Armada June July 2014

THE TRUSTED SOURCE FOR DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SINCE 1976

Issue 3/2014 June/JulyINTERNATIONAL

Cover Armada June/July 2014.qxp:Armada 6/2/14 7:47 PM Page 3

03INTERNATIONAL 3/2014


INTERNATIONAL

Contents3/2014

www.armada.ch | www.armadainternational.com

06WHAT’S UP?POST AFGHAN NOX?NOT FOR NORTHROPGRUMMANI Eric H. Biass

16MORTARSTHIS IS MORTARWORLD

I Paolo Valpolini

38GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION–IIMAPPING THE LAND &JOINT BATTLESPACE

I Wesley Fox

46SATCOMSATCOMS ONTHE MOVEI Peter Donaldson

54V-22 MARKETSELLING THEOSPREYI Roy Braybrook

68FULL-CAL 120MM AMMOTHE RIGHT BIT FOR THERIGHT TARGETI Paolo Valpolini

28TANK SITUATION

A Royal United Services Institute estimate evaluatesat 108,000 the number of main battle tanks in servicearound the world, with 18,000 of them deployed by

Western countries and their allies. The mostwidespreadmodel is the M1 Abramswith around

10,000 serving in the United States, Australia, Egypt,Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, followed by nearly4,800 Leopard 2s fielded by the armies of Germany,Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Norway, Finland,

Sweden, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Singapore and Chile.

10STOP PRESS EUROSATORYFRENCHWARES TO LOOKFOR AT EUROSATORY 2014

I Paolo Valpolini, Eric H. Biass

A TANKMARKETSITUATIONAL AWARENESS

I Paolo Valpolini

COMPENDIUM SUPPLEMENT

DRONESPOST-AFGHANISTAN ERAI Eric H. Biass, Roy Braybrookand Paolo Valpolini

Contents_Armada June-July 14:Armada 6/2/14 8:49 PM Page 3

Index

ADCOM SYSTEMS 28, 29

AERONAUTICS AEROSTAR 24, 26, 27

AEROVIRONMENT 6, 12, 13

AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE 44, 11

ALICO SYSTEMS 48, 49

ARDEC 20

ASELSAN 29, 34

ASN TECHNOLOGY GROUP 17

ATK 23, 24, 70, 72, 74

ATLAS 11

AGUSTAWESTLAND 61, 62

AURORA FLIGHT SCIENCES 12

BAE SYSTEMS 13, 26, 30, 32, 40

BARCO 41

BAYKAR MAKINA 34

BELL 8, 56, 59, 60 61, 62

BELL BOEING 56, 58

BELL HELICOPTER 4, 8

BLUEBIRD AERO SYSTEMS 26, 27

BOEING 56, 59, 60, 61, 62

BOEING / INSITU 12, 13, 19

CARTER AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES 12

CASSIDIAN 30

CHANGHE AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES 18

CHINA ACADEMY OF AEROSPACE 18

CHINA AEROSPACE SCIENCE 18

DASSAULT 3, 32, 34

DENEL 26

DRDO 24, 36, 37

DRS TECHNOLOGIES 13

ELBIT SYSTEMS 14, 19, 26, 37, 24, 42

ESRI 40

EXELIS 52

FLIR 4

FNSS 18, 20, 42

GD C4S 48

GENERAL ATOMICS 8, 10, 14, 16

GENERAL DYNAMICS 13, 22

GDLS 32

GDOTS 23, 24, 68, 69, 71, 72

GILAT 50, 51

GIS TECHNOLOGIES 43

GIDS 24

HONEYWELL 8

HUTA STALOWA WOLA 17, 18

HYUNDAI

IAI ELTA 25

IAI MALAT 25

INNOCON 27

INTEGRATED DYNAMICS 25

IRAN AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING 28

IRKUT 14, 16

IAI 4, 13, 14, 16, 19, 24, 25

IMI 24, 25, 73, 74

IVECO OTO MELARA 20

KAREM 12, 62

KMW 30

KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES 19

L-3 4, 22

LOCKHEED MARTIN 9, 10, 40, 44, 59

MBDA 10, 11, 12

NAMMO 72

NESC 25

NAVISTAR 49

NEXTER 33, 42, 12, 14, 73, 74

NORTHROP GRUMMAN 3, 4, 5, 7, 8

OTO MELARA 33

OTOKAR 29

PAKISTAN AERONAUTICAL 25

PATRIA 25

PIASECKI AIRCRAFT 10

QODS AERONAUTICS INDUSTRIES 28

RAFALE 30

RAYTHEON 23

RENAULT TRUCKS DEFENSE 20, 12, 14

RHEINMETALL DEFENCE 17, 30, 69, 70

ROCKWELL COLLINS 52

ROKETSAN 34

ROLLS ROYCE 32, 59

ROSOBORONEXPORT 16

RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS 16

SAAB 30, 32

SAGEM 4, 30

SAPURA 24

SATUMA 24

SCHIEBEL 29, 30

SIEMENS DEUTSCHLAND 40

SELEX ES 5, 6, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32

SIKORSKY 8,12, 59, 62

SINGAPORE TECHNOLOGIES 19

STARK AEROSPACE 5

TECHSOLUTIONS 22

TEXTRON 62

THALES 18, 32, 41, 42, 43, 44

TRANSAS 17

TURKISH AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES 34

UNITED AIRCRAFT CORPORATION 17

URALVAGONZAVOD 34, 36

VISHWA ROBOTICS 8, 9

YAMAHA MOTORS 18

ZALA AERO 14, 16

AFRICA AEROSPACE C3AR MODULAR 71ARMADA DIGITAL 31AUSA C3AVALON AUSTRALIA 29DCI 41ELBIT SYSTEMS 11EURONAVAL 67EUROSAM 13EXELIS 27FLIR 5FNSS 23IAI ELTA 19IAI MALAT 7

IDEAS PAKISTAN 61IDEX 57INDO DEFENCE 63IVECO 35L3 LINKABIT 53LAAD BRAZIL 33LAND FORCES AUSTRALIA 51LEMO 11MBDA 15MTU 21NEXTER 45NORTHROP GRUMMAN C2ODU 73OTO MELARA 43

PELTOR 37RADA 49RAFAEL C4RENAULT 9ROSOBORONEXPORT 64-66SAGEM C4SCHIEBEL 13SELEX 27TEXTRON SYSTEMS C2URALVAGONZAVOD 31

I INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

I INDEX TO MANUFACTURERSCompanies mentioned in this issue. Where there are multiple references to a company in an article, only the firstoccurence and subsequent photographs are listed below:


Issue 3/2014

June/July

INTERNATIONAL

The Leopard 2 continues its amazing evolution path.Airbus Optronics recently announced a contractfor optical and optronics upgrade of Leopard 2sfrom aMiddle East country, thatmight well beQatar.See Tank Situation on page page 28

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Volume 38, Issue No. 3,June-July 2014

Entries highlighted with RReedd nnuummbbeerrss arefound in Drones Compendium 2014

04 INTERNATIONAL 3/2014

Contents_Armada June-July 14:Armada 6/3/14 4:19 PM Page 4

T here are dedicated territories inEurope or in America of course, butone cannot beat an area secured byone’s own troops and protected from

other nation’s witnessing eyes – and betterstill – have a first hand helping into real-lifeoperational requirements, especially in aharsh environment.

TheRQ-4GlobalHawkand itsderivativesdonothave this problem(theydohaveotherones though,whichwe shall see below) sincethey can fly at altitudes that do not interferewith civilian air traffic, whether this isconstituted by airliners or general aviation,because the Global Hawk flies some 20,000

feet above airliner ceiling, which generallypeaks at 40,000. In intelligence, surveillanceand reconnaissance, this high altitude paysanother dividend, which is the ability of itssensors to have a better side-looking rangeand angle. This is particularly the case whenmountainous regions are to be monitored.And mountainous regions of coursegenerally constitute favourite hide-aways forallmanner of trouble-makers.

A quick look at this site(http://www.flightradar24.com/ - one canselect any geographical area) reveals themagnitude of the disaster linkedwith flyingdrones around the globe at virtually anyusable altitude up to 40,000 feet. It alsoshows that the Global Hawk’s mainrestriction is to fly inside a limited cylinder of

airspace and to spiral up to its operationalaltitude in a highly controlled and securearea so as not to run into harm’s way. Thisparticular operation, which is understoodto take about 90minutes, is themain reasonbehind the grounding of the Eurohawk inGermany. The site, however, shows thatunless male drones (the medium-altitudevariety) have the pilot-on-board option,very few will be able to patrol areas that arenot air-interdicted or riddled with air-defence batteries that are sure todramatically reduce their life span. This isthe case of certain regions of Africa where,unsurprisingly,most European-roundelleddrones are currently operated. Droneswould appear to be an ideal solution tomonitor the shipping lanes in the super-


As the Afghan campaign draws to an end, the immense territory that was used forover a decade as a playground for drone testing will soon prove unusable to a numberof manufacturers and nations as it gradually recovers its sovereignty. Indeed, whilecertain aircraft were on real, hard duty there, these as well as others were test-flownthere, allowing some of their manufacturers to hard-stamp them “AfghanistanProven”. The fact is that many companies did not have any other choice with droneflight banned over their own home territory. Spain, for instance, has recently realisedthat it had to get to grips with its legislation to enable its drone manufacturers – likeIndra – to test its drones at home instead of Afghanistan.

Eric H. Biass

What’s Up?

With amongst others proven in-flightrefuelling capability (through dry tests)and constant efficiency improvements, theGlobal Hawk appears to have many trumpcards up its sleeve for future games

Post Afghan Nox?Not for Northrop Grumman

What's Up June 14:Armada 6/2/14 7:49 PM Page 2


busyChannel and catch discharging tankersred-handed. Unfortunately the sitementioned above again proves why this is ano-drone zone, and recently reported near-misses between airliners and drones – nolater than this May over Florida – are hereto remind us of the danger.

According to Northrop Grumman, thecompany’s Global Hawk and Triton are stillholding a very good position on the homeintelligence, surveillance and reccemarket inspite of the general budgetary cuts and willcontinue to focus. Exportwise, theNatoAGSis a “great building block” according to acompany official adding that “we’re undercontract building aircraft […]with five to beproduced, they will be operated from theItalian side of Sigonella” (the Naval AirStation locatedon theEasterncoast of Sicily).Elsewhere, the Asian continent is a marketthat is likely to develop for an aircraft able tostay aloft for 28hours and look sideways intowaters surrounding islands the sovereigntyofwhich is claimedby severalnationsas is thecase in the South China Sea, not tomentionanother nation higher up north that isobviously keen on keeping an eye on itsneighbour, namely SouthKorea.As amatterof fact a“letterofacceptance” for fourBlock30Global Hawks for Seoul is currently going

through the inevitable administrativeprocess, which should, all goingwell, lead toanorder in about a year’s time.

I IF ONLY WE HAD HAD IT EARLIEROftenpronouncedwith abitter taste onone’stongue, this statement is often made in thedefence and aviation circles, and seldomresults fromtechnical hurdlesbutmoreoftenfrompolitical indecisions orwanderings.

In the case of theMH370 tragedy, the useof the Triton – the Global Hawk’s maritimealter ego – wouldn’t have prevented thecatastrophe, but certainly helped identifyingthe likelypoint of impact of the aircraft in themiddle of nowhere, some 2,500 km west or3,000kmsouth-west of Perth,with its abilityto scan some 40,000 square miles of Earthsurfaceperday.This area is, by theway, largerthanPortugal.

Australia is amongst the rarenationswithsuch large expanse of national waters towatch. In fact, lookingat amap the task looksimpossible.And the recentMalysianAirlinestragedy is onlyhere to remind theWorld thatnowadaysborderandmaritimesurveillance isnotonlyamilitary taskbut alsoacivilianduty– just as are the monitoring of maritimepiracy, drug smuggling and human slaverytrafficking areas.

I BETTER SAFE THAN SORRYAs “positive” technology evolves, so does itsevil counterpart. Areas to be defended, as aconsequence, expand. Just thinkof it: back inthemiddle ages or earlier, a sentryona towersufficed to alert of the appearance andadvance of an enemyalong a coast or along avalley. Perhaps the first to have really beentakenbymonumental surprisemore recentlywere the Germans on Normandy’s coast onthe dawn of 6 June 1945. Yet, they werewatching – but with the wrong tools in theface of the Allies’ advanced methods, andtheir enemywas already far too close for anypre-emptiveaction.They lost thewar, and theSoviets their invasion of Europe. This was asmall digression, but perhaps a useful one toput the problem of surveillance and itsnecessary evolution intoperspective. Sonowback toAustralia.

Australia is moving ahead with its Tritonacquisition project. This could involve theinitial purchase of about seven aircraft by2016, although the figure has recently beenreworded as “a number” , which could alsomean “more” on a longer term basis. Theaircraft would be operated by the RoyalAustralianAirForce from itsEdinburghbasein the South Australia State. The Triton, forwhich the US Navy’s “program of record”

The naval mission version of the Global Hawk took to the air on 22May 2013 and isattracting strong interest frommany nations having to monitor huge national coastal waters

and perhaps surfaces beyond them. (Northrop Grumman)


includes theeventualpurchaseof68aircraft, isbased on the Global Hawk of course, but ismodified, particularly in the wing area toenable it to fly down through clouds at loweraltitudes totakeacloser lookassuspectobjectsoractivities spottedfromhigherup. It canself-deployout toover15,000kmandstayaloft for24 hours, which no other maritime patrolaircraft withmen on board can do. They willthuscomplement thePoseidons thatAustraliahasrecentlyopted topurchase.Alsoknownasthe P-8, the B737-based maritime patrolaircraft has an enduranceof fourhours and isintended, at least in the United States, tooperate in conjunctionwith theTriton, as it isarmedwith torpedoes,Slam-ErandHarpoonmissiles, andsonobuoys.Elsewhere inAsia, Japan is also interested

in a long-range intelligence, surveillance andreconnaissance drone while in Europe, theScandinavian region could also want a de-iced long-range facility topatrol thenortherntip of the world and even Britain could beinterested in suchanaircraft after thedemiseof theumpteenth versionof theNimrod.

I FIRE SCOUTIn another quite special area, NorthropGrummanhashammered aniche for its FireScout, even if this followed a somewhatconvolutedpath.To cut a long story short, astheoriginal, but four-bladed rotorSchweitzer330-based drone came to maturity, twofactors came into play to force the bird togrow from sparrow to frigatebird: first thefact that Sikorskywarned that productionof

the Schweitzer 330 (originally a turbine-powered version of the Hughes 300) wasbeing terminated, and secondly the USNavy’s quest for longer range in 2009. TheBell 407 was found by Northrop Grummanto be the best alternative. Turned into anMQ-8C (as it is known to the Navy) the FireScoutCboasts a 10-hourhot-day enduranceagainst theB’s 4.5.Somehow amazingly, given the size

difference of the two helicopters, NorthropGrummanmanaged to transfer no less than95% of the “drone bits” into the Firescout C(aka MQ-C) from the earlier and muchlighter Firescout B, of which 30 have beenbuilt including prototypes. Twenty of these,incidentally are owned by the US Navy and

are still flying.Theyareplanned tobephasedout around the 2018/19 timeframe.There currently are two MQ-8Cs

undergoing flight tests, although NorthropGrumman has already chalked up an orderfor a total of 19 so far from the US Navy,which intends to order a total of 119.TheUSMarine Corps, however, may well sooner orlater add its name to the operators’ list,together with Australia that already realisesthe savings that would be possible over theuseof SH-60, and theadditional time it offersfor sonobuoys laying for example.In addition to a number of system

improvements, the MQ-8C carries an icingdetector as well as a vibration monitoringsystem. The radar currently being tested isthe Telephonics AN/ZPN-4 (which had itsfirst flight onboard theCduring the author’svisit in San Diego on 6May). Other systemsinclude the chin-mountedFlir SystemsBriteStar II and a Cobra hyperspectral minedetector. A future duty for the Fire Scout Ccould include signals intelligence.

This view only partly illustrates the immense task of finding a needle in ahaystack the Triton is potentially capable of, from an altitude of 56,000’ feet andover an area of nearly 40,000 square feet in one day. (Northrop Grumman)

Other than the Telephonics AN/ZPN-4 radarit is now testing in flight, the Fire Scout couldbe able to fire 70mm laser-guided rocketsand lay sonobuoys as part of anti-submarinewarfare missions. (Northrop Grumman)

The Ucas-D programme isproviding Northrop

Grumman with a sizeableknowledge of droneoperation on aircraft carriers.The F-18-sized X-47B madehistory by achieving a first-ever landing on a flight deckon 10 July 2013. Amongstthe tasks awaiting the aircraftnow are night operations (thismay sound absurd for a defacto blind aircraft, but no longer so much when the human environment isthrown into the equation!), demonstrate autonomous wet air-refuellingcapability, ability to mix with other aircraft in operations from, and back to, deck,operate under adverse weather conditions, and all other ordinary facts that addto the so particular way of life on board a carrier.


What’s Up?


Whatever the mission, wherever, whenever

www.renault-trucks-defense.comwww.acmat.fr www.panhard.fr

The world over, vehicles from Renault Trucks Defense, Acmat and Panhard offer the best protected land force mobility.

MBDA, at its LePlessis-Robinsonfacilities near Paris providedfresh details on the MissileMoyenne Portée (MMP), the

ubiquitousMilan and Javelin replacement inthe French Army (to begin with) as of 2017.Following theDGA’s go-ahead inDecember2013, MBDAworked full steam on this first5th generation anti-tank missile. New fromthe ground up, it uses inertial navigation aswell as correlation between the sighting

system and the seeker to provide newcapabilities in terms of range and lock-onafter launch, not to mention its ability to belaunched from enclosures, now a sine quanon in urban warfare. First enclosure firingtests were carried out in April 2014, whilefirst long-range shooting are planned beforeyear end followed by first fully guidedshooting in 2015. The 4,000 metre-rangeMMPshould thusbequalifiedby2016.

In termsof air defence,MBDAshowed its

new developments in the form of theImproved Missile Control Post and thePlatoon Command Post, the former with aroof-mounted Thales GroundMaster 60 3Dradaras10 I-MCPsand30PCPsarecurrentlybeing produced for undisclosed customers –but clearly from the Middle East given thepaint joband the stencilled letteringhere andthere–withdeliveries starting in late2014.

Looking into the future, MBDA willlaunch an iC2 demonstrator that will allowone tovirtually anticipatenewairdefenceC2concepts, including new man-machineinterfaces such asmulti-touch screens, voice


Stop Press Eurosatory

French Wares to Look forat Eurosatory 2014

The new confinedspace-firing capableMMP anti-tank missilefeatures lock-on, afterlaunch, a range of4,000 metres andarmour piercingcapability of over1,000 millimetres. Themissile weighs 14kilos, the launchingpost 11. (MBDA)

Amonth and a half prior to the opening of the 2014 Eurosatory Exhibition,the major French defence industries, in co-operation with the Ministry of Defence,

organised a preview of what France will display at what has become amajor land defence equipment exhibition.

