Modern Soldier Equipment Compendium - Armada August-September 2015

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Modern Soldier Equipment

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The British Army’s 5.56mm Heckler & Koch modified SA80A3 assault rifle is set to be replaced in the 2020s but industry is beginning to push for alternate calibres including 6.5mm ammunition © UK MoD

THE UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: Modern Soldier Equipment How do armed forces best equip their troops for contemporary and future operating environments? This remains one of the most critical questions which must be addressed by governments worldwide and one which ultimately cannot be answered in a simple fashion.

Andrew White

T

he operational environment continues to evolve and very rarely do armed forces, industry or academia successfully predict where in the world militaries will be next asked to operate, and exactly how they will be employed. This has significant implications for all types of equipment fielded by military formations, ranging from small arms and associated ammunition through to body armour and communications.

Nobody could have predicted how, following US- and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)-led international asymmetric campaigns in the relatively permissive environments of Afghanistan and Iraq during the last decade, NATO forces would once again be considering action on the Alliance’s eastern European flanks against the much more conventional threat of Russia. Such considerations have emanated from that country’s involvement in the Ukraine civil war

from 2014 onwards, and its subsequent annexation of the formerly Ukrainian region of Crimea on the Black Sea on 18 March 2014.

Additionally, few military experts considered the evolution of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) insurgents fighting in northern Iraq and Syria which now employ conventional armour formation manoeuvre tactics to successfully attack and hold entire towns and cities. Furthermore, certainly armada

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Manufacturers of body armour are now considering the mobility of troops in a variety of roles covering the air, land and sea domains with respect to the integration of armour plate carriers, and their ability to move with ease using such protection © US DoD

nobody expected the recent number of ‘Lone Wolf ’ attacks being carried out in the name of ISIS across the globe, the most recent being the attacks by self-confessed ISIS cadre Seifeddine Rezgul Yacoubi in the Tunisian Mediterranean holiday resort of Souse on 26 June, which claimed 77 dead and injured holiday-makers.

Long acquisition processes in countries around the world have also resulted in soldier equipment taking years to achieve acceptance into service with military units, resulting in the risk that the operating environment could have evolved beyond those particular requirements and therefore signalled redundancy of the systems in question before it is even deployed.

Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs), especially those generated by NATO and allied nations operating in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past decade, provided an interim solution to the short-term variations in the operating environment discussed above, although relatively small in number.

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Long acquisition processes have resulted in soldier equipment taking years to enter service Protected (MRAP) vehicles and heavier calibre weapons during the conflicts in the above-mentioned countries are good examples of this process. However, consideration of the longer-term view remains significant for both industry and governments as they move forward to contemplate future threats.

Special Operations Forces (SOF) have generally benefited from a more flexible acquisition process to enable them to be outfitted rapidly with the tools that they need for the job, allowing the procurement of equipment in smaller volumes in much shorter periods of time than the procurement cycles for conventional forces. This has allowed comparatively smaller SOF units to pass on lessons learned to larger,

conventional military formations, providing important information for longer-term acquisition plans. Such a trend continues to prove vital with ‘Green Army’ units adopting equipment initially trialled and employed by SOF. One just has to take a look at operations in Afghanistan over the past ten years to see how soldier equipment has evolved in response to changing Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) in countering insurgents. Significant changes were witnessed in terms of lethality, protection, mobility, and Command and Control (C2) technology and this compendium will consider developments in each of these particular areas.

Attempting to identify the current and future character of conflict, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Ben Barry, described a significant U-turn in the contemporary environment with a return to more conventional operations. As an example, he cited the development of TTPs by ISIS, which he claimed, means that the organisation was capable of performing conventional manoeuvre

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Industry is now routinely developing night vision devices with minimal light emissions. This will be significant in helping to reduce the risk of troops betraying their position when operating in covert roles at night © US DoD

and mounting mature campaigns using artillery, armoured vehicle and main battle tanks. Mr. Barry also described how ISIS continues to use reconnaissance units to identify gaps in Iraqi Army and Peshmerga (Kurdish militia) lines to enable columns of artillery and armoured vehicles (captured from the Iraqi and Syrian armed forces earlier in the campaign) to exploit and successfully attack urban conurbations.

Speaking at the Soldier Technology conference in London in June, Mr. Barry explained how ISIS had taken control of the central Iraqi town of Ramadi during a sandstorm, with combatants bombarding the area for days beforehand with mortar and artillery Indirect Fires (IDF). This was followed with multiple attacks, supported by joint fires aimed at disabling enemy aircraft on airfields with individual suicide bombers and truck bombs driven by suicide attackers being utilised to breach an entry point before dismounted fighters exploited the breach with small arms attacks.

This, he explained, had signalled a return to the concept of combined arms warfare; a significant shift away from the insurgency tactics employed in Afghanistan and Iraq by assorted Islamist guerillas operating in these theatres towards more conventional land forces tactics; a detailed account of the US-led air campaign against ISIS can

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The future composition of the infantry squad will have a significant effect on soldier equipment be found in Fred Shepherd’s ‘Up in the Air’ article in this issue. All of a sudden NATO and coalition partners combating ISIS both in the air and, to a lesser and more covert extent, on the ground must now consider an entirely different Concept of Operation (CONOP) to counter this latest threat with arguably much of the equipment procured over the last decade for operations in Afghanistan redundant in this particular fight. Mr. Barry highlighted a series of areas where capability gaps required immediate attention: These include protection against IDF; supply of anti-tank guided weapons with the ability to counter Active Vehicle Self Protection Systems (AVSPS); and target acquisition devices capable of accurately operating in populated, urban environments.

Additionally, the future make-up of the lowest fighting formation, the squad or section, will have a significant effect on the future equipping of warriors with the pioneering US Marine Corps (USMC) considering reducing the size

of its combat squads from 13 members down to anywhere between eight and ten personnel. In comparison, the British Army operates with an eight-member section, which can be broken down into two four-member fire teams. As Mr. Barry explained, “There needs to be diverse in the infantry squad in relation to size and mix of weapons.

With modern infantry fighting vehicles, you have to accept that you’re going to fit less personnel in them because of the decreasing size, weight and power of the vehicles and the increasing quantity of equipment carried by the soldiers.”

One major trend which has emerged from thoughts relating to the future size of sections and squads is a modular and scalable ‘toolkit’ or ‘golf bag’ approach, allowing the smallest force elements and even individual operators in the SOF environment to select from a wide inventory of equipment best suited to the particular mission being undertaken.

This could encompass the selection of the most applicable ammunition, size and extent of body armour and C2 sensors.

In the realm of C2 technology, USMC director of Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad affairs, Mark Richter explained to Armada the growing trends towards procurement of “information dissemination systems, tactical Situational Awareness (SA) and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)” technology which could be carried by the individual dismounted soldier as well as optimised to assist in the overall identification and classification of targets for a larger formation of troops.

