SOTECH 13.2 (March 2015)

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USASOC Aviator Col. Michael J. Hertzendorf Commander 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)

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March 2015

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Special Operations Technology Features

March 2015 Volume 13, Issue 2

Cover / Q&A

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Special Section

Airborne ISR Industry Roundtable Since airborne ISR has seen a surge of investment within the last decade, SOTECH approached several companies to discuss some of their latest airborne ISR products.

SOF Logistics

On any given day, special operations forces are deployed in over 75 countries, in many cases working side by side with multiple interagency and international partners in remote, austere environments.

By Chris McCoy

18

22

A Display of Capabilities

SEAL Team 17 and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 recognized the centennial celebration of the Navy Reserve with a visit from Chief of Navy Reserve, Vice Admiral Robin Braun and events onboard both Naval Air Station North Island and Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.

By Petty Officer 1st Class Melissa Russell

16 Colonel Michael J. Hertzendorf

6

Rugged Displays Special operations forces take sophisticated technology exposed to the extremes of environmental vicissitudes such as cold, heat, dust and storms into the field.

By Peter Buxbaum

21

Finding the Key to Combat and Safety

Air Force Special Operations Command airmen proved again that they can be a part of the most combat-intensive command in the Air Force and still keep safety a top priority by taking home three Air Force-level safety awards for 2014.

By 1st Lieutenant Ben Sowers

Departments 2 Editor’s Perspective 4 Whispers 5 people 14 BLack WAtch 27 Resource Center

23

Advances in Battery Technology

26

TALOS Update

The experiences of U.S. special operators in southwest Asia over the last decade and half, and around the world for that matter, are testimony to warfighters’ increasing reliance on electrically-powered devices.

By Peter Buxbaum

The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit is being designed to give protection and capabilities to U.S. special operators, but the process of designing it may be as revolutionary as the suit itself, according to U.S. Special Operations Command officials.

By Jim Garamone

Industry Interview Rich Haddad General Manager Polaris Defense

28

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Special Operations Technology Volume 13, Issue 2 • March 2015

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EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE A lot is happening in the world of SOCOM. I really enjoyed reading Tracy A. Bailey’s recent article on how “two members of a joint special operations task force were awarded the nation’s second-highest honor for their heroic actions at an awards ceremony, February 17 at Fort Benning, Ga.” According to Bailey, “Sergeant Bryan Anderson, a Ranger combat medic with 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and Staff Sergeant Jeffery Dawson, 28th Ordnance Company (Airborne) were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their actions during an assault against an armed enemy in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, October 5-6, 2013.”

Chris McCoy “On October 5th and 6th, Staff Sergeant Jeffery Dawson and Editor Sergeant Bryan Anderson set the example that inspires our current Ranger force and will embolden generations to come,” said General Daniel B. Allyn, vice chief of staff U.S. Army, during the awards ceremony.

Bailey explained; “During the mission, the assault force targeted a Taliban attack network leader operating in Kandahar province. Information indicated the high-value target was the leader of an attack cell planning on conducting a high-profile attack in Kandahar City with aims of killing civilians.”

Bailey explained that the enemy had “triggered multiple suicide explosive devices and improvised explosive devices, killing four members of the assault force and wounding several others.”

“October 5th and 6th carry several indelible realties beyond our unspeakable loss. It signals to the enemies of our country, that this nation, this Army, this regiment, knows where the enemy lurks and has men and women of courage … with the intestinal fortitude to reach out and hold them to account,” said Allyn. “Second, while many scars remain from that October evening, our wounded warriors are indomitable—their example serves to inspire and lead us forward demonstrating to this nation what courage, determination and resolve truly look like.”

Allyn added that Captain Jennifer Moreno, Sergeant Patrick Hawkins, Sergeant Joseph Peters and Specialist Cody Patterson paid the ultimate price for our nation’s freedom that night.

As usual, feel free to contact me with questions or comments for Special Operations Technology.

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A U.S. Army Ranger keeps his sight on a target with an M240 machine gun during a company live fire training. [Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army/by Staff Sergeant Teddy Wade]

WHISPERS 27th SOW Welcomes New Commander Members of the 27th Special Operations Wing gathered February 17, 2015, as the guidon was passed from Colonel Tony D. Bauernfeind to Colonel Benjamin R. Maitre, signifying the change of command from one commander to another.

Lieutenant General Bradley A. Heithold, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, presided over the ceremony and touched on his appreciation for Cannon’s outstanding team.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to be sharing this stage with these two incredible Air Commandos,” said Heithold. “I want you all to understand how hard it is to get on this stage in the first place. To be a wing commander in the United States Air Force is quite the feat. Not everyone gets here, but they all want to be here.”

“Colonel Bauernfeind has had the distinct privilege of leading these airmen, transforming their training and optimizing their performance,” he continued.

Speaking directly to Bauernfeind, Heithold praised his work at Cannon.

“Tony, you have raised the bar here,” he said. “Under your leadership, this wing has excelled in every way: from providing combat-ready forces to modernizing and sustaining the force. You have created a first-class environment for our airmen and their families to thrive.”

Turning his attention to Maitre, Heithold challenged him with a drive for continued wing excellence.

“Colonel Maitre, I expect you to strive for greatness while being a servant leader,” said Heithold. “My challenge to you going forward is to produce the best, most elite Air Commandos you can and ensure you care for each of them.

Remember, they do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

As Bauernfeind took the podium, he addressed members of Team Cannon one last time before Maitre assumed the position of 27th SOW commander.

“As I leave this podium today, I want you all to know how genuinely proud I am to have been part of this team,” said Bauernfeind. “You have continuously made me proud as the commander of the most relevant wing in the United States Air Force.”

While this change of command marked the end of one chapter for the 27th SOW, Air Commandos and their families exuded excitement for the beginning of another.

For the first time as commander, Maitre addressed his new team, introducing himself to those who will continue to cement Cannon as a premier installation, and laid out his expectations and goals for Air Commandos.

“To the airmen of the 27th SOW, I thank you and your families for the sacrifices you have made over long hours, days and months that have allowed you and this wing to be what it is today,” said Maitre. “While we as Americans face the many challenges of a dynamic and complex global arena, as Air Commandos, our posture toward those opportunities is ultimately straightforward.”

“I charge each of you to be the best in what you do and who you are so that this wing may make the most of its most valuable resource,” he continued.

“I pledge to give you the same in return; our continued success demands nothing less.”

By Airman 1st Class Chip Slack 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

193rd SOMDG Wins ANGMS The 193rd Special Operations Medical Group (SOMDG), Middletown, Pa., recently earned the Air National Guard Medical Service Outstanding Medical Readiness Team Award.

The 193rd SOMDG competed for this award against 89 other ANG medical groups in the country. The group was recognized for its accomplishments in fiscal year 2014.

Nomination for the award is determined by submitting 20 of the medical team’s accomplishments for that fiscal year, said Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Hinkle, chief of medical operations at the 193rd SOMDG. A few recent accomplishments include initiating monthly faceto-face commander conferences resulting in an increased wing medical readiness of 87 percent, and effectively managing more than 750 personnel in the occupational health program, including many on flying status. Also, the team redesigned the Service Member Profile Management Program and helped deploying personnel process, meeting 100 percent medical readiness.

4 | SOTECH 13.2

“You’re taking the team’s most important accomplishments in a year’s time and fitting them into 20 bullet points,” said Hinkle.

“It’s essentially providing the meat to quantify why you’re worthy of the award.”

“It’s great that we won the award. There are a lot of different people who come together to complete the mission that we have here,” said Senior Airman Stuart Redcay, 193rd SOMDG Aerospace Medical Technician.

The 193rd SOMDG won the ANGMS Outstanding Medical Readiness Team Award once before in 2009, when it was called the Thomas C. Marrs Award.

“I think that winning this award twice in five years tells a lot of people a lot of things about this team; we do the job all the time,” said Hinkle. “We have to work beyond a normal drill weekend to be able to do what we can do; it’s a very hard job.”

By Airman Julia Sorber 193rd Special Operations Wing

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Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Vanderbilt ROTC Visits Nightstalkers More than 30 cadets from Vanderbilt University’s Reserve Officer Training Corps visited the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) to learn about and experience the aviation unit in the U.S. Army.

In addition to highlighting the unit, the trip showed the cadets the diverse careers that the Army has to offer and examples of leadership, said Lieutenant Colonel Kenric Smith, professor of military science at Vanderbilt University’s Army ROTC. The cadets’ day started out with a visit to the Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion’s Allison Aquatics Training Facility, where they learned a little about the center itself and its capabilities. They then watched a training simulation of a downed aircraft and rescue operation.

They moved down to the Combat Skills Training Facility “Green Platoon,” an indoctrination training program every officer and enlisted soldier must pass in order to be part of the regiment, to participate in a grueling medical physical training activity that taught them the different carries one must learn to evacuate a casualty while aon foot.

Finally, the cadets were taken onto the compound to get a firsthand look at some of the aircraft the 160th SOAR (A) operates on a daily basis.

“The cadets were amazed at the diverse group of people, both in rank and [job], which make up the regiment,” said Smith. “They were extremely impressed with the professionalism in everyone they encountered. The cadets also realized that lessons they learn now in ROTC are applicable in the Army and heard that over and over during their visit.”

Smith’s student cadets echoed his sentiments.

“I had a great time, especially because I am branching aviation, so this was the first time I was able to get some hands-on experience with aircraft,” said Cadet Savannah Shepherd, a senior at Vanderbilt University and cadet

deputy commander of their ROTC battalion. “We are usually so consumed with school that we get very little Army experience outside of the ROTC program, so we jump at the chance to experience something authentic. We appreciate our instructors and the 160th for setting this up for us.”

Smith has high hopes for his cadets and is confident that they will go on to do bigger and better things.

He said, “I’m positive that this visit inspired quite a few of our cadets to strive for aviation and to become future Nightstalkers!”

By Staff Sergeant Gaelen Lowers 160th SOAR (A) Public Affairs

PEOPLE

Brig. Gen. (select) Tony D. Bauernfeind

Brigadier General (select) Tony D. Bauernfeind, commander, 27 Special Operations Wing, Air

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Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Force Special Operations Command, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., has been assigned as deputy commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Major General James B. Linder, commander, Special Operations Command Africa,

U.S. Africa Command, Germany, has been assigned as commanding general, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, N.C. Major General Eric P. Wendt, commanding general, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, N.C., has been assigned as

chief of staff, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii.

Brigadier General Donald C. Bolduc, deputy director for operations, U.S. Africa Command, Germany, has been assigned as commander, Special Operations Command Africa, U.S. Africa Command, Germany.

Brigadier General Sean P. Swindell, commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Bragg, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., has been assigned as commander, Special Operations Joint Task ForceAfghanistan/North Atlantic Treaty Organization Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan.

SOTECH 13.2 | 5

Sophisticated technology designed for harsh

environments increases situational awareness.

By Peter Buxbaum SOTECH Correspondent

Special operations forces, perhaps more so than other components of the U.S. military, take sophisticated technology with them into the field that is exposed to the extremes of environmental vicissitudes: cold, heat, dust, storms and more. Displays used for communications equipment, weapons systems and battle networks, and the laptops, notebooks, and, increasingly, tablet computers lugged on missions in various areas of operations must be rugged and robust to be able to withstand these conditions.

The military’s industry partners have responded to these needs by continually improving the toughness of displays and computers. Their frames and housing are fashioned from advanced materials. Vulnerable components such as the keyboards, ports and screens are sealed or otherwise protected to prevent damage from water and dirt. Computing and storage elements are hardened.

All of these elements must be included in equipment and systems that fulfill the military’s goals of limiting and reducing their size, weight and power consumption.

The United States Military Standard referred to as MILSTD-810, approved for use by all departments and agencies of DoD, emphasizes tailoring an equipment’s environmental design

6 | SOTECH 13.2

and test limits to the conditions that it will experience throughout its service life.

The standard also establishes various test methods that replicate the effects of environments on the equipment, allowing manufacturers to harden their equipment against cold, heat, moisture, dust, ballistic threats and other factors. Another key factor is the computer’s ability to withstand being dropped, the benchmark document against which manufacturers of rugged displays, computers and other equipment design and test their products. The latest version, MIL-STD-810G, was released in 2008 and revised in 2012.

“The requirements for rugged displays always are for the best performance possible with reduced size, weight and power (SWaP) that the currently available technology can provide,” said David Morton, program manager for flexible displays at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. “If a product with improved capabilities can be procured, it will be inserted as a product improvement.”