Paolo Valpolini, inputs from Eric H. Biass

Pre-Eurosatory:Armada 6/2/14 7:52 PM Page 2

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recognition and eye-tracking with a view to sending keyboards andtrackballs to the kingdomofobsolescence.Thenextpresentation tookus toAirBase123 inOrléans-Bricy,home

to theArmée de l’Air’snewA400Atlas.The servicewas the first to receivetheAirbusDefence&Space turboprop transport aircraft anddeploy it inoperational use in lateDecember 2013 inMali. Two are currently beingusedby the “Multinational Entry into ServiceTeam”.While theOrléansbase itself is the subjectof a seriesofdeepoverhauls in termsof runways,taxiways, hangars, tower, etc, brand new buildings house the Atlas-related training and simulation assets. All pilots follow a conversioncourse that includes 80 hours on the Level D full-flight simulator,developedbyThales,beforecarryingout the singlequalification flightonthe actual aircraft; likewise, a loadmaster simulator ensures theconversionof thispersonnel, akeyelement inA400Moperations.Thetwoaircraft currently available are clearedonly for transportoperations andare not yet equipped with a self-protection suite, as full operationalcapability is expected in 2018 following stepped approaches. Near thefirst aircraft seenhere, theMSN07“Villed’Orléans”, theFrenchAirForcealso displayed a Samp-Tmedium-range air defence battery developedbyMBDAandThales, and known as theMamba in French service. It isalso in servicewith the ItalianArmy.Our steps next led us toCanjuers in the south-east of France,which

is Western Europe’s largest army training range and where we weregreeted by aTiger and aCaiman, the latter helicopter being the Frenchnameof theNH-90TTH.According toapilotwhooperated inMali, fivesuchaircraftwere initiallydeployed.TheTigers there shotover 3,30030-millimetre rounds and 170 rockets (their configuration including

Seen in Orléans was the vast and unobstructed hold of the Atlas(left) at the front starboard end of which is the loadmaster’soffice (right) fromwhere all things acquire a sharp sense of balance,so to speak. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

Guarding the Atlas on the Orléans tarmac was aMamba air defence unit(the Samp-T in French Air Force parlance); the Thales Arabel radarsegment is seen heremounted on a Renault Kerax. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)


rocket pods under one stub-wing and anauxiliary tank under the other). Whenoperating from runways the Tigers weretaking off at 6.4 tonnes even in hotconditions (in France max TOW is 6.1tonnes), althoughwhenvertical take-offwasrequired some rockets and part of the maintank fuel had to be sacrificed. OSPEI semi-penetrating incendiary round proved theirworth against the “technicas” (the rebels’armed pick-ups), although sand slightlyreduced their lethal range against groundtroops, but a positive side effectwas that thisreduced collateral damage. At 1,000 metresthe rounds were falling in a 10x10-metrebox; however, the Giat Mod. 781 gun wasused also atmuchgreater ranges.Availabilitywas higher than 70percent.Two Nexter VBCIs were also part of the

Canjuers display together with a number ofRenault Trucks Defense vehicles such as aVABUltima, aVBL, a Sherpa Light, aKerax,and even a 1970s-vintage Acmat veteranwith an MBDA pedestal-mounted Mistralfiring post. According to an officer from the92nd Infantry Regiment who deployed toMali with the VBCI, the combat vehicleproved its worth in terms of mobility andfirepower, inter alia allowing his team toneutralise a strong enemy group that wasnearly overwhelming a sniper teamdeployedon ahill to provide cover to amop-up operation. Reliability was high, thevehicles travelling nearly 400 kilometres perday on tracks under an average temperatureof 50°C and only four to five hours of rest,during the deployment fromDakar toGao.Canjuers also gave the authors a hands-

on experience with the VBCI driving andfiring simulators – a truly considerable

effort to form crews. The camphas the onlydriving simulatorswithin the FrenchArmy,the building hosting six dedicated to the8x8, plus two for theAMX-10RC armouredcar, one for theAMX-30B2 tank, and two forthe old AMX-10P (the latter two might bereconfigured for new vehicles). Drivingsimulators developed by Thales aremodular, allowing the cabin to be physicallychanged according to the vehicle to bematched, while the visual and motionmodules remain, being software driven.

VBCI drivers follow a three-week coursethat includes some six hours on simulatorsand nine on the real vehicle. TwoRuag/Gavap platoon-level firing simulatorsare available, each with four cabins forcommander and gunner. However, notactical training is carried out at Canjuers,this being left to regiments who each have aplatoon simulator.The French VBCI is arranged to

accommodate the Félin soldier systemdevelopedbySagemanddemonstratedashort


Two French Army regiments equipped with the Felin system have been deployed toAfghanistan, while the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment is preparing for Africa. The new Félin kitincludes the RIF NG new generation radio. (Armada/Paolo Valpolini)


The French Army Aviation’s latest helicopters,the Tiger attack chopper, which has alreadyseen action in Afghanistan andMali, and theutility NH-90 TTH known as Caiman.(Armada/Paolo. Valpolini)

The driving simulator (left) and the firing simulator used at Canjuers to train VBCI crews.The driving simulator is deployed only in Canjuers, while firing simulators are available in allVBCI regiments. (Armada/Paolo Valpolini)


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walk from the simulators by a team from the21st Marine Infantry Regiment currently inpre-deployment training for Africa. It tookonly a week to the young soldiers to adapt tothemagicofall thebuttonpushing(whichtheFrench quite appropriately call “buttonics”),and during their session at the infantryoperational shooting centre at Larzac theyobtained a score of over 80 percent, givingthem the maximum level both in day andnight, something thathasnothappened inthelastdecade.Tocopewith the systemweightaswell as with new combat techniques that seethe infantrymanonfoot involved inactionsathigher speed and on shorter distances, theArmée de Terreexpanded itsphysical trainingsyllabus to increase muscular strength in theback, abdomen and shoulders, and improveanaerobic performance. Regiments arecurrently receiving the Félin systemwith thenewRIFNGradio thathasan increasedrangein the open, namely 1,400metres rather thanthe 800 of the previous RIF BE. It also addsother features suchascrypto.

Two Nexter’s Caesar 155/52 mm truck-mounted howitzers were also part of theCanjuers demo, performing a short live-firing session. Lessons learned fromAfghanistan showedhowmuch their longerrange allowed coverage to be considerably

increased from only two operating basesagainst three with the 120millimetre rifledmortars hitherto used in the French area ofresponsibility. Accuracy was the other keyelement: a firing mission at 30 kilometrerange saw the two adjustment rounds fallingwithin 100 metres of the target, thefollowing 10 fire-for-effect rounds hittingthe targetwithin ammunitions’ lethal range.

InAfghanistan indirect fire took 80 percentof all the support fire, artillery getting 44percent of the indirect fire share, 80 percentof its firingmissions being carried out closeto friendly forces. As for Mali, keeping theCaesars in the centre of the area of operationenabled them to be dispatched to any placewithin the extremely large operational areain two days.

Until recently, theVéhiculeBlindéMultiRôles (VBMR)familyofvehicles part of theScorpionmodernisationproject included

threemaincontenders,namelyThales,NexterandRenault.WiththeDGA’sdecision todealwithonlyoneentity, all threehad tore-adapttheirapproachandget together toofferonesolution.However,bothRenault andNexterhadworkedonseparateprojects and the formerannounced that it will show its BMX01 (photo) at Eurosatory. Thesituation with Nexter’s project is not clear, but it now seems that

discussions are underway between the two former rivals tomergetheirbest solutions intoa single vehicle.

Renault’sprototype is considered tobeamobilityandprotectiondemonstrator, although RTD likes to consider its generalarchitecture as pretty representative of the final VBMR. Themultiple-purpose 6x6 is of monocoque construction fitted withhydrostat independent suspensions all round, with central tyreinflation, a combat weight of 24 tonnes and a payload capacity of4.7 tonnes.Thewheelbasebetweenthe frontandthesecondaxle isof2,950millimetres, andof1,500millimetresbetween the secondandthe third.Thepowerpack is composedofaRenault400horsepowerturbo-dieselenginecoupledtoanautomaticgearbox.Thevehiclecanseat 11military including crew in an internal protected volume of14.7 cubicmetres. Protection level is to be adapted to themission,with amaximumenvisagedofLevel 4.Thedemonstrator travelledsome thousand kilometres in France on different types of terrain,including roads, sand andmud and one hull has been successfullysubmitted toballistic tests.Thedemonstrator isnot fittedwithmostof the equipment that will be installed in the final vehicle, such a12.7 millimetre remote controlled weapon station, an acousticgunshot detector, a local awareness video system, tactical VHFradios, abattlemanagement systemand thevectronics architecturethat will allow linking all the on-board systems. According toRenault the finalVBMRwillmaintain theautomotive architectureof theBMX01,with someadaptations,Nexter supplying thecoreoftheprotection technologies.

RTD unveils BMX01

Firing at Canjuers, two Caesars echoed the successful use of the type in Africa, where it provedthat nowadays fire efficiency only works if it rhymes with highmobility. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)


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Mortars

This is Mortar WorldIndirect fire remains a key element on the battlefield, its capacity of supporting infantrybeing of paramount importancewhen things gowrong, as new rules of engagementseldomallow pre-emptive indirect firemissions to “prepare the ground”. Artillery systemsare increasing their ranges beyond the 40 kilometremark, not tomention their accuracythanks to guided ammunition and enhancedmobility thanks to truck-mounted solutions.

Mortars:Armada 6/2/14 7:55 PM Page 2


T he drawback of such relatively recentsolutions is that there aren’t manymodels available and their protectionhinders theirmobility. In addition, as

they aremostlyused fromforwardoperatingbases, their rangeallows themtoreachmostoftheir area of responsibility, but the angle ofimpact imposedbyballistics doesnot alwaysenable them to reach targets located close to

natural or artificial ground features such ashills, buildings, etc. In other words: “stuff formortars”. These shorter-range, indirect-fireweapons are definitely a favoured means ofclose-range support by manoeuvre forces.Not onlymortar can easily fire at high anglesto reach close andhidden targets, but its timeon target is much shorter than that ofartillery, if the latter is not operating directlyfor themanoeuvreunit.Mobile mortars, installed either on

tracked or wheeled chassis, are lighter andmore mobile than artillery heavy calibres(with some exceptions in the 105millimetrecalibre range), andmediumcalibres suchas81millimetreweapons caneasily be installedonlight armoured vehicles chassis, with thebenefit of vehicle logistic commonality.InEasternEuropeself-propelledhowitzer-

mortars already existedduring theColdWarlike the wheeled 2S9 Nona-S or the tracked2S31Vena- the latteraquiredbyAzerbaijan in2013. In theWest, Patria developed two 120millimetre turreted systems, the twin-barrelled Amos in service with Finland andSweden, and the single-barrel Nemo. TheAmos turret weighs around 4.5 tonnes andtheNemoabout a thirdof that.Asmostkinetic systems, also themortar is

nowadays required tohavepinpointaccuracy.Although its intrinsic characteristicsmake itsensitive to crosswinds (the higher the angle,the longer the trajectory and the height

reachedby the round, thegreater the effect ofthe wind), guided rounds have eventuallybeen developed for mortars as well thatreduce collateral damage risks. Better firingdataprovidedby forwardobservers andeveninfantrymen,using target acquisitionsystemsof different costs,weights andperformances,also contribute to increasing mortarsaccuracyandeffectiveness.

As for calibres, the120millimetre and the81 millimetre, with considerable terminaleffects, remain the reference (and smartammunition are also available), while 60millimetre calibres or lower aremostly usedby light infantry and special forces forimmediate support with HE rounds.Illumination rounds have also been usedextensively in the latest missions, exploitingthe deterrence effect on opponents whenthose are caught in theopenat night.

I TURRETED SOLUTIONS FROM POLANDExhibiting its RAK 120 turreted mortarsystem on a Marder tracked IFV at thenational defence exhibition in Kielce inSeptember 2013,Huta StalowaWola (HSW)fromPoland clearly indicated itswillingnessto strongly promote it on the internationalmarket (the Rheinmetall Defence Mardersecond-hand market export item that iscurrently attracting considerable interestworldwide). Although already selected byPoland, which should receive the first eight

Capable to fire an 81millimetremortar from the back of a light vehicle,Expal Eimos has recently obtained its

first commercial success with anundisclosed country. (Expal)

Paolo Valpolini

Huta StalowaWola from Poland developed the RAK 120 turretedmortar system,selected by Poland to be installed on its 8x8 Rosomaks, but also proposed it mounted ona tracked chassis. (HSW)


systems installedonto aRosomakchassis (asthe Polish-assembled Patria AMV 8x8 isknown), not many technical details havebeen unveiled by HSW so far. The turret ismade of welded steel providing Level 1protection and is armed with a 120/25millimetre breach-loading smoothboremortar. All actuators are electric, elevationbeing from+80° to–3°,with full 360°motionin azimuth. TheRAK120 is equippedwith afull automatic loading system that allows toreach a rate of fire of 10 rounds per minute.Ready-to-use munitions are located in a 20-roundmagazine located in the turret bustle.This ismanually reloadedby the crewvia twoopenings in the turret rear from the spareroundsavailable in thevehicle (40of themarestored mostly on the left side of the rearcompartment). The RAK 120 is fullyautomated, thus the vehicle can be handledby only two soldiers (driver andcommander), the commander having fullcontrol via the man-machine interfaceinstalled inhis position.TheRAK120 is equippedwith integrated

C2 and fire control system, aswell aswith anINS/GPS navigation system integrated withthe odometer. Firing can be fully automatic,thecall for firedatapackagebeingprovided to

the computer via theC2 system,with the firecontrol systemhandlingbearing the requirednumberof rounds tobe fired.However, usinga joystick the commander can controlelevation and azimuth and can carry out themission in semi-automatic mode, as themortar is equippedwith amanual backup. Inindirect fire theRAK120 can reach ranges ofeight kilometres with standard rounds and12 kilometres with extended range rounds,but is able to hit targets at ranges of 500metres in direct fire. The automatic loadingand the FCS allow Multiple RoundsSimultaneous Impact firings, whichconsiderably increase the system’s lethality.APolishwheeledSPmortar company is said tofield eight systems, subdivided in foursections, each with two Rosomak-RAK 120and one Rosomak command post vehicle, ascout section with four light armouredvehicles, a logistic section with ammunitiontrucks, and a command element with twoRosomakcommandposts.

I RIFLED FIREPOWER FROM FRANCELeveraging the success of its 120 RT towedmortar (in service in France and in manyother countries including the United Stateswhere the French weapon is being used as a

base for the Marine Corps ExpeditionaryFire Support System), TDA, part of theThales group, developed a self-loadingversion known as 2R2M (for RecoilingRifledMountedMortar). The intentionwasto enable 10 to 15-tonnewheeled or trackedarmoured vehicles to fire themortarwithoutthe need for structural modifications to thevehicles. The 2R2M uses the rifled barrel ofthe 120 RT, which is fitted to a 300millimetre-stroke hydraulic recoil systemyielding an efficiency of over 75 percent.Weighing around 1,500 kilograms, it ismountedona turntable that canbe traversed±220°, elevation ranging from 42° (which isthe travelling position allowing the roofhatches to be closed) to 85°. Elevation andtraverse are joystick controlled, the systembeing equipped with a navigation unit andan FCS showing firing data on the sectioncommander and gunner displays. The2R2M’s semi-automatic loader produces arate of fire between 6 and 10 rounds perminute. Thenumber of ammunition carrieddepends on the overall configuration of thevehicle, but typically is of 40 rounds. Thesecan be of two types, standardwith a range of8.1 kilometres, or rocket-assisted with arange of 13 kilometres.

18

FNSS from Turkey developed numerous mortarcarriers from its M113-derived chassis such as the

ACV15 and ACV19. Here a Saudi M113A4 fittedwith TDA’s 2R2M 120 millimetre rifled mortar is

being put through its paces. (FNSS)

Mortars

INTERNATIONAL 3/2014


Mortars


The 2R2M has been the core of variousdevelopment programmes, among which isthe US Marine Corps Dragon Fire I, and isnow being delivered to a series of exportcustomers on different chassis. In the self-propelled configuration the 2R2M canengage a target within one minute andimmediately leave the firing position. FNSShas integrated the system in its ACV-19tracked chassis (a derivative of theM113A4),of which an undisclosed number have beendelivered to Saudi Arabia and eight havebeenorderedbyMalaysia.A secondbatchof2R2Ms is being produced for Malaysia, butinstalled on themortar carrier variant of theAV-8 8x8 IFV developed by FNSS andDeftech (this combination currently is atprototype stage). In Italy the Iveco OtoMelaraConsortiumcompleteda first batchof12 2R2M-equipped Freccia 8x8 in late 2013(the type is in its very last qualificationtrials). It should also be installed on themortar carrier version of theDardo trackedIFV, but this programme seems frozen dueto financial constraints. The Sultanate ofOman acquired six systems, which havebeen integrated on Renault Trucks Defense

VAB wheeled armoured vehicles, whileSaudi Arabia installed an undisclosednumber of systemsonupgradedM113s.Notyet in use in its country of origin, the 2R2Mshould become the weapon of choice of theMepacmortar carrier versionof theVéhiculeBlindé MultiRôles (VBMR), which is toreplace the VAB as part of the French ArmyScorpionprogramme.

I SPANISH SP MEDIUM CALIBRESOLUTIONIn lateMarch2014Expalof Spainannouncedthat it had received a first contract for itsEimos 81 millimetre (Expal IntegratedMortar System) from an undisclosed valueand customer, although the Middle and theFarEast seemtobe likely areas.According tocompany sources the Eimos was tested byfour countries, one of which is the customerplus twoconsidered tobepotential customerin the near future. The contract includes thecommand and control system as well as theShepherd forwardobservingdrone.The Eimos 81 millimetre is an “elastic

platform” that allows recoil forces to beconsiderably reduced, making it suitable forlight vehicles in the Humvee class, as is thecase for theUrovesaVamtac4x4of theabove-mentioned launchcustomer.The systemusesExpal’s long range 81 millimetre mortar

coupled to a hydraulic recoil system which,according to the company, reduces recoilforces by 90 percent with amaximum recoiltravel of 300millimetres.Twoelectricmotorshandle azimuth and elevation movements,while aiming data is fed by the C2 system,allowing a first shoot within 10 seconds ofpulling the vehicle’s handbrake.In the past the company proposed the

Eimos with two levels of accuracy, but nowExpal is marketing only the top tier versionwith GPS/INS navigation system thatguarantees an accuracy of less than twometres, aiming precision being improvedfrom4°° to2°°both inelevationandazimuth.The 81 millimetre mortar ensures amaximumrangeof 6.9kilometres, but canbereplacedwitha60millimetreunit in less thanthree minutes, the smaller calibre weaponhavingarangeof4.9kilometres.Theweightofthewhole systemdepends on configuration,but remainsunder500kilograms,weight andrecoil imposing minimal or even nomodification to the vehicle suspensions, thebase diameter being 780 millimetres. In thebasic 81 millimetre configuration mountedon the back of aVamtac the Eimos can carryup to52ammunition in two racksof 26 each,on the front left and right of the flatbed.To maintain the system simple and

relatively cheap the ammunition is hand-loaded from the muzzle, six ready-to-firerounds being available on the turningplatform. To shorten the sensor-to-shooterinterval Expal developed the Techfire, forTechnological Firepower, a computer-basedsystem that collects data fromexisting assets(it is compatible with all communicationsystems). Three levels of computers areavailable, the Elite Tablet and the EliteMini-Tablet PCs, that can be employed as ballisticcomputersonboard firingunitsor asPlatoonCommander Computer for fire supportcoordination. A smaller Personal DigitalAssistant is also available to be used asforward observer computer or as ballisticcomputer on lighter effectors. Expal also

The XM905 has beendeveloped taking theRMS6-L installed onStryker mortar carriersand integrating it on arotating platform.Reloading is the onlymanual operation tohave survived. It is in usein Afghanistan by SpecialForces for forwardoperating baseprotection. (Ardec)


developed the so-called “unmanned forwardobserver”. Also known as Shepherd, it is anelectricallypoweredmini-drone shaped likeabird to make it less conspicuous. With awingspan of 1.65metres and a length of 0.85metres, its body ismadeofKevlar/Epoxyandits wings are in triple-compound. TheShepherdhas amaximumtake-offweight of2.8 kilograms and an endurance of aroundone hour, with a mission range of 20kilometres. Its sensor package includes aSuperHADCCDcamera capable to operatedown to 0,01Lux, though an optionalzenithal thermal imager can be fitted eitherto replace the daylight camera or tocomplement it. The Shepherd speed variesbetween30and42knots,witha loiter speedof32 knots at 20-300 metres above ground. Itsceiling is 4,000metres andmaximumlaunchaltitude 2,500 metres. Company sourcesconfirmed thatExpal is in close talkswith theSpanish military, the system beingconsidered not only by the Ejercito de Tierrabut alsoby theTercio de Armada, theSpanishNavyMarineCorps.