However, Mr. Richter was quick to highlight complications regarding payload capacity with the USMC looking to initiate an “Operational Load Study” in 2016 to consider Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) expectations and limitations moving forward. Such studies will have a significant influence on the future equipping of dismounted soldiers in particular.

Other equipment targets for the USMC include digital interoperability at the squad and multi-national levels, and the integration of equipment into body armour. As he surmised, “We need to respond to emerging needs because everything is constantly changing … We want to develop an integration tool box and see the dismounted squad as a system with digital interoperability linking

Colt’s M-16 assault rifle is a staple of armed forces around the world but industry and military lobbyists are pursuing calls for the adoption of larger-size small arms with 6.5mm and 6.8mm calibres © US DoD

ground forces to airborne platforms with regards to image and data as well as mobility platforms.”

Also identifying future trends which could help equip the next-generation soldier, the head of business development for Swiss optronics specialists Vectronix, Philipp Conrad described to Armada several “mega-trends” in the market, comprising, “Connectivity, individualisation and urbanisation … This is how we will maximise the efficiency of tactical operations,” he explained while highlighting how connectivity must allow

for imagery to be provided to soldiers at the lowest level on a mission in order to provide them with real-time information to support tactical decision-making.

Urbanisation, he continued, focuses on close quarter combat at short range, taking into account target acquisition during homogeneous light conditions.

As an example, he described how glass window panes affected thermal imaging while constantly changing urban landscapes as witnessed with the destruction visited on Syria and northern Iraq provide additional complications

for SA. “The modern soldier has to have the right multi-sensor platforms to execute their task,” Mr. Conrad argued.

A final area which also requires particular attention to future equipment levels centres around the wide variety of environmental conditions faced by military units. Whether it be a reconnaissance patrol in the jungle or Arctic, a strike team in the desert or bush, or Visit, Board, Search, Seizure (VBSS) operations in the maritime environment, exclusive restrictions and parameters will need to be adhered to in order to achieve the maximum performance of the dismounted soldier, fire team and squad.

In jungle and tropical conditions, particularly applicable in the AsiaPacific, most technology fails to provide any type of improved capability to the soldier. As the United Kingdom DSTL (Defence Systems and Technology Laboratory) jungle warfare systems consultant Steve Heawood explained to Armada, the jungle represents the “hardest environment out there”. He added, “Body armour has changed how we fight. It’s an evil necessity … It makes you top heavy and creates concern about (body) temperatures.” Nevertheless, he admitted groin protection add-ons to more conventional body armour systems had assisted troops when conducting river crossing drills, preventing the vests from rising up under the chin of the swimming soldiers and restricting their head movement.

Illustrating the difference with winter warfare operations in the Arctic Circle, Major Enric Bouffard, director of land requirements at the Canadian Department of National Defence (CDND), explained to Armada how temperatures could reach as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius and as high as plus 50 degrees Celsius in the summer months.

“Mobility is difficult, everything freezes so you have to boil water to eat and lots of power is required … you have to shelter and change clothes or you become a cold casualty,” he explained.

“It’s winter survival, not winter warfare.

The biggest requirement is for fuel and power and the more you move, the more you need. Batteries need to be kept warm to keep their charge and a soldier can only carry a few on their body to keep them warm,” he continued. Maj. Bouffard explained continuing efforts in Canada to provide a “power harvesting” capability armada

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Shorter versions of the M16 and M4 assault rifles have been popular for close quarter combat missions but have come in for criticism for stopping power at the maximum range of the weapon © US DoD

for us. It’s quite challenging.” Reiterating the thoughts of DSTL’s Mr. Heawood, he added, “We always like our toys but sometimes less is more. At the end of the day you have to have methods and the more equipment you have, the more chance there is of something breaking.”

We always like our toys but sometimes less is more in different climatic conditions: feeding off solar power in the summer and potential wind-generated power in the winter. Other technology requirements, he described, comprise mobility support systems such as exoskeletons (see below); combat apparel to regulate body temperature; and ballistic goggles with an anti-fog capability.

Describing operations in South Africa’s Bushveld (a subtropical woodland region in South Africa), Achmed Giesler, in charge of electronic design at South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), described CONOPs in arid and cold conditions, although he conceded they might not be as hard to operate in as the jungle. “The desert conditions of Sudan and DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) have proven quite difficult for South African forces to get used to. Shoes fall apart and it has been quite a learning experience

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Finally, describing the maritime operating environment, the USMC’s Mr. Richter illustrated “essential” requirements for quick-release systems during counter-piracy and VBSS operations in particular. “Being able to ditch everything you have on as you go

The US armed forces and coalition partners operating in Afghanistan have heavily relied on 40mm ammunition, fired from underslung grenade launchers such as the M203 pictured here © US DoD

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The introduction of 40mm grenade-launched ammunition reached its apex during operations in Afghanistan. However, incremental developments in the ammunition have seen its popularity and utility continue into the contemporary operating environment © US DoD

into the ocean is critical,” he explained.

Additional requirements, he said, featured protection against ricochets onboard a vessel as well as an ability to operate in a Global Positioning System (GPS) - denied or degraded environment.

I Lethality

Lethality remains high on the list of priorities for dismounted soldiers and SOF with the debate continuing amongst the world’s militaries regarding the optimal calibre size for assault rifles, handguns and sniper rifles. In Afghanistan, multi-national force contributors to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) extended their weapons mix beyond traditional 5.56mm assault rifles and 9mm handguns to include the 7.62mm sharpshooter rifle for more accurate engagement out to 800 metres (2624 feet); 5.56mm assault rifles have a maximum effective range of 600m (1968ft). Additionally, 40mm automatic and under-slung grenade launchers were integrated into squads and sections during this conflict.

However, having a member of a squad armed with the 7.62mm weapon

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served another important requirement beyond that of just extended range.

NATO forces have long been critical of the 5.56mm cartridge, claiming that it lacks sufficient ‘stopping power’ to kill a target. The 5.56mm round was designed to incapacitate targets in the Cold War, thereby rendering the target and associated troops providing medical assistance, redundant from the fight.

Nevertheless, ISAF compound clearance operations in Afghanistan as well as building clearances by US forces and coalition partners in Iraq saw soldiers demanding greater stopping power to ensure enemy combatants were killed. This is why in the early days of the campaign, a variety of units sometimes ‘stacked up’ at an entry point armed with 7.62mm sniper and sharpshooter rifles, instead of 5.56mm assault rifles.

An industry source closely associated with multiple NATO SOF units explained to Armada, “The mistake with 5.56mm comes with barrel length. In order to maintain the Kinetic Effect (KE) required to cause injury, the weapon needs to have at least a 508mm (20-inch) barrel length.” Colt’s M16A4 and the Heckler

& Koch modified SA80A3 assault rifles, used by the US Army and British Army respectively, currently have this capability.