The general conditions under which special forces operate make the requirements for performance with reduced SWaP all the more important, noted Morton. “The typical functions would

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a screwdriver or helmet. The display’s touchscreen be for radio and computer displays as well as moniis also designed to stand up to rough handling tors for control of UAVs,” he added. without compromising performance and operate Rugged displays were historically deployed without degradation in extremely low temperatures. aboard airborne platforms, but are currently mak“The display and its electronics are all designed to ing their way into ground vehicles, according to operate as low as 40 degrees Celsius,” said Ihns. “We Andrew Haylett, product marketing manager for also use aluminum instead of plastic frames so that video and display solutions at Curtiss-Wright. “All the units have substantial support.” warfighters have the need for improved situational Today’s rugged displays support use with night awareness,” he said. “Fixed-wing and rotary-wing vision goggles, include touchscreen functionalaircraft on data collection or search and rescue ity and are meant to be used in conjunction with missions have access to multiple video feeds that Andrew Haylett embedded or portable computers. “Displays are are viewed on a single display. They also have dismade to work in a wide variety of demanding environments, parplays that are connected to mission and navigational computers. ticularly in temperature extremes where laptops might struggle,” Ground vehicles also increasingly collect video of the outside said Haylett. “The fact that screens are mounted means that world mediated through multiple cameras.” operators are free to juggle laptops at the same time. Laptops are “The trend that we are seeing is that special operators want usually not the best for viewing multiple video feeds. Displays are more integration in their displays,” said Tad Ihns, president of better for that. In addition, they have touchscreen functionality Avalex. “They want to be able to have smart multifunctional disand in general offer a lot more performance than a straightforward plays instead of static, ‘dumb’ displays. We have been integrating laptop.” a wide range of functionality into displays that in the past were The touchscreen functionality is important for the control of contained in mission computers.” video cameras and other sensors. Operators can adjust the pan, As connectivity becomes more critical in the field, special tilt and zoom of sensors by manipulating the single screen, funcoperations warfighters increasingly use rugged laptops and notetions that otherwise would have to be effectuated through separate books to stay connected. “As missions become more complicated, joysticks. “It can also change map displays by touching the screen use cases are emerging for deploying rugged devices to HMMWVs and display multiple maps relating to multiple targets on a single to connect warfighters in the field to command staff at base,” said screen,” said Haylett. “All of this is done in a way that is intuitive Umang Patel, a product manager at Dell. “Devices are also being to the operator.” used for mapping applications, diagnostics capabilities, data gathAdvanced displays boast impressive daylight readability propering and intelligence, and to connect to other devices in the field. erties, with high brightness and contrast for different situations.

It has become increasingly important for these devices to connect Curtiss-Wright recently introduced a new line of displays that are to legacy applications to perform all these tasks.” as small as 7 inches, all of which have the capability of displaying “We are seeing rugged devices in many different environments, high-definition, high-resolution video. from providing battlefield situational awareness to shipboard and “We build night and day viewability into our displays,” said flight line maintenance,” said James Poole, director of sales at PanaHaylett. “They can be adjusted to a very bright daytime mode. sonic System Communications Company of North America. “Army At night, the displays can be viewed while operators are wearing and Marine Corps special operators use these devices as battlefield their night vision goggles. We are able to achieve that by using communications tools, whether they are connected to satellites or dual technologies that allow for operation of the displays equally cellular networks, for sharing information on missions.” in sunlight and at night.”

“The deployment of improved devices is always to make the Smart displays can typically pull double duty, allowing users to warfighter better equipped for the jobs they have to do,” said view digital maps while overlaying real-time tactical information Morton. “For displays, it could be providing additional situational on top of them in one display. Aircraft-mounted advanced displays awareness to the squads or to the individual warfighter. It can also provide a degree of redundancy to onboard mission computmean less weight in the backpack for batteries and spares because ers, noted Ihns. “If the mission computer has an issue, you could the units do not use as much power, and they don’t break.” completely lose mapping and navigational capabilities,” he said.

Rugged displays and computers for airborne and ground “Smart displays can run software that can maintain some funcplatforms must meet stringent environmental qualifications. tionality even if the computer processor went down.”

“Acceleration, shock and crash standards are all not relevant to Smart displays are also SWaP efficient, and with their added normal products,” said Haylett. “Rugged products must withstand processing and functionality, pay high dividends. “Mission comextremes of kinetic shock, temperature, humidity, sand, dust and puters are typically very heavy and bulky and require a lot of water. All kinds of stuff can happen to platforms that are comcabling,” said Ihns. “When you factor in the size, weight, power pletely or partially exposed to the environment.” consumption and cost, the more modern, smart, multifunction The housing of Panasonic rugged notebooks is constructed displays offer tremendous advantages for only a marginal increase using magnesium alloys, which keeps their weight down and adds in weight and thickness.” to their durability. “This material has five or six times the impact The Army Research Lab (ARL) has allocated major resources resistance of comparable materials and is lighter and stronger,” toward achieving the benefits of reduced SWaP through the develsaid Poole. “As a rugged manufacturer, we need to meet and win opment of low-power display technologies on flexible plastic subthe military’s certification.” strates. “This potential was recognized by the Army over a decade Avalex’s rugged displays are bonded with materials that ago,” said Morton. prevent them from being damaged in case they are hit with 8 | SOTECH 13.2

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One advantage of the rugged plastic-based displays is in weight. Plastic is lighter than glass and does not require as much protection, leading to reduced volume as well. Another advantage is in new form factors that the flexible plastic substrate-based display allows.

In 2003, ARL was directed by the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology to form a center to advance the technology and commercialization of flexible display technology for Army and commercial applications. “The Flexible Display Center at Arizona State University was formed as government/UN/industry partnership,” said Morton. “It developed flexible display technology in a cooperative agreement with about 50 industry partners and provided technology demonstrators to DoD users.”

The Flexible Display Center has established a set of core capabilities to support flexible display development, including manufacturing pilot lines and related tool sets. The center has achieved development and demonstration milestones that incorporate a range of advanced materials and processes necessary to accelerate the development of flexible displays.

“The current state of the technology is that commercial products are appearing that can be used or integrated into soldier systems,” said Morton. “The center achieved the goal advancing the technology and now provides flexible displays and technology development to industrial partners.” Over the last 10 years, ARL has made investments of $100 million in the Arizona State unit.

Today’s rugged displays and computers do not require the kind of performance compromises necessary in the past to meet military SWaP goals. “Rugged notebooks used to be bulky and heavy,” said Patel. “They could weigh upwards of 10 pounds. These days, rugged notebooks are somewhat bigger than their commercial counterparts, but it does not require compromising on performance.”

Rugged displays have to offer the same level of performance as their non-ruggedized counterparts, noted Morton. “The two technologies use OLED and e-ink, so they are identical in both cases and power is the same,” he said. OLED (organic light-emitting diodes) use carbon-based substances to create light, offering smaller form factors and higher resolution than older metal-based LEDs. E-ink, which works by applying an electric charge to hundreds of thousands of cells on a page, is currently used primarily on the grayscale displays of electronic readers, although color e-ink screens are on their way.

When Dell fashions rugged computers for military use, it is mindful that that the devices must be able to interface with legacy applications and infrastructures. “Our customers are demanding that we provide modern technologies when it comes to connectivity and displays, yet they must be able to work with legacy capabilities,” said Patel.

That’s because much of the embedded computing power in platforms such as aircraft have been around for years and won’t be changed for decades. It is simply too expensive to effect that kind of technology overhaul. “Aircraft diagnostic systems won’t change for two or three decades,” noted Patel. “When you think of the nerve center of an C-17 aircraft or a naval ship, those capabilities are expensive to replace. Huge investments have been made in these systems and they are mission-critical, so ripping them out and replacing them would involve a ton of risk. We enable tapping into legacy system while the infrastructure is being modernized, www.SOTECH-kmi.com

but there are some bits of code that date to the 1980s and are impossible to replace. Our challenge is to bring customers access to modern technologies that work as well with embedded legacy capabilities.”

The latest rugged displays include smart capabilities that bring them more into the realm of computers. They are equipped with sufficient processing power to run software important to viewing video. “They are smart in the sense that they are able to handle multiple video displays simultaneously,” said Haylett. “They carry enough internal processing capabilities to allow customers’ application code to run on the display. It is like having a PC embedded within the display.”

Curtiss-Wright’s new family of rugged displays, which was launched last year, included advances in brightness, robustness and other features. “They include a high-sensitivity touchscreen,” said Haylett. “While some of these elements were present in earlier generations of displays, these new displays extend these features to the cutting edge in the area of environmental robustness and readability. The displays are clearer to read, which means that you can display more information on the same-size screen.”

Avalex introduced several new products in the last year, all of which feature smart, multifunction displays in 16- and 17-inch form factors. “These displays can receive input from as many as 14 different sensors,” said Ihns, “which can be tiled on the display and viewed four at a time. They are able to process highresolution video at its native resolution, which is important. Smart displays are providing higher levels of redundancy to mission computers while adding little in the way of size, weight and power consumption.”

There is an ongoing evolutionary process toward developing the kinds of fully flexible display devices envisioned by the Army Research Lab and the Flexible Display Center. “There are products using plastic displays, but they are still protected by toughened glass materials,” noted Morton. “Next, we will see fully plastic displays in products.”

Currently, prototypes are available for integration into devices.

Key pieces of making a fully flexible device are the hybrid flexible electronics that have to drive the device. DoD announced in January 2015 a competition for the seventh Institute for Manufacturing Innovation, the technical focus of which will be flexible hybrid electronics manufacturing innovation. “Flexible hybrid electronics are enabled through innovative manufacturing processes and fabrication that preserve the full operation of traditional electronic devices on flexible, stretchable and conformal circuit boards that can be attached to curved, irregular and often stretched objects,” noted the government’s announcement.

“Fully flexible display devices are one of the technologies that will benefit from this effort,” said Morton. “We continue to advance the technology of flexible electronics on plastic. The same principles of equal performance while reducing SWaP hold. We are developing flexible digital X-Ray sensors on plastic for EOD and IED defeat using the capability we developed at the ASU Flexible Display Center.” O

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

SOTECH 13.2 | 9

Since airborne ISR has seen a surge of investment within the last decade, SOTECH approached several companies to discuss some of their latest airborne ISR products.

Fred E. Smith Director, Business Development Mobility, Surveillance & Engagement Boeing Boeing’s presence in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance began decades ago with platforms like the airborne warning and control systems aircraft.

Today, we offer a full spectrum of airborne ISR to meet unique customer requirements, including the P-8, maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA) and our unmanned platforms.

The P-8—the world’s most advanced long-range, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft—is currently produced for the U.S. Navy and the Indian Navy.

10 | SOTECH 13.2

A derivative of the Next-Generation 737-800, the P-8 combines superior performance and reliability with an advanced mission system, ensuring maximum interoperability in the future battlespace.

Boeing brings to the P-8 capabilities and innovation derived from decades of building and supporting both commercial and military aircraft. The P-8’s first-in-industry production process, for example, leverages the existing Next-Generation 737 production system for maximum efficiency. Boeing also builds the P-8 Training System, providing comprehensive and realistic training for air, mission and maintenance crews, while greatly reducing fuel, maintenance and aircraft life cycle costs. As the original www.SOTECH-kmi.com

equipment manufacturer, Boeing is uniquely positioned to provide training devices that most accurately simulate P-8 aircraft and mission systems and stay current with aircraft configuration.

The P-8 offers excellent reliability and supportability. The 737 has a 99.8 percent dispatch rate, with more than 4,000 aircraft flying and 6,600-plus orders. The P-8 also offers commonality with the 737 fleet and other military platforms that use the 737 airframe. This helps reduce the costs of operation, sustainment and training over the life of the aircraft.

The P-8’s open mission system architecture and digital interfaces allow rapid and affordable technology integration. This allows users to meet diverse mission requirements and evolving threats.

The P-8 is well-positioned to meet the needs of the warfighter today and long into the future.

Leveraging the proven mission systems of the P-8 and the fielded ISR capabilities of the AWACS and AEW&C platforms, Boeing has developed a mid-size ISR offering—MSA. MSA is a fully integrated, modular, open-architecture solution built using a combination of the latest military and commercial off-the-shelf technologies. Paired with the Bombardier Challenger business jet, MSA delivers reliable, cost-effective operations for missions including anti-piracy, coastal and border security, immigration patrols and long-range search and rescue.

MSA’s precision sensors, interoperable data links and high bandwidth line-of-sight and satellite communication options

Scan Eagle is a runway-independent, long-endurance, unmanned aerial vehicle system designed to provide multiple surveillance, reconnaissance data and battlefield damage assessment missions. [Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy/by Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Buliavac]

allow it to collect, process, exploit and disseminate actionable intelligence products to national and coalition forces. Additionally, the advanced sensor and mission suite allows MSA to excel at secondary missions including overland surveillance and electronic warfare support.

Boeing has completed initial ground and flight testing on an MSA demonstrator aircraft, which is now ready for customer demonstration flights.

