Transhumanist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
- Messages
- 734
- Reaction score
- 36
- Country
- Location
Decepticon, nice
US military news, discussions and history
- Thread starter SvenSvensonov
- Start date
Decepticon, nice
Transhumanist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
- Messages
- 734
- Reaction score
- 36
- Country
- Location
Transhumanist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
- Messages
- 734
- Reaction score
- 36
- Country
- Location
Transhumanist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
- Messages
- 734
- Reaction score
- 36
- Country
- Location
A C-130 Is Happy To Deliver A Huge Rocket Launcher Just About Anywhere
This USAF Special Operations C-130 lands at an austere airstrip and a huge HIMARS Rocket Launcher rolls off its ramp. The C-130 takes back off and the rockets start flying. The way America’s air mobility capability can move big things to pretty much anywhere in the world on short notice is just mesmerizing.
This particular event was part of Exercise Emerald Warrior which has been underway for some time now.
The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is a highly mobile, multi-launch rocket system based on the Army’s Medium Tactical Vehicle truck frame. It can carry six guided or unguided rockets or one of the giant MGM-142 surface to surface missile.
Its wide array of weaponry can be configured with all types of warheads and fusing options, including cluster munitions dispensers and air burst rounds. In fact, it uses the same rocket pods and large selection of ammunition as the much larger M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, although carrying just one pod instead of two at a time.
HIMARS weights 24,000 lbs, has a crew of three, and first saw combat in Afghanistan where it was deemed effective at providing rapid, short to long range (up to about 200 miles with the MGM-142) fire support. Because of its size and high-mobility, it could easily keep up with advancing units and as you can see in the video, it can be forward deployed and extracted rapidly via C-130.
Today, HIMARS serves with both the USMC and US Army along with the militaries of Singapore, UAE and Jordan.
This USAF Special Operations C-130 lands at an austere airstrip and a huge HIMARS Rocket Launcher rolls off its ramp. The C-130 takes back off and the rockets start flying. The way America’s air mobility capability can move big things to pretty much anywhere in the world on short notice is just mesmerizing.
This particular event was part of Exercise Emerald Warrior which has been underway for some time now.
The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System is a highly mobile, multi-launch rocket system based on the Army’s Medium Tactical Vehicle truck frame. It can carry six guided or unguided rockets or one of the giant MGM-142 surface to surface missile.
Its wide array of weaponry can be configured with all types of warheads and fusing options, including cluster munitions dispensers and air burst rounds. In fact, it uses the same rocket pods and large selection of ammunition as the much larger M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System, although carrying just one pod instead of two at a time.
HIMARS weights 24,000 lbs, has a crew of three, and first saw combat in Afghanistan where it was deemed effective at providing rapid, short to long range (up to about 200 miles with the MGM-142) fire support. Because of its size and high-mobility, it could easily keep up with advancing units and as you can see in the video, it can be forward deployed and extracted rapidly via C-130.
Today, HIMARS serves with both the USMC and US Army along with the militaries of Singapore, UAE and Jordan.
Transhumanist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
- Messages
- 734
- Reaction score
- 36
- Country
- Location
Transhumanist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
- Messages
- 734
- Reaction score
- 36
- Country
- Location
Transhumanist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
- Messages
- 734
- Reaction score
- 36
- Country
- Location
Indus Falcon
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2011
- Messages
- 6,910
- Reaction score
- 107
- Country
- Location
US Navy Cyber Launches Strategic Plan
By Joe Gould
May 6, 2015
Vice Adm. Jan Tighe assumes command of US Fleet Cyber Command and US 10th Fleet.(Photo: MC2 David R. Finley/US Navy)
WASHINGTON — The commander of US Navy Cyber announced a five-year strategy, and like the Pentagon's cyber strategy announcement two weeks earlier, acknowledged the dire need for talented workers with the skills to fend off the nation's foes.
Vice Adm. Jan Tighe, who assumed command of Fleet Cyber Command/10th Fleet a month ago, said the US Navy is strengthening its ability to defend against intrusions, launch offensive cyber weapons and field 40 cyber mission teams — a task that is halfway done.
"You don't get there from here unless you invest in the capacity pieces," Tighe said of the Navy's offensive cyber ambitions, "and that's essentially what the cyber mission force has done; it's granting capacity."
The strategy re-conceptualizes the network as a "war-fighting platform," which in real terms means assuring awareness, control and security of its networks. The plan comes after Iran reportedly breached Navy networks in 2013, though Tighe said there had been no such breaches since.
"We've got to be able to prevent the intrusion in the first place, and if there is an intrusion, respond to prevent lateral movement inside our network," Tighe said. "How often are people trying? How successful are they? We don't necessarily have those measures looking back historically as I would like to have them."
The Navy also plans to deliver offensive cyber "effects," for use by regional combatant commanders and the national command authority, and those need to be matured, Tighe said. Asked what an offensive cyber weapon might do, she contrasted cyber weapons with missiles, saying cyber weapons can have unpredictable effects and require very unique skills to operate.