When starting to use the 5.56mm calibre in Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) during the 1991 Persian Gulf War and in subsequent operations, the US armed forces realised that a shorter-barrelled carbine variant of the M16 might still be able to deliver enough KE to kill a target out to 300m (984ft) with a smaller barrel. The Colt’s M4A1 carbine was therefore derived with a 368mm (14.5-inch) barrel, entering service with US forces in 1994.

Beyond 300m, the 368mm barrel lacks the length to speed the M855 5.56mm round up to a velocity to deliver the desired KE to effect a kill, hence the reports from Afghanistan and other theatres where troops engaging 7.62mm AK-47 assault rifles used by insurgents from 600m away felt ‘outgunned’.

Such a perceived capability gap is proving a major factor in the future equipment of dismounted soldiers and SF operators, with a host of countries considering future weapon systems with multiple calibres and barrel lengths. In order to remedy this perceived problem, the US Navy and US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) elected to concentrate on achieving a ‘knock down’ effect, made possible through engineering the M855 round into an open-tipped round which tumbled on impact rather than passing straight through the target.

This has the corresponding effect of causing greater internal tissue trauma thus improving stopping power. The development of an open-tipped round resulted in the development of the Mk.318 Mod.0 5.56mm round which entered service with the USMC in February 2010, and the Mk.319 Mod.0 7.62mm round; both soft lead bullets.

These new rounds comprise a soft lead slug sitting freely on top of a brass slug, meaning that on impact the brass sides peel back to release the soft lead slug. Both the peeling sides and the soft lead slug cause catastrophic initial trauma to a human allowing the slug to pass through without deviation. With particular emphasis on urban operations, the source added, “This means that against car windscreens, the soft lead slug creates the hole and the rear penetrator passes through accurately enough to use head shots against suspected vehicle suicide

A member of the Iraqi security forces trains ahead of engaging ISIS combatants. Similar to his adversary, he is firing the 7.62mm AK-47 assault rifle which has been the small arm of choice for insurgent forces for several decades © US DoD

bombers. This round is therefore known as an Open-Tipped Match Rear Penetrator (OTMRP) ‘barrier blind’ bullet.”

Other recent upgrades to ammunition include the 5.56mm Enhanced Performance Round (EPR) and Orbital ATK’s Special Operations Science and Technology (SOST) 5.56mm ammunition which has been supplied to US Navy SOF over recent years after development with the US Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Centre (NSWC) Crane Division in Indiana. The latter round was designed for improved accuracy, improved barrier penetration with lower muzzle flash.

Deliveries, part of a $49 million contract, are due to be completed this year. The round is also available in 7.62mm calibre.

Discussing similar lessons learned on operations in Afghanistan over recent years, Phil Collett, programme manager at the New Zealand Defence Force explained to Armada how conventional armed forces had felt “overmatched” by Taliban 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition in Afghanistan. Army units were equipped with standard 5.56mm ammunition fired from the Steyr Mannlicher GmbH F88 Austeyr assault rifle, perfectly illustrating the calibre debate. However, sources informed Armada that there were benefits to operating with 5.56mm ammunition, especially while conducting MOUT. “In populated areas, you have to be aware of civilians in your background … At least with the 5.56mm round you know it’s not going to pass through a target unlike some larger calibres,” the source explained.

One major effort being pushed by

industry and the military alike is the development of 6.5mm ammunition for assault rifles with companies including PNW Ammunition working alongside the NSWC to develop an optimal round to replace the 5.56mm bullet. Similar designs are also available in the form of the .260-cal Remington round and 6.5mm Grendel round.

Following on from extensive use of 6.5mm in civilian long-range shooting competitions, it has been recognised that the ballistic coefficient (the measurement of an object’s ability to overcome drag

in flight) of the round is much better than either the 5.56mm or the 7.62mm ammunition, the industry source continued. “It cuts the air more smoothly and therefore holds its line better.

Furthermore, it doesn’t slow down in the air as much and with its heavier grain bullet (120 grams/4.2 ounces compared to 62g/2.1oz for 5.56mm) maintains its KE much further than 5.56mm and much further than 7.62mm rounds. This means that it will no longer be overmatched by AK-47 rounds beyond 300m.”

Essentially, the US is seeking a more accurate round capable of delivering greater KE from shorter barrels and 6.5mm appears a realistic offering with the added bonus of 34 percent weight savings with polymer-based ammunition compared to traditional rounds.

Furthermore, a soldier will be able to fit 25 6.5mm rounds into a magazine, compared to 30 for 5.56mm and 20 for 7.62mm ammunition. “Probability of hit and probability of damage is so much improved that overall probability of kill is far greater for sniper weapons, Assault rifles and machine guns. This is where you start changing the game,” the source proclaimed to Armada.

Demonstrations are expected to be conducted with the UK’s Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) this August, sources informed Armada, with an industry source explaining requirements centred around

Heckler & Koch’s 5.56mm HK416 assault rifle has been adopted by NATO special forces alongside the 7.62mm HK417 variant; the latter of which has been used by sharpshooters and for increased lethality in close quarter combat © Heckler & Koch

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NATO SOF working alongside Afghanistan National Security Forces have conducted the same missions but with very difficult equipment scales ranging from small arms, combat helmets, C2 systems and clothing © Australian Department of Defence

a 406mm (16in) barrel firing ammunition capable of penetrating mud and soil walls (similar to the compound walls found throughout Afghanistan), an ability to fire through 600mm (23.5in) of water, and the integration of an explosive tip.

According to sources, the 6.5mm calibre is capable of inflicting more damage on a target, as well as providing superior target effects after barrier penetration. “6.5mm7mm target damage is greater than the increase in system weight from 5.56mm to 6.5mm while 6.5mm-7mm, by weight, recoil impulse and combat load offers the greatest terminal effects compared to 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition,” the source added: “An intermediate round with characteristics similar to 6.5mm Grendel ammunition is being considered

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along with consideration to use lightweight polymer ammunition cases as a chance to develop an intermediate calibre cartridge which might replace both the 5.56×45mm and the 7.62×51mm bullet,” the source continued.

However, any revolutionary change from 5.56mm to an ‘optimised calibre’ will require significant investment and logistics and will likely need to be led by the US Department of Defense (DoD) for the rest of NATO and the world to follow. Whether alliance members have such an appetite for change, especially in view of current financial constraints, has yet to be seen but interest is certainly there.

Until such a time, the design of the assault rifle is unlikely to change although Armada was informed that a specialist

technology demonstrator firearm is potentially being developed in collaboration with DSTL to prove the concept of the 6.5mm ammunition later in the year. No further information is currently available on the design although sources described how switching from a 5.56mm calibre to 6.5mm would just require a change of barrel and upper receiver.