Boeing’s Unmanned Airborne Systems complements its array of manned ISR capabilities. The ScanEagle, produced by Boeing

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subsidiary Insitu, leads the field in agile ISR technology and has accumulated over 750,000 operational flight hours and nearly 100,000 sorties in support of global missions. Boeing’s unmanned systems constantly move technologies forward, making them smarter, more efficient and better aligned with customers’ needs.

Boeing’s newest unmanned addition is Sensor Hosting Autonomous Remote Craft (SHARC), an autonomous surface vessel designed for extremely long-endurance surveillance and

communications roles. Developed by Boeing partner Liquid Robotics, SHARC remains on-station for months by harnessing wave power for propulsion and solar energy for payloads. SHARC seamlessly bridges ISR capabilities provided by Boeing assets ranging from satellites, manned aircraft and unmanned vehicles like the ScanEagle with sub-surface crafts. Sitting at the interface between water and air, it provides broad-area, continuous access and awareness across the entire battlespace from seabed to space.

Joseph Weiss CEO and President Israel Aerospace Industries Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) ISR airborne solutions with proven airspace integration capabilities deliver real-time electronic information which allows forces to maintain a winning advantage. IAI’s turnkey solutions are based on SIGINT, IMINT and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technologies, day and night EO/IR systems which detect stationary and moving targets in all conditions.

IAI has recently introduced two new products into its portfolio of ISR products—the new-generation ELI-3360 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), and the M-19HD innovative, long-distance, true high-definition EO payload.

Designed by IAI’s ELTA Group, ELI-3360 is based on a modified Bombardier Global 5000 business-jet platform. It provides maritime domain situational awareness and maritime superiority.

Additionally, MPA delivers the most sophisticated surveillance, reconnaissance and armament systems to be installed on a business jet to date. The system incorporates the advanced ELTA ELM-2022 maritime patrol radar, an electro-optical sensor, the ELL-8385 electronic support measures (ESM)/electronic intelligence (ELINT) system, and a comprehensive communications suite comprising radios, broadband SATCOM and data links, as well as an advanced electronic warfare and self-protection suite.

The integrated multimission command and control suite includes multipurpose operator workstations and a weapon and stores management system which controls the under-wing weapons, such as torpedoes and anti-ship missiles for anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, as well as dispensable search and rescue stores.

The new-generation ELI-3360 joins IAI’s series of special mission aircraft (SMA). With over 30 years of experience in supplying advanced maritime domain sensors and integrated systems to leading customers worldwide, IAI’s line of business jet SMA includes the operationally proven Gulfstream G550 Conformal Airborne Early Warning and the G-V signal intelligence aircraft, the world’s first business jet-based mission aircraft.

IAI’s latest addition to its well-known line of EO payloads products is the M-19HD. As a true high-definition, multispectral, multisensor (up to seven sensors) payload, the M-19HD is the ideal system for longendurance ISR missions and area dominance.

It provides powerful sensors, high stabilization and unique image processing features together with long-range persistent surveillance capabilities. The M-19HD follows IAI’s tradition of innovation and offers its customers high performance and a costeffective solution.

The M-19HD enables continuous day/night surveillance under all weather conditions and offers outstanding acquisition ranges due to its powerful sensors, high stabilization and unique image processing capabilities. The M-19HD reduces the operator’s workload and improves situational awareness by virtue of its multimode automatic video tracker. It also provides accurate geo-location using its embedded IMU/GPS (Inertial Measurement Unit/Global Positioning System).

The system is designed to be installed onboard advanced unmanned aerial platforms such as IAI’s Heron-1 and Heron TP UAVs, as well as aerostats and manned platforms able to perform strategic missions.

Mike Fralen Director of Business Development Mission Systems and Training Lockheed Martin The need for a superior ISR capability is growing throughout the world as the defense landscape evolves. To address this changing environment and the complex threats it brings, Lockheed Martin developed the Airborne Tactical Mission System (Lockheed Martin ARTAMIS), a flexible package that adds and customizes missionspecific capabilities to aircraft. Lockheed Martin ARTAMIS hosts scalable capabilities that meet multiple mission requirements.

In ancient mythology, Artemis was a skilled hunter who partnered with Orion to reign over military campaigns. Now, the Lockheed Martin ARTAMIS takes the gold standard in common core 12 | SOTECH 13.2

mission systems from a P-3 “Orion” submarine-hunting aircraft and has adapted and built upon this technology for new and existing aircraft. Through investments and research and development efforts, Lockheed Martin reduced the size, weight and power of its heritage fixed-wing mission systems to bring their capabilities to a variety of aircraft.

Lockheed Martin ARTAMIS provides a spectrum of flexible and affordable capabilities that meet diverse customer requirements. The system also allows for growth as requirements change and enables rapid insertion of technologies. ARTAMIS provides www.SOTECH-kmi.com

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customers with the option to install hardware and tactical mission system software for true “plug and play” system packages. This approach provides options for adding and customizing capabilities that are specific to evolving missions.

The game-changing capabilities of Lockheed Martin ARTAMIS can be tailored to a variety of aircraft—including the C-130J ‘Sea Herc’ aircraft—and can be installed permanently or as a removable pallet. The ability to add and remove capabilities offers a level of agility to special operations forces with diverse mission sets operating around the world.

Lockheed Martin ARTAMIS can provide airborne ISR support to special operations forces with the added ability to build capability incrementally. The mission system was engineered to be easily upgraded without a costly overhaul. Both hardware and software systems can be added and enhanced quickly and efficiently. These upgrades are made possible by the use of service-oriented architecture that provides a growth path for customers.

The core mission system of ARTAMIS hosts a data processor, operator controls and displays, sensors, networking, video and storage. Specifically, the system can be tailored to meet customer requirements using the following state-of-the-art sensors: electrooptic infrared sensors, multimode radars, electronic support measures, communication intelligence and automatic information systems. ARTAMIS can also be configured with a variety of weapons systems.

ARTAMIS reduces operational costs, as well as the amount of manpower and maintenance needed to manage the system. The advanced sensors and systems enhance operators’ situational awareness and provide ISR data that helps to inform decisions and actions.

To maximize commonality among mission systems across legacy aircraft and next-generation aircraft, ARTAMIS provides flexible options for installation designs to match the configuration and capabilities of the aircraft. By transferring key capabilities across different platforms, the ARTAMIS solution offers a superior airborne ISR capability to an ever-changing defense landscape where special operations forces are paving the path for increased global security. O

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BLACK WATCH Flight Management System Software Selected Thales announced that it has been selected by Northrop Grumman Corporation to supply its state-of-the-art flight management system software, i-FMS200, which will be embedded in the avionics mission equipment package that Northrop Grumman will provide to upgrade the U.S. Army’s UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters. The upgraded version of the Black Hawk helicopter will be known as UH-60V. Thales has been working closely with Northrop Grumman over the past three years to provide a proven, scalable and modular flight management system (FMS) software design that meets the requirements for the UH-60V program.

Thales’s FMS software has proven its ability to be integrated by Northrop Grumman into its newest equipment during a flight demonstration on board a UH-60L helicopter.

Moreover, hosting the Thales’s FMS software directly on Northrop Grumman’s mission computer will provide architecture weight and cost optimization on the UH-60V aircraft, eliminating the need for stand-alone FMS hardware.

1,200 AN/PRC-155 Radios to Provide Vital Communications for U.S. Army General Dynamics Mission Systems and Rockwell Collins shipped more than 1,200 AN/PRC-155 radios to the government as part of a follow-on low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract for 1,500 new radios. The remaining radios will ship during the first quarter of 2015.

The two-channel PRC-155 radios are the Army’s digital ‘connecting point’ for soldiers and their commanders to share information while collaborating locally and globally via the Warfighter Information Network–Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2.

The PRC-155 connects line-of-sight radios to satellite communications systems so soldiers can share observations from their current location while receiving reconnaissance information or other data to quickly confirm or adjust mission plans from anywhere in the operations area. Soldiers can also use the PRC-155 to reach back to regional headquarters using secure satellite communication networks.

“The two-channel PRC-155 keeps soldiers consistently and securely connected to the tactical communications grid from anywhere,” said Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics Mission Systems. “This is also the only U.S. Army tactical radio to provide the digital connections that Army organizations need to stay in touch, one to another, from just about anywhere on the planet.”

“Our team is proud to be completing the final radio deliveries for this LRIP, enabling the PRC-155 to become the first two-channel fielded radio to be operationally deployed for the U.S. Army,” said Mike Jones, vice president and general manager of communication and navigation products for Rockwell Collins. “We look forward to meeting this milestone and providing the warfighter with an enhanced networking capability that provides greater situational awareness while improving mission success rates.”

14 | SOTECH 13.2

Intelligence in the Cloud Enables Geospatial Information Sharing Across Intel Community Lockheed Martin and Esri have deployed commercial software to the Amazon Web Services Commercial Cloud Services (C2S) environment for the first time with an intelligence community customer, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), in a move that enables government agencies to better share geospatial intelligence.

The deployment of the portal for Esri’s ArcGIS geographic information system (GIS) provides a single environment for analysts to securely organize and share data throughout the intelligence community and DoD. It’s also the foundational step in consolidating multiple geospatial intelligence portals into the single NGA-provided portal, resulting in technology and license cost savings.

This is NGA’s second pioneering step in the cloud after the agency moved their Map of the World application to the C2S environment late last year.

“Deploying Esri’s Portal for ArcGIS to a commercial cloud environment securely organizes existing data and facilitates collaboration across intelligence agencies,” said Jason O’Connor, vice president of analysis and mission solutions for Lockheed Martin. “This cloud implementation also further shapes the government’s processes for architecting and implementing enterprise class services within a cloud environment.”

ArcGIS connects users to maps and geographic information.

Users can create and view maps, compile geographic data, analyze mapped information and share geographic information in a range of applications.

“Working with Lockheed Martin and the NGA on this strategic implementation for national security is particularly meaningful,” said Jack Dangermond, Esri president. “It recognizes the importance of consolidating geospatial intelligence information into a single portal to facilitate rapid situational awareness and response by our intelligence community.” www.SOTECH-kmi.com

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Air-to-Air Radar Tracks Multiple Airborne

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a manufacturer of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) systems, radars and electro-optic and related mission systems solutions, announced a major technological advancement related to the integration of RPA into international and domestic airspace. GA-ASI successfully flight-tested a pre-production Due Regard Radar (DRR), marking the first fully functional air-to-air radar on a RPA that meets the requirements for “due regard” operations in international airspace.

“This flight test is the culmination of over four years of radar development activity,” said Frank Pace, president, aircraft systems, GA-ASI. “DRR will allow users to operate Predator B independently in international airspace without the need for land-based, sea-based or off-board airborne airspace surveillance, offering our customers greater freedom of movement around the globe.”

The purpose of the test was to verify the DRR’s functionality onboard a Predator B RPA, plus integration with the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) II with Resolution Advisories, which is the collision avoidance system used on many commercial aircraft today. The collision avoidance maneuvers were automatically and successfully executed onboard Predator B to verify system functionality and validate hardware-in-the-loop simulations.

“This latest flight test aboard an RPA is a significant milestone in the continued maturation of our DRR air-to-air radar program

Proposal for JLTV Production DoD is taking action to fill a critical capability gap in its tactical wheeled vehicle fleet by advancing the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program. Oshkosh Defense, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation company, submitted its proposal in response to the U.S. government’s request for proposal for JLTV low-rate initial production and full-rate production.

Oshkosh’s JLTV proposal addresses the U.S. Army and Marine Corps’ need for a lightweight, highly-mobile, net-ready vehicle with unprecedented levels of protection for U.S. warfighters on the modern battlefield.

“Our troops deserve the best vehicle and technology our government can provide, and no other company serves this mission more effectively than Oshkosh,” said U.S. Army Major General (Ret.) John Urias, executive vice president of Oshkosh Corporation and president of Oshkosh Defense. “Our JLTV proposal reflects Oshkosh’s heritage of building high-performance tactical vehicles and an unparalleled commitment to providing our troops with the most capable and reliable JLTV at an affordable price.” www.SOTECH-kmi.com

that began in 2011,” said Claudio Pereida, executive vice president, mission systems, GA-ASI. “We are honored to be leading the effort to help define standards for flying aircraft such as Predator B in the National Airspace System in close cooperation with the FAA, NASA and our industry partners.”

Throughout December, multiple flight tests occurred at GA-ASI’s Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility and Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale, Calif. Predator B was flown in scripted encounters against multiple small- and medium-size manned aircraft, while the pre-production DRR simultaneously tracked multiple targets and continued to search a wide field-of-regard.

GA-ASI’s Due Regard capability, which includes the pre-production DRR and other components, is now at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 and is ready for a customer to take into an operational environment to conduct an Operational Test and Evaluation.