I US: ALL-ROUND DEVELOPMENTSIn theUnitedStated themilitaryare lookingatimproving static mortars rather than atvehicle-mounted types, following the hugeeffort deployed to complete the nine StrykerBrigadeCombatTeams that receiveda totalof324Mistral RMS6-L 120millimetre systemsinstalled on General DynamicsM1129/M1252 Stryker Mortar Carriers.Mistral is currently ensuring after-salesupport with Elbit’s backing, Elbit being the

original designer of the system following itsacquisitionof Soltam.A spin-off of these is the XM-905, an

answer to a “JointUrgentOperationalNeed”issued by the commander, Combined JointSpecialOperationsTaskForce–Afghanistan,who identifiedagap inbaseprotectionassets.In the XM-905 the RMS6-L is installed on around base-plate with three spades andstakes.Anelectricmotordrives theplateover360° toorient theweapon inazimuth, electricactuators handle elevation, and the wholeactuation system is linked to the fire controlsystem to minimise the time to target. Onlyloading remains manual, with the operatorstationed on the turning plate. Mistralreceived the contract inMarch 2013, and 20systems have been pre-positioned inAfghanistan together with supportrepresentatives to get fielding processunderway and improve forward operatingbases protection. Known as the AutomatedMortar Protection System it answers theImproved Enhanced Mortar TargetAcquisition System (I-Emtas). The Emtasitself was fielded in Afghanistan (10 units)duringOperationEnduringFreedom.The Americans are also involved in a

series of existing infantry mortar systemsenhancements, mostly aiming at reducingweight. Part of theWatervlietArsenal, BenétLabs are currently working on the M120A1smoothbore heavy mortar to improve itsperformances.Anewbipod isbeingdesignedto enable the fire control system tobemovedfrom the tube to the bipod to reduceexposure and thereby improve accuracy. A

new base-plate that provides more stability,while reducingproduction cost, is also in thepipeline, aswell as anew tube thatwithstandsa higher pressure, allowing for ammunitionwith greater range to be used. Overall theworkdoneatWatervlietwill allow to improverange by 25 percent, to reduce weight by 16percent. Full qualification of the redesigned120 millimetre mortar will take place inFY15. The laboratory is also working on themedium and light mortars, although detailshave not yet been unveiled. Work is alsoongoing at the Picatinny Arsenal where thelightweight M252A1 81millimetre MortarWeapon is being developed, the systemsaving around 13 percent weight comparedto theoriginalM252.In the light mortar field, the US Marine

Corps is developing a new fire control unitfor its 60 millimetre weapon based on theTechSolutions and L-3 Warrior systemsBallistic Sight Module Enhanced (BSMe)originally developed for handheld grenadelaunchers. The work is sponsored by theOffice of Naval Research and carried out bythe US Marine Corps Forces, PacificExperimentationCenter in cooperationwithindustry. The sight is attached to the upperportion of the barrel and features an integralred dot sight with automatic brightnesssetting for precise daylight aiming, integralinfrared aim and illumination lasers forprecise aiming in low light conditions, and

22

ATK won the contract for the AcceleratedPrecision Mortar Initiative in 2010. The roundswere delivered to Afghanistan in early 2011,less than a year later. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

To improve 60millimetre mortaraccuracy, especiallywhen fired by hand,the US developed anew fire controlsystem derived fromone used for 40millimetre grenadelaunchers. (USMC)

Mortars



ballistic tables for different munition types.The standard sight, which weighs less than330 grams, has an aiming laser maximumrange of 2,000 metres, the data for theenhancedversionbeingunavailable; howeverit might get close to the maximum mortarrange which is of 3,500 metres. The newsystem provides much greater accuracyespecially when the M224 or M224A1

mortars are used as handheld systems. Testswere so successful that someprototypeshavealready been deployed to theatre inDecember 2013. Further improvementsdeveloped for the M224 series of mortarscome in the form of a new sling, equippedwith aheat shield toprotect user’s hands, andthat ensures a better transport. The problemlinked to the clanging of the old slingmount

has been eliminated with the adoption of anew one, thus reducing the risk of givingawaypositionbynoise.American forces received precision

mortar bombs in spring 2011, when theXM395 was first deployed to Afghanistan.The new round was developed by ATKunder the auspices of theProgramExecutiveOffice for Ammunition within theAccelerated Precision Mortar Initiative(APMI). The XM395 is based on theM9933/34 mortar body equipped at thefront with a precision guided kit fuse,derived from 155 millimetre artilleryapplications, with an EPIAFS (EnhancedPortable Inductive Artillery Fuze Setter)interface and canard directional wings thatallow guiding the round on the target, whileat the back it is fitted with fold-back finsproviding steady in-flight stability andM47charge increments. Target grids are loadedvia the Precision Lightweight UniversalMortar Setter, and the system has anaccuracy of 10metresCEP at themaximumrange. The 13.8 million contract for 5,480munitions was filed to ATK in April 2010.The first rounds were delivered in Octoberand deployed in early 2011. The contract

Teamed with IMI of Israel,Raytheon is the second contenderfor the Precision Extended RangeMunition bid for the USMarineCorps. (Raytheon)

An artistic impression of the ATK team solutionproposed for the USMC Precision Extended

RangeMunition programme. For this bid ATK isteamed with GD-OTS and TDA. (ATK)


24

Mortars


called for 5,480 XM395 rounds and 156XM701 inductive fuse setters, linked to theM32LightweightHandheldMortar BallisticComputer. Initially fielded only with theM120 smoothbore towedmortar, the roundhas also been cleared for use on the StrykerMortar Carriers’M121s in spring 2012.The US Marine Corps is now looking

into the Perm, a for a longer range 120millimetre round for its expeditionary firesupport system based on the M327 rifledmortar. Thresholddesign requirements are arange of 16 kilometres, a CEP of 20 metresand a lethality reaching 80 percent of thecurrent M1101 HE round. Objectiveperformances call for a 20 kilometre range, a

10-metre CEP and the same lethality as thecurrent HE round. This might be obtainedcontrolling the round fragmentation effect.Two teams are competing for this contract,the winner of the APMI – ATK – in co-operationwithGeneralDynamicsOrdnanceand Tactical Systems on the one hand, andTDA of France with Raytheon partneredwith IsraelMilitary Industries.The ATK team solution combines the

company’s guidance fuse system already inuse on the XM395 with GD-OTS extended-range rifled mortar energetic subsystems.TDA brings its expertise in rifled mortars,while for the projectile Raytheon adopts abackward-deploying cruciform wing set

located in the round’s body.According to thecompany the round will have a five-metreCEP at itsmaximum16 kilometre range, butbeingguided, it canbeaimed5°off-targetaimto fool return fire from the enemy. InSeptember 2013 Raytheon announced thesuccessful completion of its first two “Guideto Hit” test series. The tests confirmed thatafter launch, the canards and tail finsdeployed and that the round transitioned tosteady flight. They also confirmed that theroundwouldmeetexpectedrangeand impactangle requirements. In summer2014both theATK and the Raytheon teams will deliver 42rounds for evaluation during thedemonstration phase of their initial Permcontract. Upon completion of thedemonstration, the Marine Corps willevaluate the results and assess them againstrequirements throughtheremainderofFY15.TheCorps is then expected to issue a requestfor proposal in FY 2016 for a full and opencompetitiveprocurementprogramme.More developments are expected in the

United States: the Army ArmamentResearch, Development and EngineeringCenter portfolio includes programmes suchas the 120 millimetre Guided EnhancedFragmentationMortar, the non-line of sight81millimetre Precision for Light Forces, the81 millimetre Automated Direct/IndirectFire Mortar and the Extended RangeProjectile TechnologyResearch.

I ISRAEL: WORLDWIDE CO-OPERATIONThe Elbit Systems/Soltam Cardom self-propelled recoiling mortar was mentionedearlier in the context of US Army mortars.This system has a weight of less than 700kilograms and can also be armedwith an 81millimetre mortar. It can be traversed fullcircle and can fire up to 16 rounds perminute at a maximum range of 7,000metres, and can be given a Multiple RoundSimultaneous Impact capability.In February 2014 Israel Military

Industries announced that its GMM GPSguided mortar bomb was undergoingqualificationwith the IsraelDefence Forces.Fully compatible with existing 120millimetremortars, theGMMcanbe fired toa range of 7-9 kilometres, depending on themortar,with a ten-0metreCEPat any range.Guidance is provided by canard wingsmounted in the round body, linking thePure Heart GPS/Inertial navigation andcontrol unit. A semi-active laser-guidedversion of this round might also bedeveloped, with a laser seeker in the nose.

Elbit recently acquired Soltam, whose Cardom 120millimetre mortar system has been thebase for US Army’s Stryker Mortar Carrier vehicles. (Armada/Paolo Valpolini)


I EUROPEAN TRENDSAccording to German Army computationthe 81 millimetre calibre is the moreeffective when engaging an infantry target;this comes from two assumptions, that themore rounds impact on target nearlysimultaneously exploiting surprise increasesthe effect, and that a target may effectivelybe destroyed in a 20 seconds timeframe.Considering the effect of a 60 millimetre HEmortar round, an 81 millimetre has aneffectiveness factor of 2.4 and a 120millimetre of 7.7. This said, considering thetotal mass of rounds, the number of weaponsystems and the mass of the system, the 81millimetre mortar wins the deal. This is oneof the reasons the Bundeswehr is giving upthe 120 millimetre calibre favouring the 81millimetre, a procurement programmebeing foreseen in the coming years. The 120millimetre infantry mortars should be useduntil 2016. As for the single Wiesel-2 basedmortar fighting system, made of eightmortar vehicles, two command vehicles andfour Mungo ammunition carrier, thisshould be transferred from the infantry tothe artillery in 2015.

Another Army going for the “81millimetre only” option is the British Army.After the Afghanistan campaign thedecision was taken to shelve the commandoand bipod Hirtenberger 60 millimetremortars to reduce costs, the ageing L16A2thus remaining the only mortar to equipinfantry units. Some improvements shouldbe adopted on the weapon itself, althoughnew improved performance ammunitionwith greater lethality against buildings,armour and equipment might becomeavailable in the near future.

While keeping its 120 millimetre mortarsin service, Italy is introducing new81millimetre Expal M-86 or M-98. The 120sare assigned to regimental level, while 81millimetre mortars provide company levelindirect fire support, leaving 60 millimetremortars for platoon level use. Italy signed a€20 million contract with Expal in late 2011that includes 371 mortars, an undisclosedquantity of ammunition in various versions,and ballistic computers developed by Expace.

An army that is going against the 81millimetre trend is the Dutch one, which

The Nemo single-barrel turretedmortar from Patria of Finland picturedduring a firing session. The companyAmos two-barrel version is in servicewith Finland and Sweden. (Patria)

The Israel Military Industry GuidedMortarMunition 120 and its programillimetreingsystem. The GMM is currently underqualification by the IDF (IMI)



26

Mortars


recently decided to replace its L16s withlighter 60 millimetre mortars. The tender isfor 75 systems, including ammunition, withdeliveries to start in late 2015.

I LIGHT 120 PLATFORM FROMSINGAPOREIn 2007 Singapore Technologies obtained afirst export order for its 120 millimetresmoothbore Super Rapid AdvancedMortarSystem (Srams). Deliveries are being carriedout in 2014, though both the number ofsystemsandthecustomerremainundisclosed.

Featuring a recoil of only 26 tonnes withmaximumcharge,whichallied to itsweightofless than1,200kilos, it canevenbe installedonHumvee-class light vehicles. Equipped witha semi-automatic ammunition loading

system, the STK mortar can reach a rate offire of 10 rounds per minute. With its 1,800millimetre-long barrel the Srams has amaximum range of nine kilometres withextended-range ammunition.TheSingaporeArmy installed it on the Bronco tracked all-terrain vehicle,while a first export orderwasobtained in2007.

Although the United Arab Emirates’International Golden Group (IGG) did notconfirm this, the Srams shouldhavebeen thecore of the Agreb Mk1 system, a mobilemortar system based on BAE Systems RG31chassis. A further order was announced atIDEX 2011 for 72 Agrab Mk2 systems. Themain difference should be the vehicle, thenewbatch ofmobilemortars being based onthe RG31Mk6EMPVwhile the former wasbasedon theMk5model. TheAgrab is fittedwith Denel’s Land Systems Arachnida firecontrol systemandwith aFIN3110GPS/INSnavigation system by Selex ES. The first tenAgrabMk2were integrated in SouthAfrica,the remaining 62 being integrated at IGG’sfacilities in theUnitedArabEmirates.

The Singaporean Srams seen here wasdisplayed at Idex in 2017 on board an RG31as part of the Agrab Mk1 120millimetremobile mortar system devised by the EmiratiInternational Golden Group with Denel.(Armada/Eric H. Biass)

Ruag Defence Bighorn, herefitted on an FNSS ACV300, hasnot yet succeeded in attractinga launch customer. (FNSS)


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Paolo Valpolini

T he Leo 2 inventory might increasethough if Saudi Arabia and Qatarfinalise the acquisition of new ones.Some 794 Leclercwere produced for

France and the UAE, while Britainmanufactured 392Challenger 1s (currentlyin service in Jordan) and 446 Challenger 2sthat are in service in the British Army andin Oman. The 200 Italian Arietes completethis European inventory towhichnumerousT-type tanks still in service with EasternEuropean countries now part of Nato haveto be added.

In theFarEast, Indiadeploys248Arjuns inaddition to numerous T-tanks, whilePakistan fields mostly tanks of Chineseorigin,Chinabeing thedominant tankuser inthe area with over 3,000. As for the 1,000+Korean K1s, these will probably never leavetheir native soil, just like the Japaneseindigenously produced tanks. As seen, thevast majority of the world’s tank inventorystill consists of old T-tanks, T-55, T-64, andpartly ofmoremodern T-72 and derivativesdeployedbyRussia,China,NorthKorea, andby someArab countries.

Althougha“Battle of theBulge” inEuropeis most unlikely, and while in many armiestheir numbers are dwindling, the heaviestrepresentative of the land forces equipmentseems tomaintain its appeal. Speaking at theForce Protection &Manoeuvre Conferencein lateNovember2013 inRome,Major SteenHolmIversen, chief LessonsLearnedBranchat the Danish Army Combat Centre inOksboel, underlined the importance of themainbattle tankwithinhisArmybattlegroupdeployed to Afghanistan, operating mostlyin theHelmand valley in support toDanish,British and American troops. Of course themain battle tank cannot reach all theoperational areas due to dimensions andweight, but it is clear that in the open it canbe considered a game changer due to theprotection provided to its crew and thepinpoint accuracyof its firepower,which candeliverexcellent firesupportasanalternativetoclose air support, which might not have thesame accuracy or capacity to deliver gradualresponse. “The main role in presentoperations will be as a fire support platformfor infantryoperations,”MajorHolmInversensaid, underlining that “the MBT must berefittedasa ‘multi tool’ inorder toprovide theMBT the ability to adjust to its on-going

changingrole in themodernbattlefield,”whilereaffirming that “the basic capabilities of theMBTmustbemaintaineddespite theneedforconfigurationadjustments.”Counteringthoseforwhomthe tank is dead, theDanishofficerstated that it “is a vital asset for the Army`sability to gain and keep the initiative on themodern battle field,” and that “it is vital if theArmy should preserve its ability to conductfull spectrumoperations!”

In 2006 the Danish Army adopted sometechnical upgrades on its Leopard 2A5s,improving frontandsidechassisprotectionaswell as belly protection, installing a personalrole radio interface toallowdirect connectionto the infantry, installing wire cutters, andadaptinganA-frameforrecovery.To improvecrewcomfort theBarracudaHTRsystemwasadopted; this, together with modificationsmade to the air conditioning systems tubing,allowedtoreduce thecore temperatureby5-8degreesCelsius.TheDanishArmydevelopedandproducedspecialdeflectors toreducetankthermal signature as well as heat and dust


Tank Situation

A Royal United Services Institute estimate evaluates at108,000 the number of main battle tanks in servicearound the world, with 18,000 of them deployed byWestern countries and their allies. The most widespreadmodel is the M1 Abrams with around 10,000 serving inthe United States, Australia, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait and SaudiArabia, followed by nearly 4,800 Leopard 2s fielded bythe armies of Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Australia,Norway, Finland, Sweden, Spain, Greece, Turkey,Singapore and Chile. The Netherlands and Belgiumdecided to forgo main battle tanks, their Leo 2s being puton the market as a result, joining many from Germanyfollowing army structure reductions.

A Tank MarketSituational Awareness

Tank Situation:Armada 6/2/14 8:08 PM Page 2


disturbance caused by the exhaust, thusincreasing thermal and visual stealthiness.Improvements were also adopted on thefirepower front.Modifications to fire controlsystem increased maximum firing range to6,000metres, an extra range that can be usedfor all ammunition types, except canisterammo.DM14HEATroundshavebeenusedinAfghanistan, where tanks were normallysupportingoperations fromthehighgrounds.Although the general trend calls for

upgradeswith state-of-the-art subsystems toenhance performances, or the acquisition ofsecond-hand tanks (possibly upgraded),somecountries are lookingatnewvehicles.Amongst these, Poland is considering a

family of vehicles based on a UniversalModular Tracked Platform (UMPG). Theheavyvariant armedwitha120mmgunwithautomatic loaderandagrossweightofaround35 tonnes is aimedat replacing theT-72.While it also clearly appears that the Israel

Army will not field a Merkava 5 since anyfurther development has been stopped, a

programme for a lighter main battle tankdubbed Rakiya was however launched, butfuture will tell if it survives the announcedIsraeli defencebudget cuts.

I THE TURKISH ALTAYTurkey is oneof the fewcountrieswherenewmain battle tanks are being developed. InSeptember 2007 Otokar was selected by theUndersecretariat for Defence Industries(SSM) of the TurkishMinistry of Defence asthe main contractor for the Altay ProjectPhase I. This phase was to last 78.5 monthsandwasbudgeted to the tuneof $500million,including design/development, prototypeproduction and the qualification. The AltayProject Phase I was subdivided into threestages. Stage I covered the conceptual design,which started in January 2009 and ran forabout 18 months, covering systemrequirement analysis and conceptual work.This was followed by Stage II, the detaileddesign stage that included not only detaileddesignactivitiesbutalso themanufacturingof

twoprototype test rigs, theMobility Test Rig(MTR) and the Firepower Test Rig (FTR),whichwere completed late in 2012.Amock-up of the new tank was officially unveiled inMay 2011 during the IDEF exhibition inIstanbul. Stage IIwas successfully completedbyMay 2013 after running theMTRand theFTRformore than4,000kilometres eachandseveral firing tests onFTR.Theprototype testrigs have also passed through toughenvironmental tests under extreme climaticand terrain conditions. The PrototypeDevelopment andQualificationStage–StageIII – started in June2013. Further testing andoptimisationof firingperformance activitiesare currently ongoing on the MTR and theFTR while the manufacturing of the twoprototype vehicles (PV1 and PV2) isexpected to be completed by mid-2014.These twoprototypeswill go throughSystemQualification and Acceptance Tests in thesecond half of 2014 and during 2015. TheAltay is powered by an MTU-Renkpowerpack, but over 100 Turkish sub-contractors are involved in the project. Amajor one amongst these isAselsanwhich isresponsible for the advanced computerisedfire control system and battlefieldmanagement system. Roketsan provides thearmour solutionandMKEmanufactures the120 millimetre/L55 smoothbore gun. TheVehicle Control System and Driver’sIntegrated Display are developed andmanufacturedbyOtokar itself.According tothe prime contractor the subsystemqualification testing for thesemajor itemsarealmost completed. Completion of Phase I isexpected to be followed by Phase II that willcover seriesproduction.Thedeliveryof a firstbatch of 250 is expected to start in late-2016and tobe completed in five years.