Threats ranging from criminal to nation-state adversaries have reached such a volume that the Navy is hard-pressed to rapidly sort significant attacks from what Tighe termed "background noise." The command has been investing in new defensive tools, though there continues to be a need for network sensors and other tools with the "analytic horsepower" to discriminate, prioritize and respond, she said.
The goal is for cyber sailors to understand their networks like a home field, detect adversary activity and respond. If an intrusion is significant enough, the command would assign a cyber protection team.
Key to achieving Navy's cyber goals is to staff the teams, intended to be made up of roughly 1,000 active, reserve and civilian workers. The Navy is midway through the effort, Tighe said, with plans to define the precise requirements for her cyber workforce, which in turn will inform recruiting and training efforts.
"One-third of my total workforce is civilian today, and it's an operational workforce," Tighe said. "I depend heavily — for maneuvering my networks, defending my networks — on a civilian population, which is different from other warfare areas, and it's something people have to get used to."
The process of building the teams began in 2013 and will stretch into 2016, as the Navy, with US Cyber Command, ensures the appropriate assignments, training and unit mission-readiness certifications. The pool includes cryptologists, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians and information dominance officers.
"It's not single skill set or work role, we have to bring them together as a team," Tighe said. "We're leveraging the skill set they come with and giving them specific training for the way the team is operating, or the new way, in some cases, the team is operating."
US Navy Cyber Launches Strategic Plan
By Joe Gould
May 6, 2015
Vice Adm. Jan Tighe assumes command of US Fleet Cyber Command and US 10th Fleet.(Photo: MC2 David R. Finley/US Navy)
WASHINGTON — The commander of US Navy Cyber announced a five-year strategy, and like the Pentagon's cyber strategy announcement two weeks earlier, acknowledged the dire need for talented workers with the skills to fend off the nation's foes.
Vice Adm. Jan Tighe, who assumed command of Fleet Cyber Command/10th Fleet a month ago, said the US Navy is strengthening its ability to defend against intrusions, launch offensive cyber weapons and field 40 cyber mission teams — a task that is halfway done.
"You don't get there from here unless you invest in the capacity pieces," Tighe said of the Navy's offensive cyber ambitions, "and that's essentially what the cyber mission force has done; it's granting capacity."
The strategy re-conceptualizes the network as a "war-fighting platform," which in real terms means assuring awareness, control and security of its networks. The plan comes after Iran reportedly breached Navy networks in 2013, though Tighe said there had been no such breaches since.
"We've got to be able to prevent the intrusion in the first place, and if there is an intrusion, respond to prevent lateral movement inside our network," Tighe said. "How often are people trying? How successful are they? We don't necessarily have those measures looking back historically as I would like to have them."
The Navy also plans to deliver offensive cyber "effects," for use by regional combatant commanders and the national command authority, and those need to be matured, Tighe said. Asked what an offensive cyber weapon might do, she contrasted cyber weapons with missiles, saying cyber weapons can have unpredictable effects and require very unique skills to operate.
Threats ranging from criminal to nation-state adversaries have reached such a volume that the Navy is hard-pressed to rapidly sort significant attacks from what Tighe termed "background noise." The command has been investing in new defensive tools, though there continues to be a need for network sensors and other tools with the "analytic horsepower" to discriminate, prioritize and respond, she said.
The goal is for cyber sailors to understand their networks like a home field, detect adversary activity and respond. If an intrusion is significant enough, the command would assign a cyber protection team.
Key to achieving Navy's cyber goals is to staff the teams, intended to be made up of roughly 1,000 active, reserve and civilian workers. The Navy is midway through the effort, Tighe said, with plans to define the precise requirements for her cyber workforce, which in turn will inform recruiting and training efforts.
"One-third of my total workforce is civilian today, and it's an operational workforce," Tighe said. "I depend heavily — for maneuvering my networks, defending my networks — on a civilian population, which is different from other warfare areas, and it's something people have to get used to."
The process of building the teams began in 2013 and will stretch into 2016, as the Navy, with US Cyber Command, ensures the appropriate assignments, training and unit mission-readiness certifications. The pool includes cryptologists, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians and information dominance officers.
"It's not single skill set or work role, we have to bring them together as a team," Tighe said. "We're leveraging the skill set they come with and giving them specific training for the way the team is operating, or the new way, in some cases, the team is operating."
US Navy Cyber Launches Strategic Plan
AMDR
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2014
- Messages
- 1,109
- Reaction score
- 16
- Country
- Location
Raytheon’s SM-6 Moves from Low-Rate to Full-Rate Production
SEAPOWER Magazine Online
TUCSON, Ariz. — Raytheon Co.’s Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) program has moved from low-rate to full-rate production, clearing the path for significantly increased production numbers and focus on further cost-reduction opportunities.
SM-6 is a surface-to-air supersonic missile capable of successfully engaging manned and unmanned aerial vehicles and fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. It also defends against land-attack and anti-ship cruise missiles in flight.