The company’s sense and avoid (SAA) system, which integrates the DRR and TCAS II capabilities, is currently at TRL 6 and will mature once it incorporates all of the requirements being developed by Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics Special Committee 228. The integrated SAA system will continue to fly aboard NASA’s Ikhana (Predator B) in 2015 in support of a series of NASA flight tests that will measure the performance of the entire system in a variety of situations.

Advanced Miniature Payload Controp Precision Technologies Ltd.—a leader in electro-optical/infrared defense and homeland security solutions—demonstrated its recently introduced Micro-Stamp Dual Sensor Day/Night Stabilized Miniature Payload for Small UAVs for the first time at Aero India 2015. With a low weight of a mere 300 grams, the gyro-stabilized miniature payload is now being supplied to the first customer.

Vice President of Marketing Johnny Carni said that “already gaining customers, the Micro-Stamp generates a lot of interest from the users in the field, and we expect to receive more orders in the near future.”

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USASOC Aviator

Q& A

Posturing Army Aviation SOF Forces for the Future

Colonel Michael J. Hertzendorf Commander 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Colonel Michael J. Hertzendorf is a 1989 distinguished military graduate of Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the aviation branch.

His previous assignments include company executive officer and scout platoon leader with C Company, 2-2nd Aviation, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Stanley, Korea; scout platoon leader, Assistant Squadron S-3 and troop commander, 1-7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; platoon leader, company operations officer, battalion plans officer, 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.; regiment plans officer, 160th SOAR (A); battalion S-3, Joint Special Operations Aviation Command J-3, battalion executive officer and task force commander, 2nd Battalion, 160th SOAR (A), Fort Campbell, Ky.; commander, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 160th SOAR (A), Taegu, Korea; joint air officer, Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.; battalion commander, 4th Battalion, 160th SOAR (A), at Fort Lewis, Wash.; and chief of staff, Army Special Operations Aviation Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. Hertzendorf last served as the battalion commander for Task Force 1-160th SOAR (A), Fort Campbell.

Hertzendorf’s military education includes the United States Army War College; Army Command and General Staff College; Combined Armed Services and Staff School; Aviation Officer Basic and Career Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course (High Risk); and Airborne School.

Hertzendorf holds a Master of Public Administration from Murray State University and a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the United States Army War College.

A Special Operations Master Aviator with over 14 years of service in the 160th, Hertzendorf’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with numeral three, Master Aviator Badge, and Parachutist Badge.

Q: Colonel Hertzendorf, having taken command of the Night Stalkers, a unit with a strong legacy, what are some of the 16 | SOTECH 13.2

central tenets of your commander’s guidance and goals over the next 12 months?

A: At the regiment, we see two operational priorities for the unit.

First, win the current fight and sustain our core competencies.

That means we continue to provide unparalleled precision support to our ground force commanders while maintaining a core of mission-focused leaders and soldiers who can excel in ambiguous, uncertain, volatile and continuous evolving environments.

Our second operational priority is posture the force for the future. It is important that we have the right capabilities to meet the requirements for theater employment within the global SOF network construct for both surgical strike and special warfare missions. Additionally, we have to continue to recruit, assess/ select, train, sustain and manage a force of world-class talent.

Q: Independently, is there a need for a medium-lift rotary-wing platform with greater range, speed or other capabilities?

A: We believe there is always a continued need to develop platforms with greater range and speed. It is imperative, however, that we don’t forget about vertical maneuver—the ability to precisely land and depart while providing accurate fires in support of the ground force commander. Any discussion on future vertical lift platforms must take into account vertical maneuver. www.SOTECH-kmi.com

Q: Are you satisfied that current night vision technology, for the cockpit, is sufficiently integrated for combat missions?

A: Over the past 30-plus years, we’ve made tremendous strides in night vision technology. This technology has given the 160th SOAR (A) and conventional Army a tremendous advantage on the battlefield.

We have to continue, however, to develop technologies that allow our aircrew members to operate in any degraded visual environment (DVE). ‘Owning the night’ is not good enough anymore—we need to operate and excel in all limited visibility environments.

Q: Would it be possible for you to address the challenges of recruiting, training and retaining qualified special operators?

A: Promotions for our senior warrant officers and non-commissioned officers are becoming more difficult as the Army gets smaller. We are concerned that we will lose a large amount of talent over the next five the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the 160th SOAR (A) has been continuously and actively engaged in combat years, especially with our combat veterans Since operations. [Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army] who have tremendous combat and SOF provide that candidate instant feedback without disrupting a experience. Our CW4s literally have thousands of hours in combat, massive joint exercise. and we will never make up the experience deficit unless we find Additionally, we’ve reached out to our SOF customers to a way to keep senior warrants beyond the two-year selective conparticipate in simulation exercises. Their participation helps tinuation option. The return of sequestration only amplifies my train the common tactics, techniques and procedures that we’ve concerns. learned over the past 15 years, which is mutually beneficial to 160th SOAR (A) and the ground force commander.

Q: Are brownouts and degraded environments sufficiently mitigated by recent cockpit technologies?

Q: Is there anything else that you would like to discuss?

A: Our state-of-the-art common avionics architecture system A: The regiment’s reputation of being on time/on target +/- 30 cockpits provide excellent situational awareness, and our trainseconds is one of the pillars of our foundation. Our missioning makes it possible for our aircrew members to land in the planning equipment facilitates this and dramatically shortens most extreme brownout conditions daily. However, we still the traditional paper-maps planning cycle. As the speed of the see room to improve our cockpit situational awareness in all battlefield decision process increases, this planning cycle is DVEs. We see DVE operations as one of the regiment’s future now merging with the mission execution cycle. To facilitate the capability gaps. ground forces speed of execution, our airborne mission networking program brings a next-generation planning and execution Q: Is your command witnessing an increase in simulation capability to our aircraft. Real-time data will soon be shared training for mission planning and joint operations? through secured mesh networks that move with the aircraft and ground forces, accelerating the speed of decision. It proA: Absolutely! We continually use simulations to develop our vides a common operating picture to everyone, enabling faster aviators and prepare them for the complex missions that they and safer mission changes and true situational awareness to will face in the future. We have the capability now to put aviators commanders. This network also brings a true joint interoperalmost anywhere in the world to rehearse potential joint operaability with Link-16 networks and over-the-horizon capability tions. We can build air-to-air refueling, shipboard operations and with future Army common equipment fieldings. I’m looking austere environments into these scenarios. This capability is an forward to exploiting the possibilities provided by this robust exceptional force multiplier as we conduct operations outside network. It could include everything from electronic warfare designated theaters of active armed conflict. These rehearsals enhancements to manned-unmanned teaming and real-time have also been exceptionally beneficial in developing future maintenance reporting. O fully mission qualified and flight lead qualified aviators. We can www.SOTECH-kmi.com

SOTECH 13.2 | 17

Special Section

SOF Logistics Sound logistics allow SOF to operate efficiently in remote and austere environments.

On any given day, special operations forces are deployed in over 75 countries, in many cases working side by side with multiple interagency and international partners in remote, austere environments. Often, special operations forces are faced with little or poor infrastructure across vast distances.

“Lack of physical infrastructure impacts and limits distribution networks,” said Colonel Steve Allen, director of logistics for SOCOM. “Poor-quality roads can be an impediment to efficient, safe and timely mobility on the ground, especially when impacted by weather. Local, commercial air transportation can be viable.

However, a challenge is to find local carriers that meet regulatory safety requirements.”

Lack of infrastructure also impacts the maturity of supply chains and complicates access to various goods and materials, such as construction materials and repair parts for equipment.

While most special operations require non-SOF support, due to where SOF operates, there is a critical requirement for the combat service support provided by the general-purpose forces and strategic logistics providers.

18 | SOTECH 13.2

By Chris McCoy, SOTECH Editor “Patient evacuation of wounded, injured and ill SOF can also be highly challenging due to the vast distances and lack of highly capable medical treatment facilities and medical evacuation transport in remote regions,” said Allen. “These capabilities are routinely provided by the general-purpose forces or host nation agreements.”

Overcoming Logistical Hurdles The unique, persistent and distributed nature of current and anticipated special operations in austere, remote locations presents a daunting problem set for the SOF logistics enterprise, in conjunction with DoD logisticians as a whole, to overcome. Finite and ever-shrinking resources and the capabilities of the general purpose force, other government agencies and forces of partner nations put a premium on establishing and fostering both traditional and non-traditional partnerships.

“Partnering across the spectrum of the conventional services, the interagency and partner nations is what will enable SOF to

www.SOTECH-kmi.com

Prepositioning Equipment for Procurement “TSSi provides the option of prepositioning critical equipment for immediate procurement. The company also assumes the financial risk associated with stocking items that have long lead times so warfighters can get the equipment they need when they need it,” said Bill Strang, president and CEO of TSSi. With the tactical operations line of products, TSSi has developed, integrated and supplied the SOF community with U.S.-made products for 35 years. Some of the most familiar products are the M-9 Assault Medical Backpack, Mass Casualty Kits and Explosive Ordnance technician kits.

“Our warfighter faces several challenges when it comes to material purchases. Fighting the ever-present LPTA (lowest price technically acceptable) contracts, TSSi does not compromise quality for lowest price. We add value by providing the warfighter with the best possible solution for his or her current mission,” said Strang.

“Secondly, our warfighters have challenges with the method in which they are allowed to procure equipment. TSSi’s intent is to match the customer to the contract that provides the best solution

to their funding requirements. TSSi holds several contracts that assist our warfighters with rapid procurement of goods, including blanket purchase agreements, tailored logistics support, military interdepartmental purchase request and general service administration schedules.”

Strang continued, “TSSi has an outstanding past performance record in providing life cycle management for medical and customized kits. We receive kits back for reset and retrofit, which reduces the overall operational cost and initial assembly/delivery times when combined with our prepositioning logistics.”

“TSSi continues to develop customer-driven solutions for prepositioning, life cycle management and Blanket Purchasing Agreements,” he said. “The partnerships developed with key manufacturing and subcontracting facilities allows us the opportunity to improve inventory forecasting and alternate solutions. As our customers’ missions routinely change, TSSi strives to enhance the survivability of our forces and mission success. TSSi’s mission is to deliver rapid solutions and best value as an industry partner.”

obtain needed support at the right place and right time,” said Allen. “In remote and austere environments, SOF must often rely on local economies and relationships with partner nations for much of its support. Partnerships provide the opportunity for SOF to access a wider array of logistics capabilities in order to find creative solutions for remote and austere environments.”

skills can deliver more efficient operations with minimal risk,” he said. “From a technological perspective, Leidos continues to invest in research and development to bring innovative ideas to our customers. We are currently working several big data efforts designed to give logisticians near real-time understanding of status of supplies and equipment to improve operational efficiency and drive down costs.”

Leidos follows the philosophy of not offering a “one-size-fitsall framework” for logistical demand.

“We work to understand our customers’ requirements and then bring the best tools, either individually or in combination, to meet those needs. If a program requires asset visibility, configuration management, maintenance work ordering tracking and reporting, we offer our toolset called ProVM,” said Lindenmayer.

“If a program wants to assess resource allocation by testing alternative scenarios as part of a logistics trade-off analyses, we use a toolset called Model Analysis Reliability Kit. If a program wants a web-based interface for placing and tracking orders to minimize the cost of supply chain management, we offer our toolset called InView.”

InView provides access to 250,000 additional vendors beyond the original equipment manufacturer reseller network, and offers the ability to obtain competitive pricing from multiple vendors on each part of each delivery order.

“The success of our approach is that we provide our customers with a menu of options and capabilities, delivering a tailored solution designed to fit program needs,” said Lindenmayer. “Leidos has proven its capabilities in integrated data management in supporting programs such as the Mine Resistance Ambushed Protected Joint Program Office and the USMC Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare.”

Outcome-Based Logistics Many well-known defense contractors play a role in serving SOF logistical needs. Leidos of Reston, Va., is one such example.

Concerning logistical challenges in austere environments, Tom Lindenmayer, CWO5/USMC, Ret., Leidos account manager, had this to say: “One challenge is competition for assets for moving equipment, fuel, food, ammunition and personnel in many ‘backwater’ areas of the world where unimproved airstrips and underdeveloped infrastructure are the norm.

“This competition adds additional strain to commanders’ priorities and poses a great challenge for logisticians charged with maintaining the sustainability of deployed troops. The 5th SOF truth that SOF operations require non-SOF support will never be more apparent than in the work-up phase prior to operations in those austere environments,” he continued.

According to Lindenmayer, Leidos has been a proponent of outcome-based logistics contracts with performance metrics where the contractor bears more of the programmatic risk in supporting operations.