The other main Turkish player in thevehicles arena, FNSS, seems tobe involved inthedesignof a “mediummainbattle tank” forIndonesia. The company will not commenton the press information released inIndonesia early this year about anagreementat governmental level between Jakarta andAnkara for suchdevelopment. It is unclear ifthe agreementhasbeenofficially signed, andif theworkhas already started, the aimof theIndonesian Army being that of deploying a

Turkey is one of the few nations that arecurrently developing a new main battle tank.The Altay is developed by Otokar as primewith the cooperation of numerous otherTurkish companies and the consultancy ofSouth Korea. (Otokar)


tank lighter and more easily deployable thanthe 103 Leopard 2A4s ordered fromRheinmetall in late 2013 together withlogistic support and ammunition.

I THE LEO 2With the main Leopard 2 operators currentlyreducing their inventory, the KMW tank isdefinitely the one in the West with the mostactive second-hand market. Germany, whichacquired a total of around 2,350 in the ColdWar Era, will in the near future only field fourtank battalions, all equipped with the 2A6configuration, in other words a total of 225such systems including the Tank School’s.Those tanks feature an all-electric turret and a120/55 millimetre gun. Protection-wise theyare equipped with a new-generationcomposite armour, but retain the wedge-shaped turret frontal arc of the Leopard 2A5.The Leopard 2A6 also features a 17 kWauxiliary power unit, located in the right sideof the hull at the back of the tank. In due time,and funding permitting, the A6s will bereplaced by 2A7s: some 20 former Dutch A6sare being transformed into A7s, boastingimproved protection against RPGs androadside bombs, new side-skirts being alsofitted. The gun is also modified toaccommodate the new DM11 round fittedwith a programmable fuse, while firepoweris also enhanced with the adoption of aremotely controlled 12.7 millimetre FLW200installed on the turret.

The Leopard 2 has been, is or will be inservice in 17 other countries. While, as seenearlier, the Netherlands got rid of theirs, thelatest customers are Saudi Arabia and Qatar,which should soon start receiving respectively200 and 62 A7s, although the Saudi Arabiancontract isat risksincetheGermanParliamenthas not yet given its seal of approval.

Although the company did not clearlyspell out its final customer, a recent orderannounced by Cassidian Optronics GmbH isclearly aimed at the Qatari tanks. Canada,Greece and Spain also field the A6 version,respectively 20 tanks borrowed fromGermany and brought to the A6M standardwith additional mine protection, 170 A6 HELlicence-produced in Greece, and 219 A6Esmanufactured in Spain. Portugal acquiredsome 37 A6s from the Netherlands in 2007,the latest addition to the A6 users groupbeing Finland, which signed a €199.9 milliondeal approved on 20 January with deliveries tostart in 2015. Sweden fields the Strv 122variant of the A5 produced under licence.Denmark also fields the A5, with the

modification discussed earlier, Polandacquired 105 former German A5s in late2013 while Chile might also join the club,with the intention to acquire around 100.

Turning to the Leopard A4, users includeAustria, Canada, Finland, Greece, Norway,Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland and Turkey. Aselsan is proposingan upgrade programme for the Leopard 2,mainly aimed at the 354 Turkish Army tanks,that includes the replacement of all of theelectronic, electro-optical, electro-mechanical and electro-hydraulic systems,the adoption of a next generation fire controlsystem, electrical gun and turret drives and

remote weapon station, increased ballisticprotection and improved survivabilitysystems such as laser warning system,battlefield management system, driver’svision system and fire suppression andextinguishing system. While Austria isconsidering to soon scrap its A4s in the shortterm, Indonesia received its first two of 104in September 2013 (61 should be upgradedto Revolution standard by Rheinmetall,mostly with protection upgrades). Norway islooking at a possible upgrade to A5 standard,while Poland should improve its A4s toLeopard 2PL standard, which should beequivalent to the A7.


Tank Situation

Both Krauss-MaffeiWegmann and Rheinmetall Defence are proposing versions of the Leopard 2and upgrade packages on the exportmarket. GermanGovernment decisions on exportclearancesmight however have an impact on their businesses. (Armada/Paolo. Valpolini)


I ABRAMSAlthough it is not yet clear howmany tankswill eventually remain in the US Armyinventory, what is obvious is that theAbrams, deployed in theColdWarArena in1983 in its M1 version armed with a 105millimetre rifled gun, will remain as themainstay ofUSArmy armoured formationsfor quite awhile. Requests for FY15 include$549 million for Abrams and Bradleysunder the Research Development Test &Evaluation chapter, 112.5 million for theM1A2, and 345million under theWeaponsand Tracked Combat Vehicles acquisitionchapter, 237 million being for the Abrams.Thismoneywillmostly be used for vetronicupgrades such as theDataDistributionUnitand theViasatBlueForceTracking 2 (BFT-2)the network and transceivers of whichconsiderably improve situational awarenessthrough faster Position LocationInformation (PLI) refresh rates and timelyC2 communications across the battlefieldcompared. The RDTE money will also beused to support the Engineering ChangePackage (ECP-1) currently being developedby General Dynamics Land Systems. Theaim of the ECP-1 is to integrate the latestconfiguration of the ArmyDigital Networkinto the tank, newhardware allowing to saveweight and space and to reduce powerconsumption, to implement the new linereplaceable module electronic boxes thatwill considerably simplifymaintenance andhelp managing the system, and finally toinstall an under armour auxiliary powerunit. ECP-1will undergo theCriticalDesignReview in May 2014, and then GDLS willstart developing prototypes, the schedulingcalling for a shift into production in 2017.The Army aims at applying the ECP-1 to allits fleet of M1A2 SEP v2 that will thenbecomeM1A2 SEP v3.

At AUSA 2013 General Dynamicsexhibited a diesel engine version of theAbrams. Indeed the gas turbine propulsionof the Abrams has raised discussions sinceits unveiling, the main concern being fuelconsumption, especially at idle. In 2009NationalDefenseAuthorizationActdirectedthe Department of Defense to establish theoffice of Operational Energy Plans andPrograms, with a view to identifyingsolutions to reduce energy consumption ofmilitary units, from infrastructures tocombat vehicles. Using company funds,GDLS looked at the possibility of integratingamoderndiesel engine into theAbrams in afour-step effort: a) verifying the possibility

of integrating the engine without changingthe vehicle’s structure; b) prove thesuitability of the 1,500 hp diesel powerpack(the Tognum America/MTU 12V883adopting the Common Rail technologybeing the selected diesel engine); c)demonstrating that the systemgenerates therequired fuel efficiency; and finally d)testing the system prototype. Currently thefirst three steps have been completed, thework having been carried out in close co-operation with the U.S. Army’s TankAutomotive Research, Development andEngineering Center. According to dataprovided at AUSA, the diesel solutionprovides considerable fuel saving: what isreferred to as the Heavy Combat VehicleTest Bed would have a day consumption of784 litres versus the turbine’s 1544 litres on asamemission profile. Simulations have alsoshown that in terms of acceleration dataremain similar.Nodieselisationprogrammeis yet planned, the Army being currentlycarrying out cost-benefit analysis beforetaking any further decision.

While theArmy is investingon itsAbramsfleet, the USMarine Corps do not plan any

upgradeof itsM1A1 fleet in the close future.The Abrams is also used by four foreign

countries, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, andAustralia, which by all being part of theAbramsUser Nations Group allows them toremainabreastwith the latestdevelopmentsofthatweaponsystem.SaudiArabia is currentlyreceiving its M1AS2, which adds to theM1A1andM1A2SEPcommoncomponentsa hull power control box, a commandersdisplay panel, a turret power control box,Panther radios andSotas intercom.

The need to reduce thermal and noisesignature as well as fuel consumption whenoperating fromstatic positions ledKuwait todevelopa study for addinganauxiliarypowerunit to their tanks; this was based on a two-cylinder diesel engine producing 2 to 7 kWof 28 V DC electrical power, sufficient tooperate the turret and all its sensors. Nodecision has apparently been made on ageneral upgradeof theKuwaitiAbrams fleet.

With a total of around 10,000 units inline in six services, the Abrams is the mostwidely produced western main battle tank,and one thatwill remain in active service forquite fewmore years.


Tank Situation

US Army tank inventory might face further cuts, but theremaining Abrams will be improved. Beside theelectronic and optronic upgrades, the future might alsosee considerable changes in propulsion. (US Army)


I CHALLENGERInBritain, theChallenger1was firstdeployedinFall1984duringexercise“Lionheart”andinChallenge 2 guise will remain the backboneof the Royal Armoured Corps for quite awhile. TheMinistry of Defence has decidedto investonnewenginesandcommunicationequipment for Challenger 2s. The BritishArmy tank component will be reduced tothree regiments, each one fielding 56Challenger2s, althougha fewmore tankswillprobably be kept in service tomeet the needsof theArmouredSchool andusedas spares asno tank factoryhas survived inBritain.

I LECLERCAs for the Leclerc, there is nothing much towritehomeabout.TheUnitedArabEmirateshave received their 13 tanks equipped withthe Azur urban warfare kit, consisting of 17“boxes” per side to protect the tank fromRPGsandotherhollowcharges threats, andaslat armour that protects the rear half of thehull, the rear and back of the turret. Anundisclosed number of other tanks wasoutfitted to receive the same add-on armourkit, which can be installed in half-day at unit

level. Nexter is also supporting EmirajeSystems that upgrades the Leclerc C4Isystem; however no details of that upgradeare forthcoming. As for France, of the 406Leclercs originally acquired only 254 arecurrently employed in four regiments, eachwith 54 tanks. The 2013 White Paperforecasts a further cut to around 200 tanks,which might be obtained by reducing thenumber of tanks per regiment (originallyeach French tank regiment deployed 80Leclercs in twobattalions).

I ARIETEWhile the Ariete is definitely not an exportitem, it is however interesting to see howItaly is considering its armoured element.Following the cuts resulting from the end ofthe Cold War, 200 Arietes were produced,the plan being to equip four tank regiments.One of them has recently been disbanded,therefore theArmy is planning to reduce thenumber of Arietes in service to 150, currentregiments fielding 41 each, the remainingtanks being assigned to the Cavalry Schooland being used as logistic buffer. Althoughnoheavy investment on those tanks is beingmade due to financial restrictions, at leastone upgrade programme is running: OtoMelara recently received a contract for thedevelopment of an antimine-roadside bombkit that would improve protection in high

risk areas. The contract includes a similarpackage for the Dardo IFV. A maximumweight increase of 2,500 kilograms isaccepted.Also included is thedevelopmentofoneprototype for evaluation followedby theupgrade of five tanks to the new standard.An upgrade kit for the Ariete has alreadybeenpreparedby the industry and includes anew 1,500 horsepower powerpack, widertracks, all-electric actuators andCentauro 2optronics,whichwouldbring theAriete on aparwith itsmodernwestern counterpart.

When will money be available for such amid-life update remains matter forconjecture.According toArmada sources theItalian Army intends to upgrade 50 Arietesfor expeditionarypurposes,while 100wouldbe kept for use on national territory. Thisbeing said, itwaspossible to see sevenArieteson the Oto Melara assembly line at time ofwriting being fitted with add-on equipmentsuch as a 12.7 millimetre machine gun,cameras providing peripheral vision to thedriver and to the commander, and otherminor systems; thesearebeingreadied for theTank Biathlon that will be held in Russia inJuly-August 2014, three tanks being used fortrainingwhile theremaining fourwill actuallytake part in the international competition,providing the tensions generated by theUkraine situation will not lead to acancellationof the Italianparticipation.

This rear view of an Emirati Leclerc clearly shows the add-on armour and the slat-armourfitted to the tank. Of the 400 Leclercs acquired by France, only 200 will remain in service in thenew Army structure. (Armada/Paolo Valpolini)



I THE Ts…Althoughnotyet seen inpublic, it is commonknowledge thatRussia’sUralvagonzavod’sT-99 Universal Combat Platform is in its finalstages of development. Known as theArmata, the chassis is to beused for a varietyof purposes. In tank form, the new 125millimetre smoothbore gun will fire allexisting ammunition as well as laser guidedmissiles, and will be installed in a remotelycontrolled turret with an automatic loadingsystem, the three-man crew being hostedwithin the chassis. No indication is givenregarding combat weight and protection. Itisunclear if thenewtankswill be fittedwithanactiveprotectionsystem, suchas theArena-E.The engine output should be in the 1,400to1,600 horsepower range, firepower beingcompletedby twocoaxialweapon that shouldbe an AGS-57 automatic grenade launcherand a 12.7 millimetre machine gun.According to available information the firstprototypes shouldbe tested in2014,with theinitial production launched in 2015, firstdeliveries being expected for the followingyears; a total of 2,300 such tanks should beproducedby2020.In the meantime Uralvagonzavod

continues tomarket its T-72Modernised, T-90 and T-90S. The latter is proposed with aseries of enhancements amongst which theremote-control heavy machine gun, a 7 kWauxiliary power unit on the left rear side, anupratedmain engine,modular passive/activeprotectionespeciallyaroundtheammunitioncarousel, an automatic screening systemlinked to laser warning receivers, all-roundsurveillanceandimprovedfirecontrol system.

InearlyFebruary2014Ukroboronservice,a Ukrspecexport, delivered a first batch offive Oplot tanks to Thailand, this Asiancountry having ordered 49 for more than$200 million in 2011. The T-84 Oplot is aderivative of the T-80UD that includesnumerous improvements, among which anew turret, new generation Nozh explosivereactive armour and a new diesel engineyielding1,200horsepower–20per centmorethan theoriginal.The tankmaintains the125millimetre KBA3 smoothbore gun with 40rounds (with28 in the automatic loader), butadds a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and aremotely controlled12.7millimetremachinegun. It can fire all 125 millimetre rounds aswell as the 5,000-metre range Kombatantitankmissile.Awesternisedversionof the

Oplot, known as the Yatagan, is also part oftheUkrspetsexportportfolio. Slightly lighter,at 49.5 tonnesversus51, it is armedwitha120millimetre smoothbore gun and retains theautoloader,whichhosts22of the40roundsonboard. For its tanks the Ukrainian companyalso proposes its Kontrast multi spectralcamouflage cover, Varta electro-opticalcountermeassure systemandZaslonhardkillactive protection system.Ukroboronservice also sold 50T-64BV-1

Bulat tanks to an undisclosed country,believed to be the Democratic Republic ofCongo, which thus becomes the exportlaunch customer for the Bulat, which isalready in servicewith theUkrainianArmedForces. A 45-tonner, it is powered by an 850hp 5TDFM diesel engine and retains the

34

Of the 200 tanks produced, some 150 Ariete are beingretained in service in the Italian Army and about one

third might be upgraded for expeditionary use.An anti-mine/roadside bomb kit is currently under

development. (Armada/Paolo Valpolini)


The British RoyalArmoured Corps willretain less than 200Challenger 2s in servicein three regiments; a fewmoremight be retainedfor cannibalisationpurposes. (British Army)

Tank Situation


same armament as the Oplot, but the 12.7millimetre MG is however manuallyoperated. It is fittedwith the same fire controlsystemadopted in theOplot andcanbe fittedwith similar explosive armour.At the top of the scoreboard in terms of

numbers built, the T-72 also benefits fromthe most numerous upgrade kits fromnumerous countries. Apart fromRussia andthe other formerWarsawPact countries thatdeployed it during the Cold War, upgradepackages are also available from nationssuch Israel, where Nimda proposes a 1,000horsepower powerpack based on a Perkinsengine and an Allison transmission. SelexES, for its part can supply a second-generation fire control system.Peruvian Army tests of the

UralvagonzavodT-90S aredue to start by thetimethese linesare readandfollowing theendof theSITDEFdefence technologyexhibitionat the army’s headquarters in Lima. ThePeruvian army has been trying to replace itsageing T-55 since the late 1990s. The lastserious effort sought to procure 80 NorincoType 90-IIs, but this was abandoned in 2009.Local sources indicated that about 70 out ofPeru’s249T-55sare still operational.Anyhow,theT-90S is being considered in competitionwith formerDutchLeopard2A6and thenewUkrainianT-84Oplot.NeighbouringChile isrumoured to be in the process of acquiring100Leopard2A5s fromGermany.

I … AND THE KsWith 1,027 K1s and 484 K1A1s in itsinventory, the Republic of Korea Armyshould get its first newK2, also knownas theBlack Panther, in 2014. Hyundai Rotem has

already received an order for 100 BlackPanthers, and some 500 more tanks areexpected to be produced. While the K1A1brought a considerable improvement thanksto its 120/44 millimetre smoothbore guncompared to the 105 millimetre gun of theoriginal K1, the K2 marks a further stepforward with the adoption of the 120/55millimetre gun, which increases muzzlespeed and range.The new tank also adopts a bustle-

mounted autoloader that hosts 16 of the 40roundsavailableonboard.Poweredbya1,500horsepower MTU 883 the K2 has a combat

weightof55 tonnes–marginallyheavier thantheK1A1, butwith amuch greater power-to-weight ratio of over 27 hp/tonne. A nationalpowerpack might be adopted in future.Hyundai Rotem is also active on the exportmarket, and in Fall 2013 it offered the BlackPanther to Peru, the package including thelocal assemblyof110, andotheroffsets.

I ARJUNDisplayed last26January inNewDelhiduringtheIndianNationalDayparade, theArjunMkII is the upgraded version of the Arjundeveloped in the last decade by the DefenceResearch &Development Organisation. TheMkII is the resultof a series89 improvementsrequired by the Army, 15 of which are beingaddressed separately as they pertain to theammunition field. The new tank weighsseven tonnesmore than the 60-tonneArjunMk I, and the parade images reveal theadoption of ERA on the turret front andsides of a remote-control station armedwitha 12.7millimetremachine gun.The gunbarrel life has been considerably

improved and theMk II has also been fittedwith new thermal sights and laser warningreceivers, believed to be the result of an

36

Tank Situation

Ukraine succeeded on the export market with its upgraded versions of the latest T-seriestanks (here an Oplot). To what extent the current crisis with Russia will impact Ukrspecexportremains to be seen. (Armada/Paolo Valpolini)

While developing the T-99 for the RussianArmy Uralvagonzavod is actively marketingthe latest versions of its T-tanks, such asthis T-90S pictured at Eurosatory in 2012.(Armada/EricH. Biass)



Israeli-Indian cooperation, Elbit Systemsbeing the DRDO partner. A noteworthypoint is that Elbit announced in late March2014 the award of a $290 million contractfor a tank upgrade programme “by anundisclosed customer in the Asia-Pacific

Region”. The original auxiliary power unitwas substituted for an 8.5 kW model. Thepowerplant remains the same and is basedon the MTU 838 KA-501 diesel engine. Thefinal round of trials started in summer 2013,while the last phase should start in May

2014. Armed with a 120 millimetre rifledgun, the Arjun Mk II can also fire the IAILahat anti-tank missile, although someproblems encountered in the first trialsmight delay final testing. According todefence ministry speech before theParliament in 2011, India intends to order250 Arjun Mk IIs.

The K1A1 in service in the South Korean Army should soon be joined by the K2 Black Panther,which features a longer gun, an autoloader system and other improvements. (US DoD)

First seen in public at the National Day Paradein January 2014 the Arjun Mk II is an improvedversion of the original Arjun, which showedmany problems when put into service in theIndian Army. (Indian MoD)


Geospatial Information-II

Making use of digital geospatial information to prepare, infiltrate and dominatethe land battlespace is still the privilege of higher echelons of command, able toaccess and exploit multiple sources of intelligence. But the rise of onboard orpersonal networked terminals is also offering rich functionalities to insert landforces in complex human and natural terrain.

Mapping the Land &Joint Battlespace


Geospatial:Armada 6/2/14 8:13 PM Page 2


T he digital battlespace has beenenabled by a revolution in geospatialinformation technologies (seeGeospatial information part 1).

Increased resolution sensors, automatedproduction tools, and standardiseddissemination are shaping the way militaryoperations are planned and led. Theparticularly complex land environment,obstructed by weather, elevation, vegetationand human activity, is to benefit massivelyfrom this augmented digital description.However, this processdifferswidelybetween

the higher-level generation of a God’s eyeview, and the lower tactical echelon,constrained by limited connectivity and on-board informationprocessing.