“SM-6 is proven against a broad range of advanced threats, which makes it very valuable to Combatant Commanders who need and want that flexibility,” said Mike Campisi, Standard Missile-6 senior program director. “Full-rate production allows us to significantly ramp up production and deliver to the U.S. Navy the quantities it needs to further increase operational effectiveness.”
The first full-rate production round was delivered to the U.S. Navy from Raytheon’s state-of-the-art SM-6 and SM-3 all-up-round production facility at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. Prior to final assembly, a majority of the SM-6’s section level assembly and testing development took place at Raytheon’s subsystem center factory in Tucson.
Raytheon has delivered more than 180 SM-6 missiles to the U.S. Navy, which deployed SM-6 for the first time in December 2013.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Fleet Cyber Command Standing Up Cyber Mission Teams
SEAPOWER Magazine Online
By RICHARD R. BURGESS, Managing Editor
ARLINGTON, Va. — The commander of Fleet Cyber Command and U.S. Tenth Fleet said her command is halfway through its build-up of more than 1,000 additional cyber warriors, whose role is to conduct cyber defense at a national level or in support of combatant commanders.
“We’re creating 40 teams,” said VADM Jan Tighe, speaking to reporters May 6 at the Pentagon, referring to the effort begun in 2013 to set up the Navy contribution to the U.S. Cyber Command’s Cyber Mission Force (CMF), which will include 133 teams from the various armed services.
In the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/Tenth Fleet Strategic Plan 2015-2020, released May 6, Tighe said that the CMF teams will perform in three major sectors:
Navy personnel, including Reservists, make up approximately two-thirds of the fleet cyber forces and include information warfare and information systems officers and enlisted cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists and information systems technicians. Civilian personnel fill critical roles in the command.
One of the challenges Tighe faces is adding to and training the force while keeping maximum readiness to counter cyber threats.
“We can’t let our eye off the ball. The cyberspace domain is changing on a daily basis,” Tighe said, noting the challenge of keeping teams “in a constant state of readiness. Ceding cyber territory to an adversary is what we cannot allow to happen.”
Cyber warfare has become one of the low-density, high-demand capabilities in which demand is always going to outstrip the supply, she said.
Like any warfare in the electromagnetic spectrum, there is a danger in damaging one’s own capabilities while attacking an enemy’s.
“We don’t want our solutions to be worse than what the adversary was going to do,” Tighe said.
Navy cyber forces not only support the combatant commanders and the fleets but also, on a national level, the National Security Agency.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Headset to Merge Night Vision, Thermal Imaging
New Headset to Merge Night Vision, Thermal Imaging | Defense Tech
The U.S. subsidiary of British defense giant BAE Systems Plc is developing a new headset that merges night vision and thermal imaging.
Soldiers typically wear night-vision goggles to see their surroundings in the dark, but use thermal sights mounted on their rifles to engage targets. Soon, they’ll be able to use one device for both tasks, the company announced in a release on Monday.
“On today’s battlefield, this slower approach, which is often further hampered by heavy smoke or bad weather, compromises soldiers’ safety and can reduce mission effectiveness,” it states. “By integrating night vision and thermal targeting capabilities into one sight displayed on the soldiers’ goggles, BAE Systems’ new solution allows troops to more easily acquire targets and engage faster.”
The company said it worked with the U.S Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate to develop the technology. It beat several unnamed competitors for the contract, which is valued at up to $434 million over five years.
BAE has received an initial award of $35 million for the program, known as the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle III and Family of Weapon Sight-Individual. It plans to build the headsets at its new factory in Hudson, New Hampshire.
It wasn’t immediately clear how much the product will cost. Initial production of the night vision will begin this summer, while the weapon sight is currently in development and will enter production next year, according to Paul Roberts, a spokesman for BAE’s electronic systems unit.
The headset may be fielded to soldiers downrange beginning in late fiscal 2016 or early fiscal 2017, Roberts said in an e-mail.
The technology relies on a wireless video interface to transfer imagery from the sight to the goggle, according to the release. This feature offers a number of advantages, such as eliminating the need for aiming lasers, a shorter engagement time, increased maneuverability and extended target acquisition range, it stated.
The product is the latest example of companies coming to market with optical systems designed to stream more data and information to shooters.
Earlier this year, smart rifle-maker TrackingPoint Inc. teamed with Recon Instruments to sync imagery from its high-tech scope system directly into protective glasses.
The Austin, Texas-based company showed off the product on in January at a range north of Las Vegas as part of SHOT Show, the biggest small arms show in the world. The glasses weren’t functional and only displayed static images. But officials said the technology will be ready for release this year, possibly in the spring.
The smart-rifle scope includes a Linux-powered computer with sensors that collect imagery and ballistic data such as atmospheric conditions, cant, inclination, even the slight shift of the Earth’s rotation known as the Coriolis effect. Because the computer is wireless-enabled, information can be streamed to a laptop, smart phone or tablet computer for spotting or to share intelligence.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army sets dates for new camo rollout
Source: Army sets dates for new camo rollout
The Army expects combat uniforms made of the new Operational Camouflage Pattern to start hitting store shelves on July 1, an Army official has confirmed.