Meanwhile, NATO forces continue to make the best of 5.56mm assault rifles with market leaders including Heckler & Koch, whose HK416 (5.56mm) and HK417 (7.62) weapons continue to be the weapon of choice for Tier I SOF units including the US Army’s 1st Special Forces Group- Operational Detachment ‘Delta’ which has been using the system for a number of years now. Other NATO and coalition Tier I SOF organisations continue to use the same or similar weapons including the Colt Canada C7 assault rifle family and variants of Colt’s M4 carbine (see above) with varying barrel lengths providing increased range. Yet the source warned that globally (excluding the US) there remained a severe lack of doctrinal support as to what track non-US Tier I SOF wanted to follow regarding their future weapons. “The world is simply following the US model.

The UK, Canada and other nations like New Zealand simply cannot afford to adopt the same tactics as the US, because the wars that we will become involved in and the way that we will fight them will require a different terminal effect. Are we fighting enemies in hard armour and

MKU is manufacturing body armour with a particular emphasis on its utility for military operations in urban terrain, as well as providing the backbone for the additional integration of soldier equipment including radios, gun sights and end user devices © MKU

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A hollow point 6.5mm round which is being promoted as a more lethal offering, to ensure that targets are incapacitated after the first shot, in comparison to 5.56mm ammunition which has been criticised for lacking sufficient stopping power Š Sutton House

therefore needing armour penetration (increased likelihood of bullets passing through enemies with less damage) or are we fighting unarmoured Taliban with a requirement for knock down effect and KE transfer?� he asked.

Such thoughts are set to have a massive implication for the future of assault rifles across the globe in the next ten years as a plethora of replacement programmes look set to be initiated. Any calibre change will prove a logistical burden but the benefits to the dismounted soldier could be lifesaving. Meanwhile, the world continues to monitor the US Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS) requirement which saw the publication of a draft solicitation on 17 June. The programme is considering a variety of alternative calibres to the inservice 9mm Beretta M9 handgun which it is seeking to replace.

During the latest industry day the US DoD said it would consider the utility of special purpose ammunition, similar to those previously described for use with 5.56mm assault rifles (see above). The total requirement is expected to comprise up to 500,000 handguns for not only the army but also for the US Navy and air force, including 7000 compact variants for specialist tasks. A final solicitation is expected in 2016 with a contract award expected to follow in 2017.

With interest from companies including Glock, Sig Sauer, Beretta, Smith & Wesson and other established small arms specialists. Heckler & Koch is considering offering its P30 handgun which is available in 9mm and 0.40-cal ammunition variants, comprising a short slide and barrel with no external safety catch. Should the US Army select to go for a larger .45-cal weapon, the company informed Armada it would offer its HK45 handgun which also includes interchangeable backstraps. Another interested company is FN Herstal which is looking to offer the hammer-operated FNX-45 weapon which is available in 9mm, .40, .45 and .57-cal variants.

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I Protection

Of similar importance to lethality is the protection of the warrior with governments concerned at the media effect of domestic populations seeing fatalities and casualties repatriated from sometimes unpopular foreign campaigns.

Trends over the past decade have seen a variety of options available, ranging from lightweight body armour covering just the vital organs on the chest and back allowing for increased manoeuvrability, through to heavier, all-encompassing body armour providing protection to the sides of the torso, groin, neck and

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5.56mm ammunition has been upgraded to enhance its combat effectiveness. However, marksmanship principles must be employed to allow a soldier to optimally engage targets at close, medium and long ranges © UK MoD

even arms. Similar trends saw US SOF integrating maxillofacial (covering the head, neck, face and jaw) protection onto combat helmets.

One example of the latter is Revision Military’s Batlskin (sic) Viper head protection system which comprises a modular solution capable of being fixed to the majority of combat helmets fitted with a Picatinny Rail Adaptor System.

According to a company spokesperson, the product provides protection from blunt force, blast and ballistic trauma with a modular set up that can be tailored to particular mission requirements. It has also been designed to work with helmet-mounted night vision devices as well as body-worn communications and weapon-mounted gun sights. The product is also being integrated into evaluation for the protection element of the USSOCOM Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS), the company informed Armada.

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In June, the USSOCOM released a series of Requests for Proposals (RfPs) for the ballistic protection elements of the programme which is due to run through to 2018 when a technology demonstrator is expected to be unveiled and demonstrated. The main effort of the programme is to identify and integrate advanced technology for comprehensive ballistic protection and tactical capabilities, particularly for MOUT.

The US Army and Department of Defence is currently considering the replacement of Beretta M9 handgun. The services have yet to decide which calibre the replacement will feature with 9mm competing against .40 and .45 calibres © US DoD

The latest RfPs focus on body armour and helmet protection with the former considering “personal armour design concepts that will provide the maximum operator protection with the least constraints to mobility” while the latter

Liquid armour hardens when impacted at any temperature,thereby dispersing energy

Operations in the maritime and littoral environments open up their own specific restrictions when it comes to equipment scales with a quick release attachment for body armour proving a popular trend worldwide © Australian Department of Defence

is seeking a “prototype device capable of mitigating the added weight of ballistic protection and sensors on the combat helmet without restricting the operator’s mobility or range of motion.”

Current body armour solutions have been criticised for covering less than a fifth of the body with USSOCOM explaining, “Current body armour technology only provides coverage and protection to approximately 19 percent of the vital areas due to the weight and mobility degradation caused by modern ballistic materials. A high percentage of

battlefield fatalities have been caused by wounds in the head, neck, and groin; areas that are not normally covered by body armour.” It continues that “(t) he weight, thickness, and stiffness of current ballistic materials make it difficult to provide ballistic protection to these areas without impeding the mobility of the wearer. (USSOCOM) desires a new approach for providing maximum ballistic coverage while maintaining user mobility and flexibility.”

Additional requirements include interest in “unorthodox shapes and carrier

systems”, as well as 12.7mm (0.5in) thick materials to cover the head, neck, elbow, armpit, groin and knee across a variety of shooting positions including prone, kneeling and standing fire positions.

Attention must also be paid to the integration of C2 systems into the body armour carrier itself, as is the case with BAE Systems’ Broadsword soldier system concept. USSOCOM is also considering how best to integrate thermal management systems and power supplies as well as the cooperation of the armour carrier with mobility platforms such as exoskeletons.