“We support this approach because we are confident our proven, well-designed menu of processes and tools, knowledgeable people with relevant experience, and finely honed logistics

www.SOTECH-kmi.com

SOTECH 13.2 | 19

Special Section At the enterprise level, Leidos has been working on a capability to interface with any number of service-specific or commercial inventory and maintenance systems to give SOCOM an integrated view of the status of supplies and equipment.

In other words, decision-makers would have the answers to where the equipment is and what shape it’s in provided in a single, web-accessible view.

“We also are heavily invested in cybersecurity to ensure the data is safeguarded and only accessible to authorized personnel,” said Lindenmayer. “One of the interesting challenges in cybersecurity for logistics is that the soldiers in the field are frequently on highly secure classified networks, while the logistical data they are accessing is unclassified or commercial.”

Lindenmayer continued, “Carefully designed methods have to be used to securely get this unclassified data to the front-line users who need it without jeopardizing the security of the classified systems carrying it. At a user level, we are combining capabilities that would allow equipment users to order parts and supplies via an Amazontype service.”

Users would select required items, put them in a shopping cart, pay via a government credit card and have parts delivered to their location.

“The approach eliminates the requirement for large stocks of supplies, maximizes the ‘pay as you go’ model and is particularly well-suited to low-density, COTS items,” said Lindenmayer.

Challenges Ahead According to Leidos, the challenges they see ahead in the near future are mostly the same as the ones from the past few years. “First, SOCOM will always be called on to support a pop-up requirement that nobody saw coming six to eight months previously. With this emphasis on SOF going global, we see challenges in moving personnel and equipment in a quick reaction mode to meet mission requirements ‘somewhere’ where they aren’t deployed today,” said Lindenmayer. “The speed of technological change will mean there is always improved, increased capability.

Much of this capability is delivered through IT improvements that make more actionable information available to warfighters and decision-makers when they need it, and that information must be delivered to the right place at the right classification level to make it actionable.”

This includes utilizing increasing amounts of COTS technologies and commercial, software-as-a-service data providers.

“SOCOM will have to be disciplined enough to establish data and information requirements, yet agile enough to continue to drive for improved performance. This will take trust in teaming and partnering with defense contractors, something SOCOM does well now,” said Lindenmayer. “Next, there are challenges associated with the DoD Financial Improvement Audit Readiness requirement, which requires SOCOM’s processes, systems and procedures be financially compliant and auditable no later than the end of fiscal year 2017.

Finally, there is the uncertainty in the budget and its specific impact on SOCOM, given the increased emphasis on controlling cost while accomplishing the mission.”

Leidos believes that SOCOM logistics and sustainment efforts are going to come under pressure to standardize their approach across the service components.

20 | SOTECH 13.2

“We believe this can benefit the readiness posture for deployment and mission support without jeopardizing the unique nature of the community,” said Lindenmayer. “This standardization approach will lead to cross-service efficiencies and bring more of the SOF community under a shared resources concept, allowing for reductions in costs and the contractor footprint required to support SOCOM efforts on a global scale.”

Developing a Close Working Relationship Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin has experienced logistical challenges OCONUS as the result of the withdrawal of troops and the changing U.S. government transportation and logistics footprint.

Due to unplanned delays, resupply times have increased, which affects sparing of systems. Weather and terrain also make it more difficult to transport supplies across the country. Security, of course, is always a primary concern.

“Lockheed Martin has developed a close working relationship with local coalition forces,” said Jerry Mamrol, director of Army tactical and strategic solutions. “As new units cycle in, our in-theater managers pass along logistics lessons learned and processes that have proven effective in working with the U.S. government (USG) and coalition partners since 2007. In addition, the fact that our in-theater personnel are in contact with our CONUS managers and experts at our 24/7 operations center helps bring a timely resolution to issues and concerns that arise.”

Regardless of the type of transportation, Lockheed Martin works with the government program office and local in-theater personnel to coordinate and plan scenarios for logistics missions. “Many of our personnel have been in theater for an extended time and understand the processes and potential issues that must be included in the planning process,” said Mamrol. “Military air support for our personnel and equipment is provided either by rotary- and fixed-wing U.S. government or contract air assets.”

In order to meet future SOCOM logistical requirements, the company feels one of the most important requirements is receiving timely updates on the future logistics operational environment.

“We understand that the drawdown planning is a fluid process, but the sooner we know what the future holds, the better we can assist the USG to meet operational requirements,” said Mamrol.

Mamrol also explained, “as the troops draw down in force size, there may in turn be a decrease in support for the movement of materials, parts and contractor personnel.”

The company actually prepositions critical spares at sites that do not have ready access to timely air movements.

“We also work with local U.S. government logistics personnel to forecast material requirements and determine quantities required to support timely resupply based upon a changing transportation environment,” said Mamrol. “Lockheed Martin has achieved very high operational availability of our OCONUS systems in large part due to our close working relationship with the U.S. government.

As the drawdown continues, we remain closely coordinated with our government partners in order to manage shifting operational requirements.” O For more information, contact SOTECH Editor Chris McCoy at chrism@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.sotech-kmi.com.

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AFSOC takes home three safety awards for 2014.

By 1st Lieutenant Ben Sowers

Air Commandos flew 100,000 combat hours in 2014 across five continents without a single Class A mishap. And they did it predominantly at night, often hugging the terrain right in the enemy’s backyard. Air Force Special Operations Command airmen proved again that they can be a part of the most combat-intensive command in the Air Force and still keep safety a top priority by taking home three Air Force-level safety awards for 2014.

AFSOC won the Major General Benjamin D. Foulois Award for the second consecutive year as the Air Force’s best flight safety program. This prestigious award recognizes the major command with the best flight safety record. AFSOC led the Air Force with no Class A mishaps in two years, despite the challenges of flying six separate types of aircraft for 115,000 total hours, mostly at night. As the workhorse of special operations forces troop movement and intratheater airlift, AFSOC aircraft overcame the constant hazards of landing on austere and unimproved fields.

AFSOC also created Africa’s first web-based Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard map, increasing crews’ awareness of bird conditions across the continent.

“Safety is paramount to the first special operations forces truth, that ‘humans are more important than hardware,’” said Lieutenant General Bradley Heithold, AFSOC commander. “These awards are a testament to our Air Commandos and their outstanding ability to get the job done and get it done safely.”

The 27th Special Operations Wing safety team at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., captured the Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award for Weapons Safety. Along with benchmarking the AFSOC standard for a comprehensive air show risk assessment plan, Cannon’s safety office oversaw the largest military construction program in the nation last year, including 38 projects at an estimated $1.29 billion, ensuring Occupational Safety and Health Administration and safety compliance.

Additionally, the 353d Special Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan, earned the Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award for Ground Safety, Category IV. The group’s safety education programs comprehensively trained 1,675 assigned and deployed people in a range of risk management, supervisory, motorcycle and traffic safety subjects. Throughout Operation www.SOTECH-kmi.com

Enduring Freedom in the Philippines and Afghanistan, as well as in disaster relief operations following the strongest storm to ever make landfall in the Pacific, the group maintained an exceptional safety record of no Class A or B mishaps. Finally, unit safety people conducted 48 spot inspections to cement safety and operations integration, earning the group a command-first “highly effective” rating during its 2014 Unit Effectiveness Inspection.

“It does not surprise me that AFSOC did so well. I am enormously proud of the matchless motivation, dedication and professionalism that define this command,” Heithold said.

Winning Air Force-level safety accolades is nothing new for AFSOC. This year, the command took its sixth Foulois Trophy since 1996.

Colonel Scott Wolfe, AFSOC director of safety, attributes the command’s success to Air Commando culture.

“We are out there doing the right things the right way,” he said.

“Winning these awards acknowledges that we are on the right path in our safety culture, which is well-nested in our AFSOC priorities.”

Wolfe said winning awards in flight, weapons and ground safety shows how everyone in AFSOC, in every job and at every level, is contributing to the command’s safety accomplishments, despite the inherent risks involved.

“Our goal in AFSOC safety is to help leadership at all levels create a culture of proactive safety while ensuring mission success,” Wolfe said.

AFSOC airmen perform dangerous jobs in some of the most dangerous parts of the world. But according to Wolfe, the way Air Commandos approach and mitigate risk contributes to their outstanding safety record.

These latest honors attest to how America’s Air Commandos are the safest in the Air Force, day or night, any time, any place. O 1st Lieutenant Ben Sowers is an AFSOC public affairs officer.

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

SOTECH 13.2 | 21

SEAL Team 17 and HSC-85 celebrate the centennial of the Navy Reserve.

By Petty Officer 1st Class Melissa Russell SEAL Team 17 and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 (HSC85) recognized the centennial celebration of the Navy Reserve with a visit from Chief of Navy Reserve, Vice Admiral Robin Braun and events onboard both Naval Air Station North Island and Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.

Navy operational support centers and reserve detachments across the Navy marked the centennial with celebrations throughout the nation and at duty stations around the globe.

“It’s a celebration of the service, sacrifice, history and heritage of the Navy reserve, as well as a dedication to all the veterans, the community, families and the employers that support the reservists,” said Captain Mark Howell, commander Navy Region Southwest Reserve Component Command. “Without all those folks, we cannot be as successful as we are.”

Braun kicked off the event, which attracted about 400 friends, family members and, in some cases, local employers of Navy reserve sailors, by leading a group re-enlistment and two promotion ceremonies. Afterward, the crowd had the chance to tour the facilities and ask questions about HSC-85 aircraft on display.

Navy wife Veronica Sheahan explained that without seeing the environment that her husband Lieutenant Commander Michael Sheahan works in, his reserve weekends can sometimes feel like a bit of a mystery.

“I think it’s fantastic,” she said, referring to the event.

After touring the displays, participants made their way to Naval Amphibious Base Coronado for a dynamic display of the combined capabilities of SEAL Team 17 and HSC-85. The demonstration included dropping five SEAL operators from a helicopter into the bay; the operators then breached the shoreline, captured a target, combated enemy gunfire in a simulated gun battle and then entered the bay with their detainee for boat extraction. The crowd was also treated to a simulated battle between the extraction team and a mock combatant patrol boat.

Spectators had the opportunity to view SEAL vehicles, aircraft, boats, field medical equipment and historical displays.

“It was awesome that the [kids] got to see the guys jump out of the helicopter and the shooting of the guns because they haven’t seen that before,” said participant Sara Merwin. “The kids love [the displays], and I can’t get them off of them. It’s fun to see them up close because they’re a lot bigger than you’d think they would be.”

22 | SOTECH 13.2

A Navy SEAL jumps from a HH-60 helicopter during a demonstration at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado as part of the Navy reserve’s Centennial celebration. [Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy/by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anthony Hayes]

According to Commander Ed Rohrbach, commanding officer of SEAL Team 17, the relationship between HSC-85 and SEAL Team 17 has been sharpened into an elite fighting partnership through constant training.

“We have worked closely with HSC-85, and they are an incredibly adept and versatile Navy helicopter squadron,” said Rohrbach.

“They bring so much to the fight. When you combine them, they make SEALs that much more effective on the battlefield. Our training is that much more effective when we do things like this on the weekends.”

Rohrbach was pleased with the participation in the centennial celebration events in San Diego. He expressed his pride in SEAL Team 17 sailors and the relationship they have developed with HSC85, and added that everyone was excited that Braun was able to enjoy the day with them. O Petty Officer 1st Class Melissa Russell is a public affairs officer at Navy Public Affairs Support Element West.

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

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Advances in Battery Technology

Portable energy is more efficiently aiding the SOF operator.

By Peter Buxbaum SOTECH Correspondent density—packing more electricity into a smaller package—and The experiences of U.S. special operators in southwest Asia requiring less frequent replacements. Difficulties encountered due over the last decade and half, and around the world for that to the many different kinds of batteries required to power a diverse matter, are testimony to the increasing reliance of warfighters array of equipment have been mitigated with adapters that allow on electrically-powered devices. Small teams of deployed special for certain levels of interoperability among batteries, charging operations and other ground units invariably carry with them devices and equipment. Charging equipment increasingly relies on a range of devices—from radios and GPS units to night vision renewable sources such as solar and wind power. Power managegoggles, rangefinders and body armor cooling systems—that operment systems optimize the charging and power usage processes. ate on electric power.

“Technology is playing an ever-increasing role In the early years of U.S. involvement in southin the U.S. military, which makes long battery life west Asia, the U.S. military relied on non-rechargeever more critical in the devices that servicememable batteries, not unlike those common in civilian bers use,” said James Poole, director of DoD sales life, to meet most of its portable and man-wearable at Panasonic System Communications Company of power needs. That meant that troops had to carry North America. “Men and women on the front line their power sources—or, in the case of rechargecannot stop their mission to charge their devices.” able batteries, the chargers—with them, adding “Some of the frustrations special operators have weight and bulk to their already heavy packs. Stoseen in the past have involved the necessity of carryries of warfighters and commanders scrounging ing a bunch of batteries and a bunch of types of bataround for any available batteries became the stuff teries and the inability to recharge those batteries of legend.