New coyote brown boots to complement the new uniform won't be available until August, the source said.
New recruits should start receiving them in their clothing bags by January, according to the source, who has knowledge of the roll-out but requested anonymity.
Army public affairs declined to discuss the roll-out plan at this time.
Army Times' source said the target wear-out date of old ACUs made of the unpopular Universal Camouflage Pattern, has been set for October 2018. That means, until then, soldiers in garrison could see a mix of uniforms including MultiCam, which has been issued to soldiers deploying to Afghanistan since 2010 and more recently to those in Iraq.
Soldiers have clamored for more details on the new camo, and related wear rules.
The Army has yet to issue guidance on whether new darker accessories (boots, T-shirt, belt) can be worn with old uniforms or vice versa.
In early April, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno told a virtual town hall that OCP would be available in late summer or early fall, and would be issued in clothing bags soon after.
Both MultiCam, and OCP feature a more traditional (non-digital) camo pattern of muted greens, light beige and dark brown.
The Army had said there would be desert and jungle variants of OCP, but this far there have been no details or imagery of potential variants.
The new ACUs are expected to have design changes as well:
SEAPOWER Magazine Online
TUCSON, Ariz. — Raytheon Co.’s Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) program has moved from low-rate to full-rate production, clearing the path for significantly increased production numbers and focus on further cost-reduction opportunities.
SM-6 is a surface-to-air supersonic missile capable of successfully engaging manned and unmanned aerial vehicles and fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. It also defends against land-attack and anti-ship cruise missiles in flight.
“SM-6 is proven against a broad range of advanced threats, which makes it very valuable to Combatant Commanders who need and want that flexibility,” said Mike Campisi, Standard Missile-6 senior program director. “Full-rate production allows us to significantly ramp up production and deliver to the U.S. Navy the quantities it needs to further increase operational effectiveness.”
The first full-rate production round was delivered to the U.S. Navy from Raytheon’s state-of-the-art SM-6 and SM-3 all-up-round production facility at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. Prior to final assembly, a majority of the SM-6’s section level assembly and testing development took place at Raytheon’s subsystem center factory in Tucson.
Raytheon has delivered more than 180 SM-6 missiles to the U.S. Navy, which deployed SM-6 for the first time in December 2013.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Fleet Cyber Command Standing Up Cyber Mission Teams
SEAPOWER Magazine Online
By RICHARD R. BURGESS, Managing Editor
ARLINGTON, Va. — The commander of Fleet Cyber Command and U.S. Tenth Fleet said her command is halfway through its build-up of more than 1,000 additional cyber warriors, whose role is to conduct cyber defense at a national level or in support of combatant commanders.
“We’re creating 40 teams,” said VADM Jan Tighe, speaking to reporters May 6 at the Pentagon, referring to the effort begun in 2013 to set up the Navy contribution to the U.S. Cyber Command’s Cyber Mission Force (CMF), which will include 133 teams from the various armed services.
In the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/Tenth Fleet Strategic Plan 2015-2020, released May 6, Tighe said that the CMF teams will perform in three major sectors:
- National Mission Forces will defend the nation by seeing adversary activity, blocking attacks and maneuvering to defeat the attacks.
- Protection Forces defend the Defense Department’s information networks and, when authorized, other infrastructure.
- Combat Mission Forces conduct military cyber operations in support of Combatant commands.
Navy personnel, including Reservists, make up approximately two-thirds of the fleet cyber forces and include information warfare and information systems officers and enlisted cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists and information systems technicians. Civilian personnel fill critical roles in the command.
One of the challenges Tighe faces is adding to and training the force while keeping maximum readiness to counter cyber threats.
“We can’t let our eye off the ball. The cyberspace domain is changing on a daily basis,” Tighe said, noting the challenge of keeping teams “in a constant state of readiness. Ceding cyber territory to an adversary is what we cannot allow to happen.”
Cyber warfare has become one of the low-density, high-demand capabilities in which demand is always going to outstrip the supply, she said.
Like any warfare in the electromagnetic spectrum, there is a danger in damaging one’s own capabilities while attacking an enemy’s.
“We don’t want our solutions to be worse than what the adversary was going to do,” Tighe said.
Navy cyber forces not only support the combatant commanders and the fleets but also, on a national level, the National Security Agency.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Headset to Merge Night Vision, Thermal Imaging
New Headset to Merge Night Vision, Thermal Imaging | Defense Tech
The U.S. subsidiary of British defense giant BAE Systems Plc is developing a new headset that merges night vision and thermal imaging.
Soldiers typically wear night-vision goggles to see their surroundings in the dark, but use thermal sights mounted on their rifles to engage targets. Soon, they’ll be able to use one device for both tasks, the company announced in a release on Monday.
“On today’s battlefield, this slower approach, which is often further hampered by heavy smoke or bad weather, compromises soldiers’ safety and can reduce mission effectiveness,” it states. “By integrating night vision and thermal targeting capabilities into one sight displayed on the soldiers’ goggles, BAE Systems’ new solution allows troops to more easily acquire targets and engage faster.”
