness. The SOMS-B provides a tactical, mobile, and deployable radio and television system for developing and disseminating MISO audio and video products. The FABS provides tactical and deployable, transit-case-packaged, modular radio and television systems capable of producing and disseminating MISO audio and visual products. The PDS provides the SATCOM transport path for the worldwide MISO architecture.

The NGLS program consists of six variants of modular amplifiers and speakers that can be interconnected to form sets that provide a high quality recorded or live audio capability. Equipment is transported, operated and mounted in ground vehicles, watercraft and rotary wing aircraft and is dismounted for ground operations.

The MISOP program consists of a family of systems for creating, editing and producing MISO printed materials. It consists of four variants with varying print volume and deployable capabilities as determined by mission requirements.

The CIMDPS is a fiscal year 2012 new start program. Its purpose is to provide an automation capability to assist active CA and others engaged in civil/military operations to collect, process, analyze, maintain, mine and deliver civil information and analysis products in support of military operations.

Program Executive Office for Special Operations Forces Support Activity Army Colonel Timothy Chyma leads the Program Executive Office for Special Operations Forces Support Activity (PEO-SOFSA) based out of Bluegrass Station in Lexington, Ky. PEO-SOFSA is responsible for executing SOCOM’s largest service contract vehicle, which provides a wide range of tailored contractor logistics support services to the command’s special operations forces service components and warfighters worldwide. The PEO-SOFSA mission is to support the SOF community through the execution of contracting, financial management and operations oversight to ensure dedicated, responsive and cost-effective contractor logistics support services. To meet this mission, PEO-SOFSA partners with both the warfighter and the SOFSA prime contractor to ensure best-value logistics services and products are being provided to meet the mission-critical, time-sensitive needs of the SOF community.

PEO-SOFSA awarded more than $440 million in fiscal year 2011 obligations to meet current and future DoD logistics requirements.

PEO-SOFSA oversaw the execution of more than 250 task orders during this timeframe. The majority of work performed was in support of aviation repair/modification, logistics support teams, life cycle sustainment management (LCSM) support efforts and supply/warehousing.

For the ninth consecutive year, the amount of SOF funded efforts outpaced the number of non-SOF funded programs, accounting for approximately 92 percent of the FY11 total obligated funds.

The SOFSA indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract offers the full gamut of services recognized under the elements of LCSM www.SOTECH-kmi.com

and includes design interface; sustaining engineering; supply support; maintenance planning and management; packaging, handling, storage and transportation; technical data; support equipment; training and training support; manpower and personnel; facilities and infrastructure; and computer resources.

Any DoD organization may use the SOFSA contract for their LCSM needs—as long as the desired work is within contract scope and resources exist to perform the work. Examples of work performed today include MH-60M kits and aircraft production; A/MH-6 repairs and modifications; MH-47G modifications; C-130 refurbishments; International Organization for Standardization inspections; family of special operations vehicles modifications and maintenance support; deployment of logistics support teams worldwide; SOF personal equipment advanced requirements supply operations; and joint operational stock program support. PEO-SOFSA oversees the contractor’s support to meeting all the contractual small business goals, all of which were met or exceeded in FY11.

Manpower changes and additions to the PEO-SOFSA staff began in February 2011, with more anticipated for FY12, to improve the appropriate government oversight of the complex and growing SOFSA workload. These improvements are designed to ensure PEO-SOFSA remains as the Center of Excellence for SOF logistical support and to provide a capability to rapidly meet SOF contractor logistics support service requirements when the service depots lack the capacity or responsiveness required for its mission taskings and readiness standards.

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Joint Acquisition Task Force-Agile Dagger The Joint Acquisition Task Force-Agile Dagger (JATF-AD) aggressively pursues development, testing and fielding of technologies in support of contingency requirements for operational forces deployed.

Mobile Technology and Repair Complex JATF-AD’s Mobile Technology and Repair Complex (MTRC) efforts include the use of forward engineering resources to innovate, fabricate and repair—turning great ideas into tangible, rapid onsite solutions.

During 2011, eight teams were deployed throughout Afghanistan in support of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task ForceAfghanistan mission, with a focus on village stability operations (VSO).

The MTRC workload well surpassed 2,000 work orders, including everything from a three-vehicle emergency egress tool and drop-down adapter for mine rollers to custom weapons and vehicle improvements. MTRC is also a significant resource for VSO efforts, providing metal fabrication, machining/welding, electrical wiring, carpentry, small engine, generator, night vision goggles and weapons repair capabilities, which allow rapid and robust SOF presence in austere environments.

Precision Acquisition Weaponized System This joint capability technology demonstration has continued to achieve its milestones in the exploration, development and testing to field a precision strike low-yield, limited collateral damage, miniature unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) weapon deployed from a tactical UAV. Several testing events conducted during 2011 proved this technology is achievable on a small unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The year ended with two successful live fires at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.; during the live fire, the tests demonstrated the ability to lock onto and navigate to a target utilizing optical tracking. The warhead, electrical safe and arming device, and fuse worked exceptionally well under somewhat challenging arming environments. This project incorporated numerous technologies, many of which were developed by government labs and services that enabled the government to maintain a preponderance of the intellectual property.

UAV Flight Demonstrations (Mavericks) JATF-AD provides airframe integration support for various camera, radar, weapons, radio, sensor systems and components in manned and unmanned platforms. In April 2011, the Maverick Team completed a test/demonstration of a radiation sensor at the Nevada Test Site so it could be done with live radiation sources. In May, the Maverick Team completed an automated sling load demonstration of a system designed to enable autonomous pick-up and delivery of cargo by vertical take-off and landing UAS. In August, the Maverick Team completed its largest demo to date through participation in rotary wing aircraft 38 | SOTECH 10.4

survivability experiment. All three Mavericks were utilized during the two-and-a-half-week event conducted at Yuma Proving Ground. Each Maverick had a unique bundle of hostile fire indicator (HFI) systems.

The experiment involved shooting a variety of weapons from AK-47s to RPGs and rockets at the Mavericks to test the HFI systems with close miss distances otherwise not achievable with manned helicopters; the team completed 33 flights during the test. Finally, JATF-AD formalized a cooperative research and development agreement for a small form gimbaled cameras that will be integrated onto the Maverick and tested during selected demonstrations.

Kibosh Non-Lethal Weapons During 2011, JATF-AD continued work on the Kibosh project to provide a 40 mm low velocity less-than-lethal escalation of force option to remove people from a space/deny a space. In April 2011, spiral development began for a round to perform against vessel targets; this project incorporated numerous technologies, many of which were developed by government combat acquisition detachment team members that enabled the government to maintain the intellectual property. In May, JATF-AD completed the development of a 40 mm low velocity delivery round that will insert payloads into vehicle targets to remove personnel from an enclosed space, stop a vehicle/vessel, and deny a space. Working with the Human Effects Center of Excellence and Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate, multiple payloads have been developed to disrupt and disorient people by attacking hearing, sight, and smell and creating overpressure effects. In October, JATF-AD began development of an obscuration payload under Small Business Innovation Research funding designed to provide visual impairment.

Silent Echo The Silent Echo Team has developed and matured an advanced payload to support a fixed wing requirement—a capability that will greatly improve the ability to find and fix enemy forces. This program also includes integrating the payload into an existing platform. The platform has presented unique challenges due to its particular design and size, weight and power constraints; the team, however, is successfully overcoming numerous technical challenges and has successfully demonstrated the capability. It has strong potential to be integrated into other platforms; several component commands are investigating the opportunity to test this capability.

Silent Viper JATF-AD is being funded by other agencies to develop a special payload for an existing platform to enhance present capabilities in a program of record. In 2011, the Silent Viper Team successfully completed development of three payloads and fabrication of three pods with pylons, and they completed all flight qualification test events, www.SOTECH-kmi.com

including shock and vibration, electromagnetic and environmental effects ground testing, thermal testing and structural analysis. The team also planned and coordinated flight testing conducted in January 2012. By successfully integrating this technology, JATF-AD will enhance the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability of the tactical forces.

Small Cooled Infrared The small cooled infrared initiative resulted in the development of a small cooled mid-wavelength infrared/electro-optical camera

for the Scan Eagle UAV for fixed wing. Present configurations do not include both cameras in a single turret; program development of a dual camera turret is a significant enhancement to supporting operations. This project includes modifying an existing payload for integration onto Scan Eagle. During 2011, the project team completed final design of modifications to the turret to fit into the existing Scan Eagle payload space, component fabrication, and successful bench testing. The project concluded with a successful flight test in September 2011. The payload performed as expected and was able to collect both infrared and electro-optical imagery during the same flight.

Directorate of Science and Technology Lisa Sanders leads SORDAC’s Directorate of Science and Technology (SORDAC-ST). Its mission is to create an effective science and technology (S&T) enterprise that develops the technologies and new capabilities needed by the special operations forces operator.