Phil Robinson in the field,” said Phil Robinson, vice president for Since then, power technology has made great electronics and power systems at Protonex, a provider of fuel cell strides. Battery technology has advanced, providing greater power www.SOTECH-kmi.com

SOTECH 13.2 | 23

“Modifications with some COTS products have yielded improved power solutions for portable, remote and mobile applications. “But solar panels, more efficient cabling systems and extended life batwe have seen some recent advances that help them carry fewer batteries,” said Morris. “Most COTS products must be ruggedized to teries and varieties. Meanwhile, power requirements are still going be suitable for military applications.” up because new capabilities are continually being developed, and “COTS products that can be modified to military standards they don’t want to have to leave those at home.” are definitely the way to go,” said Walker. “Almost every RFP “Power needs are increasing all the time, especially alternative and RFQ we get from the military is requesting something not types of power,” said Bill Walker, director for OEM and internaon the shelf, so if a COTS product can be modified to user specs, tional military sales at Analytic Systems. “The military does not the military saves time and money. Analytic Systems can modify want soldiers carrying 30 pounds of double-A batteries. You can our agile COTS high-performance power conversion products for tell from the dead battery field in Iraq how things have moved one unit or 1,001 units in a reasonable period of time, as soon as away from standard lead-acid batteries. Batteries and power two weeks.” conversion products need to be lighter, stronger, smaller and Analytic Systems’ COTS products have been designed in-house less expensive.” from the board up to be agile so that they can be customized to Indeed, stronger, smaller and less expensive are the very user specifications. “We have the needed in-house experience to requirements articulated for power sources and related products meet military standards,” said Walker. “We have designed a numfor deployed teams and their man-portable equipment by the ber of new products from scratch and customized COTS units to Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC). “For meet important military program needs.” Among these are the individual equipment and some team-level equipment, the basic power supply for the SRCTec LCMR, a lightweight requirements are power generation capabilities with counter-mortar radar; the battery charger for the reduced form factor that reduce the requirement for SPARKS II, a mine roller IED defeat program; the replacement batteries or that are renewable,” said power supply for the Textron/AAI Corp Shadow Captain Barry Morris, a MARSOC spokesman.

UAS, Ground Control Stations; the new VMC, the “Servicemembers require laptops and tabvehicle-mounted charger for the U.S. Army; and the lets featuring long-life batteries that can charge lithium-ion charger for the Marine Corps and Army quickly,” added Poole. “Another requirement is Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS). devices featuring removable batteries, allowing Portable warfighter equipment such as pilot them to quickly swap out a drained battery for a recovery, surveillance and border patrol systems fresh one. In some devices, this can be done while increasingly use lithium-iron phosphate batteries, the unit is still running, thanks to a bridge battery.

Mark Dettmer rechargeable batteries that offer longer lifetimes, Devices with these features are now table stakes in better power densities and greater safety than conventional batterthe military market.” ies. Although rechargeable, they are “tricky to charge,” noted Mark Power management systems are the power universalizers Dettmer, president of Mission Critical Energy, Inc. The company in a landscape of diverse batteries and chargers. “We can take makes charging systems that can be used with the Valance-brand any battery, whether designed to work with each other or not,” lithium-iron phosphate battery, which is popular with special said Robinson, “and the power manager does all the conversions operations groups and the Navy. necessary to charge any rechargeable military battery from any Mission Critical Energy makes a micro wind turbine charger man-portable equipment. Special forces groups are now going with a 1.2 meter blade sweep that can be taken into the field to to the field with more energy-dense rechargeable batteries and charge many of the specialized batteries used in portable military are increasingly powering off vehicles and using solar power to equipment. The company recently introduced a quiet wind turbine recharge batteries in the field so that they’re not carrying a ruck system. “We cut the decibels in half,” said Dettmer. “Users have full of primary [non-rechargeable] batteries for all the equipment said that it can operate right over their heads, and they can’t hear they have.” it. The sound of the wind is often louder than the wind turbine.”

“We work closely with the special operations community,” said The company also makes solar chargers, some of which can be Walker. “So when a customer chooses a battery, we can provide completely immersed in salt water. “Some of these are used with the charging solution given the appropriate charging algorithms submerged sensor packs,” Dettmer explained. “They automatically of that battery to enhance the life of the battery or provide the resurface when they need to be recharged with the solar panel and correct DC/AC inverter output for a customer’s needs if they have then they head back down.” The same kind of idea is being used to an unusual battery voltage.” recharge batteries using solar power that power sensors dropped The Special Operations Research, Development and Acquiin remote locations such as mountaintops. sition Command (SORDAC) integrates demand signals from Makers of battery charging equipment continue to face a numthe operator community into a single special operations forces ber of challenges. “The batteries that are available all have their requirement, and then releases that requirement to the technolown power management systems,” said Dettmer. “Each battery ogy development community in search of potential solutions. “If manufacturer tries to set themselves apart from the others so that potential solutions are identified, SORDAC may choose to invest they don’t violate someone else’s patent. Because power manageresources and to provide program management and oversight as ment systems are not consistent across the industry, everyone part of the evaluation process,” said Morris. on the charging side of the fence is forced to try and make their Most of the commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products equipment so that it can be adjusted, or else it cannot work with that have been evaluated by SORDAC were developed for civildifferent power management systems.” ian use and then adapted for potential military applications.

24 | SOTECH 13.2

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Another problem is that enhancements to the batteries themselves have constrained the ease of rechargeability. “The scientists who perfected the new battery technologies weren’t looking at the ease of recharging,” said Dettmer. “As a result, these batteries are difficult to charge outside of the laboratory environment. There are also Chinese brands that are entering the market and being used by U.S. government agencies that have a charge limit of 15 to 20 amps, but users often want 30 to 40 amps. Our micro wind turbine can output 25 to 29 amps.”

Solar and wind chargers are increasingly necessary in areas where it is impractical, if not impossible, to use diesel generators.

“Diesel is still an option, but refueling with diesel generators can be a problem. There are some areas where diesel is impossible to find or cost prohibitive to deliver to. Increasingly, solar and wind are being thought of as the primary charging modalities with diesel as a backup,” said Dettmar.

Protonex markets power managers that are suited to a variety of applications. The company’s Squad Power Manager (SPM) line weighs under 1 pound and can handle up to five different devices at once. Protonex’s Best Power Manager (BPM) weighs less than 3 ounces. “It’s ideal for someone who needs a universal charger when weight is at an absolute premium,” said Robinson.

Power managers allow batteries to accept power from just about any source. “They can take them from military and civilian vehicles,” said Robinson. “They can take them from found batteries from burned-out shells of vehicles. Almost every power management kit is equipped with a solar panel so that they can harvest power from that. Within the special operations community, we also see hand-cranked recharging, something we don’t see elsewhere.”

Protonex’s devices are hardware-based, but are embedded with software that includes the intelligence necessary to adapt various battery systems to the equipment they are supposed to be powering. “So a team may have a 14-volt battery and need to power a 19-volt laptop and a 9-volt radio,” said Robinson. “Figuring out all of the conversions that are necessary is software-based. The sophisticated software we have running on our devices figures all that out so that users can focus on their missions. The user just plugs things in. Our power manager figures out what needs to be done and does it automatically.”

The Marine Corps has integrated BPM into its Marine Austere Patrolling (MAP) system. “The Marines have done quite a bit of studying as far as what kind of energy they can save, what kind of weight they can save, and what level of mission life they can support,” said Robinson. “They had a team enabled with the MAP system and determined that they could go on indefinite missions and harvest everything they needed. From a power standpoint, they are able to plan [and] sustain unlimited duration missions.”

Robinson envisions very high power systems being developed for the U.S. Special Operations Command’s TALOS program.

TALOS, the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, also known as the Iron Man suit, is envisioned as a robotic exoskeleton that SOCOM is designing with the help of universities, laboratories and industry. The suit, which will be bulletproof, weaponized, and have the ability to monitor vital signs, will be comprised of layers of smart material and sensors.

“The power requirements for the Iron Man suit are dramatically higher than other systems,” said Robinson. “I believe TALOS www.SOTECH-kmi.com

will spin off some very useful power technologies for special warfighters in addition to having a power system for the suit itself.”

In the future, battery technology will make renewable energies far more efficient than they have ever been, according to Dettmer.

“These developments will make solar panels and micro wind turbines effective for people who need operations to be taken care of in a 24-hour cycle,” he said.

Robinson sees makers of lithium-iron phosphate batteries adapting their products to make them universal power storage units for a wide variety of equipment and not the small numbers of units, such as man-pack radios, that have a bay for those types of batteries built in. He also predicts that power management systems will soon be incorporated in military requirements.

“It is a brand-new technology that has been fielded only in the last five years,” said Robinson. “They are still figuring out where it should fit. I hear that there are requirements being written, and I think we will see them over the next year or two.”

Analytic Systems is currently turning its attention to developing commercial applications which may be adapted for military use at some point in the future. “With sequestration, there is not as urgent a call for military products,” said Walker. “We are turning our design team to both higher power units and lower power units with wider voltage range that hopefully will also have a military requirement in the future. We already know the general needs of the military, so our commercial products will not take much customizing to move into the military markets, unless they come up with something altogether new.” With new battery chemistries being produced all the time, Analytic Systems is also moving to software-controlled chargers so that any battery chemistry can be charged with a simple software change.

“We are trying to stay aware of all new battery formats,” said Dettmer. “We hear talk of a new lighter and more powerful oxygenbased system. The oxygen-based system is said to be unstable and dangerous, but that was what they were saying about the lithiumiron phosphate battery 10 years ago. Part of our job is to be able to charge the new batteries that are coming out. We have to stay ever diligent as new credible batteries get tested in the field and are adopted.”

“Based on our experience with the military, extending battery life is one of the critical factors for special operations forces, and that is where we see battery technology evolving,” said Poole.

“Most commercial off-the-shelf products don’t have replaceable batteries or extended battery life, so this is the way we are improving battery technology to help the military.”

MARSOC’s focus continues to be enhancing power generation efficiency and reducing form factors. “The special operations forces community will pursue power generation capabilities with reduced form factor with power output equivalent to or greater than current capabilities,” said Morris. “The community may also pursue more efficient solar-powered capabilities, more efficient power harvesting capabilities, and more efficient kinetic energy generation and collection capabilities. The requirement will continue to be the development of ruggedized systems with reduced form factor and more efficient power generation capability.” O

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

SOTECH 13.2 | 25

TALOS Update ‘Iron Man’ Suit’s Process Important to DoD.

By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) is being designed to give protection and capabilities to U.S. special operators, but the process of designing it may be as revolutionary as the suit itself, said U.S. Special Operations Command officials.

TALOS started 18 months ago after incidents downrange caused SOCOM to take a hard look at how special operators are outfitted.

“We’ve put a lot of great technology on the battlefield, but have we really taken a step back and taken a clean sheet and said for the next five, 10, 15 years do we need what we’ve got now, or are there other game-changing technologies we can incorporate?” James Geurts, SOCOM’s acquisition executive, said during a recent interview.

TALOS is an Important Program Geurts said there are two fundamental reasons for the TALOS program. The first is the most obvious: DoD needs to examine new ways to protect and enable special operations servicemembers.

“It’s not just body armor; it’s all the things that go into that,” he said.

This includes sensors, heads-up displays, an exoskeleton to reduce the load special operators carry, medical sensors and much, much more.

The second reason keys on the question, “Are there new ways we can redesign how we acquire capability for the force?”

Geurts used the examples of Kickstarter and collaborative crowdsourced designs.

He also pointed to the strides 3-D printing/ manufacturing has made.

Appreciation of Technology Special Operations Command is uniquely positioned to do both, he said.

“We’re a joint force; we value technology; we’ve got inherent capabilities to acquire it; and we have a long history of always looking 26 | SOTECH 13.2

to exploit whatever is available rapidly and get it on the battlefield,” Geurts said.

The Army, Navy and Air Force have responsibility to man, train and equip forces.

The services and defense agencies have their own acquisition systems, with their own strengths and weaknesses, just like SOCOM. “The key to me is how do we take the strengths of both—just like we do operationally—so we’re both better,” Geurts said.

SOCOM’s advantages include nimbleness, agility and adaptability, Geurts said. The service branches, he added, have the advantage of scale, amplification, large networks and deep benches.

Small, Joint Acquisition Task Force The TALOS effort is a good example of what SOCOM can bring to the acquisition process, Geurts said. The command has a small joint acquisition task force concentrating on the suit. They have opened the process up to an incredible number of companies, government agencies and entities and academia. They also held a “rapid prototyping event” last year, he said, that brought together all these players. It allowed a range of people to exchange a range of experiences, products and processes.

