Commander's Corner

44 Pages·2012·5.95 MB·English

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www.tacticaldefensemedia.com | January 2012
Commander’s
Corner
BG Thomas S. James
Commandant
U.S. Army Armor School
Fort Benning, GA
Special Section:
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DIAP Rifles, Optics & Handguns
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Armor & Mobility
January 2012
Contents Recurring Highlights
Evolving to Meet the Threat: Next-Generation Strategic Leadership:
Body Armor PEO Ammo
DoD is working to field the latest in body armor enhanced small arms 26 Program Executive Office Ammunition
3 protective inserts (ESAPI) to meet warfighter protection needs. manages life cycle acquisition of
By Kevin Hunter ammunition families.
By Picatinny Public Affairs
Rugged on the Move:
Special Section: Rifles, Optics & Handguns Mobile SOF Comms:
A&M looks at the latest in digital optic, multiple round firearms 29 Flexible and Secure
being used by today’s regular military and special Mobile Internet Protocol-based comms
6 operations soldier. are providing regular military and
By Joe Talley SOF greater connectivity without the
demands of SATCOM.
By Dave Meadows
Joint C2: From Ship to Shore
The U.S. Army PEO C3T is fielding a new Harbormaster Command and
Control Center (HCCC) to help streamline ship docking operations.
Emerging Forecast:
24 By Amy Walker Picatinny Arsenal
37 Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, is DoD’s Joint
Center of Excellence for armaments
Industry Partner: TEA Tactical Headsets
and munitions.
An industry leading provider of comms headsets, push-to-talk devices
By Picatinny Public Affairs
for two-way radios, vehicle intercom and mobile phones to special ops
32
and regular military forces.
By Nicholas D. Lafferty 40 Ad Index/Calendar of Events
Clandestine Precision
International Sniper teams come together at Ft. Benning, GA to compete
tactically and technically, sharing training initiatives and battlefield
33 lessons learned.
By Joe Talley
Commander’s Corner
BG Thomas S. James
For your complimentary subscription,
Commandant
please visit our website at
U.S. Army Armor School
tacticaldefensemedia.com
Fort Benning, GA
21
www.tacticaldefensemedia.com Armor & Mobility January 2012 | 1
Insights
With a new year come new expectations for a DoD facing the constraints of a tightening
budget and force downsizing requirements in the wake of a long-awaited full operational
Armor & Mobility ISSN: 2154-4476 withdrawal from Iraq. In this, the 2012 kick-off issue of A&M, readers can expect an inside
is published six times a year by look at the weapons and armor that protect the nation’s “boots on the ground”. From
Tactical Defense Media, Inc. the latest in rifles and side arms to the newest composite protective body armor insert
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without technology, the nation will continue to need the best in offensive and defensive equipment to
permission is strictly forbidden. ©2012
ensure it fields the best fighting force.
Armor & Mobility is free to members of the U.S.
In this Issue’s big Special Section, A&M takes readers into the world of “Rifles, Optics
military, employees of the U.S. government,
and Handguns” and the weaponry that provides the nation’s warfighters with the critical
non-U.S. foreign service based in the U.S. and
edge they need to survive and win the fight. From dismounted to mounted protection, an
defense contractors. All TDM publications are sent
electronically to international readers. exclusive Q&A interview with BG Tom James, Commandant, U.S. Army Armor School sheds
light on the training and programs being implemented at the U.S. Army Armor School, Ft.
Mailing Address Benning, GA. In another featured article, see how the latest in individualized composite
Tactical Defense Media, Inc.
enhanced small arms protective insert (ESAPI) body armor is protecting those in the fight.
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[email protected] intelligent control box that can be adapted on the fly to work with multiple comms sources.
Bi-Monthly Publication Be sure not to miss A&M’s Recurring Highlights as this issue profiles Program Executive
Office Ammunition (PEO Ammo) and its work to provide the joint services with a cutting
edge arsenal of firepower fit for the world’s greatest military. This month’s Rugged on the
Move column takes a look at Mobile SOF Comms and the evolution of SATCOM-reliant
systems to IP-based voice, video and data applications requiring less bandwidth and less
transmission time.
Quarterly Publications
As always, feel free to contact me with questions, comments. Thanks for your readership!
Kevin Hunter
Editor
Tactical Defense Media
[email protected]
301-974-9792
DoD
Letter to the Editor
DoSpDecial Sections
Kevin:
I recently had a chance to meet Armor and Mobility’s publisher, Sonia Bagherian at the 2011
Soldier Equipment and Technology Expo, Ft Bragg last week. It was great to get a chance to
thank Armor & Mobility, personally.