Another avenue being explored by USSOCOM and the TALOS programme is the concept of liquid armour. In April, Polish company Moratex and the Polish Military Institute of Armament Technology unveiled efforts to design a Shear-Thickening Fluid (STF) for use in body armour. STF technology comprises a liquid which is capable of hardening when impacted at any temperature, thereby dispersing the energy and blunt force trauma over a wider area similar to conventional body armour ballistic protection plates. According to Moratex, the STF formula is capable of reacting to rounds impacting at subsonic speeds of 450 metres-per-second (1476 feet-persecond) and above, which the company

Heckler & Koch is preparing multiple submissions for the US Army’s Modular Handgun System (MHS). This initiative will consider 9mm, .40-cal and .45-cal calibres for the weapons procured as a result © Heckler & Koch

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Current and future soldier equipment must take into account integration onboard mobile platforms such as armoured personnel carriers and special reconnaissance vehicles such as the Land Rovers utilised by special forces © Australian Department of Defence

claims provides increased levels of protection. The Polish solution still relies upon body armour ballistic plates, which can be placed inside legacy body armour carriers and vests although another significant benefit is increased mobility due to lighter weight.

Another company focusing on this particular protection solution is BAE Systems. A company spokesperson explained to Armada, “The ceramicbased plates often used in protective clothing cover large areas of the body, but can be heavy and bulky to wear. This can greatly restrict movement and in warm environments such as Afghanistan, soldiers can quickly get tired. So the challenge was there to devise an armour solution that offers soldiers excellent ballistic protection plus greater ease of movement in combat situations.”

Highlighting efforts to increase protection, reduce mass but widen area coverage with increased manoeuvrability and easy integration with other systems, the company described the liquid

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armour solution as a “counterintuitive liquid that hardens when hit, with the special properties of the shear thickening fluids ‘locking’ together, which can also be incorporated into standard Kevlar body armour”. “When combined, the two materials offer superior freedom of motion and a reduction in overall thickness of up to 45 percent,” claimed BAE Systems’ head of business development for design and materials technologies, Stewart Penney. “The technology is best explained by the example of stirring water with a spoon.

In water you feel little resistance to the spoon, whereas with ‘liquid armour’ you would feel significant resistance as the elements in the fluid lock together. The faster you stir, the harder it gets, so when a projectile impacts the material at speed, it hardens very quickly and absorbs the impact energy,” he explained. STF is also less likely to be distorted on impact in comparison to other ceramic plates which can sometimes invert, thereby inflicting additional injuries upon a wearer.

MKU of India is offering more conventional forms of body armour with sales manager Marc Stabenau explaining to Armada how an evolving battlefield, now centred mainly around the urban environment, was tailoring requirements for protection. “The battlefield has changed. It has moved to urban terrain with insurgency and civil unrest the unfortunate reality of today …

Warfare has gone asymmetric. The enemy could be anywhere and soldiers have split seconds to take decisions to identify friend and foes and give combat action or take evasive action. Even missions have become more technical in application.”

Referring to the equipment requirements of soldiers operating in such an environment, Mr. Stabenau stipulated critical parameters for combat effectiveness as comprising observation, communications, lethality, survivability, sustainability and mobility. “Dismounted soldiers need to adapt to today’s battlefields and armies need to focus on these requirements while planning

new technologies. To meet these parameters, a soldier needs to carry equipment but this needs to be seamlessly integrated into the body armour which comprises the outermost but most central component for the integration of systems,” he continued. However, Mr. Stabenau highlighted major challenges in achieving this work, citing cables and connections as the “weakest link”, plus ergonomic issues and increased size and weight for the soldier to carry.

MKU is currently operating its Custom Integrated Body Armour (CIBA) system which integrates ballistic protection with a tactical radio, spare battery and navigation system. Mr. Stabenau described the CIBA Generation-6 armour as being 40 percent lighter, 30 percent thinner and 50 percent more flexible than previous models, providing “speed, endurance, agility and manoeuvrability”.

The firm’s MKU’s systems feature a quickrelease feature for waterborne operations as well as medical treatment if required.

“This is a growing requirement all over the world, gathering increased momentum of late with conditions where it can

become imperative to remove your vest instantly for water crossings and vehicle evacuation as examples … With our Instavest system, you don’t need any formal training and it can be stripped in a single second in a single action and put back on in 30 seconds if required,” Mr. Stabenau concluded.

Body armour systems with integrated C2 technology connectors have yet to be fielded with operational units. One of the more mature solutions being offered in this regard includes BAE Systems’ Broadsword concept.

A spokesperson for the company explained to Armada how the current integration of bodyworn equipment has “not been addressed as a platform design and has resulted in an unwieldy cable harness …

The weight of current equipment carried by the soldier is far in excess of what is considered fit for purpose. Broadsword is capable of reducing the mass and volume of equipment carried whilst increasing the overall capability through tight

Harris Corporation’s TM-NVG family of systems will soon provide an Augmented Reality capability allowing operators to view reconnaissance imagery overlays superimposed on night vision sight pictures © Harris

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Harris Corporation’s TM-NVG has already been supplied to the Italian Army as well as an undisclosed military unit. The TM-NVG Fusion was also demonstrated to the US Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida in May © Harris

integration, but using open standards to maintain customer control of equipment configurations and component selection,” thespokesperson added.

The Broadsword solution comprises a power and data distribution harness which can be integrated into a variety of body armour systems including the British Army’s Osprey vest. It comprises a module container spine; inductive charging vest and seat packs; inductive charging equipment pouch; central energy store; and an option to integrate helmet-mounted displays such as the company’s Q-Warrior system.

Broadsword is a product family of interconnecting components for the next generation of soldier equipment, the BAE Systems spokesperson continued.

“The Spine forms a garment’s insert that delivers power and data connectivity through an e-textile combined with a power and data management system.

This e-textile is woven from conductive yarns to create a patented fabric powerand-data distribution network providing a more flexible, more robust, lighter and lower profile system … integrated into load-carriage systems to remove snag and tangle issues, Broadsword is a solution for armed forces that benefit from connected electronic equipment on their clothing.”

The integrated body armour platform comprises eight data and power ports/ connectors over the vest, allowing C2

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SWORD is not about simply delivering a computer or a display to soldiers

systems including night vision devices, weapon sights and radios to be connected and automatically managed via an embedded management computer which forms part of the e-textile loom. These are capable of supplying up to five amps of power while operating at data rates of up to 480 megabits-per-second. Meanwhile, a Central Energy Store features a rechargeable lithium ion battery, which has a five-bar light emitting diode fuel gauge. The inductive seat charger means a soldier can automatically switch to relying on vehicle-generated power without the requirement for a physical connection. Finally, an inductive charging equipment pouch provides power to C2 system battery packs, again without a physical connection.

Lighter weight body armour options continue to be popular for units with a variety of undisclosed NATO SOF worldwide currently using systems such as the Crye Precision Jumpable Plate Carrier (JPC). According to the company, the JPC comprises a “lightweight and minimal vest designed for maximum mobility, weight savings, and packability”, with operators selecting to use the system for more discreet and covert tasks.