The company said it worked with the U.S Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate to develop the technology. It beat several unnamed competitors for the contract, which is valued at up to $434 million over five years.
BAE has received an initial award of $35 million for the program, known as the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle III and Family of Weapon Sight-Individual. It plans to build the headsets at its new factory in Hudson, New Hampshire.
It wasn’t immediately clear how much the product will cost. Initial production of the night vision will begin this summer, while the weapon sight is currently in development and will enter production next year, according to Paul Roberts, a spokesman for BAE’s electronic systems unit.
The headset may be fielded to soldiers downrange beginning in late fiscal 2016 or early fiscal 2017, Roberts said in an e-mail.
The technology relies on a wireless video interface to transfer imagery from the sight to the goggle, according to the release. This feature offers a number of advantages, such as eliminating the need for aiming lasers, a shorter engagement time, increased maneuverability and extended target acquisition range, it stated.
The product is the latest example of companies coming to market with optical systems designed to stream more data and information to shooters.
Earlier this year, smart rifle-maker TrackingPoint Inc. teamed with Recon Instruments to sync imagery from its high-tech scope system directly into protective glasses.
The Austin, Texas-based company showed off the product on in January at a range north of Las Vegas as part of SHOT Show, the biggest small arms show in the world. The glasses weren’t functional and only displayed static images. But officials said the technology will be ready for release this year, possibly in the spring.
The smart-rifle scope includes a Linux-powered computer with sensors that collect imagery and ballistic data such as atmospheric conditions, cant, inclination, even the slight shift of the Earth’s rotation known as the Coriolis effect. Because the computer is wireless-enabled, information can be streamed to a laptop, smart phone or tablet computer for spotting or to share intelligence.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army sets dates for new camo rollout
Source: Army sets dates for new camo rollout
The Army expects combat uniforms made of the new Operational Camouflage Pattern to start hitting store shelves on July 1, an Army official has confirmed.
New coyote brown boots to complement the new uniform won't be available until August, the source said.
New recruits should start receiving them in their clothing bags by January, according to the source, who has knowledge of the roll-out but requested anonymity.
Army public affairs declined to discuss the roll-out plan at this time.
Army Times' source said the target wear-out date of old ACUs made of the unpopular Universal Camouflage Pattern, has been set for October 2018. That means, until then, soldiers in garrison could see a mix of uniforms including MultiCam, which has been issued to soldiers deploying to Afghanistan since 2010 and more recently to those in Iraq.
Soldiers have clamored for more details on the new camo, and related wear rules.
The Army has yet to issue guidance on whether new darker accessories (boots, T-shirt, belt) can be worn with old uniforms or vice versa.
In early April, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno told a virtual town hall that OCP would be available in late summer or early fall, and would be issued in clothing bags soon after.
Both MultiCam, and OCP feature a more traditional (non-digital) camo pattern of muted greens, light beige and dark brown.
The Army had said there would be desert and jungle variants of OCP, but this far there have been no details or imagery of potential variants.
The new ACUs are expected to have design changes as well:
- The internal knee and elbow pads will be gone.
- The upper-sleeve pocket will be an inch longer and zippered instead of Velcro.
- The cargo pocket will lose its cord-and-barrel lock.
- And the lower leg pocket flap will have a button rather than Velcro.
Transhumanist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
- Messages
- 734
- Reaction score
- 36
- Country
- Location
Transhumanist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
- Messages
- 734
- Reaction score
- 36
- Country
- Location
Indus Falcon
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2011
- Messages
- 6,910
- Reaction score
- 107
- Country
- Location
US Navy Tests Raytheon’s ISR Technologies aboard M80 Stiletto
06.05.2015
US Navy Tests Raytheon’s ISR Technologies aboard M80 Stiletto
The U.S. Navy has successfully tested Raytheon’s advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technologies aboard the experimental ship known as the M80 Stiletto, while the vessel was underway.
The test took place during operations at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia.
The combined technology was created by combining two, proven Raytheon technologies: the Persistent Surveillance System Cross Domain Solution (PSS CDS) and Intersect™ Sentry. The successful test was conducted as part of the Stiletto Maritime Technology Demonstration Program.
PSS CDS receives critical data from multiple sensors and offers two-way sharing of information and commands across both classified and unclassified domains. Intersect™ Sentry is an automation and analysis tool that creates alerts from a variety of intelligence, sensor and reconnaissance data streams according to parameters defined by the user. Both systems have been successfully demonstrated in support of joint and coalition maritime operations.
During the Navy demonstration, Intersect™ Sentry automatically analyzed data streams and sent alerts to the PSS CDS for simultaneous display across various networks, creating a common operating picture for different users operating at multiple classification levels.
The recent capability demonstration, designated CD 15-2, was one of a series sponsored by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering. The Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program and the Stiletto vessel are operated by the U.S. Navy, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division.
US Navy Tests Raytheon’s ISR Technologies aboard M80 Stiletto | Naval Today
06.05.2015
The U.S. Navy has successfully tested Raytheon’s advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technologies aboard the experimental ship known as the M80 Stiletto, while the vessel was underway.