SORDAC-ST continues to pursue concepts and technologies that energize a think ahead, push forward approach to supporting SOF through development of technology roadmaps coordinated with program executive offices, component commands and SOF user community support and through maintained research and development (R&D) collaboration with international partners. SOCOM, inherently joint in all it does, is in a unique position to leverage and apply service and department S&T efforts to field new and improved capabilities on the battlefield.

S&T Organization – Supporting the SOF Operator SORDAC-ST has aligned the directorate into commodity-based offices to provide better linkage between S&T support and SOF material acquisition efforts. Commodity areas that now facilitate transition paths between S&T and acquisition programs for emerging capabilities include warrior systems; weapons and materials; command, control, communications and computers; power/energy and mobility; and experimentation/joint capability technology demonstrations. SORDAC-ST also manages Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects and international partnerships. This organizational structure provides increased levels of S&T engineering expertise to respond to high priority, unforeseen and/or timesensitive requirements.

SORDAC-ST plans to implement a collaborative technology development process this year through the Special Operations Advanced Technology Collaborative. This development will align SOF capability gaps with technology enablers and developers, focusing ongoing efforts across the S&T enterprise and identifying additional innovation that is required to address these gaps. Many organizations’ R&D activities often overlap SOF interests—this new process will improve coordination and collaboration among various research organizations to efficiently deliver technology to overcome SOCOM’s technology challenges.

Through comprehensive technology assessments, SORDAC-ST assesses SOF’s critical capability and technology needs and develops strategies to meet them. SORDAC-ST pursues a technology development strategy for the mid to far term. USSOCOM, as a combatant command, develops an annual S&T Integrated Priority List that outlines its broader capability needs to the DoD Research and Engineering community. SORDAC-ST is coordinating with USSOCOM program executive offices (PEOs) and component and theater special operations commands to develop advanced digital night vision capabilities, comprehensive signature management capabilities, mobile force protection systems for remotely-deployed SOF in austere environments, low profile antennas, combat identification systems and

S&T Priorities Operational enhancements focus on rapidly inserting new technologies and capabilities into the battlefield; these enhancements take hardware and software items and adapt, modify, integrate and assess their ability to rapidly meet SOF operational needs. Acquisition programs transition equipment and capabilities from successful S&T projects, and SORDAC provides them to the warfighter. www.SOTECH-kmi.com

The L-3 Communications Rover handheld unit provides comms on the move for special operators. [Photo courtesy of L-3 Communications]

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related technologies, shock mitigating equipment and other improved capabilities for SOF mobility platforms, novel materials to improve protection and performance, non-lethal weapons, mobile systems that detect, identify, locate and defeat threats, improved precision targeting and strike capabilities, mobile distributed common architectures, and efforts to support tagging, tracking and locating.

Technology roadmaps are developed, coordinated and integrated with each SOCOM PEO to improve the ability to select, manage and transition projects funded by core research, SBIRs and international project agreements. These roadmaps guide SOCOM resourcing to meet multiple SOF requirements, critical gaps and needs while increasing the potential for technology transitions.

Technical Experimentation and Demonstrations SORDAC-ST, in collaboration with the Naval Postgraduate School, continues to sponsor quarterly Tactical Network Testbed events where capability and mission-based experimentation is conducted to provide focus for industry’s emerging technologies and capabilities to support SOF. Technical experimentation creates synergy among industry partners and academia and connects SOF operators to developers.

Demonstrations showcase SOF-related technologies, assess military utility, and help develop complementary concepts of operations.

Demonstrations often leverage resources from different sponsors and serve to accelerate technology insertions into acquisition programs.

SORDAC-ST is an active participant in the DoD’s Joint Capability Technology Demonstration program and also conducts independent Advanced Technology Demonstrations.

Small Business Innovation Research SORDAC-ST manages SOCOM’s SBIR program, which supports the full spectrum of the directorate’s commodity areas. The SBIR program stimulates technology innovation in small businesses, awarding contracts to discover, develop and rapidly insert new capabilities to solve SOF needs. SORDAC-ST awarded 20 SBIR efforts in fiscal year 2011 and plans to award 34 SBIR efforts in FY12.

International Partnerships SORDAC-ST’s International Agreements Office oversees the Special Forces Equipment Capability Memorandum of Understanding with special forces from the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

SOCOM’s international efforts focus on more mature technologies that can become rapid capability insertions, leveraging partner nation R&D capacity through mutual collaboration.

Capability Transition One of SORDAC’s top priorities is to “Accelerate the Force.”

SORDAC-ST is working closely with the SOF user community, PEOs and the Joint Acquisition Task Force to provide a more rapid, successful transition of technologies into acquisition programs of record.

SORDAC-ST will serve as the enabler for the center to fulfill future SOF warfighter needs, and it is well positioned to support the future strategic vision by aligning longer-term technology development efforts with capabilities needed for that future state.

Acquisition Services Leah Treppel leads SORDAC’s Services Acquisition Management Office (SORDAC-AS), which was established in July 2011. SORDACAS provides the SOCOM commander and acquisition executive an innovative approach to improve the efficiency and oversight in the administration of all SOCOM service contracts. Additionally, the office supports SOCOM, component commands and theater special operations commands with services acquisition training, requirements documentation, policy and process oversight, and contract administration support to requiring activities.

SORDAC-AS focuses on the effective and efficient management of over $1.5 billion spent each year on contracted services in support of special operations forces. The acquisition professionals in the office

coordinate with requiring activities throughout the command to ensure scarce special operations resources are used in the most effective manner to support our war fighting mission. Office personnel work side-by-side with the requiring activities’ points of contact across the organization to ensure services requirements are clearly articulated to support the most optimal acquisition strategy.

By exercising the services acquisition senior manager’s responsibilities for governance in planning, execution, strategic sourcing and management of service contracts, SORDAC-AS collects and reports on all data required to provide visibility of services contracts to SOCOM’s commander and acquisition executive, and ultimately to Congress, as required under public law.

Directorate of Acquisition Comptroller Margaret Iverson leads the SORDAC Directorate of Acquisition Comptroller (SORDAC-AC), a flexible, surge-capable organization dedicated to supporting the procurement, delivery and 40 | SOTECH 10.4

sustainment of special operations (SO)-peculiar equipment from cradle to grave. The directorate prepares all acquisition budget submissions, analyzes the organization’s financial health and reports trends, www.SOTECH-kmi.com

and recommends funding-related courses of action to the acquisition executive, program executive officers and directors. SORDAC-AC also oversees the development, integration and presentation of briefings to congressional staffers and reviews all congressional requests for information to ensure financial aspects and programmatic impacts are considered.

FY11 marked a significant transition in SORDAC’s financial management capability. SORDAC-AC managed a checkbook worth $4.1 billion, processed more than 5,000 documents in support of

the day-to-day mission, and supported the development, submission and defense of SOCOM’s FY13 president’s budget request. Equally impressive was the implementation of informative, portal-based visual management tools that enabled the center to accomplish its mission of providing SO-peculiar equipment and materials to the warfighter.

Recently, SORDAC-AC reorganized based on initial lessons learned. To improve its effectiveness, SORDAC-AC now has a military deputy and four divisions: Programming & Budgeting, Execution, Integration and Classified.

Directorate of Resources and Analysis Theodore Koufas leads the SORDAC Directorate of Resources and Analysis (SORDAC-RA). Its mission is to improve the ability of the acquisition executive, program executive officers, directors and program managers to modernize and sustain special operations forces to defend the United States and its interests. The directorate is composed of two divisions: Acquisition Policy and the Technology and Industry Liaison Office/Office of Small Business Programs. The divisions are responsible for acquisition policy, acquisition support and rapid acquisition support; industry/small business interface; and center tasking and development of strategic planning initiatives. SORDAC-RA also

includes five staff elements: Personnel/Manpower Support, Security Support, System Safety Engineer/Developmental Test Support, Facilities Support, and Center Tasking and Operational Support. The staff elements provide critical specialized support, including workforce development; information security and operations security oversight; safety policies and guidance support; center facilities maintenance and modification activities oversight; and center taskings (internal and external) and other operational support, including acquisition executive staff meetings, continuity of operations/disaster prep and readiness.

Logistics Directorate (J4) Army Colonel Scott Portugue leads the Directorate of Logistics, which plans, coordinates, synchronizes and integrates strategic and operational logistic requirements and acquisition sustainment strategy to support, sustain and modernize special operations forces (SOF) worldwide. The directorate performs these functions in coordination with the combatant and unified commands and the joint sub-unified and component commands. During the recent reorganization of SORDAC, the Directorate of Logistics re-integrated into the center to reinforce the cradle to grave life cycle management under the acquisition executive in concert with DoD guidance. This re-integration will streamline acquisition functions and processes while maximizing synergy within the headquarters.