I have been with Ancra Military Products, a new division of Ancra International, LLC, for
only a few months and A&M really helped me get up to speed quickly. The articles are
very informative and there is a good mix of DoD and industry. Many of our customers are
featured in A&M as well. Thank you for a very well designed trade publication that our entire
industry truly enjoys.

As the current military vehicle needs are changing, I can count on A&M to keep me informed
on many of the ongoing developments and future needs of the US Military Vehicle fleet.

Thank you!
Semper Fi
Bill Frazier
Ancra Military Products
2 | Armor & Mobility January 2012 www.tacticaldefensemedia.com
The latest in enhanced ballistic body
P i
rotective nserts
armor protection is meeting the changing
application needs of joint warfighters in
In 1998, BAE Systems Protection Systems began
combat.
producing Small Arms Protective Insert (SAPI) plates for
delivery to the U.S. joint services. Since then, BAE Systems
has delivered more than 1.2 million hard armor plates to
By Kevin Hunter, A&M Editor
DoD.
The threat to servicemen on today’s battlefield is primarily
threefold. First, soldiers may receive direct fire from rifles, “There have been over 15 different SAPI designs
either in a battle situation, or from an ever increasing threat: developed in the last 13 years and despite the decline in
well-placed, accurate, rounds from snipers. Next, troops defense spending, we are exploring new opportunities to
face shrapnel and fragmentation from grenades, RPGs, develop future designs that will cut costs, decrease weight
mortars and IEDs. Finally, as IEDs and EFPs (explosively- and provide greater protection,” said Greg Kraak, Director of
formed projectiles, or shaped charges) increase in Warfighter Equipment for BAE Systems.
lethality, troops face the increasing devastation of
the actual blast effect, overpressure and violent In late 2010, BAE Systems Protection Systems
burning from exploding munition. received a contract award from the U.S. Army
Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier to inspect
To protect warfighters from these threats, body and repair Enhanced Small Arms Proective Insert
armor is produced in a variety of shapes and (ESAPI) plates under a Readiness and Sustainment
materials and recent improvements are helping contract modification valued at $6.3 million.
to provide these servicemembers with protection The Readiness and Sustainment work included
critical to their survival. inspecting plates returned from theater for damage
Greg Kraak
BAE Systems
www.tacticaldefensemedia.com Armor & Mobility January 2012 | 3
and replacing the outside spall covers, which are used to armor system produced by Pinnacle Armor, Inc. contains a
contain debris upon impact. flexible mesh of disks that wraps continuously around the
torso. Dragon Skin SOV 3000 uses disk mesh material that
The $6.3 million contract modification is part of an provides greater surface area coverage cumulatively than
existing contract issued in October 2008 and will be ESAPI plates, however, brings overall added weight above
performed through a series of delivery orders. Repair work OTV applications currently used by DoD.
for the ESAPI plates will be completed at facilities located
in Phoenix, Arizona with completion scheduled for October Surface area of the Interceptor OTV not protected by the
2013. plates is rated to provide ballistic protection only up to 9mm
ammunition or fragmentation, similar to earlier FLAK vests.
t v e
actical est volution The Dragon Skin outer vest is similarly rated to stop 9mm
and fragmentation.
As of early 2010, the U.S. Army’s Interceptor Body
iotv
Armor (IBA) system employed two main variants, the
original Outer Tactical Vest (OTV), used with the Small
Arms Protective Insert (SAPI) ballistic plates series; and the With a continuing emphasis on trying to lower the weight
newer Improved Outer Tactical Vest, (IOTV), used with the of the plates while insuring they can defeat the most lethal
Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert (ESAPI) ballistic plate threat they will encounter on the battlefield, scientists
series technology. are engaged in research that seeks to make the
armor lighter and more durable while being able to
Interceptor armor has been produced for withstand the entire range of threats encountered
the U.S. military since 1998 receiving its first anywhere in the world.