I COMMON OPERATIONAL PICTURE ORRECOGNISED ENVIRONMENTAL PICTUREThe notion of shared “situational awareness”can be simply defined to answer the critical“who’swhere”question inmilitaryoperations.In its ultimate form, it is delivered as aCommonOperationalPicture(COP);but thismulti-layered, geo-located view has hardlybecome a reality in higher headquarters,challenged by a refined description of theoperational environment, defined as theRecognisedEnvironmentalPicture.The latteris an ambitious endeavour to describe indigital formats all aspects of the operationalenvironment: geography, hydrography,oceanography and meteorology. It is thuscapable of serving all military users (army,navy, air and special operations forces), andcanbe seen as the foundationof the commonoperationalpicture.Building a Recognised Environmental

Picture, however, entails leveraging the verybest of terrain, water andweather generationtools; and this finding is even more acute inthe land environment where natural andhuman features converge to load topographywithsurfacedetails. Itscomponentshavebeenfoundforsometime,althoughinaproprietaryformat, held by a loose community oftopography, oceanography andmeteorologyspecialists. Today, leveraging new andincreasinglystandardizedgeospatialproducts,REP is athand inahandfulof countries, from

where it will logically spread tomost defencestaffs.Duetothehighvolumeofdata,modernIT is seen as a powerful enabler to bringtogether environmental data: enterpriseservices, subscribing to distant networkedcommunities, service-oriented architecturesandWeb2.0 technologiesall combine toallowaccess to user-defined information servicesandbuildingof adhoc informationproducts.This will give rise to new specialties innetwork-centric operations, such as an REPmanager, tasked with pulling geospatialinformation to serve dedicated demand forsuch operational services asweather overlaysfor droneoperators, helicopter landing zonesfor army aviation units, or route computingfor logisticplanners.In the United States, Britain, France and

other Nato countries, RecognisedEnvironmental Picture is slowly beingexperimented to fuel planning or commandand control of network-centric operations.The2013editionofCWIX(CoalitionWarriorInteroperability eXpertimentation) allowedNato command staffs to refine requirementsexpressed in previous editions, and test therobustness and relevance of tailoredenvironmental informationproducts.TheFrenchDGAparticipatedwithThales

to showthe first resultsof theirREPadvancedstudy, a forerunner of the several hundredmillion euroGeode 4D, aiming at leveraginggeospatial information throughout theC4ISRuser communityby themiddleof thisdecade.This will shape the future of currentgeospatial information programmes (whichare still largely map-driven in key countries.Within Nato, similar requirements will

Look closer and youmay spot out theSuper Puma flying among the trees. This is

proof of how army aviation is closelyfollowing groundmanoeuvre, relying

mostly on human skills. New-generationbattle management systems will

include fine-grain representation ofground features, including vegetation

(Airbus helicopters)

This Recognised Environmental Picture shown during CWIX displays a situation of Somaliato prepare a joint operation, including special forces insertion, drone and amphibiousoperations. REP will at last create operational pictures where the sea is no longer flat and thesky no longer empty (NATO).

Wesley Fox


leverage core geospatial services deployed inthe Organisation’s headquarters since theearly2010sbySiemensDeutschlandandEsri.This move will also shape the future of theAmerican Commercial Joint Mapping ToolKit (CJMTK) delivered earlier by NorthropGrummandMission Systems and the sameEsri. In Britain, the first step of the morerecent Picasso GeoINT programme wasinitiated by the 31.5 million dollar FutureDeployable Geospatial Intelligence (FDG)contractwonbyLockheedMartinUKinearly2014. FDG is ambitioning to bridge the gapbetween operational levels by disseminatingtailored geospatial information products totactical users. This capability will replace theEsri-basedDataman, introducedasanurgentoperational requirementwith theBritish JointAerospatial and Geographical Organisationin 2009, and progressively deployed inAfghanistan. As a member of the 27-nation,NGA-sponsored MGCP group (under theNextview outsourcing contract for theNationalGeospatial IntelligenceAgency), theBritishMinistryofDefenceproduces its shareof geospatial data; the choicemade in2012 tolaunch a production run on Lebanon andSyria has certainly met strategic priorities in2013-2014, and these products will mostlikelybe inhighdemandfordisseminationbyFDG means. In Australia, the JointProgramme 2064 (Geospatial InformationInfrastructure & Services) fulfils a similarambition. The current, four-phased JP 2064providesdisseminationofgeospatial services

via a web portal to distant users. LockheedMartin Australia, granted with a 200MAU$contract, is currently delivering phase 3,allowing forwarddigitalmapdissemination.

Beyond static environmental data, thecurrent operational environment hasbrought the need for accurate informationabout human activity in places often alien toWestern culture: Afghanistan, Iraq, Mali orSomalia. In these highly traditional regions,the notion of human terrain brings value todeployed forces in terms of settlement,allegiances, or centres of local power, allvaluable notions for intelligence gathering,psychological operations, or urban control.Althoughhuman terrain isusually associatedwith the intelligence preparation of thebattlespace, it is valuable to police andmilitary operations as well, as long as itenables forces in the field tobetter insert theiractions in a complex social and culturalfabric. The US Army embarked on theHuman Terrain System program in 2007,initiated by a contract to BAe Systems torecruit and train social science specialists toserve as field scientists and advisors (humanterrain teams) in Iraq and Afghanistan.Closer to a psychological operations projectthan geospatial intelligence, the above-mentioned human terrain systemprogramme has produced anthropologicaldata not easily integrated in a commonGIS.However, it can leverage non-traditional useof geospatial exploitation, powered by newfunctionalities suchaspatternanalysis, cross-

database exploitation, and advanced datavisualization features. Although in its earlyphase, human terrain analysis in counter-insurgency operations remains shrouded incontroversy about the use of social sciencesto “winninghearts andminds”.

I ON-BOARD GEOSPATIAL BATTLEMANAGEMENTThe powerful, layer-based geospatialinformation management has found agrowing demand beyond higher-levelcommandposts, for intelligencepreparationof the battlespace or mission planning. Thetactical exploitation of this powerfulknowledge is far less advanced, though,due tocultural and technological obstacles.

On cultural grounds, we must bear inmind that the special skills required forgeospatial data exploitation are seldom tobefound in deployed command staffs belowbrigade level,wheremissionexecution leavesfew seats for intelligence or geospatialanalysts. The digitization of the battlespacethus comes at a slower pace for the mobilesoldier, despite his thorough skills fortraditionalmap readingand fieldnavigation.Northrop Grumman mission systemsbecame famous for their use of “blue forcetracking” (now a patented NorthropGrumman acronym) only when severeweather in Iraq during the 2003 invasiondisrupted visibility (as well as voicecommunications) so that armoured vehiclecrews had to resort to switching on their“screens”, namely ruggedised computersattached to their combat net radios. To theirsurprise, they displayed tactical symbols ona pan-and-zoom map, showing type andposition of friendly units. Since the mid-2000s, this capability has been slowlydisseminated throughout land forces asBattleManagement Systems (BMS).

A battlefield management system hostsseveral operationally useful features on atactical computer:messagehandling, editingfacility,mapmanagement, usually coupled toa data communications interface to thecombat net radio. This allows commanders,typically from battalion command posts to


A brigade-level graphical operational order,overlaid on highly accurate geospatialdata of the Panshir valley in Afghanistan,merges text, ranges, tactical symbols,waypoints and artillery fire missions. ThisRecognised Ground Picture is ready fordissemination to Army tactical units viacombat net radios (FrenchMoD).



individual vehicles, to prepare, exchange and display tactical orders,shifting from the legacy structured text messages (inherited fromstandardised voice orders) tomap-based graphical situations. From thelengthy, text-based situational awareness of the early 2000s, battlefieldmanagement system users have moved on to largely automateddisseminationof alerts andoperational or fragmentary orders, basedongeo-located, standardised tactical symbology known in the Americanmilitary as MIL-2525 or in Nato parlance as the APP-6. Commanderscan thus create, exchangeandupdate tactical layersofunit,manoeuvreorvolume typesdescribing theirposition, courseof action, andboundaries.On technical grounds, this process, inherited from the paper maps

andtacticaldrills thatbloomed inWWII,hits anumberof limitations.Themostobvious is the limitedbandwidthavailable to sharedataover tacticalradios; most legacy combat net radios allow either voice or dataexchanges, and themost recentones (suchas theThalesPR4GF@stnetorthe Harris PRC-117) allow a few tens of kilobytes of voice and databetween a limited number of mobile users sharing the same VHFnetwork.This tailors tactical exchanges to friendly force tracking, or alertdissemination,while disseminationof a commander’s intent can takeupto a few minutes to display as a graphical map overlay in each vehicle.Another constraint is the limited computational power available onboard. Rugged personal computers or multi-function tactical displaysare more comfortable with static, low-resolution imagery (satellitepictures or raster maps) than heavy sets of vector data to dynamicallypan, zoom,or refresh tomatchvehicle speedonamap.This set of constraints explains why most tactical geospatial

exploitation rely mostly on “dots and arrows on a map”, whereasadvanced C4I functionalities remain absent from lower tacticalechelons. The fast evolution of CPU and GPU (graphic processors) iseasing up these bottlenecks though, and the latest battlefieldmanagement systems are now endowed with powerful map

Amodern-day Joint Operations Centre leverages digital geospatialinformation at all levels, from J6 (communications and information systems,left), to J3 (operations, right), around amulti-window information wall,displaying on-demand layers of the CommonOperational Picture. (Barco)




management functionalities featuringcomputation of line-of-sight, waypoints,weapon and sensor footprints; the resultingshared situational awareness is transformingArmymanoeuvre in the digital age.Thales Communications, concentrating

most of the European integrator’s C4ISRexpertise (fromtactical radio to command&control information systems and cybersecurity), has been prompt to leveragecommercial and Nato state-of-the-artcapabilities. Its Comm@nder family ofintegrated C4I systems has been featuringexploitation of rich geospatial informationon tactical computers since 2007. In 2010,Comm@nder Battlegroup brought a newdimension to battle management, byintegrating information from vehicleelectronics (vetronics) and specific missionsystems according to vehicle type(reconnaissance, infantry combat, direct orindirect fire support, etc.) into thebattlefieldmanagement system.This allows integratingtactical data and video information withgeospatial analysis in three dimensions,

displayingaccuratenavigation, vehicle status,and sensor and weapon footprint down toeach combat vehicle. This solution has beenselectedbyMalaysia for theirnewgenerationof 8x8 combat vehicles producedbyFNSS intwelve variants, all able to operate innetworkedbattlegroups.A steady improvement curve is also

reflectedby theNorthropGrummanMissionSystems series of FBCB2battlemanagementsystems. Fielded in the early 2000s as a “BlueForce Tracker”, the Joint Capability Releaseversion of FBCB2 common to the US ArmyandMarineCorps canhandle imagery, videoand cartography to display graphicalsituations and exchange tight data sets inVariableMassage Format (the data link-likestandard compatible with US combat netradios). Although less integrated to vehiclesubsystems than the Thales Comm@nder,the FBCB2 rests on a proven, massiveinstalled base; as a key informationsuperiority enabler, though, it is not exportedmuch (Australia is known to be a ForeignMilitary Sales beneficiary), even if the

Samsung-Thales KBMS entering service inKorea looks very similar in capability.Elbit follows a similar path, with tactical

terminals displaying simple map-basedtactical situations with little vehiclesubsystem information (outside gun layingandtarget acquisition formainbattle tanks) intheir WIN BMS family. The French SIT(Système d’Information Terminal) installedbyNexter in combat platforms, or the SagemSITel fitted in armoured personnel carriersand light vehicles are contemporary solutionswith similar functionalities, using mostlyraster map as background. The ambitiousFrench networked integrated battle-groupprogramme, Scorpion, has shifted therequirement for battle management to ahigher ground with the Systèmed’Information de Combat Scorpion. Breakingwith the terminal level of command &control messages and situational awareness,SICS is designed as an army equivalent to anaval combatmanagement system; it featuresadvanced target allocation and firingsolutions computation functionalities,although its level of geospatial informationmanagement remains inherited from thelegacyofmapdisplays rather than leveraging

This map of heroin production in Afghanistan is an example of how human terrain data canmerge with operational missions to prepare tailored actions (NATO ISAF)


true geospatial information power.Scheduled to equip the new generation ofdigitised combat vehicles around 2016, SICSis being developed by Bull, a French softwarehouse. It will have to closely match the newgeneration of software-defined radiosdeveloped by Thales under the multi-billioneuros Contact programme running parallelto Scorpion.

At the other end of the spectrum liecommercial-based software productsdesigned to leverage the best of currententerprise GIS technologies. SystematicSitAware family is proposed by the Danishsoftware house in a BMS configuration,leveraging Esri’s Arc GIS geospatialexploitation software over a Microsoft suitein a rugged commercial laptop. Althoughhandy for deployed tactical command posts,this solution rapidly encounters the technicalbottlenecks of tactical radios and vehicleintegration though, especially withSystematic’s use of automated databasereplication mechanisms, ill-adapted tocombat radio networks. This is why SitAwarehas been slower to satisfy truly tactical needsformobile combat-oriented forces,beyond itsSlovenian, Irish and Romanian references.

A BMS embedded in a reconnaissance vehicle displays both imagery and geospatial data, withdecision aids to identify an observed vehicle or attach it to the right symbology. This localsituational awareness saves the bandwidth of constrained tactical radios by sending onlygeoreferenced tactical objects (Thales)


I GEOSPATIALLY-ENABLED SOLDIERSoldier modernisation programmesaugment human eyes with day and nightsurveillance and target acquisitionoptronics.Local situational awareness in soldier C4Icalls for basic but critical information:where

is my vehicle, my team leader, or my fellowriflemen?Putting this informationonamaptakes a light, ruggedised form of personaldigital assistant in many soldiermodernisation programmes, with thedrawback of having to look down at a small

screen in a firefight. This is probably whysoldier C4I comes either as a dismountedkind of BMS or an “enriched” kind of digitalcompass. It can combine both, like in theNorwegian Normans programme or theBritish Fist. It can also leave map-basedsituations for the platoon leader, like in theSagemFélin inFrance.

But a new approach to tactical terrainreading can come also from innovativestart-ups, like the Ground Guidancesoftware from Primordial, a Minnesota-based small business created in 2002 by anMIT graduate. Ground guidance uses

standard map-data to compute variousoperational features: fastest route, but alsoleast exposed or least slope for vehicles orfoot soldiers in open or urban terrain; inter-visibility, with an optical vegetationpenetrationmodel; alternate or randomisedrouting in urban terrain. Able to analyseterrain from the pixels of a raster map todigital elevation models and vector data,ground guidance also comes with its ownGPU-based route computing algorithmwhich is 22 times faster than its CPUequivalent. Used for bothmission planningor mission execution by small army unitsand special forces, ground guidancesoftware development kit is deployed inFalcon view or XPlan, and has beenincluded by Lockheed Martin in theeyepiece of its Ground Soldier Ensemble.

Such innovative geospatial informationsolutions are still few and far between, butthey are called to spread, offering mission-tailored functionalities which can leveragedigitial geodata at a level similar to that ofgeoINT systems deployed in highercommandposts.

44

The Ground Guidance software wasincluded in the early phases of the LandWarrior programme to provide an intuitiveroute planning tool displaying terrain costsin terms of concealment, distances, andphysical costs (Primordial)



A Joint Command & Control System in a Middle East country is showing tactical symbologyover satellite imagery. The latest solutions use web map services to build mission-orientedgeoreferenced layers of tactical information (Airbus Defence & Space)

The French Scorpion field experimentations of 2008-2012 explored advanced use of geospatialinformation. This capability demonstration tool was deployed alongside battlegroupcommanders to assess radio connectivity for both mission planning and execution (Thales)


Nexter, creating new references in defence

TITUS® is the last armoured vehicle designed by Nexter in order to meet all the constraints of the modern hybrid warfare. Continuing the famous long lineage, including Leclerc MBT, VBCI and Aravis® ,all combat proven in many theaters, Nexter combined the best of its experience and technology to offer to the tactical commander a full range of possibilities with

the multi role armoured vehicle of the XXIst century.

From APC to combat utility variants, from Peace Keeping Operation to Counter Insurgency, TITUS® brings the technology

and the Nexter touch into the heart of the action.

www.nexter-group.fr

Satcom

While Satcom-On-The-Move, also known as Sotm, is available for hand-held devicesglobally, at all latitudes, from the 66-satellite commercial Iridium network, it is limited tolowdata rates of between 2.4 and 10 kbps. Broadband satcom requires higherfrequencies as found in the UHF band (300MHz to 3GHz), the X band (8 to 12GHz), theKu band (12 to 18GHz) and the Ka band (26.5 to 40GHz). It also requires high-gainantennae,which have narrowbeams, that must be accurately pointed at thesatellite at all times, amajor engineeringchallenge for vehicle-mounted systems thatmustmaintain connectivity on themoveover rough ground.

Satcoms on the Move


Providing reliable satcom on themovecapability to special forces and other unitswho rely on small boats for littoral and riverineoperations is very challenging because of theextreme pitch, roll and heavemotions to whichthey are subjected. (US Navy)

SATCOM:Armada 6/2/14 8:17 PM Page 2

Peter Donaldson


Such systems have been available for afew years now, but early systems arelarge, heavy and costly systems withprominent antennadomes thatmake

satcom-equippedvehiclesobvious targetsandlimit their access to parking structures inurbanareas.Also,military satcombandwidthis in high demand and short supply, so a newsatelliteconstellationalongwith innovations inmobile ground equipment from low profileantennae to theportingof satcomwaveformsinto fielded software defined radios aregeneratingexcitement.

“Basedon lessons learnedandafter actionreviews, the number one documentedcommunications shortfall for the mobilewarfighter is beyond line of sightcommunicationson themove,”CaptainPaulGhyzel, US Navy, said in his 9 September2013 overview of the Department ofDefense’s newest narrowband UHF satellitecommunication systemknownas theMobileUserObjective System (Muos). Capt GhyzelheadsPMW146, theNavy’s communicationssatellite programmeoffice.

The US Navy’s Muos 2 satellite isencapsulated in a five-metre diameterpayload fairing before beingmated with anAtlas V rocket. Muos is a next-generationtactical satcom system designed to boostcommunications for American and alliedforces on themove. (US Navy)


As the Mobile User Objective Systemdemonstrates growing capability,development of mobile terminals for broadspectrum of users of this next-generationnarrowbandsatcomsystemisgatheringpace.On 22 January, the Space andNavalWarfareSystems Command issued a request forinformation fromindustryonMuos-capableterminals in preparation for an Over-The-Air (OTA) communications demonstrationand a concurrent set of terminal tests asearly as the endofMarch. Thiswill no doubtwhet the appetites of companies such asHarris and General Dynamics C4 Systemswho have recently demonstrated Muoscapability in keymobile radios.

I GD MANPACK TO MUOSOn 15 November 2013, GDC4S announcedthatapairof itsAN/PRC-155manpackradiossuccessfully made voice and data calls viaMuos satellites in equatorial orbits, thesoftware-defined radios having been loadedwith theMuos waveform. FromArctic – andAntarctic– latitudes,connectingwithsatellitesingeostationaryequatorialorbit is achallengebecause they are very close to the horizon.AstheEarthflattensnearthepoles–itsshapeisanoblate spheroid – satellites in that orbit areinvisible fromsomeareasonthesurface.

“Exposed to sub-freezing temperaturesand blistering Arctic winds, the PRC-155Manpack radio is the first and onlymilitaryradio to deliver secure voice and dataconnectivitywith theMuos system from the

highest latitudes on the planet,” said ChrisMarzilli, president ofGeneralDynamicsC4Systems.