The test took place during operations at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia.
The combined technology was created by combining two, proven Raytheon technologies: the Persistent Surveillance System Cross Domain Solution (PSS CDS) and Intersect™ Sentry. The successful test was conducted as part of the Stiletto Maritime Technology Demonstration Program.
PSS CDS receives critical data from multiple sensors and offers two-way sharing of information and commands across both classified and unclassified domains. Intersect™ Sentry is an automation and analysis tool that creates alerts from a variety of intelligence, sensor and reconnaissance data streams according to parameters defined by the user. Both systems have been successfully demonstrated in support of joint and coalition maritime operations.
During the Navy demonstration, Intersect™ Sentry automatically analyzed data streams and sent alerts to the PSS CDS for simultaneous display across various networks, creating a common operating picture for different users operating at multiple classification levels.
The recent capability demonstration, designated CD 15-2, was one of a series sponsored by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering. The Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program and the Stiletto vessel are operated by the U.S. Navy, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division.
US Navy Tests Raytheon’s ISR Technologies aboard M80 Stiletto | Naval Today
Transhumanist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
- Messages
- 734
- Reaction score
- 36
- Country
- Location
USG Shows Off its Optionally-Manned Proteus Mini-Submarine
Huntington Ingalls’ Undersea Solutions Group showed off its Proteus mini submarine at the Navy League’s 2015 Sea-Air-Space Exposition.
The potent-looking vessel can serve as a unmanned underwater vehicle or a manned swimmer-delivery system.
The battery-powered Proteus can carry six combat swimmers 350 to 700 nautical miles, depending on the type of battery used, according to USG officials.
The wet sub measures 310 inches x 63.5 inches x 64 inches and weighs 8,240 pounds.
Proteus has a top speed of 10 knots. Undersea Solutions Group is the prime, working with Battelle and Bluefin Robotics on Proteus.
From USG Shows Off its Optionally-Manned Proteus Mini-Submarine | Defense Tech
===
Looks like a nice replacement from the SDV:
SEAL Delivery Vehicle
Huntington Ingalls’ Undersea Solutions Group showed off its Proteus mini submarine at the Navy League’s 2015 Sea-Air-Space Exposition.
The potent-looking vessel can serve as a unmanned underwater vehicle or a manned swimmer-delivery system.
The battery-powered Proteus can carry six combat swimmers 350 to 700 nautical miles, depending on the type of battery used, according to USG officials.
The wet sub measures 310 inches x 63.5 inches x 64 inches and weighs 8,240 pounds.
Proteus has a top speed of 10 knots. Undersea Solutions Group is the prime, working with Battelle and Bluefin Robotics on Proteus.
From USG Shows Off its Optionally-Manned Proteus Mini-Submarine | Defense Tech
===
Looks like a nice replacement from the SDV:
SEAL Delivery Vehicle
Transhumanist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- May 2, 2015
- Messages
- 734
- Reaction score
- 36
- Country
- Location
AMDR
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2014
- Messages
- 1,109
- Reaction score
- 16
- Country
- Location
Congress Adds $60 Million to Navy Submarine Upgrades
Congress Adds $60 Million to Navy Submarine Upgrades | Defense Tech
Lawmakers have added $60 million toward submarine upgrades to include unmanned aerial vehicles, torpedo enhancements and combat systems modernization.
The funding initiative, which moved the $60 million from Navy destroyer modernization over to submarine research and development, was put in place during the 2016 defense bill mark up by Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee.
“The undersea domain has been an area of historical US advantage, from World War II to the Cold War. To ensure our dominance in the years ahead, we must begin investing in technologies that hold the potential to sustain American undersea power. As our potential competitors make significant investments in the undersea realm, the U.S. must continue researching and developing the undersea technologies of the future,” Forbes said.
The R&D submarine funding is specifically earmarked for particular projects, including the development and deployment of undersea underwater and aerial unmanned vehicles.
One of the programs is called Fleet Modular Autonomous Unmanned Vehicle — a rapid development program to provide the Navy with the capability to safely ship, stow, and deploy an autonomous undersea vehicle with lithium batteries from a submarine torpedo tube. This technology also provides the capability to download mission data without physically docking to the submarine, Congressional sources said.
In addition, the dollars are allocated toward engineering submarine-launched Unmanned Aerial Systems also designed to deploy from a submarine torpedo tube for over-the-horizon targeting.
Additional funding for this effort will accelerate the development of a militarized antenna as well as an electronic warfare and cyber payload for the platform.
About $5.5 million of the funding is slated for hardware and software upgrades to the MK48 Heavyweight Torpedo weapons system. Additional torpedo upgrades include an initiative called the Torpedo Advanced Processor Build designed to improve computer processing speeds for the weapon and improve its probability of destroying targets. These improvements impact the weapon’s navigation system, target motion analysis and improved payload ballistics, Congressional officials explained.