Materiel Division The Materiel Division (J4-M) acts as the strategic materiel manager and is responsible for managing the authorization, cataloging, accountability and disposal of special operations (SO)-peculiar materiel. On April 23, 2010, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics officially designated SOCOM as a primary inventory control activity (PICA) for all SO-peculiar materiel. Based on the PICA designation, the Federal Cataloging Committee, in conjunction with the services, generated specific catalog coding to support the creation of a source of supply (SOS) for SO-peculiar materiel. SOS H9D was www.SOTECH-kmi.com

created with specific major organization entity rules to allow the management of SO-peculiar materiel within each of the service’s accountability, maintenance and supply logistics management information systems. On October 1, 2011, approximately 5,000 national stock numbers transitioned to SOS H9D. In addition to transitioning the SOS, J4-M has been conducting end-to-end testing with the services’ supply systems to enable MILSTRIP [Military Standard Requisitioning and Issue Procedures] requisitioning and status capabilities.

Operations and Plans Division The Operations and Plans division (J4-O) serves as the tip of the spear for the Directorate of Logistics’ sustainment efforts. Its mission is to optimize logistics support for the approximately 66,000 SOF personnel executing worldwide contingency operations; key functional areas include not only logistical support, but also readiness assessment and strategic planning. J4-O assigns dedicated logistics officers to reach the regionally-focused Global Support Group within the SOCOM Directorate of Operations (J3). These embedded officers maintain situational awareness of theater-specific requirements and, when required, deploy to assist theater Special Operations Command missions. They actively coordinate logistical solution sets to include leveraging the combat mission needs statement (CMNS), 1208 and similar processes. The CMNS represents critical material needs for either a new or existing SOTECH 10.4 | 41

Office of the Secretary of Defense, the joint staff, four-star combatant commands and other government agencies to complete strategic-level studies, review new and existing operational plans for logistics feasibility, and explore cutting-edge proofs of concept. These efforts lead to the development of effective policies and procedures and feed input to the Joint Strategic Planning System and the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System.

Acquisition and Sustainment Division Special operations dog handlers in Afghanistan. [Photo courtesy of DoD]

capability requiring fast-track development, acquisition and fielding. The 1208 refers to Section 1208 of the 2005 National Defense Authorization Act and allows for the provision of up to $25 million in equipment support per year for foreign entities directly engaged in supporting U.S. SOF operations combating terrorism.

When it comes to readiness assessment, the Defense Readiness Reporting System provides key system of record inputs. To fulfill the mandate to monitor preparedness, logisticians must continually review and analyze equipment status information measured against the Joint Mission Essential Task List. The process, as expected, involves the application of both art and science to paint an accurate picture of SOF readiness postures and identify courses of action that maximize equipment readiness.

Beyond addressing the needs of today, J4-O works to shape the logistics support structures of tomorrow by coordinating with the

The Acquisition and Sustainment division (J4-A) is responsible for the performance of independent assessments of life cycle sustainment, readiness and supportability of SO-peculiar equipment and systems procured with Major Force Program-11 funds. J4-A assigns logisticians who provide direct interface with SORDAC, program executive offices, program offices, other SOCOM organizations, and components to support, sustain and modernize SOF worldwide. Assigned logisticians conduct integrated logistics support assessments to determine viability of program support necessary to meet operational capability and needs.

J4-A is responsible to review adequacy of program life cycle cost estimates and ensures all SOF-procured items are properly catalogued and inventoried in applicable information systems. In support of these acquisition, fielding and sustainment efforts, J4-A assists in the preparation and staffing of documents, including fielding and deployment releases and material fielding plans. Lastly, J4-A provides subject matter experts in direct support of SOCOM’s flying hour program for U.S. Army Special Operations Command and Air Force Special Operations Command aircraft.

Procurement Directorate Air Force Colonel Kurt Bergo leads the SORDAC Directorate of Procurement (SORDAC-K). Its mission is to rapidly transform acquisition strategies into superior technologies, equipment and services for special operations forces worldwide. To meet this challenging mission, SORDAC-K’s vision is to be DoD’s finest contracting team and provide rapid, focused and innovative support to SOF. SORDAC-K directly supports the SOCOM acquisition executive, SORDAC and other SOCOM joint staff directorates. SORDAC-K awards commandwide, large-dollar special operations equipment and performance-based service contracts. It fulfills its mission through 20 contracting offices located throughout the continental United States.

Each office is geographically situated to provide support to a particular SOCOM program executive office, directorate, or service SOF component or unit. Additionally, SORDAC-K manages contingency contracting operations in support of overseas contingency operations (OCO). In 2011, SORDAC-K awarded a number of key contracts, including: Special Operations Forces Information Technology Enterprise Contract, Non-Standard Commercial Vehicles, and Combatant Craft Medium MK1. SOCOM has a good track record of meeting or exceeding the command’s competition goals—in FY11, the command exceeded the 61 percent goal by competing 66 percent of total dollars obligated.

42 | SOTECH 10.4

SORDAC-K strives to apply innovative and streamlined contracting practices in every acquisition process. Within DoD and through the military departments, it may take several weeks for a proposed contract award to be approved. In contrast, SOCOM can approve contract awards in just a few days, or less, if needed. This streamlined process can be attributed to several factors. First, SOCOM has been delegated its own procurement authority. Second, SOCOM’s acquisition approval authorities are resident at the same location as the program and contracting teams at the headquarters. Third, contract quality reviewers participate in integrated product team meetings and other early planning meetings to help expedite the approval process and to minimize misunderstandings rather than inspect quality into the product in the final phase of the process before contract award. Collectively, these factors effectively minimize the organizational distance between the contracting officer and the approving official, which results in expedited approvals.

By using innovative techniques, minimizing organizational friction and streamlining procurement processes, SORDAC-K is able to execute rapid acquisitions crucial to the success of our SOF warriors participating in OCO. Each day, on average, SORDAC-K awards over 50 contracting actions worth more than $12 million. www.SOTECH-kmi.com

Acquisition Policy Jack “JJ” Duran leads the Acquisition Policy division. The interface to the DoD acquisition policy community, the Acquisition Policy division is responsible for ensuring DoD and SOCOM acquisition guidance and direction are included in the center’s acquisition functions.

This is accomplished primarily by integrating DoDI 5000.02, Defense

Acquisition System, requirements into the HQ SOCOM Directive 70-1, SOCOM Acquisition Management System Policy. The division then develops and implements policies, processes and products designed to assist the center’s acquisition organizations with DoDI 5000.02 and SOCOM Directive 70-1 compliance.

Technology and Industry Liaison Office/ Office of Small Business Programs Christopher Harrington leads the Technology and Industry Liaison Office (TILO). SOCOM established the TILO to assist industry representatives and the command with communications, collaboration and connections that facilitate business opportunities and a better understanding of the command’s acquisition interests.

Specifically, the TILO is the primary point of contact for the submission of white papers on areas of interest that are relevant to SOCOM and then connects industry’s best ideas and capabilities to the right organizations within the command. Because partnerships with industry have a direct impact on the success of the SOF warfighter, SOCOM is committed to ensuring industry has the information necessary to determine which opportunities best suit their business and where to find more information.

The TILO publishes SOCOM’s capability areas of interest on its website, and industry’s large and small businesses, entrepreneurs, research companies, labs and academia can access the information and submit their ideas directly to the command. The TILO team provides direct communication with submitters regarding subject matter expert interest in the capabilities submitted, and they assist with the possible application of those ideas and capabilities to solutions for warfighters.

On the SORDAC website (www.socom.mil/sordac), the TILO also receives and coordinates unsolicited proposals (in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 15.6) and cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) for SOCOM. CRADAs provide a collaborative mechanism for SOCOM to partner with industry on research and development initiatives with mutually desirable results. Through CRADAs, SOCOM is able to provide direct feedback to industry as they commit funding to develop or mature new technology and demonstrate or provide it to the command for testing. This feedback serves as intellectual capital that companies and researchers can use to guide their future work and to further develop solutions for SOF warfighter needs. In addition, these agreements often serve as a springboard for companies to market their technologies to other services and government agencies and to commercialize their technology in the private sector. www.SOTECH-kmi.com

The TILO educates, trains, informs and assists the command and industry with communications and events that strengthen government and industry ties. They work closely with the Directorate of Science and Technology, program executive offices, and various SOCOM personnel who provide the scientific, technical and engineering assistance to help assess all submitted information.

The TILO also organizes, maintains and archives the capabilities information for collaboration within SOCOM. The TILO developed the Business Partner Network—a place for industry to self-register their capabilities under the various command areas of interest. This development affords industry the ability to network and form relationships to aid SOCOM; it also provides valuable market research information for headquarters personnel.