Weighing between 0.5kg (1.2lb) and

Specific environmental conditions, such as those experienced by Israeli special forces, can have a significant impact on equipment requirements of dismounted soldiers and can include variations for weapons, communications and clothing © Israel Defence Force

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BAE Systems’ Q-Warrior head-up display is a derivative of the airborne Q-Sight variant, used extensively by aircrew. The dismounted version can be integrated into the company’s Broadsword system © BAE Systems

0.7kg (1.5lb), depending on size, the JPC can be configured for the mission and includes a skeletal cummerbund designed to minimise weight and increase ventilation.

Another country pouring significant attention and funding into the protection of their dismounted soldiers is Austria where the Ministry of Defence is pushing ahead with various soldier modernisation efforts. Programme manager at the Austrian Ministry of Defence, Johannes Bogner explained to Armada that protection was the absolute top priority for the country’s forces, albeit in a rather austere economic market. Comprising the Soldier 2018 and Soldat der Zukunft (Future Soldier) programmes, Austrian efforts are concentrating on head, ears, eyes and body ballistic protection although Mr. Bogner warned, “The challenge is that we have to see the soldier as a human being and not overload him physically or psychologically.”

Further trials, due to be conducted between 2016 and 2018, will feature integration tests focused around TTPs with particular emphasis on network-centric connectivity, SWaP, ergonomics, interoperability, modularity and SA. Mr. Bogner was quick to assert that protection formed just one critical element required for a soldier to successfully execute their role, the others being weapon sights, ammunition and battery power.

I Command and Control

There has been plenty of emphasis over recent years regarding the upgrade of soldiers’ SA with particular emphasis being paid to C2 systems. Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), which performs research on defence science and technology, is placing a particular emphasis on this area with the development of technology and concepts to help in target acquisition as well as the lethality of weapon systems.

Describing how tests had proven how accurate ranging of a target had substantially increased the accuracy of marksmen, officials revealed details to Armada about efforts to increase laser rangefinders and fire control systems onboard small arms.

Options include the General Dynamics’ and Colt Canada subsidiaries’ Sniper Weapon and Observer Reconnaissance Device (SWORD) and Kopin Precision Acquisition and Targeting System

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Noise from helicopters, heavy vehicles, explosions and gunfire are a part of everyday life

The UK’s Ministry of Defence recently replaced its Browning 9mm and urgent operational requirement Sig Sauer P226 handguns with the Glock 17, keeping faith with 9mm ammunition © UK Ministry of Defence

(PATS). SWORD comprises a weaponmounted surveillance and targeting device with ruggedised smartphone technology, designed to improve the SA of a soldier.

Colt Canada’s Jeff MacLeod explained, “SWORD makes sense as an integrated soldier system. By combining modern smartphone technology with weaponmounted scopes and laser rangefinders, soldiers have all the information they need, literally at their fingertips. SWORD is not about simply delivering a computer or a display to soldiers; it delivers an entirely new capability centred on the rifle.” The device includes power, data and navigation

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capabilities including GPS and inertial navigation for GPS-denied environments.

It can also integrate battle management systems onto its Android network with the company offering the system as an alternative to a tactical communications system.

The PATS offering meanwhile, according to Kopin’s vice president of government programmes and special projects, Michael Presz, comprises a “fully integrated fire control system that converts most fielded optical sights into smart, lethal targeting systems”. Incorporating integrated laser

rangefinder, ballistic calculator and overlay display, the PATS unit has been designed to increase the target accuracy of shooters with capabilities to be mounted in front of legacy optical gun sights for day and night operations. “PATS allows governments to greatly improve the performance of their existing inventories of fielded weapon sights by reducing engagement times and improving the probability of hits at ranges out to 600m,” Mr. Presz continued.

PATS includes Augmented Reality (AR) technology which provides overlay SA displays, powered by just a single CR123 battery. Derived from technology acquired in the development of helmetmounted displays, the AR weapon sight allows the operator to acquire targets through convention gun sights while observing overlaid symbology. “The PATS unit has the potential to convert every green recruit into a precision shooter, increasing lethality while significantly reducing training and ammunition costs,” Mr. Presz concluded.

Meanwhile, the CDND is preparing to award the first contract for its Integrated Soldier System Project (ISSP) later this year, with Maj. Bouffard at the CDND outlining how equipment is expected to be delivered from 2016 onwards.

Cycle 1 will comprise GPS, tactical radios, End User Devices (EUDs), noise reduction communication, power systems, load carrying equipment and body armour illustrating the wide range of C2 equipment now available to soldiers.

Cycles 2 and 3 will focus on power, data and additional EUDs. Meanwhile, the CDND’s Land Command Support System Life Extension programme is designed to provide long range communications with the programme expected to reach full operating capability by 2018.

Current contracts include a $39 million deal with DRS Technologies’ Canadian subsidiary to upgrade armoured vehicle

Body armour is now de rigeur for all troops likely to be exposed to hostile fire. The Afghan and Iraqi theatres have taught several invaluable lessons regarding how body armour designs can be improved both to enhance protection, and manoeuvrability © USMC

communications nodes; and a $122 million new and existing communication systems. contract awarded to General Dynamics “Military special forces may also need to Canadian subsidiary, Rockwell Collins communicate in whispers,” he explained. and SigmaPoint to upgrade tactical radios Additionally, hearing protection is carried by dismounted soldiers. Critical critical for personnel operating in noisy to the operation of a tactical radio, environments with short-term and however, is a capable headset allowing longer effects causing injuries which can a soldier on the battlefield to clearly ruin a soldier’s career and the combat receive and transmit voice commands effectiveness of their squad. above the noise generated by gunfire and Invisio’s V60 Advanced Tactical Communication and Hearing Protection atmospheric effects.

System is one system currently in service According to communications with NATO SOF. Submersible down to specialist Invisio, “extreme noise from 20m (65.6ft), the V60 can be connected helicopters, heavy vehicles, explosions and gunfire are a part of everyday life, to up to four different communications nodes with separate Push-To-Talk (PTT) and communication can mean the buttons, three command switches and a difference between mission success and controller. Additionally, the in-ear headset failure, between life and death.” Senior includes full-duplex communication, vice president for global sales and marketing, Carsten Aagesen told Armada radio sidetone and priority voice buttons. that in order for the units to conduct “In-ear solutions are starting to become their missions effectively, strict demands the default for military communications were placed on advanced communication and the importance of hearing protection equipment that can also be integrated with is exemplified with the amount of money

being spent on soldiers coming back from operations with diminished hearing.

In the blink of an eye, a soldier can lose his or her capacity to be an efficient warrior and a lot of countries have seen that,” Mr. Aagesen said.