Other areas of undersea innovation specified by the funding initiative are referred to as submarine combat and weapons control modernization efforts. This program will develop commercial off-the-shelf based software and hardware upgrades to integrate improved weapons control technologies for several submarine classes. This includes a technology which enables a torpedo to prepare to fire in less than one minute.
Called “attack in a minute,” this new technology hinges upon new software prototypes and designs, officials explained.
The stepped up funding for submarine technology is not surprising in light of the increased attention to the pace of global undersea modernization. Russia and China, in particular, are known to be making great strides when it comes to undersea technologies.
A recent study said emerging submarine detection technologies, computer processing power and platforms such as underwater drones could quickly erode the U.S. military’s global undersea dominance and ability to operate in high-threat areas such as locations near enemy coastlines.
The U.S. military relies upon submarines and undersea technological superiority for critical underwater intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions, which place assets near the surface fleet or coastline of a potential adversary.
In coming years, the technological margin of difference separating the U.S from potential rivals is expected to get much smaller, requiring the U.S. the re-think the role of manned submarines and prioritize innovation in the realm of undersea warfare, according to a January report by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments titled “The Emerging Era in Undersea Warfare.”
First female F-35 pilot begins training
First female F-35 pilot begins training > U.S. Air Force > Article Display
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- The Department of Defense welcomed its first female F-35 Lightning II pilot here May 5.
Lt. Col. Christine Mau, the 33rd Fighter Wing Operations Group deputy commander, completed her first training flight in the single-seat fifth-generation fighter following 14 virtual training missions in the full mission simulator at the F-35 Academic Training Center.
"It wasn't until I was taxiing to the runway that it really struck me that I was on my own in the jet," said Mau, formerly an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot. "I had a chase aircraft, but there was no weapons system officer or instructor pilot sitting behind me, and no one in my ear like in simulators."
And with that, like the other 87 F-35A pilots trained over the last four years, Mau thundered down the runway and was airborne as the first woman in the Air Force's premier fighter.
"It felt great to get airborne. The jet flies like a dream, and seeing the systems interact is impressive. Flying with the Helmet Mounted Display (System) takes some adjusting, but it's an easy adjustment," Mau said. "The training missions in the simulator prepare you very well, so you're ready for that flight."
The initial flight in the F-35 training syllabus is designed to orient pilots with the physical aspects of flying the F-35 compared to other fighters they've flown previously, such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15C Eagle, F-16 Falcon, A-10 Warthog or F-22 Raptor.
Women have served in combat aviation roles in those and other aircraft for more than 20 years.
Mau acknowledged that although she may be the first female in the F-35 program, her gender has no bearing on her performance as a fighter pilot. She joked that the only difference between her and her fellow F-35 pilots is the size of her G-suit and facemask -- they are both extra small.
"Flying is a great equalizer," Mau said. "The plane doesn't know or care about your gender as a pilot, nor do the ground troops who need your support. You just have to perform. That's all anyone cares about when you're up there -- that you can do your job, and that you do it exceptionally well."
Mau's combat experience and technical prowess in the cockpit were the primary draws for her selection to her position with the 33rd OG.
"Lt. Col. Mau brings a valuable level of combat and operational knowledge to our team," said Col. Todd Canterbury, the 33rd FW commander. "We're nearly a year out from declaring Initial Operational Capability with the F-35. We need battle-tested pilots to help us put the F-35A through its paces and ensure we have a trained and ready force of F-35 pilots to feed into our combat air forces."
Canterbury witnessed Mau's leadership and combat effectiveness first hand when they were both deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, where she was part of another important milestone for women in the combat aviation community.
While with the 389th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Mau was part of the first all-female combat sortie. The combat mission provided air support to coalition and Afghan forces in the Kunar Valley, Afghanistan. From the pilots and weapons system officers of the two F-15E jets to the mission planners and maintainers, the entire mission was carried out entirely by women.
"As a service, we need to attract the most innovative and skillful Airmen possible for one reason -- it makes us more effective," Canterbury said. "The broader the net that we cast into the talent pool, coupled with a laser focus on performance, ensures we have the best Airmen in place to carry out the mission. Performance is key, and it's the standard we hold all of our Airmen to in the Air Force."
Congress Adds $60 Million to Navy Submarine Upgrades | Defense Tech
Lawmakers have added $60 million toward submarine upgrades to include unmanned aerial vehicles, torpedo enhancements and combat systems modernization.
The funding initiative, which moved the $60 million from Navy destroyer modernization over to submarine research and development, was put in place during the 2016 defense bill mark up by Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee’s Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee.
“The undersea domain has been an area of historical US advantage, from World War II to the Cold War. To ensure our dominance in the years ahead, we must begin investing in technologies that hold the potential to sustain American undersea power. As our potential competitors make significant investments in the undersea realm, the U.S. must continue researching and developing the undersea technologies of the future,” Forbes said.
The R&D submarine funding is specifically earmarked for particular projects, including the development and deployment of undersea underwater and aerial unmanned vehicles.