In addition to leading TILO, Harrington serves as the director of the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) for SORDAC. The OSBP is designated to advocate on behalf of small businesses; it strives to meet the goals mandated by Congress and the office of the secretary of defense, ensuring equal opportunities to conduct business with the command. The OSBP provides information and guidance on defense procurement policies and procedures as well as methods for identifying prime contracting and subcontracting opportunities. SOCOM continually strives to increase the number of contract awards to small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, woman-owned small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, historically underutilized business zones, and historically black colleges, universities and minority institutions.

SOCOM did well in supporting small businesses in fiscal year 2011. The command awarded 25.2 percent of all prime dollars to small businesses, which represented over $620 million in prime award dollars. The command exceeded its small disadvantaged businesses goal along with its woman-owned small businesses and historically underutilized business zones goals. Overall, FY11 was a successful year for the OSBP. To contact the TILO or OSBP with questions, you may call Harrington at 813-826-9475 or email the offices at tilo@socom.mil and christopher.harrington@socom.mil, respectively. O SOTECH 10.4 | 43

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New Video Access Systems Set for UAVs Boeing completed the first delivery of its tactical cross-domain technology, eXMeritus HardwareWall, to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. for integration into the Ground Control Station of the Predator/Reaper remotely piloted vehicle.

The delivery is part of a contract from GA-ASI that includes additional deliveries of HardwareWall and associated information assurance and engineering support.

EXMeritus HardwareWall improves the ability of intelligence analysts and warfighters to

securely access videos and imagery from the MQ-1Predator and MQ-9 Reaper.

“Our customers acknowledge that one of the most important challenges today is the need for better collaboration on mission planning and execution,” said Jonathan Moneymaker, director, Boeing Intelligence Systems Group. “Our solution provides fast, secure transfer of real-time Predator information, enabling greater collaboration and information sharing across multiple secure networks.”

Advances Sought for UGV Mobility and Manipulation The use of ground robots in military explosive ordnance disposal missions already saves many lives and prevents thousands of other casualties. If the current limitations on mobility and manipulation capabilities of robots can be overcome, robots could potentially assist warfighters across a greater range of missions.

DARPA’s Maximum Mobility and Manipulation (M3) program seeks to create and demonstrate significant scientific and engineering advances in robot mobility and manipulation capabilities. A DARPA video shows a modified iRobot 510 PackBot equipped with an advanced suspension system maneuvering on a test course. The compliant suspension improves the robot’s mobility over rough and uneven terrain.

The technological enhancement enables faster transit speeds, climbing of very steep slopes, improved heading control, greater accommodation of debris entering the suspension and reduced impact forces on carried payloads.

M3 is a research program aimed at improving robot capabilities through fundamentally new approaches to the engineering of better design tools, fabrication methods and control algorithms.

The program covers scientific advancement across four parallel tracks: design tools, fabrication methodologies, control methods and technology-demonstration prototypes. The prototypes demonstrated are designed to test technological advances in robotics across a range of functions, and are not necessarily intended to enter production for military use.

The DARPA M3 performer for the Advanced Suspension for Improved Mobility system is iRobot of Bedford, Mass. www.SOTECH-kmi.com

New Devices to Cut Weight, Cost, Size of Systems Raytheon Company has been awarded an 18-month, $1.8 million contract by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop next-generation gallium nitride devices bonded to diamond substrates.

The technology, called Thermally Enhanced Gallium Nitride (TEGaN), seeks to increase the power handling capability of GaN devices by at least three times. TEGaN enables state-of-the-art transistors and monolithic microwave integrated circuits to achieve their full performance potential by reducing thermal resistance. TEGaN acts as a multiplier for GaN’s unique qualities, which may dramatically reduce the cost, size, weight and power of defense assets, such as communications systems. Over the course of the 18-month contract, Raytheon seeks to develop and test TEGaN’s capabilities and establish a clear path to technology insertion into military systems.

New Online Store Opens for Military to Obtain Rugged Computers General Dynamics C4 Systems has created an online store for customers to identify, compare and purchase a full range of accessories and ruggedized computers from General Dynamics. Powered by Group Mobile, the online store features a chat capability that connects customers with trained specialists who can recommend the various products and accessories that match their system requirements.

Tom “TK” Kreidler, vice president of worldwide product sales for General Dynamics C4 Systems, said, “From power cords to carrying cases to rugged computers, the new online store is a fast and cost-effective option for small procurements of computers and accessories. The site is also a convenient source to view the latest promotions and special offers from General Dynamics.”

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SOF Leader

Q& A

Admiral Sees Adequate SOF Personnel Strength; SEAL Submersible Needed

Admiral Bill H. McRaven Commander Special Operations Command

Admiral Bill McRaven is the ninth commander of United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. SOCOM ensures the readiness of joint special operations forces and, as directed, conducts operations worldwide.

He served from June 2008 to June 2011 as the 11th commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C. JSOC is charged to study special operations requirements and techniques, ensure interoperability and equipment standardization, plan and conduct special operations exercises and training, and develop joint special operations tactics.

McRaven served from June 2006 to March 2008 as commander, Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR). In addition to his duties as commander, SOCEUR, he was designated as the first director of the NATO Special Operations Forces Coordination Centre where he was charged with enhancing the capabilities and interoperability of all NATO special operations forces.

McRaven has commanded at every level within the special operations community, including assignments as deputy commanding general for operations at JSOC; commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group One; commander of SEAL Team Three; task group commander in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility; task unit commander during Desert Storm and Desert Shield; squadron commander at Naval Special Warfare Development Group; and, SEAL platoon commander at Underwater Demolition Team 21/SEAL Team Four.

McRaven’s diverse staff and interagency experience includes assignments as the director for Strategic Planning in the Office of Combating Terrorism on the National Security Council Staff; assessment director at SOCOM, on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations, and the chief of staff at Naval Special Warfare Group One. McRaven’s professional education includes assignment to the Naval Postgraduate School, where he helped establish, and was the first graduate from, the Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict curriculum.

Q: What are your priorities for the SOF Enterprise?

A: I have four priorities. The first priority, “Win the Current Fight,” means implementing a plan where SOF supports the www.SOTECH-kmi.com

president’s national military strategy. This clearly includes a heavy emphasis on Afghanistan, but in today’s global fight, we must continue our application of the direct and indirect approaches to deny, degrade and deter violent extremist organizations. I often remind people that while the direct approach captures everyone’s attention, we must not forget that these operations only buy time and space for the indirect and broader governmental approaches to take effect. Enduring success can only be achieved through the application of indirect operations, with an emphasis in building partner nation capacity and mitigating the conditions that make populations susceptible to extremist ideologies.

The second priority is to expand SOF’s capabilities by working with the combatant commands, interagency and allied and partner special operations forces to strengthen the global SOF network.

The current fiscal reality has made this priority exceedingly important not only in the U.S., but worldwide. Basically, we have to find new solutions to effectively operate in this environment, and SOF has the ability to operate in this environment—with a small, unobtrusive and cost-effective footprint. The goal of this network is to improve our allies and partners’ capacity to address a myriad of emerging threats that threaten us all. All these initiatives will be worked through the Joint Staff, office of the secretary of defense, State Department and ultimately the geographic combatant commanders for which they are designed.

SOTECH 10.4 | 47

Rangers run in a competition at Fort Benning, N.C. [Photo courtesy of John Helms, via Fort Benning PAO]

The genesis of this idea comes from my days as the SOCEUR commander when we established the NATO SOF Coordination Cell, which eventually became today’s NATO-SOF Headquarters [NSHQ]. The NSHQ has paid tremendous dividends by establishing a vehicle to conduct NATO-SOF centric professional military education, combined training opportunities and informationsharing opportunities. This has proved invaluable to our efforts in Afghanistan, where its success has led to an increase in our collective SOF partnering efforts and an expansion of overall SOF capabilities throughout ISAF. Critical to this, and all of our current initiatives, is that we as an enterprise must improve our leader development and education programs. These programs will result in tailored SOF professional military education and training opportunities to include key combined, joint and interagency assignments. SOCOM is working with the services to effectively manage career progression of SOF leaders. To be clear, the future success of SOF depends on expanding key career milestones, training and education to better prepare SOF leaders for today’s complex environment. We must resist the temptation to read our own press and rest on our laurels; we must remain adaptive and relevant. In the 25 years since SOCOM was created, we have adapted and performed beyond expectations—but times are changing and our enemies are on the move.

