SCOTT R. GOURLEY PHOTO
USSOCOM
Left: Belted .338 Norma Magnum cartridges for the Lightweight Medium Machinegun (LWMMG). On the left are conventional cartridges, and on the right, polymer-cased cartridges. Right: General Dynamics’ prototype entrant for the LWMMG evaluation of an intermediate caliber machine gun.
production, worldwide fielding, and sustainment of SOF-peculiar equipment supporting five USSOCOM component commands to include special mission units, and Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOC). Since SOFIC 2018, SOF Warrior continues to concentrate its efforts in acquiring a diverse range of combat and combat support, ISR capabilities affecting SOF lethality, survivability, mobility (air, ground, and sea), and situational awareness for application in all environments. Exemplary highlights from the past 12 months include:
GENERAL DYNAMICS PHOTO
Program Manager-SOF Lethality (PM-SL) PM-SL responded to an urgent requirement requesting an organic mid-range precision strike capability by becoming an early adopter of Middle Tier Acquisition authorities. This team is also working closely with the Close Combat Lethality Task Force Director to pursue making SOF forces more lethal. The team awarded a $50 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc. for the purpose of equipping SOF with a new, innovative, advanced sniper rifle. Partnering with the Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium using other transaction authorities, the PM is acquiring Light Weight Medium Machine gun prototypes and ammunition to conduct a combat evaluation. This innovative capability can provide .50-caliber-like effects in a 7.62mm form factor. The PM is pursuing an intermediate caliber ammunition that will provide a 40 percent increase in effective range, doubling the hit probability at 1,000 meters. With success in using polymercased ammunition, SOF operators will also be afforded a 30 percent weight reduction. PM-Counter-proliferation (PM-CP) PM-CP fielded an improved electronic countermeasure system in the fight to counter radio-controlled improvised explosive devices. The PM also awarded a $155 million contract for Modi Production to field 1,040 units four years earlier than planned to USSOCOM, U.S. Army, and U.S. Marine Corps units. Working closely with TSOCs, the PM acquired and equipped SOF coalition partners with critical “protect the force” ECM [electronic countermeasures] capabilities. PM-Family of Special Operations Vehicles (PM-FOSOV) PM-FOSOV fielded low-visibility, non-standard commercial vehicles (NSCV) in support of denied area operations. A new NSCV variant
completed air-drop testing of an armored Toyota Hilux vehicle, allowing for a successful fielding and deployment release setting the condition to enter into production. The PM also executed a $76 million contract modification with General Dynamic-OTS adding the Army’s directed requirement for a GMV 1.1 variant and associated support. The Army realizes a $30 million investment cost avoidance and significant schedule reduction estimated to be at least four years by leveraging this USSOCOM program of record. PM-Special Programs PM-Special Programs has increased and widened the proliferation of the Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) to other services and government agencies to provide improved situational awareness to SOF and conventional forces; completed the C-17 fuselage-mounted antenna integration design; and tested a 9-mm handgun door breaching round to assess performance as a replacement for a 12-gauge breaching round. PM-SP fielded a new .50-caliber lightweight polymer-cased ammunition for use by rotary/wing aircraft – a huge SOF lethality enhancing success story. Additionally, PM-SP is focused on developing an improved fragment design for the advanced fragmentation grenade to increase lethality during close combat operation. PM-Survival, Support and Equipment Systems PM-Survival, Support and Equipment Systems awarded an $8 million, five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixedprice contract to Hardwire, LLC, to support USSOCOM’s sustainment of soft body armor capabilities. This PM also received a full fielding and deployment release for the SPEAR body armor load carriage system aviation body armor vest. This provides a significant enhancement in aviation vest configurations for the first time in recent history. PM-Sensitive Activities PM-Sensitive Activities acquired and delivered 1,969 end items in the areas of ground ISR systems, special communications devices and radios, virtual points of presence, software licenses, and cyberdefense capabilities, as well as 15 software capability releases in the areas of data fusion, data analytics, and identity management. PM-Naval Special Warfare Special Programs PM-Naval Special Warfare Special Programs awarded a contract to acquire the Extended Long Range Sniper Rifle (ELRSR). The ELRSR system significantly increases sniper lethality as compared to predecessor sniper systems. The team also tested a commercialoff-the-shelf inertial navigation device for application when operating in GPS-denied environments. The results were not as accurate as GPS; however, in its current state, it provided improved situational awareness in GPS-denied environments.
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