The hands-on event strengthened the network that has grown up around the suit, Geurts said. This acquisition strategy has worked beautifully for TALOS, he said, which has made tremendous progress.

“If we can close the distance between operator, acquirer and technologist, then I can create things that each would not independently create on their own,” he said. “[We’re] always worried about not providing a solution to the operator because they didn’t know to ask for it or not taking advantage of technology because I didn’t know how [the operators] could use it.”

“The real strength is the network,” Geurts said. “I’m not a person who thinks we should find one perfect acquisition process. I don’t

think it exists. We buy a multitude of things.

At SOCOM, what I’m looking for is: How do I have a multitude of tools and an acquisition workforce that knows which tool to pick for the job?”

Creating the next aircraft would probably call for a disciplined acquisition process that looks hard at the requirements and the tradeoffs, Geurts said. Replacing a sensor on an aircraft, he added, may call for a more agile and adaptable process.

Tailored for Invention, Not Acquisition “If I’m inventing something that doesn’t exist, neither of those processes is likely the best,” Geurts said. “TALOS is putting together another tool we haven’t fully exploited in DoD that’s tailored for invention, not acquisition.”

For this process, the question becomes how does SOCOM “crowdsource from all entities of government, industry and academia and from partners and leverage all that to get a diverse input,” Geurts said.

TALOS has attracted companies and entities not used to working within a DoD system.

“The wider and more diverse the players, the greater the solution set we can come up with,” he said.

Another question SOCOM is wrestling with is how to create “rolling collaboration events” and not just a “once-and-done,” Geurts said.

TALOS already has spun off 12 or 14 things that are a byproduct of the research.

“The end-product is certainly important, but the new things we acquire along the way and the new processes we develop are just as important,” he said. O Jim Garamone is a writer for DoD News, Defense Media Activity.

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

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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.

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Calendar

March 31-April 2, 2015 AUSA Global Force Huntsville, Ala. www.ausa.org

June 22-23, 2015 Special Operations Summit & Warfighter Expo Ft. Bragg Fort Bragg, N.C. www.specialoperationssummit.com/

May 12-14, 2015 SpecOps West Warfighter Expo Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. www.specopswest.com

April 29-30, 2015 Warrior Expo West San Diego, Calif. www.warrior-expo.com/warriorexpo-west

March 29-31, 2015 Quad-A Nashville, Tenn. www.quad-a.org

TBD AUSA Braxton Bragg Symposium Fort Bragg, N.C. www.suggsgroup.com

May 19-21, 2015 SOFIC Tampa, Fla. www.ndia.org/meetings/3890

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Navy Air/Sea looks at programs at the individual level and how they become integrated into systems of systems. General topics include fixed wing, rotary wing, ships, submarines, unmanned systems, communications, sensors and optics, detection and surveillance systems, survivability, missile defense, logistics, maintenance, weapons and ordnance, to name a few.

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10 Feb

ConTraC T awards

plus: • WhO’S WhO AT PeO(A) • NAVY SBIR INNOVATIONS

current fiscal year. The Pearl harbor Shipyard and Intermediat Naval e Maintenanc Facility, Pearl e harbor, is the contracting activity.

2015

-kmi.com

www.NPeo N

A

Warfighter First

s and Personal

s, Material Readines

Combat Readines

Readiness

l Thomas S. Vice Admira Rowden commander e Forces/ Naval Surfac Pacific Fleet

The Navy’s Proposed et FY2016 Budg

its of the Navy released The Department for fiscal year billion budget proposed $161.0 2.

2016 on February billion part of the $534.3 This budget is Obama President Barack defense budget the same day.

Congress on submitted to deputy William Lescher, Rear Admiral budget, of the Navy for assistant secretary of Defense at the Department briefed media the Navy and about conference budget press budget. portion of the Marine Corps submission balances “Our PB16 budget fiscal with our nation’s warfighting readiness “Our force employsaid Lescher. challenges,” capacity aligns capability, thing is “warfighting ment approach demands, the A: The most important to regional mission primary tenet and lly and readiness and technologica first.” It’s the CNO’s commost modern charge as the type ensuring our their comone I take as my guides my are located where at Nasurface force. It advanced forces presence your organization as mander for the most, delivering Q: Tell me about s and what force. It is as simple power is needed surface bat the headquarter for vision when it matters.” val Surface Forces combatant comlike. Do you guided where it matters, footprint looks and it is crucial: “Providing submission was your deployed same in ready, well-trained This year’s budget tenets of chart to look the manders with lethal, assure, to operations’ forces expect your org naval surface by the chief of and be ready. logistically supported prioritizing operate forward 12 to 18 months?

You get there by warfighting first, in people, ships to deter and win.” command,” one real priority: critical investments only “type the a makes of as It have I known goals, and better A: We’re what’s so that the Department outfitting we do makes us and innovation responsible for ensure that everything the defense strategy. have which means we’re making sure we Navy can execute warfighters. of the Navy requested the surface combatants, right qualifications on meeting three The Department with the This goal is built focused on prothe right sailors procurement, these which enable warfighting and $44.4 billion for account and properly maintaining enduring pillars and that we are in the shipbuilding material readiness 44 | commanders viding stability 304 ships ready when fleet first: combat readiness, answers a basic queson track to reach ships so they’re provides Each keeping the Navy that end, my staff buy nine new personal readiness. the Navy will require them. To supasks, “Are we training

by FY20. In FY16 destroyers, and combat systems tion. Combat readiness readitwo Arleigh Burke logistical, training to stay and win?” Material ships, including three littoral material inspections our sailors to fight ready s submarines, port, as well as we providing warships tion two Virginia-clas ness asks, “Are asks, first next-genera the ahead of challenges. readiness and handle personal in how we combat ships the T-AO(X). for combat?” And We’ve seen progress of the resupply ship, our sailors?” logistics fleet and equipping fully “Are we developing tie into this budget includes the manning, training of these pillars and we’ve laid all Additionally, years, notice carrier few You’ll for the aircraft force over the past next. Our Every surface warfare t funding the refueling for what’s coming the procuremen one word: readiness. importance the foundation Washington and evolved, understands the USS George has grown and that Congress officer (SWO) have the ship (LPD 28) organizational chart Surface “SWO Boss,” I of a dock landing bring the Naval FY15 budget. of readiness. As and it’s funds for in the particularly as we y for readiness, t Center online. provided partial billion request primary responsibilit Warfighting Developmen and everything first includes a $50.4 the in budget warfighting— growth The to to see , reflecting paramount We will continue and maintenance DDG 1000 do. for operations

the condition to support in the best material “warfighting first.”

CNO’s tenet of six in command about Q: You’ve been as your have you established months. What metrics goals and what most important measure progress? will you use to

ship squadron, 7 littoral combat as Destroyer Squadron squadron, as well move in of these events in Singapore. All fleet of keeping our sync with the purpose

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else we are called

to

Continued

on pAGe 40 ➥

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this award and will expire at the end current fiscal of the year. This contract was petitively procured as a service-disa comveteran-ow

developmen t, test and evaluation, 2014 weapons fiscal

procuremen bled Lockheed ned small-busin Cooperative t (Navy) and Martin Corp., via ess set-aside Agreements Martin Aeronautics Lockheed PEO the Federal Business funding in amount of Opportuniti website, Air with 12 the $9,603,500 is being awarded Co., Fort Worth, Texas, will be obligated ASWproposals received. es at time of a $35,600,00 Naval Facilities , award and plus-fixed-f ASS The 0 costwill not expire engineering ee delivery end of the Aul Southwest, Command, at the order against current fiscal viously issued t& San Diego, a preyear. The Basic Ordering is the contracting SPE Sea Systems Command, activity (N62473-15 Naval (N00019-14 Agreement ciA -G-0020) -D-2415).

D.C., l MiS is the contracting Washington, to complete Strike Missile a Joint SiOn activity.

(JSM) risk Sikorsky reduction tegration PrO Support and instudy of grA Services Krempp Stratford, inc., the governmen the F-35 Air System Constructi MS Conn., is on inc., (small for being awarded business) t of Norway. $11,582,80 Jasper, Ind., of the study The objectives an 7 modification is being awarded are to further $6,699,538 to a previously awarded for firm-fixed-p mature JSM weapon design firm-fixed-p 0003 under rice task and to ensure (N00019-09 rice contract order a previously ibility of the compat-C-0024) weapon with award design-build to exercise HEAD awarded multiple for organization the F-35. an option will be performed qUAR constructio Work al, selected (N40083-14 TERS n contract in Fort Worth, and limited intermediat -D-2722) (50 percent) depot-level e Texas for renovations and kongsberg, Building 2034 maintenanc aircraft operated to percent), and Building e for Norway (50 and is expected

by Adversary Naval Support 2035 at the Work will Squadrons. to in March Activity, Crane. be performed 2018. Internationa be completed to be performed 2015 at the Naval The work Station in the amount l partner funds (NAS) key Air provides West, Fla., for all labor, equipment, of $10,000,00 NAS Fallon, (40 percent), tools, supplies, obligated 0 are being Nev., (30 on this award, supervision transportati percent) and Marine Corps none of which , quality control, on, expire at the Air Station, the end of will design services professiona Yuma, Ariz., the current percent), Rear l The Naval and is expected and manageme fiscal year.

(30 Adm. sary Air Systems to perform nt necesto be completed in June 2015.

Command, PrograJaynes CJ ent River, asbestos Fiscal 2015 PatuxMd., is the abatement, operations m Execu gutting the existing and maintenanc contracting Glenn Office tive activity. buildings, e (Navy Reserve) Deput Perrym tion of interior r construcin the amount y Progra an funds partitions, Execu H & H builders of $11,582,80 installation fire-rated m obligated inc., (small 7 are being of Cmdr. ceiling,tive ness) Tooele, at time of fireOffice busir suppression award, all electrical Utah, is being Schue Laura expire at system, and mechanical of which maximum low-profile awarded the end of will amount $30,000,00 a upgrades, Chief of ssler Cargo handling the current addressing The Naval Staff fiscal year. seismic The Boeing fixed-price, NAVA Compiled 0 firmSystem Air Systems issues,

by KMI Media Company indefinite-d ity complianceIR SUPP Group staff accessibilCommand, ent River, underwate quantityCountry of origin:elivery/inde , installation PatuxMd., is the ORT of uSA finitejob order r Vehicle finishes, contracting language: interior contract Simulation installation english for electrical, U.S. Navyactivity. mechanical of anti-terroris , painting, Aircraft protection haveengineering Country of m force different spaces compliant Raytheon origin: uSA paving (asphaltic cargo areas and areas. /design, windows Missile Systems, for carrying installation language Some and and the Ariz.,ofisthe of origin: english cargo. Cargo areas may of an exterior or on the lower concrete), (tile work/carpe Tucson, being be awarded deck of the flooringareas may be on the Daily global insulation system. Work a $9,603,500 main deck aircraft. while ocean forecasts modification roofing, the cargoting), finish repair, fencing, includes an area may structural (latitude, aircraft that to previously be unloaded is longitude, depth to design,include a four-dimensional but is systemsheating, and loaded. contracton the ground, awarded limited and time) estimation ventilation general constructionot(4-D) be Existing cargo generated. air conditioning used in aircraft (N00024 may beand An approach of ocean currents conveyance area. Theand installed on 13 C-5403) repair, taken demolition n, alteration, rollerfire overCindy top can Missile for the estimation systems of the floor time for Standard suppression is to start with protection may be mounted 2 (SM-2) of the cargo and work or system of vehicle position tray, that rests aspecial / and known position Busine on axles in positioningBurke performed on the floor installation (SM-6)aengineering track channel, Standard trades.from system (GpS), ss/Fin infrequent fixes Missile of the compartment. by Facilitiesthe rollers, where Work in the ultra-short 6 Manag will be performed (global etc.)

Naval engineering the cargo and use ancial and technical Crane, upper the vector sum (USbL), terrain-based, ThisThe ement andbaseline Commandwill contact, may extend contract surface is expected of in Steve west areathe cargo floor. Since services. of the through the South2’”‘ to 3”‘‘will the cargo to be completed velocity (heading provide for water) with by July vehicle Nickle above area may haveand of of theresponsibili the forecast Contra cargo to be ty for 2016. engineering and speed technical a fixed Diego, Calif., Fiscal 2015 Validation of current. loadedthe height, the cts maySan services this approach be restricted volume height in support Navy working metropolita capital of canfunds and was received and be accomplished theSM-6 overallto area. No may orders are Currentthe cargoncompartment contract funds of SM-2 from underwater useable ensure continuity using logShawn being issued be reduced. gliders which of $6,699,538 data that cargo conveyance task each dive and Slade in the tion, Scienc amount LOGIS provides surfacing point. in producdesign integrity will be performed trays in a cargo at this time.systems may are being GpS positions e An underwater TICSengine a buoyancy incorporate Techn at & obligated compartment. Work award integrationseveral roller and total systems and will notglider propels itself onology The and wings longitudinalat Facilities this ing and Acquisition that create axis of the engineer-roller trays may be oriented of the missile tion. From a vehicle using expire at lift to produce aircraft. In addition, current the end of along the round may motion Division component fiscal modeling transverse andvertical must have Base Point be present mo- the RDT& year. Four horizontal in a cargo (FeAD) perspective, its trayss.