This demonstration, which took place inmid-October, covered several of whatGeneral Dynamics describes as realisticoperational scenarios from fixed sitesaround Anchorage and Barrow in Alaskaand aboard aircraft flying throughout theArctic Circle. The two-channel AN/PRC-155, says the company, completed multipleone-to-one voice anddata calls in addition to

conference calls with more than fiveparticipants.Data rates of up to 64 kbps havebeen demonstrated.

This is the latest ina seriesof tests inwhichGeneralDynamicshasconnected itsmanpackand handheld radios to the Muosconstellation. In August 2013, the companyconnectedanAN/PRC-154Riflemanradio toaMuos spacecraft via an AN/PRC-155. Thisfollowedsecure radio-to-radiovoiceanddatatests throughMuos in April, building on thefirstdemonstrationofsuchcommunicationsinFebruary 2012, whichmade use of a satellitesimulator and an AN/PRC-155 loaded withtheMuoswaveform.

I FALCON III TO MUOSShortly afterwards, Harris announcedsuccessful connection of its AN/PRC-117GFalcon III multi-bandmanpack radio to theMuos constellation on 02 December 2013.Again, these tests tookplace above theArcticCircle, a region under served by the currentmilitaryUHFsystem, this timewith aFalconIII radio aboard a cargo aircraft flying fromAlaska toward the North Pole and back.According to Harris’ figures, there are morethan30,000deployedAN/PRC-117Gradiosready to accept theMuoswaveformsoftwareas anupgrade.

I ALICO PHASED ARRAY TERMINALWhile phased array antennae are familiar inradar applications, they remain relativerarities in the world of communications.However, Alico Systems has incorporated

48

GD C4 Systems’ AN/PRC-155manpack radio, which can accommodate the Muos satcomwaveform. Lab tests in August of 2013 demonstrated that it can connect an AN/PRC-154Rifleman radio to a Muos spacecraft. (GD C4 Systems)

The AN/PRC-155 has also shown the ability toconnect to Muos in the high Arctic, both fromsites on the ground and aboard aircraft.Demonstrations in October completedmultiple one-to-one voice and data calls andconference calls with more than fiveparticipants. (GD C4 Systems)


Satcom


this technology into its BroadbandDistributedAperture Sotm terminal, detailsofwhich the company released in Juneof lastyear. Illustrations of this X-band systemdepict four small rectangular flat-plateantennaemountedaround the topof thehullin the case of the M1 Abrams and the M2Bradley and around the roof hatch of aNavistarMaxxProvehicle.This is a particularly discreet design for a

broadband satcom antenna array, addingnothing to thevehicle’s visualprofile and, saysthe company, avoids any signal blocking thatmight be caused by gun turrets or cargo ontop of the vehicle or might occur onparticular headingswithmore conventionalsystems. This implies, as Alico claims, fullhemispherical coverage fromzerodegree onthe horizon to 90 degrees at the zenith andzero degree to 360 degrees continuous inazimuth.With electronic beam steering, thesystemoperates autonomously, pointing thebeam and tracking the satellite at 100Hz,meaning that the system updates itscalculation of the satellite’s relative position100 times every second.Distributed phased array antennae also

eliminate “key hole” and “gimbal lock”

problems. The first is an issue with stabilisedelectromechanical antenna systems that haveless than90degrees of elevation range,whichleaves an area of the sky around the zenithpotentially uncovered by the antenna’s beam;the second is an issue in which systems withmorethan90degreesbut less than180degreesof elevation coverage have trouble withsmooth tracking of a satellite past the zenithwhenthegimbalreaches itselevationlimitandthe azimuthgimbal has to rotate through180degrees to continue tracking. Broader beamscanmitigate this issue,buthighgainantennaehave narrowbeams, forcing a trade-off.With

someoverlapbetween the regions coveredbythe phased array antennae, hand off betweenthemiseasilymanagedelectronically.Designed to handle voice, data and

streaming videoon themove, the full duplexsystem can work with a range of spacecraftconstellations including the AmericanWideband Global Satcom (WGS) andXTAR, SpainSat and the British Skynetsystem. Consuming 700 W at either 115 VACor 28VDC, the systemweighs 150 lb (68kg). Consuming 700watts at either 115 voltsAC or 28 volts DC, the system weighs 150pounds (68 kilograms).

Alico Systems has introduced phased array technology with its new Broadband DistributedAperture system. The four low-profile antennae are designed to provide full hemisphericalcoverage and autonomous pointing via electronic beam steering. (Alico Systems)



Satcom

I ELBIT ELSAT 2000EBuilding on its MSR-2000 family, ElbitSystems launched its next-generationantenna at London’s DSEI exhibition inSeptember of 2013.Offering full coverage oftheKuband, theElsat 2000Eusesnewpassivewaveguide planar panel technology that thecompany describes as a significantimprovement inperformance termsover theprinted circuit multi-element paneltechnology employed in the Elsat 2000 thatthenew2000Emodel supersedes.

Measuring 50 centimetres in diameterand weighing 15 kilograms, the Elsat 2000Edelivers more than twice the performanceand efficiency of its predecessor from thesame form factor. Elbit quotes 30 Mbpsdownlink and5Mbpsuplink speeds.

A key feature that the companyemphasises is the advanced triple trackingmechanism with a 100 degree elevationcapability that improves both tracking andrelocking performance on the move. Thecompany claims a G/T ratio of seven dB/K,which is basically a measure of the signal tonoise ratio that the antenna canachieve– thehigher the ratio, thebetter it is atpullingweaksignals out of backgroundnoise.

Like the larger Elsat 2100, whosetechnology it shares, the 2000E is integratedwith Elbit’s InterSky 4M military tacticalsatcom platform that provides “seamless”broadband connectivity in line of sight,beyond line of sight (blos) and over thehorizonmodes.

The system combines its flat-panel arraywith mechanical scanning to maximise itsangular coverage, an Elbit spokesman toldArmada. “You get 360° coverage andelevation from zero degree to 100 degrees,which is very different from other systems.Usually you have either a complete dish,whichhas better gain but a very highprofile,whichmakes it very easy todetect.”

I IBETOR X-BAND TERMINALA lowprofile for reasons of discretion is a keyfeature of the new X-band Ib-Sotm 100X

terminal, which Spanish company Ibetorlaunched on 28 February at the Satellite 2014exhibition in Washington DC. Just 20centimetres high, the antenna system isdesigned to ensure both aerodynamicefficiency and discretion while offeringefficient and reliable connectivity over whatthe company describes as the mostchallenging terrain.

Designed for installation on ships andaircraftaswell asgroundvehicles, theIb-Sotm100X incorporates an Ibetor-designedAntenna Control Unit (ACU) containing anInertialMeasurement Unit (IMU), dual GPSreceivers working at one kHz, tri-axial gyros,accelerometers and magnetometers. Thiscombinationcontributes toaclaimedpointingaccuracyofbetter than0.3degrees,acquisitionof the satellite with the vehicle inmotion and“instantaneous”reacquisition, thanksinpart tothe software routine that keeps themechanically scannedantennapointed in thesatellite’sdirectionevenif thesignal isblocked.Keyparameters includeaclaimed500MHzofinstantaneous frequencyavailable, aG/Tratioof 7.5 dB/K, and anuplinkdata rate of up to 8Mbps inthecentreof thebeam.Dependingonconfiguration, the Ib-Sotm100Xweighs from75 to 80 kilgrams. The system is already inservicewith theSpanishmilitary, says Ibetor.

I INDRA’S ALTERNATIVESpanishrival Indra’sSotmsolutionoperates inthe X and Ku bands and offers a low-profileantenna as an option and features integratedinertial navigation. The system providessatcomservices forpatrols through IP radios

Using innovative passive waveguide planar panel technology, Elbit’s new Elsat 2000E terminalmeasures 50 centimetres in diameter, weighs 15 kilograms and offers 30Mbps downlinkand 5Mbps uplink speeds along with a triple trackingmechanism for robust connectivity onthemove. (Elbit Systems)

Gilat Satellite Networks’ low-profile RaySat StealthRay 300X-M is 55.6 centimetres long by 49centimetres wide by 25 centimetres high and weighs 15 kilograms. While the internallymounted antenna control unit adds another 4.5 kilograms, it can be used with an integralMLT-1000modem instead. (Gilat)


and backbone capacity for brigade andbattalion level formations. Indra alsoemphasises that it has been designed to fitany kind of vehicle and even small ships.Furtheroptions includeanextendedKubandfrequency range from 13.75 to 14.5 GHz,encryption, anuninterruptible power supplyproviding 20minutes of run time and an onboard generator capable of powering it formore than10hours.

I GILAT SR300X-MHot on the heels of the Ibetor system comesanother low profile terminal with the 11March launch of Israeli company GilatSatellite Networks’ RaySat StealthRay 300X-M. Designed to work with any X-bandsatellite, includingWGS,onvehiclesmovingover rough ground, the StealthRay 300X-Mincorporates multiple motion sensors thatenable accurate tracking, minimal initialacquisition time and “instantaneous”reacquisition, says the company.

Designed for easy installation onunmodified vehicles, the system consists ofan external antenna that measures 55.6centimetres long by 49 centimetres wide by25centimetreshighandweighs15kilograms.

The smaller internally mounted AntennaControl Unit (ACU) weighs another 4.5kilograms. However the SR300X-M can beused with an integral MLT-1000 modem,eliminating theneed for theACU.

Gilat quotes a G/T ratio of 2 dB/K for itsnew baby, and respective transmit andreceive gains of 23 and 25 dBi. It receives

from 7.25 to 7.75 GHz and transmits over afrequency rangeof7.9 to8.4GHz.TheSR300family also includes lowprofile antennae forKu- andKa-bandSotmapplications.

I DRS X46-V CERTIFICATIONWith certification of its X46-V terminal foruse on the United States Department of

Brisbane, Australia

22-25 September

LAND FORCES MEANS BUSINESSwww.landforces.com.au

Communicating over both militaryand commercial satellites, Exelis’ Gnomad

is centred on a low-profile antenna thatoffers data rates of up to 2 Mbps. (Exelis)


Defense’s high capacity satellite networksannounced in May of last year, DRSTechnologiescanprovideX-bandaccess totheGlobal Information Grid (GIG) for moreisolated and widely dispersedmilitary units.IssuedbytheDoD’s JointSatcomEngineeringCenterandtheArmyStrategicCommand, theticket permits X46-V users to connect to theWidebandGlobalSatcom(WGS)systemwithvoice,dataandvideocapabilitiesat ratesofupto 6Mbps. Besides American forces, those ofAustralia, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg,theNetherlandsandNewZealandcanuse theWGSconstellation.Additionally,K-yandKa-band operation enables them to use othercommercialandmilitarysatellitenetworks forextra flexibilityandredundancy.L-3 Linkabit, which provides a range of

Sotm terminals, received an updated AlsatPermanent Mobile Earth Station licence tooperate its Ku-band terminals on allauthorized domestic satellites in the UnitedStates andsomeothercommercial spacecraft,the company announced on 27 August. Theterminals covered by this licence are the L-3Datron FSS-4180-LP (0.33 x 0.46 metres) orFSS-4180-LC (0.46 metres circular) smallaperture tracking antennae, as well as theLinkabit MPM-1000 Network Centric IPsatcommodem. L-3’s terminals are used bythe US Army in its Warfighter InformationNetwork - Tactical (WIN-T) and the USMarineCorps in itsNetworkOn-The-Move.

I GNOMAD ON STRYKERWith the integration of the Global NetworkOn theMoveActiveDistribution (Gnomad)system into the Stryker armoured vehicle,Exelis has extendeda combat-proven systemto another key US Army platform, thecompanyreportedon20March,with the firstinstallation completed during theseventh Army Expeditionary WarfightingExperiment at Fort Benning, Georgia. TheGnomad, says Exelis, is easy to install andrequires nomodifications to the vehicle.It consists of the satellite antenna, RF

components andabasebandmodular chassisthat can be installed on a wide variety ofvehicles, including Humvees, in theAmerican military inventory as well ascommercial vehicles. The low-profile 45 x35x 7 inches (114. 3 x 88.9 x 17.78 centimetres)antenna weighs less than 85 pounds (38.55kilograms)with thebasebandchassis addinganother 55.8 pounds (25.31 kilograms) andcan use both commercial and militarysatellites. With an open architecture, theGnomad can operate in conjunction with

many line-of-sight radios and satellitemodems, providing full-duplex voice, dataandvideo communicationsover the latter.Coupling toUHForVHF radios, such as

theSincgars and the embeddedGPSreceiver,it enables it to inject blue force tracking datadirectly into the common operating picture.Transmitting over frequencies between 14.0and 14.5 GHz and receiving between 10.95and 11.7 GHz or 11.7 and 12.75 GHz, theGnomad offers respective data rates of up to512 kbps and 2 Mbps. The G/T figure is atleast 8dB/Kat30degrees elevationand23°C.

I SWE-DISH ROCK AND ROLLThe combinationof aRockwellCollins Swe-Dish CommuniCase Technology terminalanda four-axis stabilisedplatform fromSaabdefines a Sotm terminal intended for toughlandandmaritimeapplications ranging fromlight off-road vehicles and small boats tocommand post vehicles and medium-sizedlittoral vessels. In all these applications, highspeeds and violent pitch, roll and swaymotionsmake establishing andmaintainingsatellite connectivity verydifficult. RockwellCollins emphasises that the systemcaneasilyhandlehigh sea states at speedsup to50knotsand uneven terrain at speeds greater than 40kph, automatically recovering a lost link inless thana second,while enablingbroadband

communications at up to10Mbps.RockwellCollins quotes a weight for the completesystem of around 308 pounds (140kilograms).The company claims aG/Tof 19dB/Kat 20degrees elevation and11.0GHz.

I THALES’ BULLET-PROF OPTIONThe French Army first deployed its Sotmsystems in Afghanistan in 2010 and has alsoused the Thales-developed equipment inMali, principally integrating it into VABwheeled armoured vehicles. Available in X-,Ku- and Ka-band configurations, it bringscontinuousvoice,dataandvideocapabilities tomobile forces deployed in remote, hostileareas.TheseSotmsystemsprovide long-rangeconnectivity to combat net radio systems,principally the VHF PR4G network in thecaseof theFrenchArmy’sVenusprogramme,although they also integrate easily withV/UHFsystems, says the company.Anactiveantenna – Thales was an early adopter ofphased array technology – with “unrivalled”tracking performance off road, modernwaveforms, resistance to jamming, counter-IED transmitters and even a bullet-resistantantennadomeare incorporated toensure thesatellite link is as robust aspossible.Satellite on-the-move communications

capability is attractinga lotof innovation, andthere is clearlymore to come.

52

Available in X, Ku and Ka frequency bands, Thales’ solutions offer long-range connectivityto combat net radio systems such as the VHF PR4G network in France’s Venus programme.This vehicle provided blue force tracking reachback in French Phonex II experiment.(Armada/Peter Donaldson)


Satcom


V-22Market

Anyonewhowas involved inmarketing Britain’sHarrier knows that the combination of vtol andhigh speed capability leads to an expensive,hard-to-sell product. Everybodywas fascinatedby the technology, but only armed serviceswithvery special needs bought it. America’s Osprey isanother fast vtol aircraft, but it has theadvantages of amore substantial domesticmarket and stronger political support.International sales are beginning to take off.


Sellingthe Osprey

V-22 Market:Armada 6/2/14 8:22 PM Page 2


T he technological challenge of fillingthe gap between the basic helicopterand a conventional fixed-wingaircraft has led to many different

approaches, of which currently the bestestablished is the tilt-rotor.Everyhelicopter tilts its rotor togenerate a

forward thrust component and thusaccelerate fromthehover into forward flight.However, in a conventional helicopter theangle throughwhich the rotor can tilt relativeto the airframe ismechanically restricted.What is different in what has become

known as the ‘tilt-rotor’ is that the rotor canbe inclined through approximately 90degrees relative to the airframe and thusgenerate far higher propulsive thrust. A tilt-rotor is much faster than a basic helicopter,but not as fast as a turboprop, because itsrotor tips (turning at large radius) run intocompressibility effects at lower airframeMachNumbers.Thebasic tilt-rotor idea is old. In the early

1920s Henry Berliner, in the United Statesdemonstrated a biplane helicopter with tworotors that could tilt through a substantialangle.A1930USpatentbyGeorgeLehbergerillustrateda single-enginehelicopterwith co-axial, contra-rotating rotors andadrive shaftthat was articulated just above the fuselage.However, the front fuselage restricted tilt-angle, and the concept failed to address thebasic necessity to keep the rotor thrustacting through the centre of gravity,regardless of tilt angle.What arguably set the precedent for

current American developments was aBritishpatent for the ‘BaynesHeliplane’ in thelate 1930s, which had wingtip-mountedtiltingpowerplants and rotors.In practical terms, the father of tilt-rotor

aircraft appears to have been the 950-kilogramFocke-AchgelisFa61of1936,whichhad non-tilting rotors mounted on tubulartrusses on either side of the fuselage. It ismainly remembered for1938demonstrationsby test pilot Hanna Reitsch inside theDeutschlandhalle stadium in Berlin. The Fa61 led to the 4,315-kilogram Fa 223 assaulttransport of 1940, the first helicopter to haveneared mass production status (Alliedbombings ensured thisdidnothappen).The company’s success with a fuselage-

mounted engine driving ‘outrigger’ rotorsled to the Focke-Achgelis Fa 269, a tilt-rotorvtol fighter project, designed to operate

Somewhere in the Arabian Sea, MV-22B serial165849, c/n 0035, assigned to VMM-261 ‘RagingBulls’, receives its final checks prior to take-off from

LHD-7, USS Iwo Jima. (US Navy).

Roy Braybrook


from dispersed sites. Strangely, it was givenpusher propellers, which for take-off andlanding were turned downward. Great as alawnmower, not so good for an aircraft!This arrangement also necessitated a verylong undercarriage that telescoped toallow retraction.A 1941 RLM (Reichluftministerium =

StateAirMinistry) design study contract ledto tunnel tests and the construction of a Fa269 mock-up, but this was destroyed byAllied bombing in 1944. The project wasthen abandoned, as it appeared unlikely tofly before 1947.The Fw 61 also inspired some rotorcraft

developments in the United States, notablythePlatt-LePageAircraftXR-1A,whichwona US Army Air Corps competition in 1940and flew in 1941. Although of limitedsuccess, theXR-1A led the company toplana24,000kilogramtilt-rotorproject, forwhichapatentwas granted in1955.Oneof theengineerswhoworkedforPlatt-

LePage went on to found TranscendentalAircraft,whose800-kilogramModel1-Gtilt-rotoraircraftbeganhover trials in1954underpartial US Army/Air Force funding. Itexploredmuchof theconversionenvelope,but

never completed a full transition to wing-borne flight.The first tilt-rotor project to achieve full

transitions between rotor- and wing-borneflight was the 2,220-kilogram Bell XV-3,which (like the Fa 269) had a single fuselage-mounted radial engine, but the morepractical arrangement of tractor rotors thattilted upward for low speed operation. Thefirst of two prototypes began hover tests in1955. Between 1959 and 1962 the XV-3completed110 transitions.The XV-3 was one of three designs

developedand testedunder theUSArmy/AirForceConvertiplane Program,which aimedto achievemajor improvements over simplehelicopters in hover duration, cruise speedand range. However, the Convertiplane was(optimistically) supposed to retain the lowdisc loading of a helicopter, in order toproduce at the hover the moderatedownwashdesirable for rescueoperations.Although it experienced serious

problems during flight trials, the XV-3paved theway for the twin-turboprop 6,000-kilogramBellModel 301 orXV-15. Thiswasthe real precursor of today’s V-22 Osprey,having wingtip-mounted tilting powerplants (it may be noted that the competingBoeing-Vertol Model 222 tilt-rotor had


On December 18, 1958, US Army serial 54-148, the second Bell XV-3, originally designatedXH-33-BF, became the first tilt-rotor to complete conversion from vertical take-off to wingborneflight. (Nasa/National Museum of the US Air Force).