One of the programs is called Fleet Modular Autonomous Unmanned Vehicle — a rapid development program to provide the Navy with the capability to safely ship, stow, and deploy an autonomous undersea vehicle with lithium batteries from a submarine torpedo tube. This technology also provides the capability to download mission data without physically docking to the submarine, Congressional sources said.
In addition, the dollars are allocated toward engineering submarine-launched Unmanned Aerial Systems also designed to deploy from a submarine torpedo tube for over-the-horizon targeting.
Additional funding for this effort will accelerate the development of a militarized antenna as well as an electronic warfare and cyber payload for the platform.
About $5.5 million of the funding is slated for hardware and software upgrades to the MK48 Heavyweight Torpedo weapons system. Additional torpedo upgrades include an initiative called the Torpedo Advanced Processor Build designed to improve computer processing speeds for the weapon and improve its probability of destroying targets. These improvements impact the weapon’s navigation system, target motion analysis and improved payload ballistics, Congressional officials explained.
Other areas of undersea innovation specified by the funding initiative are referred to as submarine combat and weapons control modernization efforts. This program will develop commercial off-the-shelf based software and hardware upgrades to integrate improved weapons control technologies for several submarine classes. This includes a technology which enables a torpedo to prepare to fire in less than one minute.
Called “attack in a minute,” this new technology hinges upon new software prototypes and designs, officials explained.
The stepped up funding for submarine technology is not surprising in light of the increased attention to the pace of global undersea modernization. Russia and China, in particular, are known to be making great strides when it comes to undersea technologies.
A recent study said emerging submarine detection technologies, computer processing power and platforms such as underwater drones could quickly erode the U.S. military’s global undersea dominance and ability to operate in high-threat areas such as locations near enemy coastlines.
The U.S. military relies upon submarines and undersea technological superiority for critical underwater intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions, which place assets near the surface fleet or coastline of a potential adversary.
In coming years, the technological margin of difference separating the U.S from potential rivals is expected to get much smaller, requiring the U.S. the re-think the role of manned submarines and prioritize innovation in the realm of undersea warfare, according to a January report by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments titled “The Emerging Era in Undersea Warfare.”
First female F-35 pilot begins training
First female F-35 pilot begins training > U.S. Air Force > Article Display
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- The Department of Defense welcomed its first female F-35 Lightning II pilot here May 5.
Lt. Col. Christine Mau, the 33rd Fighter Wing Operations Group deputy commander, completed her first training flight in the single-seat fifth-generation fighter following 14 virtual training missions in the full mission simulator at the F-35 Academic Training Center.
"It wasn't until I was taxiing to the runway that it really struck me that I was on my own in the jet," said Mau, formerly an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot. "I had a chase aircraft, but there was no weapons system officer or instructor pilot sitting behind me, and no one in my ear like in simulators."
And with that, like the other 87 F-35A pilots trained over the last four years, Mau thundered down the runway and was airborne as the first woman in the Air Force's premier fighter.
"It felt great to get airborne. The jet flies like a dream, and seeing the systems interact is impressive. Flying with the Helmet Mounted Display (System) takes some adjusting, but it's an easy adjustment," Mau said. "The training missions in the simulator prepare you very well, so you're ready for that flight."
The initial flight in the F-35 training syllabus is designed to orient pilots with the physical aspects of flying the F-35 compared to other fighters they've flown previously, such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15C Eagle, F-16 Falcon, A-10 Warthog or F-22 Raptor.
Women have served in combat aviation roles in those and other aircraft for more than 20 years.
Mau acknowledged that although she may be the first female in the F-35 program, her gender has no bearing on her performance as a fighter pilot. She joked that the only difference between her and her fellow F-35 pilots is the size of her G-suit and facemask -- they are both extra small.
"Flying is a great equalizer," Mau said. "The plane doesn't know or care about your gender as a pilot, nor do the ground troops who need your support. You just have to perform. That's all anyone cares about when you're up there -- that you can do your job, and that you do it exceptionally well."
Mau's combat experience and technical prowess in the cockpit were the primary draws for her selection to her position with the 33rd OG.
"Lt. Col. Mau brings a valuable level of combat and operational knowledge to our team," said Col. Todd Canterbury, the 33rd FW commander. "We're nearly a year out from declaring Initial Operational Capability with the F-35. We need battle-tested pilots to help us put the F-35A through its paces and ensure we have a trained and ready force of F-35 pilots to feed into our combat air forces."
Canterbury witnessed Mau's leadership and combat effectiveness first hand when they were both deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, where she was part of another important milestone for women in the combat aviation community.
While with the 389th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Mau was part of the first all-female combat sortie. The combat mission provided air support to coalition and Afghan forces in the Kunar Valley, Afghanistan. From the pilots and weapons system officers of the two F-15E jets to the mission planners and maintainers, the entire mission was carried out entirely by women.
"As a service, we need to attract the most innovative and skillful Airmen possible for one reason -- it makes us more effective," Canterbury said. "The broader the net that we cast into the talent pool, coupled with a laser focus on performance, ensures we have the best Airmen in place to carry out the mission. Performance is key, and it's the standard we hold all of our Airmen to in the Air Force."