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Fiscal 2015 are limited amount of Of the 36 or the Foreign 3, 2015predicting so(FMS) specific temperature, awarded Feb. fuel that Assist Dinop Military Figures to Maritime operation initiativesininvolume ing cargo can by the restrictions salinity and the implementation program maintenanc conveyance oulos Sales 1 and 2 show representative underwater and plan, one helicopter ant Progra imposed or systems. cooperative e (Navy) is titled glider deployment Co., Trevose, current “Sustain Increasing byExecu federal capability may Support forecasts existments. be usedcontract toamount con- Work agreeexercises.Pa., the during to increase tive represents amount of duct funds maritime (N00383-11 In these of fuelwill operations the range Office m current speed in the be performed carried ice-impacted figures, color David of$5,000 for m/s and Logist direction. fuel thatare of anin aircraft -D-0003F) waters.” The implementation canbeing 303 andorisincrease be offloaded Assist in $25,499,59 Meise arrows ics inr Tucson, expected Figure 1 shows plan states 8, should obligated 301 indicate the amount by a tanker the r following regarding ant This design to be completed thestated the Progra have on aircraft. current current this initiative: as 0.8 m/s.

Execucompletion relates generally at the cember 2015. the

by Figure 2 shows tive with particular, to to a cargo mdate surface as February theOffice current handling system FMS, fiscal of the gliderDeas great a low-profile Mac speeds The objective: 28, 2015.

RDT&E short dives, where cargo Ensure 2015 research, m, the maximum r at 1000Assist Brown and, in the United States the present conveyance the speed timeframe disclosure depth system. maintains ant position is is predominately to cover FeBRUARY relates toicebreaking estimation month and ice-strength-More particularly, Progra the loading a method a onebelow extension. Executive for underwater ened ship capability 0.02 10, 2015 and apparatus of taller cargo ocean can with sufficient vehiclesTest be problematic Office mm/s. for allowing into to operating a cargo capacity the cargo area & Evalua project aarea in the ropen with existing sovereign on an require the volume compared U.S. aircraft and technologies. vehicle to surface maritime presence, tion increasing to current support U.S. interUsing GpS 10 drawings

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on pAGe 31 ➥

FeBRUARY 10,

2015

Defense innov ations

20

21

cargo

ests in the polar regions conveyance and facilitate research systems. that advances the fundamental understanding of the Arctic. next Steps: The federal government requires the ability operations in ice-impacted to conduct waters in the Arctic.

As maritime activity in the Arctic region increases, expanded access will be required.

Next steps include:

Chuck

periodically, gation hazard can which poses and subjects a potential the vehicle surface. navito the faster Inertial [i.e., Icebreakers systems Polar Star currents near and can Polar Sea] and research be Velocity ineffective the accommodations facilities and Logs (DVL) equivalent to Healy. without the use of Doppler whose ranges This cost includes government project all WWW.NPe erationand can unless too limitedshipyard the vehiclecosts. Total time tobe procure er for deep O-kMI.COM a new icebreakis very mission analysis, ocean opmounted[including near studies, the seafloor. design, transponder contract award construction] and Surfaceis eightsystems to 10 years.can 24 or bottomthe geographic be expensive area

Cobau to deploy and • The lead and that the vehicle supporting departments The Coast Guard restrict Logist gh with a USbL and agencies operate in. a document that lists system further stated that thiscan will icsdevelop designed A ship the capabilities needed be used to notional new ship for a 30-yearcan would be equipped service to operate in ice- can be an expensive track an underwater life. impacted waters Jim McLau to support federal The high-Latitude option activities in the polar vehicle, which Study for long provided and emergent sovereign to Congress regions A complication deployments. that in July 2011 states the above figure of ghlin responsibilities over $800open in the the next 10 to 20 RDT&E million to $925 million years by the end ocean is thatin 2008 dollars of 2014. equates to $900 million problematic to $1,041 million while submerged. position estimation • Develop long-term in 2012 dollars. provides the following plans to sustain federal The study by the is capability to depthJim vehicle using estimates, inGlider physically access canacquisition be directly Schmi of the the Arctic with sufficient for new a pressure 2012 dollars, Test costsmeasured capacity to support from depthpolar icebreakers: sensor. Vertical U.S. interests by & velocity the end of 2017.

Evalua dtcan versus time, and horizontal be derived estimated • $856given speed through tion million for one ship; vertical velocity, Measuring progress: the water can Sustaining federal • $1,663 million ized hydrodynamic capability will be for two ships—an vehicle pitch be strated through the demonaverage of about angle and Federal Government’s • $2,439 million model for $832 million each; a parameterability to conduct for three ships—an the average in the Arctic to support vehicle.of Consequently, operations position information, statutory missions $813 million each; • $3,207 million and sovereign responsibilities, for purpose for four the only certain and to advance interests ships—an average time),• the of simulation, of about $802 million in the region. progress $3,961 timemillion for dive of the is depth each; five ships—an average in implementing this objective will be measured and the starting of about $792 million (as a function by completion of and of the capabilities document,In the present and ending each; and long-term sustainment embodiment, surface positions.

• $4,704 million plan. the motion assumptions, for six ships—an Lead Agency: Department average ofmodel including zero $784 million can each. of homeland Security use initial simplifying hydrodynamic Supporting Agencies: ocean current Department of Commerce The study slip between and refers a symmetric to the above estimates and Atmospheric (National Oceanic the vehicle Administration), Department as “rough order-of-magniV-shaped lations tude and costs” that “were conducted, flight trajectory. of Defense, Department developed as part State, Department of of Transportation, of Coast Guard’s indepenFor the simudent polar platformthe maximum National Science dive depththe can of Foundation[.]22 be used to business Case Analysis.”

25 the dive and the time CoSt EStiMAtES compute an FoR CERtAin ModERnizAtion beyond of the 25-yEAR estimate of SERViCE liFE ExtEnSionS this model, www.NpEO-kM a single vertical oPtionS sources of I.COMnEW velocity. error in position The Coast Guard REPlACEMEnt stated in February prediction can SHiPS 2008 that performing sive maintenance, the exten- include repair and modernization The Coast Guard work needed to extend estimated in February service lives of the the 2008 that new replacement two ships by 25 years ships for the Polar might cost roughly Star and Polar Sea per ship. This figure, $400 million might cost between the Coast Guard and $925 million per $800 million FEbRUARy said, is based ship in 2008 dollars made by independent on assessments 3, 2015 | to procure.23 The contractors for the said that this estimate Coast Guard 33 Coast Guard in 2004. service life extension The work, the Coast Guard said, would improve icebreakers’ installed the two systems in certain is based on a ship areas. Although the be intended to permit with integrated electric work would the ships to operate drive, three propellers and a combined for another 25 years, diesel and gas (electric) not return the cutters it would to new condition.26 propulsion plant. icebreaking capability The would be equivalent An August 30, 2010, to the pOLAR Class press report stated that the commandant the Coast Guard of at the time, Admiral Robert papp, estimated 14 | FEbRUARy the cost 3, 2015 www.NpEO-kMI.COM

For more information and to subscribe, contact Jeff McKaughan at jeffm@kmimediagroup.com

www.SOTECH-kmi.com

SOTECH 13.2 | 27

INDUSTRY INTERVIEW

Special Operations Technology

Rich Haddad General Manager Polaris Defense Q: Could you tell our readers about some of the solutions that you presently offer to the military?

A: Polaris Defense provides the United States and its allies with a family of ultra-light off-road vehicles including the MV850 all-terrain vehicle (ATV), MRZR Lightweight Tactical All-Terrain Vehicles (LTATV) and Dagor ultra-light combat vehicle (ULCV).

Our newest vehicle, the Dagor ULCV, was designed to fill a mobility gap for light infantry, special operations forces to meet an immediate threat. The gap was a vehicle that is easily transported by tactical air, carries enough payload to be mission-effective and carries its full payload in extreme off-road terrain.

Dagor is built with trophy truck-inspired suspension to carry 3,250 pounds of payload or a nine-man infantry squad at a higher rate of speed over terrain usually traveled on foot. This allows the warfighter to move quickly to the objective with mission-critical equipment. We are proud that Dagor fills that gap and can be supported with a COTS supply chain anywhere in the world, making it easy to use and maintain.

We have worked with our special forces customers to quickly field the MRZR2 and MRZR4 LTATVs. These vehicles are highly mobile off-road platforms and can be configured a number of ways to help U.S. and international expeditionary forces meet mission demands and emerging threats.

The MRZR2 and MRZR4 LTATVs can be supplied with accessories, spare parts, mechanical and operator training. Both vehicles can be configured a number of ways, including two- and four-person variants for the MRZR LTATV. Air transport certifications include air drop, CH-47 internal and V-22.

In addition to the family of ultralight combat vehicles, Polaris provides government and military customers with Ranger side-by-side utility vehicles; Brutus diesel side-by-side utility vehicles with a front power take-off system; Terrainarmor airless tires on MV850, Ranger, and Brutus 28 | SOTECH 13.2

conducting research and development with internal funds and bringing products like Dagor to the market quickly; Dagor was produced in less than two years, from concept to production. In the rapidly changing threat environment that our military faces, we feel Polaris Defense provides real value in the ultra-light mobility space.

Q: What are the advantages you bring as a commercial company providing commercial-off-the-shelf solutions?

models; the Ranger with Hippo MPS; and snowmobiles. Other off-road capabilities that Polaris Defense provides include Polaris unmanned and optionally manned vehicles that are ready to accept robotics hardware and software without impacting traditional operation of the vehicles; Primordial Ground Guidance software that helps plan fast and concealed routes onand off-road for dismounted and mounted soldiers as well as Klim technical riding gear made to protect operators from extreme weather as well as flames and abrasions. And through its Global Electric Motorcars brand of electric vehicles, Polaris provides a Low Speed Vehicle for on-road use. Across all its product lines, Polaris uses robust commercial off-theshelf components to provide faster speed to market, intuitive operation and easier maintenance worldwide.

Q: Why has Polaris been successful in the Defense market?

A: Polaris Defense is quick to respond to warfighter needs with highly mobile, ultra-light off-road vehicles using robust commercial-off-the-shelf components for quicker speed to market and easier maintenance worldwide. Our expertise in off-road-vehicles is unmatched in Power Sports or Defense industries and it brings significant performance and cost advantages to military customers.

Polaris Defense reduces risk to our military and government customers by

A: The commercial industry brings gamechanging resources to the military, and off-road mobility is an excellent area that can be met by the world-class off-road industry. Commercial parts from companies like Polaris Defense are typically lower-priced and tend to have cheaper sustainment with worldwide availability. We also can provide faster fielding times because we are geared for speed to market.

Q: What technologies and vehicle advancements are you bringing to ultralight off-road vehicles?

A: Polaris is known for off-road vehicle innovation and with a large percentage of our engineers having military backgrounds, we’re able work with the military customer to gain a thorough understanding of their off-road mobility needs. One recent example of this is our Terrainarmor non-pneumatic tires, now available on the MV850 ATV. This breakthrough tire technology is engineered to maintain operability after sustaining tire damage that would destroy a typical pneumatic tire. They also are designed for peak performance at full vehicle payload and eliminate the need for an on-vehicle spare, which increases available payload and reduces the logistical burden. Terrainarmor tires are designed, tested and proven at more than 6,000 miles at full combat load, more than 1,000 miles with railroad spikes driven through them and more than 1,000 miles after being shot by an M4 or AK47. O www.SOTECH-kmi.com

Next Issue

April 2015 Vol. 13, Issue 3

World’s Largest Distributed Special Ops Magazine

Cover and In-Depth Interview with:

Col. John J. Dickinson Commander 193rd Special Operations Wing

special section Gunships Fixed-wing gunships are a crucial platform for supporting SOCOM’s ground forces.

Features SOFIC Preview A look into what’s in store for the 2015 Special Operations Forces Industry Conference.

Diver Gear Advancements in diver gear are aiding elite divers such as Navy SEALs and EOD specialists.

UAVs Across the services, special forces utilize a wide range of UAV platforms.

Biometrics Biometric identifiers are physiological characteristics such as fingerprints and iris and voice recognition.

Bonus Distribution: AUVSI Insertion Order Deadline: April 8, 2015 | Ad Materials Deadline: April 15, 2015

Decision-Making Superiority Delivered.

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