In order to accomplish the first two priorities, we must preserve our force and families. We’ve been at war for over 10 years and the cumulative physical and emotional strain we’ve experienced requires careful attention and immediate action. To combat this problem, I have appointed a brigadier general and my command sergeant major to lead the Preservation of the Force and Families Task Force, which is an inter-disciplinary team, empowered to build and implement innovative solutions across the SOCOM components. The task force is currently working on the following 48 | SOTECH 10.4

initiatives: improving the force’s predictability, which will provide our families the ability to spend more quality time together with less distraction; institutionalizing our resiliency programs, which will focus on the prevention and treatment of underlying issues relating to physical, mental and spiritual well-being for the force and families, as well as tying into our other human performance and the Care Coalition Programs; and human performance programs that emphasize sports medicine, strength coaches, nutritionists and physical therapists to maintain the force in the best condition possible. Underpinning these initiatives is the need for the force to improve its communications—within its families and organizations. To fix this problem, we are implementing a variety of tools such as Facebook and other social media.

Our people are our most valuable asset and I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure our outstanding SOF warriors and their families are taken care of—now and for years to come.

Q: U.S. forces have withdrawn from Iraq, and a drawdown in Afghanistan is planned, causing demand for special ops missions to increase faster than the doubling to a 66,000 end strength since September 11. Is it possible to increase the numbers of new special operators emerging from training, perhaps with an enlarged training program?

A: Our current growth is on track with where we need to be as a force. The 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review established our final end strength to be about 71,000, and I do not think we need to grow any larger or faster. We are maintaining a 3-5 percent growth rate, which will be complete by 2015. I am absolutely convinced that we can accomplish our mission with this number, and I think we need to be careful about growing too big—or else we risk losing some of what makes us “special.” www.SOTECH-kmi.com

Q: In the fiscal year 2013 budget, there is support for special operations. However, many programs in the larger services are cut. Will those reductions pose a problem for special operators needing insertion, extraction, logistics and other vital functions?

A: While we have experienced cuts, they have been relatively small in nature when compared to the level of cuts the services are facing. I trust the decision-makers who are required to make hard but necessary choices in this austere fiscal environment. As we go forward, we must remain closely aligned with the services, as they provide a vast amount of support, especially with enablers and the service-provided capabilities that we absolutely depend on. Therefore, we need to be cognizant of how current budget challenges impact the services’ ability to support SOF. Q: Support provided to SOF by the larger services includes aircraft such as the CV-22 Osprey, gunships and UAVs for ISR. Are special ops organizations currently able to perform all missions involving aircraft that are requested by combatant commanders, or do you need access to more aircraft for missions?

A: Overall, I think we are OK. We have the support necessary to perform our missions and if required, there is a system in place for the units that are forward to request more through the commanders that they work for or the ground component commanders [GCCs]—this includes ISR, airlift and other capabilities. The

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bottom line is that the GCCs do a great job in supporting SOF overseas, which is testament to the relationships built over the last 10 years of war.

Q: In the 20th century, we saw massive land forces and large naval groups opposing each other. But in the 21st century, we appear to be in an era of asymmetric forces, such as terrorist groups on the one hand, and swift, surgical striking teams such as special operators employed by the United States. Have we entered an epoch where we can discount the threat of large military forces confronting us?

A: We shouldn’t discount any threats that potentially impact the well-being of our nation, allies and our partners. One thing I’ve learned is that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to predict where the next threat will emerge. What we can do is ensure we are best prepared to answer our nation’s call when and where necessary. Whether the threat is asymmetric and unconventional or a traditional, large military force, I’m focused on manning, training and equipping our force to be agile, responsive and problemsolving in nature.

Q: As a SEAL, you know that a dry submersible would be an excellent means of transporting SEALs from ship to objective.

What is the status of this program?

A: The new strategy of the Dry Combat Submersible [DCS] program will build on other successful SOF commercial-to-military acquisition programs. It will use state-of-the-art commercial submersible technologies, which will produce a family of submersibles with varying capabilities that are transportable, reliable, affordable and fully meet the SOF requirement. The DCS program is currently in the technology development phase and is pursuing commercial prototype submersibles. Prototypes will be utilized in conducting early operational assessment and demonstrating potential key performance parameters.

Q: Can you describe the balance that SOCOM and its subordinate units strike between kinetic operations on the one hand, and non-kinetic functions such as civil affairs/military information support operations, providing assistance to governments and militaries and more?

A: Maintaining a balance between the direct [kinetic] and indirect [non-kinetic] approach is exceedingly important. When the commander-in-chief calls upon us to conduct a no-notice mission of national importance, then we cannot and will not fail. However, everyone in SOF understands that to build an enduring solution to violent extremism, you must use a whole of government approach centered around many of our SOF core competencies such as foreign internal defense, security fault analysis, military information support operations, unconventional warfare and counterinsurgency when required.

Q: How is SOCOM positioned to build the global SOF network?

A: As an institution, SOF is well positioned to strengthen a network that has been slowly built over the years. This network is a natural extension of what we have been doing for decades. www.SOTECH-kmi.com

Expanding the SOF network is about increasing and strengthening our partnerships throughout the global SOF enterprise. With current fiscal constraints, not only in the U.S. but worldwide, we have to find new solutions to effectively operate in the current strategic environment. In the U.S., and in particular over the last 10 years, the nation has recognized the value of SOF in this ambiguous environment. I want to assist other nations’ SOF capabilities to help deal with the myriad of emerging threats. All of these initiatives will be worked through the Joint Chiefs of Staff, office of the secretary of defense, State Department and the geographic combatant commanders. But … there is a clear recognition that developing enduring partnerships is a key component of our longterm military strategy.

Q: Could you assess for us just how much special operations missions have hurt the enemy, how much they have taken out of the leadership of al-Qaida and other hostile organizations since September 11?

A: The preponderance of SOF’s effort in Afghanistan is currently applied towards protecting the population and increasing local capacity through village stability operations [VSO] and developing the Afghan local police [ALP]. This includes training Afghan security forces to protect their local population and improvements they have made in their local villages. VSO/ALP also serves as a bridge from the local villages to district and provincial

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governance. In short, it ties security, governance and development into one effort designed to help Afghans help themselves. However, I would also add that our direct kinetic operations are valuable and complementary to our VSO/ALP efforts as they create chaos within the enemy’s network. This chaos buys the space and time to support the expansion of VSO/ALP in Afghanistan. Overall, I would argue that we need ARSOF to be problem solvers first and foremost. By excelling in this area, we are better armed to make the right decisions, apply the right approach or mixture of approaches with the right balance.

Clearly, we need to continue to improve our understanding and respect for other cultures, improve our language capability and cultivate our ability to build relationships—but these skills are simply the tools we use to help us define and develop solutions to the problem.

Q: Finally, do you have any concluding thoughts on the remarkable warfighters, the special operators and all their support personnel?

A: In my opinion, they are the best of the best. They have sacrificed and served with honor for many years and our nation should be exceedingly proud of the SOF warriors. As we look to the future, regardless of where we are needed, I am confident that SOF will be ready to answer our nation’s call, and I am truly honored to lead this magnificent command. O

8/23/11 1:52 PM

SOTECH 10.4 | 51

Breaching Systems Penetrating walls, windows and doors is simple with tough tools.

By Henry Canaday SOTECH Correspondent

Breaking through, or breaching, obstacles such as doors, windows, walls, wires, vehicles or vessels has become a critical part of counterinsurgency and counter-terror operations.

A variety of tools has been developed, ranging from sophisticated systems to simple but effective gear, to do these essential jobs. Each tool can be matched to the toughness of the obstacle and specific tactical situation. And firms continue to evolve improvements to make breaching equipment more effective and safer to use.

For example, torches are handy for getting through a variety of tough obstacles. Wilcox Industries makes tactical exothermic torches for breaching, noted Patriot and Training Program Manager Tim West. “They can cut through anything: bars, inch-thick steel, cement or hinges,” West emphasized. “You are looking at more than 2,000 degrees at the tip.”

There are three different versions, defined by the sizes of their oxygen cylinders. The 56-cubic-inch cylinder can fit into a pocket or be carried on a belt, so the torch is highly portable.

The 95-cubic-inch cylinder is carried on a sling and gives more duration. The 285-cubic-inch cylinder is carried in a backpack system and provides the most supply of oxygen for the longest and toughest jobs.

A unique handle on Wilcox torch systems, known as the Hellboy, enables easy and quick change-out of torching rods.

Wilcox torches are sold in kits, complete with collateral equipment, such as ignition devices, rods, charging hoses and safety features.

52 | SOTECH 10.4

West emphasized that Wilcox torching systems are not converted from commercial or industrial models, but were specially designed for tactical use by military and law enforcement units.

Sometimes the real challenge is not getting though, but over, the obstacle.

So Battelle makes the Tactical Air Initiated Launcher (TAIL) for getting over high vertical obstacles. Program Manager Jim Labine explained that Navy Sea, Air, and Land Teams (SEALs) wanted to overcome obstacles in the 60- to 100foot range. “We made this to shoot 120 vertical feet,” Labine said.