More traditional over-the-ear solutions remain popular with armed forces worldwide with 3M Peltor Communications Solutions’ ComTac XPI headset as one of the latest offerings in the market. Unveiled in February, it features a new integrated ‘ghost voice’ which helps with menu navigation and provides low battery warnings while it is now possible to adjust the input sensitivity from a twoway radio. The headset also includes an earplug mode allowing an operator to utilise dual hearing protection while still hearing surrounding atmospherics and while protected from ‘hazardous noise’.

“With the ComTac XPI headset, you can hear warning signals and communicate with your colleagues. You are not isolated from the surrounding environment and with the boneconducting microphone it is possible to use the product together with a respirator armada

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Future equipment requirements will look to integrate C2 equipment into the combat helmets and body armour of soldiers with particular emphasis on reducing the size, weight and power of loads carried © US DoD

and connected to a two-way radio, which helps you communicate with people that are in your own group or back at base,” a 3M Peltor Communications Solutions spokesperson told Armada.

C2 systems are also supporting the improved lethality of weapon systems with UK company QinetiQ in the midst of developing a gunshot detection weapon sight as part of the UK MoD’s ‘Muzzle Flash Localisation’ programme. According to a company official, the development considered Image Intensification (I2) and Thermal Imaging (TI) technology in order to provide improved target acquisition for dismounted soldiers operating in urban environments. Positive identification of enemy combatants proved a significant challenge for NATO troops operating in Afghanistan, with Taliban fighters sometimes engaging patrols from camouflaged and dug-in positions up to the maximum effective range of 7.62mm weapons (800m) including PKM machineguns and Dragonov sniper rifles.

The UK MoD’s three-year programme is scheduled to finish in 2016 with

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a requirement to provide gunshot detection with accurate localisation while in cover, rapid response, range to target, and high accuracy down to a particular window or ‘murder hole’ where troops risk ambush. A QinetiQ spokesperson informed Armada how current acoustic gunshot detection systems are too inaccurate. “They do not allow for rapid counter fire and suffer from reflections in a cluttered environment,” a spokesperson explained. Alternatively, Mid-Wave IR (MWIR) sensors provide very good range and accuracy but require power for cooling purposes. “These systems are good for vehicles, but for a dismount they are expensive and large,” they added.

QinetiQ’s solution, therefore, is based on uncooled Short-Wave IR (SWIR) technology, requiring low power although the company admitted there remained a requirement to minimise reaction to clutter in the form of insects, foliage, point source solar reflections and camera movement. “It comprises a small, light and cheap solution,” the spokesperson articulated.

Based on Raptor Photonics’ OWL 320 HS SWIR camera, trials have been conducted to date to detect an AK-47 up to 600m range in different climatic conditions with QinetiQ confirming that at ranges up to 400m (1312.3ft), the gun sight managed to achieve a 90 percent accurate detection. However, beyond 550m (1804ft), detection fell to zero.

Finally, detecting mobile firers at 250m (820ft) achieved a 60 percent detection rate although QinetiQ was quick to stress that the false alarm rate was zero. “We are looking to fine tune the algorithm before trying again,” the spokesperson said. “It’s a viable technology and its accuracy is sufficiently good for detection and direction of counter fire which therefore means the technology requires further investigation.”

Taking target acquisition and SA to another level is Harris’ family of Tactical Mobility Night Vision Goggles (TM-NVG) which includes an Image Intensification (I2) and blended I2/ TI variant called the TM-NVG Fusion.

Both systems are capable of receiving and transmitting data to and from a tactical

Headsets, such as Peltor’s ‘over-the-ear’ variant seen here, now routinely double up to provide hearing protection as well as a communications capability given that preserving a soldiers ears, while enabling them to hear their surroundings, is becoming ever more important © Peltor

operations centre, with the additional capability to receive Full Motion Video (FMV) and imagery intelligence from reconnaissance platforms. To date, 5000 TM-NVGs have been supplied to Italy as part of that country’s Finmeccanica Soldato Futuro (Future Soldier) programme with an additional thousand systems delivered to an undisclosed country. A “small” amount of TMNVG Fusion products, according to the company, have also been supplied to the Esercito Italiano (Italian Army) with deliveries due to be completed in 2016.

Speaking to Armada, Harris’ Chris Johnson, the firms’ international business development manager, described the tactical advantage the TM-NVGs would provide a dismounted soldier by eliminating light emitted from EUDs. The systems are available in both monocular and binocular forms as well as green or white phosphor variants with Harris considering an option to adapt the technology into a clip-on gun sight.

Initially developed for operation with Harris’ SpearNet squad radio, the company is currently working on options to integrate the TM-NVG with its own AN/ PRC-152 and RF-7800 family handheld

radios. One of the most interesting applications for the TM-NVGs sees the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) technology with Harris working in collaboration with Applied Research Associates (ARA) of New Mexico to provide such a capability.

The addition of AR means the TMNVG will be able to display information overlays over real-world I2/TI imagery providing a range of capabilities for the soldier ranging from navigation waypoints, target designation, blue force tracking and messaging.

Additionally, the TM-NVGs with AR capability can be pre-programmed before a mission with information to assist the navigation of an assault or to direct a reconnaissance team onto a target, as well as provide real-time operational updates when deployed on the ground.

ARA’s group leader for military operations and sensing systems, David Roberts, explained to Armada how the AR component included the integration of “virtual icons, avatars and messages overlaid accurately onto the real world”.

The AR capability comprises a processor which is attached to a rail system on a combat helmet. Mr. Roberts explained how it could operate on the move as well as in “magnetically disturbed” areas of operation. “You can access information about objects by simply looking at them; you can tag features and objects in your environment by clicking on icons that are geo-registered to the world; and you can share these icons with others so they can view them from their perspective.” The technology will be integrated onto TM-NVGs by 2016, Mr. Roberts added. He continued that there was a current lack of official requirements for the technology although it has already been demonstrated to the USSOCOM. Mr. Johnson added that development work was also ongoing with the US Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) test centre.

I Mobility

This compendium has already studied the importance of mobility, particularly with regard to body armour worn by dismounted soldiers with different alternatives applicable for various types of mission sets. One emerging trend set to improve the manoeuvrability of the soldier is being pursued in the form of

One emerging trend set to improve manoeuvrability is the exoskeleton exoskeleton development, designed to lessen the load carriage and stress of the soldier. Currently, the market offers several variants including Lockheed Martin’s HULC (Human Universal Load Carrier) and Raytheon Sarcos’s XOS family of systems with additional models in development with government agencies around the world.

Lockheed Martin’s HULC system is designed to transfer heavy loads, carried on combat operations or in logistical support operations, to the ground via powered titanium legs. With a range of 20 kilometres (12.4 miles), the HULC is capable at operating at speeds up to ten kilometres-per-hour (6.2 miles per hour) with an ability to carry loads up to 90.9kg (200lb). HULC can also serve as the ‘backbone’ for integrated systems including armour, heating or cooling systems, sensors and other attachments with an extended range of 72 hours if required. The system weighs a total of 24kg (53lb) without lithium polymer batteries which are a pre-requisite for any mission. “HULC’s unique powersaving design allows the user to operate on battery power for extended missions.