The technology demonstrator that paved the way for the Bell Boeing V-22 was the Bell XV-15,which first flew onMay 3, 1977 and set a speed record of 456 km/hr. Illustrated is the secondaircraft, registration N703NA. (Nasa-Armstrong).

V-22 Market


fixed wingtip-mounted engines). The firstof twoXV-15prototypes began flight trials in1977 under Nasa funding. The secondaircraft continued flying until 2003 insupport of theOsprey programme.

I OSPREYWhatbroughturgency to thedevelopmentofa high-speed rotary-wing aircraft was thecatastrophic failure of America’s Eagle ClawOperationof 1980, aimedat liberating the52hostages held by Iranian militants in theUnited States embassy inTehran.

In 1981 the Pentagon launched the JVX(Joint Vtol Experimental) programme,initiallyunderUSArmy leadership, althoughtwoyears later the leadwas toswitch to theUSNavy and Marine Corps. Undoubtedlyinfluencedby the successful flight trialsof theBell XV-15, in 1983 a preliminary designcontractwasawarded to theBellBoeing team,andin1986full-scaledevelopmentof theV-22projectwas launched.At that stageall fourUSserviceshad requirements for the JVX,but in1988 theUSArmy left theprogramme.

The first of six Bell Boeing V-22 OspreyFSD (full-scale development) aircraft (c/n90001-6, BuAer 163911-6) began hovertrials in March 1989. This batch wasfollowed by four EMD (engineeringmanufacturing development) aircraft (c/n90007-10, BuAer 164939-42).

Nine years of low-rate initial productionin FY97-05 followed. The first four runs(Lrip-I to –IV) totalled 29 MV-22 Block Aaircraft (c/n 90011 to 90039), which were

used by theMarineCorps only for training.The third aircraft from Lrip-III (c/n 90025,BuAer 165839), which had been deliveredto the Marine Corps in 2001, was laterconverted to become the first CV-22B(serial 99-0021), which includedsubstituting different radios and adding aterrain-following radar.

In September 2005 FRP (full-rateproduction) was approved. Two years ofFRP in FY06 and 07 (Lots 10 and 11) werefollowed by the first Multi-Year Program(MYP), covering 174 aircraft in FY08-12(Lots 12-16). This has led to MYP-II,

covering 99 aircraft in FY13-17 (Lots 17-21). The Program of Record calls for 360MV-22Bs for the USMarine Corps, 50 CV-22Bs for theUSAir Force, and 48MV-22Bsfor the US Navy, although the Navy buy iscurrently unfunded.

TheMV-22B achieved initial operationalcapability in June 2007 with MarineMedium Tiltrotor Squadron VMM-263‘Thunder Chickens’ replacing the BoeingVertol CH-46E. In late 2007 the unitdeployed from its base atMCASNewRiver,North Carolina, to Iraq with ten Ospreysaboard the LHD-1,USSWasp.

This pair of MV-22Bs from VMM-263, an air elementof the 22ndMarine Expeditionary Unit, was picturedflying along the Egyptian coastline during ExerciseBright Star 2009. (USMarine Corps).

An MV-22B of VMM-263 taxies to the parking area after landing at Al Asad Air Basein the west of Iraq on September 4, 2007. This was the first of ten Ospreys that ferried

from LHD-1, USSWasp, operating in the Persian Gulf. (USMarine Corps).


V-22 Market


The CV-22B entered service with Afsoc’s8th SOS (Special Operations Squadron)‘Blackbirds’ at Hurlburt Field, Florida in2006, and attained initial operationalcapability in March 2009. The 8th wasdeployed to Iraq in 2009 and toAfghanistanin2010.TheCV-22Baugments theLockheedMartin MC-130 series, infiltrating,exfiltrating and resupplying special forces.

I DESCRIPTIONThe V-22 has a maximum vertical take-offweight of 23,859 kilograms, although inoperational short take-off it cangross 25,855kilograms, while maximum ferry take-offweight is 27,443 kilograms. It has a rotordiameter of 11.6 metres, giving a vto discloading of 113 kilograms/square metre(compared to 73.6 for a Sikorsky MH-53E).Maximumcruise speed is 493km/hr,makingit almost twice as fast as a helicopter. It has aservice ceiling of 24,000 feet, but is notpressurised, hence when transportingpersonnel it cruises at 8,000-13,000 feet.Under sea level standard conditions it can

deliver 24 troops to a radius of 780kilometres, or 1,280 kilometres with oneaerial refuelling. It can carry 9,000kilograms

of cargo internally, or a combined total of5,670 kilograms as two sling loads. It isequipped for in-flight refuelling and isdesigned to ferry 3,400 kilometres with oneaerial refuelling. It is the only rotary-wingaircraft capable of self-deploying quicklyanywhere in theworld. Its rotors fold and itswings rotate to facilitate stowage inanaircraftcarrier orhangar.Boeing is responsible for the fuselage, all

subsystems, the digital avionics and fly-by-wire controls.Bell is responsible for thewing,tail surfaces, transmissions, rotor systemsandengine installation. Bell also carries out finalassembly at its facility atAmarillo,Texas.Rolls-Royce provides the 4,586-kW

AE1107C turboshaft engines. Standard fuelcapacity is 6,513 litres in the case of theMV-22B, and7,667 litres for theCV-22B.TheV-22 is currently in servicewith14US

MarineCorpsandfourAirForcesquadrons. Itsuffered some accidents initially, but aftervarious modifications and improved pilottraining in the last ten years it has had one ofthe lowestClass-Amishapratesofany tacticalrotorcraft inMarineCorps service.The V-22 was designed to satisfy the

amphibious/vertical assault needs of the US

Marine Corps, the long-range specialoperationsneedsof theUSAirForce, and thestrike rescue, specialwarfare and fleet logisticsupport needs of theUSNavy.However, there have been concerns over

the suitability of the V-22 for the rescuemission (due to its strong downwash at thehover), and theNavyappears tobeassessing itprimarily as a replacement for the 24,600-kilogram Northrop Grumman C-2AGreyhoundCOD(carrier onboarddelivery)aircraft, ofwhich the servicehas around35.

I RESCUEAlthough criticised for its unpressurisedcabin, which would mean flying through(rather than over) bad weather, the V-22would provide far greater operationalflexibility than the C-2A. It would be able tosupplement US Marine Corps MV-22Bs intheassault roleandNavy’sSikorskyMH-60Sinthecombat search-and-rescuerole. In itsbasicmission, the US Navy Osprey would be ableto deliver cargo to smaller ships, and wouldprovide longer rangeand faster resupply thancurrent VOD (vertical onboard delivery)helicopters. It could also operate by day andnight,which theC-2Acannot.

SomeMV-22Bs wear the dark green paint schemeof Marine Helicopter Squadron One, HMX-1‘Nighthawks’, tail codeMX. The unit is based atMarine Corps Air Facility Quantico, Virginia, and istasked with VIP transport and operational test andevaluation duties. (USMarine Corps).



The versatility of theV-22maybe furtherenhanced by the development of a roll-on/roll-off aerial refuelling kit, whichinterests the USMarine Corps as providinga tanker for the Lockheed Martin F-35B. Apreliminary series of flight tests funded bythe Bell/Boeing team was carried out inAugust 2013, using a high-speed hose-and-drogue system on an MV-22B of MarineTiltrotor Test and Evaluation SquadronVMX-22 ‘Argonauts’, based at MCAS NewRiver,NorthCarolina.The MV-22B would probably be the

better choice for a C-2A replacement in thelong term. However, in the present cost-cutting environment theNavymaybe forcedsimply to have its C-2As refurbished andupgraded, anddelay their replacement.

I EXPORTSConsidering that the MV-22B has been inservice for seven years, international saleshave clearly been difficult to achieve. Asidefrom a series of accidents in the 1990s (fourhull losses and 30 fatalities), foreign interesthas been deterred by the relatively high costof the aircraft.In March 2014 a single CV-22B was

ordered for theUSAirForceat a costof $76.1million.TheFY15budget request asks for 19MV-22Bs at a unit cost (without spares) of $80.7 million, almost as much as a $ 88.9millionLockheedMartinC-130JHercules.Doubts over the suitability of theV-22 for

the Csar (combat search-and rescue) rolewerepartly allayedby theMarch2011 rescueofaUSAirForceF-15Epilot fromLibyabyanMV-22B from LHD-3, USS Kearsarge,operating at a radius of 245kilometres.In striking atGaddafi’s forces from ships

off the coast and tanker orbits over theMediterranean, coveragewas limited by thereach of Csar assets, beyond which cruisemissiles were used. The availability of MV-22Bs was therefore crucial to the success ofCoalition air operations. In addition,

60

The sun sets at St John’s, Nova Scotia, behind a USAir Force CV-22B, one of four 8th SOS Ospreysdeploying 9,800 kilometres from Hurlburt Field,Florida to Mali in Africa for Exercise Flintlock in 2008.(US Air Force Special Operations Command)

V-22 Market


Proximity trials to assess the Osprey’s tanker potential employedMV-22B BuAer 165942, c/n 0043, registration N204TRfromMarine Tiltrotor Test & Evaluation Squadron VMX-22 ‘Argonauts’, based at Mcas New River, North Carolina. The VWtail-code of the F/A-18 indicates VMFA-314 ‘Black Knights’ fromMcas Miramar (Bell Boeing)

“In the case ofcasualties, it is vitallyimportant to commencetreatment in the ‘goldenhour’ after injury, andthe V-22 makes this farmore feasible.”


downed aircrewknew that helpwas comingtwice as fast aswith traditional helicopters. Inthe case of casualties, it is vitally important tocommence treatment in the ‘golden hour’after injury, and the V-22 makes this farmore feasible.

TheMV-22B is exposed toenemyfire forashorter timeperiod thanahelicopter, andcanfly above small arms fire. Its faster cruise alsomeans that it can be escorted by fixed-wingcombat aircraft, such as the Boeing F/A-18,rather than anattackhelicopter.

TheMV-22Bhas proved its usefulness inseveral humanitarian relief operations. Forexample, in January 2010 MV-22Bs fromthe 24th Marine Expeditionary Wing tookpart inOperationUnified Response, after amajor earthquake struck Haiti. Likewise,after TyphoonMegi/Juanhit the PhilippinesinOctober 2010,MV-22Bs fromVMM-262‘FlyingTigers’ assigned to the 1stMarineAirWing delivered humanitarian aid andtransported evacuees toClarkAir Base. Thesame squadron, as part of the 3rd MarineExpeditionaryBrigade,was again involved inrelief Operation Damayan, after TyphoonHaiyan/Yolanda struck the Philippines inNovember 2013.

Israel has reportedly been interestedsince 2011 in acquiring V-22s for the Csarrole and the insertion and recovery ofspecial forces. In January 2014 America’sDSCA (Defense Security CooperationAgency) notified Congress of a possibleFMS (ForeignMilitary Sale) to Israel of sixV-22B Block C aircraft in a package wortharound $ 1.13 billion (a remarkable $ 188million per aircraft). Included in the dealwere 16 engines, plus “aircraft ferryservices” and tanker support. Israel’s urgentneed for these aircraft is evidently such thatthey will be taken from existing American

Department of Defense orders and ferriedto Israel, presumably refuelled by US AirForce tankers.

The secondexport order is evidently tobefor Japan,whichhas just launcheda five-year(FY14-18) defence build-up programme,addressing concerns that include Chineseactivities in the East China Sea. One long-running problem is that China (amongseveral other territorial disputes with itsneighbours) claims sovereignty over what itterms the Diaoyu Islands, which Japan callsits Senkaku. In addition, China’s new EastChina Sea Air Defence Identification Zone

Military use of the V-22 gave credibility to the commercial AgustaWestland AW609project, until 2011 the Bell/Agusta Aerospace BA609. The first prototype, US registrationN609TR, had its maiden flight on March 6, 2003. (AgustaWestland).


overlaps with Japan’s own Air IdentificationZone. Japan’s Defence Ministry in its latestNationalDefenceProgrammeGuidelineshaswarned that China may “attempt to changethe status quoby coercion”.Japan needs the ability quickly to insert

forces from the new Gsdf amphibiousbrigade (which is being trained by the USMarineCorps) to anyof thedisputed islands,and the best way to do this is the V-22. ThenewMDTP(Mid-TermDefensePlan) states

that the Asdf will acquire 17 V-22s, with thefirst order placed inApril 2014.The MDTP also states that Japan is

considering the purchase of LockheedMartin F-35Bs to operate from the 27,000-tonne DDH-183 Izumo- and 19,000-tonneDDH-181Hyuga-classhelicopterdestroyers.Any such extension of the role of these shipswould arguably make the purchase ofadditionalV-22smore likely.Following the Great East Japan

Earthquake of 2011, that nation is also veryaware of its vulnerability to large-scaledisasters. It might therefore be conjecturedthat additionalV-22swill be acquired later inthis context.The United Arab Emirates likewise has

disputes over islands, in this case with Iranover three in the Persian Gulf, and this maymotivate the purchase of V-22s. In addition,there are reports that the United ArabEmirates shares Israel’s interest in the ability(in the event of war) to insert special forcesinto Iran to strike at mobile ballistic missilelaunch sites. Other countries interested inacquiring the V-22 are said to include QatarandSaudiArabia.The versatility and spectacular

performance improvement provided by theV-22 over a conventional helicopter, coupledwith its good safety record in recent years,haveprovidedamajorboost forexports.Theyhavealso significantlyenhancedprospects forthe commercial 7,620-kilogram (8,164-kilogram in sto) tilt-rotor AgustaWestlandAW609, which is expected to achieveEuropeanandUScertification in2017.Inaddition, these factorshave encouraged

useof the tilt-rotor concept in theUSArmy’sJMR (Joint Multi-Role) technologydemonstrationprogramme, theprecursorofthe FVL-M (Future Vertical Lift –Medium)programmeto replace theBoeingAH-64andSikorskyUH-60.Tilt-rotors areused in twoofthe four competing designs: the Bell V-280Valor and theKaremTR36D.

62

Bell’s proposal for the US Army Joint Multi-Role (JMR)technology demonstration programme is the V-280 Valor, shownhere in mock-up form. Note that the engines are fixed, partly tomaximise field of fire from the cabin. (Bell Helicopter Textron)

Karem Aircraft is promoting the Optimum-Speed Tilt-Rotor (OSTR) concept, illustratedhere by the company’s TR75 proposal for the Joint Heavy Lift (JHL) programme. The smallerTR36D is proposed for JMR. (Karem Aircraft).

V-22 Market



OnOctober 21, 1967, two EgyptianSoviet-built 70-ton Project 183RKomar-class missile boats (hull

No. 504 commanded by LieutenantCommander Shaker Ahmed Abd El-Wahed and No. 501 under command ofCaptain Lutfi Jadallah) sank the IsraeliBritish-built 1710-ton destroyer Eilat inthe Mediterranean Sea with four P-15anti-ship missiles.

It was the first-ever successful combatuse of high-speed missile boats in thehistory of naval battles. Since thenOctober 21 has been celebrated asEgyptian Naval Day, while the victory overthe more powerful enemy forced tochange the attitude to the “mosquito fleet.”There came saw a real boom in theconstruction and purchase of missileboats around the world.The Soviet Union,

alone, built 112 Project 183R boats invarious modifications, 80 units werepurchased by a dozen countries in Asia,the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

In the 21st century, Russia remainsone of the world’s largest shipbuildingnations. Its national shipbuilding industrycan design and build warships andauxiliary vessels of all classes, as well asproduce all kinds of naval weapons andequipment. The aircraft carrier INSVikramaditya handed over recently to theIndian Navy is a dramatic proof of that.

There are currently over 150companies in Russia specialized indesigning and building warships, civilianvessels and offshore drilling platforms.Among them are not only shipyards,research institutes, and design offices,but also marine engineering,

instrumentation and electronics plantsthat employ about 200,000 people.

Russian developers are traditionallystrong in the systems approach tomarine equipment design.With its highlevel of science, design and shipbuildingtechnologies, strong production capacity,skilled personnel and extensiveexperience of foreign trade activities,Russia holds its position as the world’sleading exporter of naval equipment andarmaments.

These competencies of Russianshipbuilders have long been appreciatedby Rosoboronexport’s foreign customers.Over the past half-century since thebeginning of Russian naval equipmentdeliveries, more than two thousandsurface combatant ships, submarines,missile and patrol boats, supply vesselsand naval weapons have been exported.Last year, the Company’s naval exportsslightly exceeded the world average level(16 percent) and amounted to over 17percent. In currency terms, the figureturned out to be quite impressive – morethan two billion dollars.

FAST MISSILE BOATS FROM RUSSIAQUICK AS LIGHTNING (MOLNIYA)DECEPTIVE AS MIRAGE (MIRAZH)DANGEROUS AS SCORPIO (SCORPION)

Mirage

ROE-Armada:Armada 6/2/14 8:33 PM Page 2

Armada Marketing Promotion

Russia competes favorably with theworld’s major naval equipment and armsexporters. This is largely due toRosoboronexport’s successful activities.However, the main role in the process isplayed by the domestic shipbuildingenterprises, most of which are part of theUnited Shipbuilding Corporation (USC),one of the leading manufacturers of high-tech ships and vessels in the interests ofthe international market.Currently, Russia is the largest

exporter of combatant and patrol craft.Back in the 1960s-90s, our countrydelivered abroad approximately twice asmany combatant boats as Great Britain,France, Sweden, Norway, Spain and Italycombined. Today, there is growingdemand in the world for combatant andpatrol boats with a displacement of 20 to500 tons. The requirement for them isquite high in the Middle East, SoutheastAsian, African and Latin Americanmarkets. Russian companies havesomething to offer in this sector tointernational buyers.Today, the combatant craft is a fast,

well-armed, advanced electronic-technical system capable of successfullyperforming a wide range of missions inwartime and peacetime.Russia pioneered in applying bottom

devices to small ships.With lift vectorcontrol, the world’s unrivalled Project14310 Mirazh (Mirage) patrol boat canachieve speeds up to 50 knots,significantly reduce rolling and pitchingmotions and cut down specific fuelconsumption.The Project 12418 Molniya

(Lightning) missile boat is designed to

engage enemy surface combatant ships,boats and vessels on the high seas andin coastal waters, both independentlyand in conjunction with the fleetstriking forces. It is equipped with theUran-E anti-ship missile systemcapable of penetrating current shipborneair defenses and assuredly engagingany surface target. In terms of firepower,the Molniya is unrivalled among itsforeign counterparts.Throughout its history, the boat was

repeatedly studied by foreign experts.Designers and military highly praised itscombat and speed performance,survivability, and simplicity of design. Inits issue of May 26, 1992, NewYorkTimes named the Molniya boat of the firstmodification one of the fastest anddeadliest ships of this class in the world.New versions of the Molniya boatssignificantly outperform theirpredecessors in fighting capabilities.Among combat missions assigned to

the Molniya are engaging enemycombatant boat and ship detachments,landing detachments and convoys,providing cover for friendly ASW forces,landing detachments and convoys,conducting tactical reconnaissance, andproviding surface situation awareness.In peacetime, the boat is used to

protect the state border, performpatrolling, ensure safety of navigation,fight piracy and participate in rescueoperations. All these capabilities havebeen appreciated by the sailors ofTurkmenistan’s Navy, which recentlypurchased a batch of such boats.The Project 12150 Mangust

(Mongoose) fast planing patrol boat hasgreat export potential. It is capable ofachieving speeds up to 50 knots and isdesigned to intercept virtually allhigh-speed sea targets. Its armamentmix includes a 14.5mm navalpedestal machine gun mount and theIgla-S MANPADS.