TAIL had to be pneumatic to exploit other SEAL equipment. It is shoulderfired and similar in trigger position to the M4 carbine, so muscle memory will assist use. “Apart from the trigger, it has only one moveable part, so it is also rugged,” Labine said. Additional safety features have been incorporated.

TAIL has been fielded for about eight years. Only SEALS use it in the U.S. military, although there have been some sales to civilian organizations.

The current TAIL can shoot a line over 100 vertical feet, and then an initial climber gets up this line with a ladder.

Or TAIL can shoot the ladder itself up 50 vertical feet. The launcher comes in a kit with a pole, so low and medium distances can be scaled in several ways.

Battelle is talking to the Army about a modified version of TAIL. “They have different needs and want higher distances,” Labine noted. “So we must decide how to make it go higher.” For example, by removing the TAIL’s piston, it has been shot up to 500 feet. www.SOTECH-kmi.com

Labine said the Army may want to use TAIL for urban or mountain operations. “Our target audience is probably searchand-rescue seeking to go 300 to 350 feet.”

Former SEAL and now Battelle Program Manager Mike McCarthy emphasized that the company listens to customers or potential customers and seeks to tweak its existing products to suit their needs.

Going well beyond tweaking current products, Battelle’s Energetics group is now working on several new technologies that show promise for better breaching, according to Project Manager Ron Loeser.

Battelle has been working with the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) on linear shaped charges for breaching reinforced concrete walls. ARDEC wants a wall breaching kit that can blast a man-sized hole in an 8-inch wall of concrete, a wall with compression strength of 3,500 pounds per square inch and a double mesh of reinforcement bar.

That is a very tough requirement. Battelle has experimented with different solutions of various shapes, configurations and both single and multiple initiation points. The end result is a bimaterial shaped charge. When detonated, a pure copper charge creates a jet that is great for penetrating steel or armor, but not so good with concrete, Loeser said. But the bi-material charge has put a hole in the reinforced concrete, at least in a laboratory test.

“We think we can eventually get to a man-sized hole.”

Battelle’s bi-material shaped charge uses only one initiator, simplifying things quite a bit. Each of four segments has only 3.8 pounds of composite C4, a lighter explosive content than had been used before. Battelle is now looking for government or industry partners to help mature and optimize the technique.

The second Energetics project is a tankless exothermic torch.

Teams use exothermic torches, such as those provided by Wilcox, to cut through doors or walls that have reinforced bars, window bars or bulkheads. Currently, these teams must carry oxygen canisters, often tanks on their backs for tougher jobs. These tanks are subject to rupture, by ballistics or fragmentation, endangering the team.

Battelle’s solution uses bi-modal blending of larger particles with finer particles. “Even when you pack energetic materials, oxidizers, fuels and propellants tightly, there is still some void space between particles,” Loeser explained. By packing finer particles into these void spaces in rods or handles, there is no oxygen gas released until burning starts.

Early experiments have shown the tankless torch can cut metal, and Battelle is looking for government or industry partners to mature the technology.

A third innovation, which Loeser acknowledged is still in the concept stage, involves breaching doors from a stand-off position with a tool that can also be used in enclosed spaces.

This addresses another safety aspect of breaching. Most door breaching is now done “up close and personal,” Loeser noted.

Using rams or hand-placed explosives up close, soldiers may be placed in danger. There are a few standoff door-breaching systems at present, but these have had major drawbacks, most prominently including a limited distance for effective use.

Battelle’s goal is to be able to breach a door at 66 meters, double the distance possible with current technology and well within the 200-meter range that a soldier can accurately hit a door or window with a grenade launcher. www.SOTECH-kmi.com

Battelle’s concept is to develop special door-breaching ammunition that can be used in standard 40 mm low-velocity grenade launchers like the M203. The breaching weapon could then use the same concept of operations, logistics and domestic industrial base as conventional grenade launchers. Only the breaching ammunition itself would be new. It would be designed with a special composition of explosives, special articulating features and just the right initiation device. The aim is to detonate the ammunition just before impact and thus create a powerful nearfield impulse that can breach the door. All the special capabilities of the round would be contained within the round, unlike smart rounds that require integration with weapons and their sights.

The proposed round would also have advantages as a concussive weapon when fired through a window. Concentration of power on the near field would prevent knocking out interior walls and would thus deliver maximum effects within the penetrated room.

Battelle has proposed this concept to military customers and hopes to get some reaction by the end of this fiscal year or the beginning of the next.

A lot of breaching jobs are simpler and less demanding than getting through reinforced concrete or blowing through walls at a distance. Simple tools that can be easily carried and used are the requirement here.

SOTECH 10.4 | 53

RMJ Tactical mainly specializes in lightweight Tactical Tomahawk axes, according to President Ryan Johnson. “We don’t think everyone needs to carry real heavy breaching equipment, so we make lightweight tools with a small footprint. They can’t do everything that a big Halligan can do, but they can do most of it.”

RMJ Tomahawks have forged bodies and differentially heated steel parts, shock-resistant handles and molded rubber handles both to cushion the grip and protect against electric shock.

“It’s amazing what you can do with small tools,” Johnson said.

“You can cut out a block or a wall, and get through the average padlock in 10 seconds.” He noted that expensive and well-hardened locks are often attached to inexpensive and weaker hasps or chains.

Going for this weak point with a simple tool gets the job done.

RMJ is now working on an extremely lightweight Halligan tool to be used by a two-man team. It is also working on an 11-inch Jenny Wren knife. This was initially intended as a secondary weapon but it may also be useful for breaching.

Benchmade Knife Co.’s 172 Tomahawk was designed specifically for breaching. It’s an axe made with carbon-bladed steel and has a full-tang handle and Apple seed mill bevel for edge life.

Unsharpened on both sides for breaching, the Tomahawk can be used as a wedge for prying open doors and windows.

In addition, spokesperson Alicia Hunt noted that Benchmade’s 915 and 916 Triage models feature a carbide-tip glass breaker on

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the back of the handle and a safety hook. The 915 is a dynamic triple-utility tool that includes a knife, safety hook and glass breaker.

It has a sheep’s-foot blade, made of highly corrosion-resistant steel, with an ambidextrous thumb-stud opener.

A number of Benchmade products, including the Tomahawk and 916 Triage, have been purchased by the military and assigned National Stock Numbers.

Coming up in 2012 from Benchmade are the 810 Contego, the 176 SOCP dagger, and the Adamas family of knives. The Contego has a reverse blade with ambidextrous thumb-stud openers and textured and contoured handle scales. It also has a carbide glass breaker. The 176 SOCP has a skeletonized dagger or fixed-blade feature, finger loop for easy deployment and a molded sheath with clip and lanyard.

The 275 folding Adamas knife has an AXIS locking mechanism, ambidextrous thumb studs and machined handle with lanyard hole. The 375 fixed Adamas knife offers skeletonized handle construction, a drop-point blade with serrations and a molded sheath with locking strap and tension screw.

Hunt noted that all Benchmade products are entirely manufactured in the United States. The firm offers a lifetime warranty and sharpening service, free of charge. And it can do custom laser marking on blades. An automatic 30 percent discount is available to active military personnel.

Ontario Knife Co. makes the small SP16-SPAX military breaching tool. Government Contract Administrator Sue Green said the SP16 cuts through wood and aluminum and can break glass, and is very handy for small breaching. An insulated version of the SP16 can cut hot wires. Ontario also makes the SP36 for use in sniper kits. The SP36 has an attachable hoe.

The company has been working on a tool for breaching vehicles. It will be similar to the SP16, but larger and with more features. The Army has not yet accepted the new tool. Ontario is also working on breaching tools for Air Force Pararescue Jumpers.

Apart from having the right tools, breaching teams also need to know how to use these tools effectively and safely.

Del Johnson, vice president of sales for Breaching Technologies, noted that BTI not only makes a wide variety of breaching tools and doors and windows for training for breaching, it also offers its own training courses and supports military or law enforcement authorities in nearly 60 nations.

BTI’s training doors are warranted for 1,500 training breaches.

Doors come in 20 different models and can be used to train for breaching by mechanical methods, prying or use of shotguns or explosives.

BTI’s breaching tools include a wide assortment of rams, Halligan tools, bolt-cutters, sledge hammers, reapers and breakand-rakers. “BTI continues to add new products each year and the international market for the company continues to grow,” Johnson said. “Breaching is all we do.” He predicted the need for breaching tools and training will continue to expand, both for U.S. and international forces, as military action shifts away from large conventional forces to highly specialized units. O For more information, contact SOTECH Editor Dave Ahearn at davea@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.sotech-kmi.com.

www.SOTECH-kmi.com

Advanced accessories make old rifles newly accurate, lethal.

By Peter Buxbaum SOTECH Correspondent

Sniper operations have become an increasingly important part of the warfare the United States military is conducting and will conduct in the foreseeable future. As experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq and the struggle against terrorists have shown, engaging the enemy will often involve picking a target from out of a crowd, often in an urban setting.