When battery power is low, the HULC system continues to support the loads and does not restrict mobility. HULC can also support a maximum load, with or without power,” a Lockheed Martin spokesperson informed Armada.

Such a backbone concept is currently being evaluated by the USSOCOM TALOS programme office with various companies including Revision Military offering solutions. The company unveiled its Kinetic Operations Suit at the US Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) in Tampa, Florida this May, centred around the Prowler Human Augmentation System. The Prowler focuses on enhancing the soldier’s existing musculature by spreading out a distributed load across the lower major muscle groups of the body, rather than transferring the compact load to the ground. “Unlike many other systems where the soldier ‘drives’ inside the augmentation system, the Prowler is a near armada

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Exoskeletons are no longer the stuff of science fiction and potentially offer a means to reduce physiological stress on a soldier, by assisting their carriage of heavy loads over long distances © Raytheon Sarcos

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skin, worn, lower body augmentation suit.

Circumventing load around the knee joint, while augmenting it, has been proven to reduce applied stress to the knee by 33 percent under combat load conditions,” a Revision Military spokesperson informed Armada. “This system, as proven through US and Canadian government testing, augments the soldier by distributing the load from the upper body into the waist and the upper/lower legs,” the spokesperson added. The exoskeleton prototype completed mobility trials with the USMC Special Operations Command (MARSOC) across an obstacle course at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in October 2014.

Meanwhile, The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) continues to push ahead with the design and development of a quasi-passive exoskeleton capable of operating without a power source.

According to TNO technical consultant for behavioural and societal sciences, Pim Rensink, the second version of the Exo Buddy (Exo Buddy 2) will be ready for an evaluation programme in August. Mr. Rensink explained, “We have reached the physical limits of the soldier and now see them in discomfort, irritation and pain.

Research and development has looked at the weight distribution over a soldier’s body as well as Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) and the exoskeleton.

We elected the latter option.”

Such a decision continues a worrying trend in the realm of UGV support of dismounted soldiers with the likes of Lockheed Martin’s Squad Mission Support System (SMSS) UGV failing to be deployed beyond an initial evaluation programme, and ReconRobotic’s Scout XT ‘throwbots’ witnessing a significant reduction in demand following operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

TNO’s first Exo Buddy attempt utilised the Raytheon Sarcos XOS 3 exoskeleton solution as a baseline system although Mr. Rinsink described it as being too “complex and expensive”. With the TNO estimating the average combat load carried by a dismounted soldier to be approximately 60kg (132lb), the five kilogram (eleven pounds) Exo Buddy 2 features a pair of telescopic legs and actuated joints located on the hips, knees and ankles with a hip-belt connected to a pair of combat boots. TNO has published results from an initial test

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QinetiQ is developing a thermal imaging-based gunshot detection system aiming to provide greater accuracy than acoustic systems such as RaytheonBBN’s Boomerang system illustrated here © US DoD

ON THE COVER: The Lockheed Martin HULC exoskeleton provides a battery-powered capability to the soldier although the Dutch TNO is currently developing a quasi-passive alternative which does not rely on power.

Compendium Modern Soldier Equipment Supplement to armada Issue 4/2015 Volume 39, Issue No. 4, August-September 2015 armada international is published bi-monthly by Media Transasia Ltd. Copyright 2012 by Media Transasia Ltd. Publishing Office: Media Transasia Ltd., 1603, 16/F, Island Place Tower, 510 King’s Road, Hong Kong Editor: Thomas Withington Chairman: J.S. Uberoi President: Egasith Chotpakditrakul Chief Financial Officer: Gaurav Kumar General Manager International Marketing: Vishal Mehta Manager Marketing: Jakhongir Djalmetov Sales & Marketing Coordinator: Wajiraprakan Punyajai Editorial Coordinator: Sumana Sumanakul Art Director: James Nvathorn Graphic Designer: Khakanaa Suwannawong Production Manager: Kanda Thanakornwongskul Group Circulation Manager: Porames Chinwongs

programme, which confirmed up to 90 percent of weight transferred from the dismounted soldier to the Exo Buddy 2 although the organisation admitted that operators used twelve percent more oxygen than soldiers operating without the exoskeleton.

Further tests of the Exo Buddy 2 are expected later this year. “The first technology demonstrator has already been tested with soldiers and has proven itself to be a low technology, low cost, lightweight and easy to use system … We are now looking into the tactical agility of the Exo Buddy 2 with particular emphasis

on shooting positions, movement across assault courses and how best to translate that agility to the Exo Buddy system,” Mr. Rensink concluded.

Other mobility efforts are seeing Hollywood special effects specialists being utilised to consider ergonomic and mobility issues associated with future soldier concepts such as the TALOS effort (see above). Firms including California-based Ekso Bionics and Legacy Effects, for example, are currently considering factors associated with US SOF members wearing initial iterations of the TALOS.

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C4 5

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special operations a compendium by armada international

an armada international supplement An in-depth special on the programmes, advanced technologies and procurement opportunities for the world wide special operations tools and equipment market.

december 2015

For advertising opportunities contact your local armada representative or: vishal mehta: vishal@mediatransasia.com (+66) 2 204 2370 ext 123 Joha djalmetov: joha@mediatransasia.com (+66) 2 204 2370 ext 125

NEW TOOLS FOR NEW RULES

DOMINATORTM A family of compact, lightweight, all-in-one C2 solutions for dismounted infantry and Special Forces ‫ ‏‬he‫‏‬DOMINATOR‫‏‬suite‫‏‬of‫‏‬solutions‫‏‬-‫‏‬basic,‫‏‬light,‫‏‬commander‫‏‬ T and‫‏‬forward‫‏‬observer‫‏‬-‫‏‬are‫‏‬integrated‫‏‬infantry‫‏‬combat‫‏‬ systems‫‏‬that‫‏‬enable‫‏‬full‫‏‬situational‫‏‬awareness‫‏‬across‫‏‬all‫‏‬ military‫‏‬echelons.‫‏‬Based‫‏‬on‫‏‬advanced‫‏‬radio,‫‏‬hardware‫‏‬ components‫‏‬and‫‏‬C4I‫‏‬applications‫‏‬developed‫‏‬by‫‏‬Elbit‫‏‬Systems,‫‏‬ DOMINATOR‫‏‬dramatically‫‏‬shortens‫‏‬the‫‏‬sensor-to-shooter‫‏‬ loop‫‏‬with‫‏‬unprecedented‫‏‬speed,‫‏‬enhancing‫‏‬the‫‏‬combat‫‏‬ effectiveness‫‏‬of‫‏‬the‫‏‬dismounted‫‏‬soldier.

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