Molniya

Project 12150 Mangust


Armada Marketing Promotion

The Project 12061E Murena air-cushion landing craft is unique in itscombat and performance characteristics.It is designed to take on forward landingparties’ military equipment and personnelfrom a hard beach or a beach, largelanding ships and transports; providetheir sealift and landing on unequippedcoast and shallow water. The Murenacan also be used to patrol coastal areas,naval base and seaport areas.The Murena landing craft offers

improved design features andseaworthiness through the use ofcorrosion-resistant alloys, extruded

sections and panels, and a high-performance power plant.The boat and its armaments remain

operable at a wave height of up to 1.5 mand wind speed of up to 12 m/s. Its troopcapacity is impressive: 2 infantry fightingvehicles, or 2 armored personnelcarriers, or 3 armored vehicles, or 2amphibious tanks, or 1 medium tank, or130 marines. Its armament correspondsto the assigned missions: two 30mm AK-306 lightweight automatic gunscontrolled by an optical sighting device(ammunition load: 500 rounds per gun)and eight Igla-S MANPADS sets.The Project 20970 Katran patrol boat

is designed to counter enemysurface ships and combatant boats,patrol the maritime area in the opencoastal waters of the seas and oceansand in inland waters. It can effectively

engage enemy surface ships andcombatant boats, landing craft andtransports, provide fire support toamphibious landing parties, conducttactical reconnaissance. In peacetime,the Katran can carry out patrol missionsas part of the Coast Guard forces.To reduce radar visibility, Katran’s hull

and superstructure are made usingstealth technology.The main striking weapon of the boat is

the Uran-E anti-ship missile system with3M-24E anti-ship missiles accommodatedin eight transport-launch containers. Airdefense is provided by an AA missile/gun

system, the 3M-47 Gibka shipborne turretmount with four Igla-S SAMs, and the30mm AK-306 lightweight automatic gunmount. The PK-10 decoy dispensingsystem (four KT-216 launchers, 40rounds) is used for passive jamming.The Katran patrol boat is capable of

achieving a maximum speed of about 40knots and covering up to 2200 milesat maximum fuel capacity. Its enduranceis five days.The Project 12300 Scorpion

(Scorpio) is even a more powerfulmissile/gun boat. It is designed toengage enemy surface combatant ships,boats and transports independently andin conjunction with fleet striking forces.Its full displacement is about 460 tons,

hull length – 57 m, beam – 10.3 m.Withsuch dimensions, the Scorpion has a topspeed of about 40 knots, cruising range

at maximum fuel capacity is about 2,000miles, and endurance is 10 days. Like onthe Katran, modern radar signaturereduction technologies are alsoeffectively used here.Upon customer request, the Uran-E

anti-ship missile system may be replacedwith the Yakhont anti-ship missile systemconsisting of two launchers (with twomissiles each) and 3R50E-12300shipborne control system. In addition tostriking missile weapons, the Katrancarries an AA missile/gun system; the100mm A-190-5P-10E universal gunsystem (consisting of the A190 gun andthe 5P-10E universal fire control radar),as well as the PK-10 decoy dispensingsystem (two or four KT-216 launchers) forpassive jamming.Depending on customer’s requests,

economic and technological possibilities,Rosoboronexport offers co-production ofhigh-speed missile boats both at Russianproduction facilities and at buyers’shipyards. Licensed boat construction bypartner states is also possible.Such a policy has enabled

Rosoboronexport to significantly expandits sales geography. Moreover,the Russian special exporter constantlyseeks to assist customers in militaryexpenditure optimization by tyingin its recommendations forchoosing Russian arms with thecost-effectiveness criterion.

“Currently, Rosoboronexport ispursuing an active marketing policy,which is based on analysis of theinterests and needs of our potentialcustomers throughout the entire life cycleof the supplied weapons, militaryequipment and machinery, - says OlegAzizov, Head of the Company’s NavyEquipment Export Department. – Wekeep on improving the quality of after-sales service, level of training, expandingthe export of spare parts, and offering toestablish the technical infrastructure,training and retraining centers on theterritory of the importing countries. I‘msure that Russian missile boats will be indemand on all continents for use in themost challenging climatic conditions andcombat situations.”

Murena


As a tool, the specialised drilling bithad to becomemore flexible. Full-bore multipurpose ammunitionwere thusurgentlyrequired.Twenty

years later new ammunition are still beingdeveloped to fullyanswer tankcrewneeds.

A good example of a multi-purposeammunitiondeveloped for current scenariosis the Rheinmetall DM11/Rh31. This wasactually developedbyand is producedby theGerman company within its DefenseMunitions International Joint Venture withGeneral Dynamics Ordnance and TacticalSystems based in Red Lion, Pennsylvania.Thenewround is basedon the requirementsfrom the German Bundeswehr and the USMarine Corps. Germany was looking for amulti-role round able to defeat differenttypes of target. The first was the anti-tankmissileposition, coveredornon-covered, at arange of 5,000 metres, which required airburst (thusa time fuse) andaxial fragments inthe form of tungsten balls. The round was


The Right Bit forthe Right TargetThe development of the 120millimetre smoothbore gunwas the consequence of the advent of the 125millimetresmoothbore on Soviet tanks. At that timewesternmainbattle tanksweremostly equippedwith 105millimetrerifled guns. TheGerman Leopard 2was the first tank toenter servicewith the new calibre, soon followed by theM1Abrams. However,when those tanks deployed in theBalkans after the fall of the Iron Curtain they lacked theright ammo, since the chances of a tank versus tankengagementwere really poor. Sub-calibre penetratorswere not anymore the ammunition of choice.

The effect of a DM11 round against a brick wall.Developed as a tank killer, the 120millimetresmoothbore gun needed new round types for

differing targets. (Rheinmetall)

Paolo Valpolini

Full-Cal 120mmAmmo

Full-Cal Ammo:Armada 6/2/14 8:37 PM Page 2


required to engage dismountedmechanisedinfantry,which required again time fusing aswell as axial fragments, to which radialfragments were to be added, generated byheavy shell fragments.

To defeat covered targets in buildings,mission number 3, a thick shell as well as adelay fusewereneeded.Pointdetonationwaspivotal fordestroying lightarmouredtargetsaswell as soft targets at long combat ranges.Flexibilitywasapriority, theroundallowingtomodify combat mission and change the fusemode while the ammunition was alreadychambered.TheMarineCorps’ requirements

were similar as they intended using the newround to engage dismounted infantry andsquad inwedge formation,hence theneed forair burst with time fuse and axial and radialfragments. Simulation showed that 27 out of30 soldiers in wedge formation would be hitby shrapnelusingonly tworounds.

The second focus was against walls, theround being required to breach an eight-inch double reinforced concrete wall,perforating and detonating within the wallthanks to a thick shell and a delayed point-detonating fuse.

The thirdrequirementwas thedestruction

of earth and timber bunkers, somethingrequiring impact fuse as well as high firingaccuracy, the round needing to detonateinside the sand bags. The new 120 x 570millimetre HE ammunition for the Leopard2 was thus equipped with a programmablefuse, located in the rear of thewarhead body,the front ballistic cap hosting over 6,000tungsten balls and the mid-section 2.17kilograms of insensitive high-explosivegeneratingnine kilos of steel fragments fromthe heavy shell. A signal cable runs from thefuse to the back of the round, where theigniterhosts thedata link.Programmingdata

With its treble-mode fuse the DM11 round,developed by Rheinmetall in Germanyand also produced in America byDefense Munitions International, the jointventure between Rheinmetall andGD-OTS. (Rheinmetall)

Kinetic energy and high explosive rounds from Rheinmetall; with the addition of the DM11the German company provided a truemulti-purpose tool to tank crews. (Rheinmetall)


areprovidedby the fire control computer.Anadditional controlbox is added to the loader’scontrolbox toprovide status informationandabutton to select theHE-PDwith orwithoutdelay.The fuse isprogrammedviaacable andthe contact pin that transfers the data to theigniter data link.Compared to systemsusingan external solenoid, for example, thissolution allows programming data to bechangedevenwith theroundinthechamber–as requestedby theGermanArmy.

Amodular round, theDM11becomes theRh31 if fittedwith a simple point-detonationfuse and a less powerful propulsion moduleaffording a 3.5 kilometre maximum rangeand a much lower cost per round. Thissolution,whichobviouslydoesnot require thewiring and the above-mentionedprogramming electronic boxes andmultipurpose fuse,wasadoptedbyDenmark,which tookdeliveryof 2,500 rounds in2013.

Back to the DM11, beside the USMarineCorps which was the first service to receive450 rounds as urgent operationalrequirement for its M1A1s in Afghanistanand the German Army, the round has alsobeen ordered byGreece andNorway (a totalof 6,500 rounds). With 44 calibre-longbarrels, the muzzle velocity of the DM11 isapproximately 970m/s, while in the latterversion of the Leopard 2 equipped with anL55 gun it increases to 1,000m/s. [I have notexpanded m/s as I am not too sure what itstands for soplease check.]TheDM11canbeused in any climate, beingqualified for zonesA1, B3 and C2, and can thus be fired from -46°C to+71°Cenvironments.

While delivering its first productionDM11s Rheinmetall had embarked on thedevelopment of a training round, the TP-TRH88,which is nowqualified andwhichwillstart being available in early 2015. TheRH88answers all current requirements for rangeshooting such as low cost, safe handling andtemperature firing conditions. Tracers arevisible fromat least2,000metres,propellant isnon-polluting and ballistics, it goes without

saying, are identical to match the originalballistic cards and reduced safety arearequirements. Interestingly, it has also beendesignedwithanotherpurpose inmind:a realtarget does not always require the terminaleffect of a combat round; sometimes,including when collateral damages needs tobe reduced, a training round can offer anoptimal solutioneven ina real engagement.

Rheinmetall engineers are neverthelessstill pretty active. The company is indeedalready looking intodevisingmore tools for its120 millimetre smoothbore gun: the mainbattle tankbeing thebest-protectedvehicle inmilitary inventories (even if not always theonewith thebestmobility in limited spaces),its use in urban operations is no more ataboo, thus new and more appropriaterounds for such scenarios have to bedeveloped.Wall-breaching, high-incendiaryeffects, reduced muzzle blast (to avoid dustblow thatblinds thegunner for longperiods),shorter ranges, scalable and programmableeffects, these are the performances that theGermancompany is considering for its futureurbanwarfare rounds.

I ADVANCED MULTI-PURPOSEThe US Army is aiming at replacing fourround types with a single one, known as theAdvanced Multi-Purpose (AMP). Not onlywill this simplify logistics, it will also endowtheAbramswith new capabilities. Currentlythe US Army and the Marine Corps useM829A1 and M829A3 APFSDS-T kineticenergy rounds todefeat enemyarmour,plus aparaphernalia of rounds to deal with a

myriad differing targets, including M830HEAT-MP-T, M830A1 HEAT-MP-T, M908HE-OR-TandM1028Canister.

The AMP, according to recent briefings,will have three modes of operation: point-detonate, delay, and airburst. This allows theuser to defeat anti-tank missile teamsbeyond 500metres and to breach reinforcedconcrete walls. According to Ardecillustrative material, the round will have adata link in the cartridge base, a multi-programmable base-detonating fuse locatedat the rear of the projectile, and a target-penetrating blast-fragmentingwarhead.

Known as the XM1069, it will allowreducing the number of types ofammunition on board the tank to two,


A concept drawing of the future XM1069AdvancedMulti Purposemunition that shouldsoon join the US Army inventory. (Ardec)

Among the new capabilities required by the US Army are long range anti-tank teamneutralisation and wall breaching. (Ardec)

The effects required by the US Armyagainst four types of targets, bunkers, lightarmour, reinforced wall and infantryin the open ground. (Ardec)

Full-Cal 120mm Ammo


��Other��divisions: rf/microwave instrumentation • receiver systems • ar europe The Battle Tested logo is Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM. Off. # 3,821,099.

Copyright© 2014 AR. The orange stripe on AR products is Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM. Off.

While the M830 is a true full-calibre hollow-charge round,the M830A1 here photographed by the author is a

sabot sub-calibre projectile that retains a shaped-chargewarhead, but its higher muzzle velocity (1,400 metres persecond versus 1,140) increases its hit probability at allranges, including against… helicopters.

TheM908Obstacle Reduction round, for its part, is aderivative of the type just mentioned, in which the front fusewas replacedwith a steel nose to allow the round to penetratethe obstacle before detonating, thus destroying obstacles andbarriers such as concrete, rock, dragon’s teeth, etc. Accordingto ATK the new round showed better performances than the165millimetreM123A1HE round used on British ArmyCenturion AVRE and onUSArmyM728 engineer tanks. Forneutralising enemy on foot at medium range (up to 500metres),the Abrams is equippedwith theM1028 canister round thatcarries around 9.5millimetre-diameter tungsten balls, theround opening up soon after leaving themuzzle to generate acone of over 1,100 balls in front of the tank, as a shotgunwould.This is of course the limiting factor in terms of range.

While looking for new solutions the M1028 round mightwell see some improvements; GD-OTS, which developed theround with American Government support, was required toimprove the ammunition performances in very hightemperatures, a feedback from the Afghan conflict. Thecompany worked on a hybrid propellant solution, the roundbeing now usable in temperatures up to 71°C. GD-OTSnow hopes to receive a contract within 2014, bothfor new rounds and for the conversion of existing M1028 tothe new standard.


namely the AMP and the M829E4Advanced Kinetic Energy round. Apartfrom lightening the logistic footprint itsolves the crew’s “battle-carry dilemma”.Mentioned earlier in this article, the

Defense Munitions International jointventure is proposing its DM11 derivativecurrently in service with the US MarineCorps as the M242 Multi-Purpose High

Explosive round. A further evolution of thecurrent design is currently underdevelopment to better cope with Armyrequirements. The other main contender,ATK, is carrying out internal research anddevelopment until Congress clears a budgetfor the XM1069 the engineering andmanufacturing-developmentphase.WithNammo, GD-OTS proposes its 120

millimetre Insensitive Munition HighExplosive round (IM HE-T) designed todefeat most targets with the exception ofheavy and medium armour. Both thepropellant and the warhead are insensitiveincreasing crew safety, the latter containing3.2 kilograms of insensitive explosive, overtwice theHEcompared to current in-serviceHEATroundsaccording toGD-OTS.A front


Full-Cal 120mm Ammo

The GD-OTS version of the M1028 canister round (left) contains over 1,100 tungsten balls, theround opening up as soon as it exits the barrel. Known as the M242Multi-Purpose High Explosiveround in USMarine Corps parlance (right), this round is normally called the Multi PurposeMunition and is the American version of the German DM11. (Armada/Paolo Valpolini)

Developed by GD-OTS and Nammo the 120millimetre IM HE-T features amanual dual-mode fuse that provides good flexibility at arelatively low cost. (Armada/Paolo Valpolini)


two-mode hand-settable fuse allows the tank commander to select apoint-detonating function formaximumfragmentation/blast, or adelayfunction fordetonationafter target penetration.Trainingversionsof theround are also available in the form of inert rounds with tracer, andspotting roundswith spotting charge and tracer.

I ISRAELIsrael always had the need to equip its tanks not only with tank-killingrounds, but alsowithmulti-purpose ammunition to provide adequatesupport to its infantry when engaged in urban areas (the latter,incidentally, havingbeen the IDF’s standard field of operations in the lastdecades). BesideAPFSDSpenetrators (mostwill remember the pictureof the hole drilled by one of those into a T-72 gun barrel), the Israelirequirements called formultiple-purpose rounds.

With the shift from105millimetre rifle to120millimetre smoothborethe Merkava III and IV needed new rounds. Israel Military Industries,in chargeof the gunandammunition, nowhasonekinetic energy round(theM322APFSDS-T) in its inventoryplus threemulti-purpose roundsthat allowMerkava crews to deal with non-armoured targets: theM325High-Explosive Anti-Tank Multi-Purpose (HEAT-MP-T), the M339High Explosive Multipurpose (HE-MP-T) and the M329 Anti-Personnel/Anti-Material better knownas theApam.

While theM325HEAT-MP-T’smain task still remains thedestructionof medium- and light-armoured vehicles, its blast and fragmentationeffects also allow to incapacitate infantry. The M339 HE-MP-T waspurposely developed to meet urban combat needs, and thanks to its

The Nexter family of 120millimetre ammunition; a newround with a treble-mode fuse should soon join the collection.(Armada/Paolo Valpolini)


programmable multi-functional fuse it canbe used in Delayed Impact, Super Quick orAir Burst modes. The M339 is able topenetrate a 200 millimetre-thick, double-reinforced concrete wall; choosing the rightdetonation mode the round allows todestroys bunkers, urban structures and lightarmour,whilebeingalsohighly lethal againstdismounted infantry. The M329 Apam wasdeveloped from the 105 millimetre versionand entered service in 2009. It is made of sixstacked warheads that can be explodedsequentially along the round’s path, forexample to saturate a street with theirfragments and hit infantry hidden in sidestreets. This is however only one of the fivemodes available, the other being super quickpoint detonation, point detonationdelay, airburst, the stacked warheads exploding as

unitarywarhead, andanti-helicopters.Last but not least, when confrontedwith

some situations, IDF tank crews can employthe M337 stun round which providesdeterrence, thanks to its flash, bang andblast, which are very similar to those ofstandard ammunition.

I FRANCECurrently being developed by Nexter is the120 HE M3M with a three-modeprogrammable fuse. This allows the round todetonate inthetypicalpointdetonationmode,to be used in a delay mode, (e.g. to destroybuildingsorhittingtargetsbehindprotection),or in air-burst mode (the fuse giving an“indirect firing” capability against maskedtargets). Though equipped with a base fusethis munition will have the same ballistics asthe current 120 HE F1 round. The contractawarded by the Direction Générale del’Armement will lead to the full developmentand to the qualification of the new round onboard the Leclerc, which will thus acquire amuchgreateroperational flexibility.


Full-Cal 120mm Ammo

ATK developed a full family of ammunition for the Abrams (left). The USmilitary intends to maintain a dual source approach for its tank ammoprocurement. The right picture shows the ATK version of the M0128 120millimetre canister round developed to provide the Abrams with ashotgun-type capability to be used against infantry at short range. (ATK)

NEXT ISSUE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2014:4 AUGUSTADVERTISING: 18 JULY� Soldier Protection: We will analyse the mostrecent developments in ballistic protection, bothfor body armour and helmets, new flame-resistantfabrics (burns being typical injusries resulting frombomb explosions), as well as other other systemsthat might increase the soldier capability to survivebattlefield threats with no harm or with limitedinjuries.

� Guided Bombs: Germany and the UnitedStates both employed radio-guided bombs duringWorld War Two. Although television- and radar-guided ordnance followed, in Vietnam American-developed laser-spot homing emerged as the low-cost precision system for clear-weather daylightstrikes. Adding satellite guidance brought theoperational flexibility needed for round-the-clock

attacks. Several other countries are followingAmerica’s lead.

Aerostat Observation: With a history stretchingback at least to the American Civil War, the use oftethered balloons for observing enemy forces isthe oldest military application of aviationtechnology. Modern aerostats have provedinvaluable in recent wars in exactly the same basicrole, but combined with modern sensor suites andcommunication system they provide a less mobilebut far more persistent surveillance capability thanmanned aircraft and drones. Peter Donaldsonassesses the state of the art in aerostats and themission systems tailored for them.

Littoral Combat Ships and HLDs:

Geospatial Information Part 3 ‘’Mapping ThinAir’’: will address geospatial information solutionsin the air and space domains, where value lies less

in terrain features than in defining, positioning andnavigating airspace volumes, trajectories, sensorfootprints and weapon envelopes, in compliancewith standardized procedures for use of air andorbital space

Radio Compendium: Radios are the bedrock ofawareness and teamwork in today's battlespace.Their combination of digital RF technology andsoftware defined flexibility is increasingly vital asmilitary forces continue to break out of stovepipedcommunication systems to enable combinedarms, combined service, international and alliedoperations and provide combatants withbroadband access to the information they need,when and where they need it. Armada’s RadioCompendium also presents essential data on theleading systems from the international industrythrough its now legendary four-page, fullyillustrated fold-out chart.

TheM339 is the Israel Military Industriesmulti-purpose round and as othersimilar rounds it features a treble-mode fuseto allowmaximum operational flexibility.(Armada/Paolo Valpolini)

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Armada June July 2014