The weapons required for today’s snipers, therefore, must be more accurate than their predecessors, both in order to hit the right target and to avoid making mistakes. To that end, many enhancements have been made to the snipers’ arsenal in recent years, and more are planned. Many of the improvements have come in enhanced capabilities of the weapon’s accessories, as opposed to the firepower of the weapon itself.

Current and future sniper rifles include advanced ergonomics, making the interface between weapon and shooter more natural and comfortable. It is often modular in design, allowing snipers to switch out different features depending on the mission and personal preferences. The rifle has an advanced rail system allowing for the quick and easy change of day and night optical pieces and rangefinders.

The scopes themselves now often interface with fire control systems, and future sights could be networked with optics carried by spotters.

Some of the newer weapons include semi-automatic firing action. www.SOTECH-kmi.com

“Today’s sniper is normally an active member of a fighting unit,” said Uri Amit, chief executive officer of Israel Weapons Industries.

“The sniper must be able to fire accurately to long distance ranges at small, mobile, concealed targets.”

“The guns used by snipers today are not much different from guns used 50 years ago as far as the heart of the weapons,” said Trey Knight, vice president of Knight’s Armaments. “The changes have come in ergonomics, the human interface and the rail system. What has really evolved in the last 10 to 20 years is the ability of the rifle to accept accessories” such as laser and electro-optical range finders and thermal and infrared optical devices. Knight’s Armaments has supplied the older M16 sniper rifle and the newer M110 weapon to the United States Army.

“The rail system has given the M16 extended life,” said Knight.

“The standard rail system has kept weapons current. You can take a weapon from the 1950s and fit it with modern-day optics and it will perform much the same way” as a current weapon. Additional improvements have included sound suppressors that help conceal the position of the shooter and the dynamic reticle, which eliminates the need to manipulate the weapon’s hardware in order to engage a target.

The rifle rail system itself has also been subject to enhancements.

“In 2008, Prototype Productions Inc. was awarded a Small Business SOTECH 10.4 | 55

Innovation Award to improve the existing Picatinny rail on the M4/ M16 platform,” said Carl Wallace, chief executive officer of T Worx Ventures, a subsidiary of PPI. “The result is the intelligent rail, which facilitates lethality for the individual soldier.”

Meanwhile, organizations such as the Special Operations Command and the Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier are working on the next generation of sniper weapons. SOCOM is currently in the midst of source selection for a new precision sniper rifle (PSR).

“PSR will be a system consisting of a highly reliable, extremely accurate, long-range sniper rifle, with a suppressor and an enhanced round of ammunition,” said Ken McGraw, deputy director for public affairs at SOCOM. The Army is proceeding with a strategy to move to a three-gun suite of precision weapons. The three-pronged strategy includes replacing the bolt action M24, which has been in service since the 1980s, with the XM2010, as well as introducing the semi-automatic M110. The third weapon will have anti-materiel capabilities.

“The XM2010 replacement of the M24s is ongoing in Afghanistan and comes in response to an operational needs statement form the theater,” said Lieutenant Colonel Sean Lucas, product manager for individual weapons within PEO Solider. “We have already fielded 250 of the XM2010s to Afghanistan and are in the process of sending another 450.” The XM2010 is a modular system allowing snipers to adjust various features depending on the mission and personal comfort.

The Remington Arms Co. has manufactured both the M24 and XM2010 and is also competing for SOCOM’s PSR contract. “The M24 has been in military service for 25 years, and we have recently won the XM2010 sniper rifle contract for the U.S. military,” said Gregory Baradat, director of Remington Defense USA. “Our new modular sniper rifle was purpose built to compete for the SOCOM PSR solicitation and was designed with end-user feedback from subject matter experts in the field.”

The XM2010 and MSR rifles incorporate some new features, according to Baradat. “They include the latest in materials and coatings to increase durability from environmental influence, increase barrel life and accuracy, and reduce weight,” he said. “We have also incorporated a multi-caliber, quick-change barrel capability to maximize training where large caliber munitions are prohibited or difficult to get. This function also allows the end-user to replace barrels rather than sending the rifle in for maintenance when barrel life becomes an issue.”

Other sniper rifles available internationally include the Galil from IWI. “The Galil distinguishes itself by having the proficiency of reaching a long range up to 1,000 meters in all battlefield conditions,” said Amit. “The leading concepts defining of the sniper weapon are semiautomatic, reliable, accurate and convenient.”

The Galil is a 7.62 mm rifle used by many elite units around the world. Its features include an adjustable hand grip, butt adjustable monopod, ergonomic pistol grip and adjustable hand support. In addition, the Galil includes day and night sights, a 25-round magazine capacity, and a two-stage trigger.

“IWI’s sniper rifles are sold to elite units worldwide, and are currently in use by dozens of countries,” said Amit. “In all cases, the sniper rifles package includes at least a telescope, carrying bag … and a cleaning kit. Despite being a semi-automatic gun, it still has similar accuracy to bolt action sniper guns. Hence, the sniper can benefit from the advantages of a fast second shot.”

SOCOM’s PSR will support precision engagements against personnel and materiel targets to ranges of 1,500 meters while reducing noise 56 | SOTECH 10.4

A Marine SOF peers through a scope. [Photo courtesy of DoD]

and flash signatures for enhanced survivability, according to McGraw.

“The PSR system is comprised of a precision rifle, but also with a suppressor for signature reduction and an enhanced round of ammunition,” he said. “This enhanced round will provide increased energy on target at these extreme long ranges. The PSR will also weigh no more than 18 pounds and provide increased barrel life as opposed to comparable sniper rifles. [SOCOM] also included an objective requirement that the PSR be of a modular caliber design. A modular system would allow an operator to fire not only the enhanced round, but standard 7.62 mm and caliber .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition as well.”

The primary factors that will increase the effectiveness of the PSR are the advanced optics and the high-performance ammunition. The PSR optic, made by Schmidt & Bender, contains an advanced reticle that allows the sniper to more easily determine target range and engage targets at ranges to 1,500 meters and beyond. “The design of the ammunition’s projectile has been improved to provide a more effective ballistic coefficient, thereby providing enhanced accuracy and energy on target,” said McGraw. “The powder has been improved to provide a cleaner, faster and fuller burn while providing significant reductions in flash and effects due to variations in temperature.”

PPI’s enhancement to the Picatinny rail involves a new type of circuit board that can be inserted into any standard rail system. “This circuit board allows for the conveyance of electricity and data in any environment,” said Wallace. “This means that power can now be centralized within the weapon, eliminating the need for batteries within accessories. A soldier can convert a standard M4/M16 to the new powered rail platform within 10 minutes.”

The elimination or reduction of batteries makes the soldier’s load lighter. “Most importantly our system moves data as well as electricity,” said Wallace. “Snipers and spotters will now be able to send images, video and text data back to base locations because their electronic accessory will have much greater functionality. These new electronic accessories will possess many new features, but at a greatly reduced size and weight.” PPI has developed a series of adapters for accessories including thermal weapon sights, night vision, laser pointers and others.

Thermal technologies have been adapted to weapons sights. Meprolight, an international electro-optics provider based in Israel, recently launched a lightweight, uncooled thermal weapons sight known as the NOA NYX. “The product was created in consultation with Israel special forces to address the issues of precise target detection and engagement in dust, smoke and complete darkness,” said Benny Kokia, the company’s director for sales and marketing. “It has the www.SOTECH-kmi.com

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ability to detect man-sized targets at a range of 900 meters.” The uncooled thermal technology is smaller, lighter and less bulky, although also less accurate, than the older cooled thermal technologies.

The Meprolight system also has a “video out” capability, enabling the output to be fed to a remote screen or recording equipment. “This sight has the capability to take snapshots and video which can be transmitted to headquarters for after action reviews,” said Kokia. “It is also possible for headquarters to monitor the situation live. This sight provides a shooter and his commander a better idea of which target they are aiming at.” The NYX, which weighs less than one kilogram and comes in 2x or 4x magnification, is meant to be mounted on 5.56 and 7.62 mm rifles.

The NOA family also features other thermal scopes, including 4x and 7x magnifications, and a new one, which allows a shooter to optically switch magnification between 7x and 3x. “The NOA dual field enables snipers to detect targets in the wide field of view, using the 3x magnification,” said Kokia, “and upon detection of target switch easily to a farther field using the 7x magnification. This enables better target recognition and prevents identification errors.”

All of the NOA sights interface with fire control systems, allowing snipers to set up profiles and download ballistic charts before going on a mission. They also interface with external accessories such as laser rangefinders.

Sniper weapons and accessories will continue to improve to provide shooters with increased lethality and accuracy. Baradat expects “improvements in ammunition and improvements in barrel technology that decrease weight and increase barrel life, and precision-guided sniper weapon systems.”

Knight sees the semi-automatic sniper weapon coming of age. “Shooters have been using semiautomatics long enough to understand its benefits,” he said. “There is some comfort factor with the older weapons, but the semi-automatic weapons allow for tradeoffs such as getting more shots off and having modularity for accessories.”

Future sniper systems will also likely feature increased collaboration between snipers and spotters, according to Bob Galeazzi, chief of the precision weapons division at PEO Soldier. “A spotter may have a target in sight and he will be able to relay that image to the shooter so that the shooter can see what the spotter sees,” he said. “This will also replace the mostly verbal communications that now go on between spotter and shooter.”

“The integration of small rangefinders and technologies that measure cross wind will become standard accessories to sniper rifles,” said Amit. “We also predict the development of technologies aimed to make the shooter inconspicuous in terms of noise and reflection.”

SOCOM is currently looking into technologies that measure cross wind. “We are also examining several technologies that will help the sniper to gauge wind speed more accurately and auto-correct sighting devices, which will increase the precision of the overall sniper system,” said McGraw. “[SOCOM] is also monitoring ongoing developments to reduce the weight of our sniper ammunition.”

“Our job is to make the sniper more lethal and to reduce the soldier’s physical and mental burdens,” said Lucas. “Snipers operate in a stressful environment and we are trying to make their lives safer and easier and their performance more effective. Technology is a great enabler to do that. O

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230-27341 MILAVIATION_6-12_SOT.indd 1

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For more information, contact SOTECH Editor Dave Ahearn at davea@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.sotech-kmi.com.

www.SOTECH-kmi.com

The advertisers index is provided as a service to our readers. KMI cannot be held responsible for discrepancies due to last-minute changes or alterations.

SOTECH CALENDAR & DIRECTORY Advertisers Index

Calendar

ADS Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 www.adsinc.com/medical AECOM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C2 www.aecom.com AR Modular RF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 www.arworld.us/ar50 ATV Corp.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 www.atvcorp.com Ball Aerospace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 www.ballaerospace.com Battelle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 www.battelle.org Ceradyne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 www.ceradyne.com/products/defense Chandler May Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 www.chandlermay.com David Clark.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 www.davidclark.com FLIR Systems.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 www.flir.com/gs G4S International Training Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 www.g4siti.com General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 www.ga-asi.com John Deere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 www.johndeere.com/military L-3 GCS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.l-3com.com/gcs Leupold & Stevens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 www.leupold.com MBDA Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 www.mbdainc.com Navistar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 www.navistardefense.com The O’Gara Group Sensor Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 www.ogarasensorsystems.com Persistent Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 www.persistentsystems.com Revision Military Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4 www.revisionmilitary.com/batlskin Selex Galileo Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3 www.selexgalileo.com Skedco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 www.skedco.com

May 22-24, 2012 SOFIC Tampa, Fla. www.ndia.org/meetings/1890

August 6-9, 2012 AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America Washington, D.C. www.symposium.auvsi.org/

June 4-8, 2012 GEOINT Community Week Washington, D.C. area www.usgif.org

September 17-19, 2012 Air & Space Conference National Harbor, Md. www.afa.org

July 11-12, 2012 Military Vehicles Exhibition and Conference Detroit, Mich. www.militaryvehiclesexpo.com

September 25-27, 2012 Modern Day Marine Quantico Marine Base, Va. www.marinecorpsexpos.com

July 12-13, 2012 Warrior Expo East 2011 Virginia Beach, Va. www.adsinc.com/warriorexpo

October 22-24, 2012 AUSA Annual Meeting Washington, D.C. www.ausa.org

July 23-25, 2012 Night Vision Systems Summit Washington, D.C. area www.nightvisionevent.com

November 6-7, 2012 SOFEX Fort Bragg, N.C. www.sofex.org

August 6-9, 2012 Soldier Equipment & Technology Expo & Conference Fort Bragg, N.C. www.soldierequipmentexpo.com

December 15-18, 2012 Special Operators Medical Association Conference Tampa, Fla. www.idga.org

Solar Stik Incorporated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 www.solarstik.com/wasp Stidd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 www.stiddmil.com Syntonics Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 www.syntonicscorp.com TEA Headsets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.teaheadsets.com

Next Issue

July 2012 Volume 10, Issue 5

Cover and In-Depth Interview with:

Rear Adm. Sean A. Pybus

Commander Naval Special Warfare Command

Features • Night Vision RevieW

• IED Detection/Demolition

• Mobile Comms Systems

• Underwater Systems

• Bandwidth Solutions

Insertion Order Deadline: June 19, 2012 • Ad Materials Deadline: June 26, 2012

www.SOTECH-kmi.com

SOTECH 10.4 | 59

INDUSTRY INTERVIEW

Special Operations Technology

Michael J. Donnelly President AECOM Government Services Since October 2010, Mike Donnelly has served as president of AECOM Government Services (AGS), bringing a resume of more than 30 years of leadership experience.

Donnelly oversees the entire AGS operation which includes four operational centers: Mission Support, Field Services, Science & Technology and Contingency Operations. He focuses on direction of business development, growing the portfolio to support current clients and diversifying our markets. Prior to AECOM, he was in senior management with Raytheon and URS Corp.

Q: Could you tell us about AECOM? A: AECOM is a Fortune 500 global provider of professional technical and management support services. AECOM is fundamentally about people—its professionals, its clients and its shareholders. We have a strong commitment to our core values, which are based on integrity and focus on employees, clients, excellence, innovation and agility while serving our clients with the highest ethical standards. Our core values based on integrity are critical to our continued success.

Q: Has AECOM been recognized as one of the world’s most ethical companies?

A: AECOM is honored with the designation as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for 2012 by the Ethisphere Institute in recognition of commitment to ethical leadership, compliance practices and corporate social responsibility. AECOM is committed to conducting business in an ethical manner with our dedication to integrity driving our daily activities around the world.

Q: How can AECOM support SOCOM’s professional services requirements?

A: AECOM is uniquely postured to support SOCOM’s campaign to win the current fight in Afghanistan and expands the SOF network global. AECOM’s professional service operations in 130 countries around the world provide a blend of global reach and local knowledge. We stand alongside our client in remote and hostile locations to provide quality 60 | SOTECH 10.4

project management, logistics, maintenance and intelligence professional services. We are the largest manager of maintenance mechanics in Afghanistan and have extensive experience in combat and hostile zones around the globe. We provide the full range of quality aviation and ground vehicle/equipment maintenance management, logistics, base operations support and construction to our clients anywhere on short notice. We also provide professional analytical staffing for intelligence, culture and language support.

Q: What type of special operations equipment does AECOM provide professional maintenance services on?

A: We have experience working on conventional and special operations-peculiar fixed wing, rotary wing and UAV/UAS aviation equipment. This includes depot, organizational, intermediate and phase maintenance.

Our global aviation services include launch and recovery and flight line services. We also have extensive experience working on military ground vehicles and non-tactical vehicles for general purpose forces, other government agencies and special operations. We can fix and sustain the full range of special operations family of vehicles anywhere. We also provide new equipment training and maintenance training for other governments to include Iraq and Afghanistan security forces.

AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation and collaborative technical excellence in delivering solutions that enhance equipment readiness sustainment and combat power.

Q: What solutions does AECOM offer to aid efforts to cut through the fog of war to gain a clear picture?

A: Atmospherics is one of AECOM’s capabilities; we are getting positive feedback from clients in Afghanistan to include CFSOCC-A [Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command]. It provides key leaders with analysis of what local communities’ perceptions are about development, security and governance programs in their area. This is a useful azimuth check to pick up on positive or unintended consequences that may arise from good ideas implemented in complex environments. We also provide intelligence analysis, culture and language professional services.

Q: We are entering a time of constrained defense spending. How can AECOM help SOCOM reduce its costs?

A: We think there are effectiveness and efficiencies to be gained with enterprise approaches to SOCOM equipment readiness and life cycle maintenance. As a professional services business with extensive experience in program management of maintenance and logistics global operations, we can provide SOCOM with enterprise tools to see and manage equipment readiness better. We take a long-term approach to entering new markets and are willing to invest to build strong customer relationships and desired customer outcomes. We look forward to continuing our discussion with SOCOM to better understand their needs and offer tailored innovative solutions to achieve measurable desired outcomes.

Q: Do you have any closing thoughts about AECOM, its people and its mission?

A: We are a people business focused on our clients, employees and shareholders. AECOM core values based on integrity drive the highest ethical standards. With operations in over 130 countries, AECOM has a blend of global reach and local knowledge that correlate with SOCOM’s campaign to expand the SOF network global. We deploy to remote and hostile locations alongside our clients to ensure quality professional services support: program management, maintenance, logistics and intelligence services. O www.SOTECH-kmi.com

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