recognition as part of Operation Anaconda in 2001.
Side-SAPI/ESBI plates were first issued to troops in In an effort to provide stronger yet lighter
November 2003 in response to wounds attributed protection, the U.S. Army introduced its Improved
to a lack of side protection from rifle rounds. Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV), a modular, lightweight
Original Interceptor OTV variant was re-designed, tactical vest developed to supersede the current
improved, and enhanced with the introduction of OTV system. IOTV provides greater ballistic
the Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) body armor LTC Frank J. Lozano protection and improved user comfort over OTV in
PEO Soldier
for the U.S. Army, which began to be issued to ground a modular, lightweight tactical vest. The system is compatible
combat units in late 2007. with SAPI, ESAPI and Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts (ESBI).
After initially using the OTV as their body armor system, “Balancing weight and protection remains a priority and
the U.S. Marine Corps developed a completely new armor focus for the Army, said LTC Frank J. Lozano, Product
system, the Modular Tactical Vest (MTV), which is currently Manager-Soldier Protective Equipment, PEO Soldier. “We
their primary body armor system. Some U.S. Navy ground continue to invest in armor plates, soft armor vest and head
force personnel, such as the Seabees and Corpsmen, use protection that optimizes area of coverage, form, fit and
the MTV. Other Navy personnel on Individual Augmentee function providing both the required protection and comfort
assignments use the Army body armor systems. enabling long-term soldier use.”
The Interceptor vest consists of a soft ballistic nylon vest The IOTV provides a number of features to improve
shell with a lining of soft Kevlar cloth- the vest holds four rigid wearer comfort and overall performance as compared to the
armor plates each (2 front/back ESAPI, or Enhanced Small existing OTV. In addition to reducing total system weight, the
Arms Protective Insert plates and 2 side-SAPI/Enhanced IOTV design incorporates enhanced ballistic coverage while
Side Ballistic Insert (ESBI) plates. improving fit, ergonomics and user mobility. Side closures,
emergency quick-release and medical access capabilities
Many forces prefer a flexible armor as this type of further enhance the system’s performance.
protection interferes less with the requirements of combat,
such as shooting, running, climbing and entering or exiting The IOTV is compatible with all auxiliary components
vehicles. As a side note, a July 2005 Army study of the (yoke/collar, throat protector and groin protector) associated
effects of rigid body armor on the lethality of shooters with Interceptor Body Armor. BAE Systems IOTV improves
indicated that soldiers wearing the Interceptor shot better at wearer comfort and overall performance compared to the
targets closer than 150 meters, and shot worse at targets OTV. Side closures, emergency quick release and medical
farther than 200 meters. access capability further enhance the system’s performance.
The Interceptor’s main ESAPI plates consist of 10x12 “BAE Systems partnered with the U.S. Army to bring
inch, rigid, carbon boride ceramic plates backed by “layers of development of the IOTV to life,” said Kraak. “In addition
non-woven film.” The “side-SAPI” plates are similar at about to the modularity of the system, the IOTV brings a quick-
6x8 inches each. In contrast, Dragon Skin, a flexible body release element that the former OTV did not have. This
4 | Armor & Mobility January 2012 www.tacticaldefensemedia.com
feature is critical to helping the warfighter don and In addition to the manufacturing requirements
doff the equipment in extreme situations or in a for ESAPI, XSAPI and their side plates, Ceradyne
medical emergency.” is the sole source supplier to USSOCOM delivering
a “family” of body armor plate solutions called
In addition to reducing total system weight, “BALCS” which allows special operations
the IOTV design incorporates enhanced ballistic personnel of all branches to scale their body armor
coverage while improving fit, ergonomics and user requirements to specific mission needs.
mobility. Side closures, emergency quick-release
t i F
and medical access capabilities further enhance the he mmediate uture
system’s performance.
Marc King
President, Ceradyne Both the Army and Marine Corps are in the
soF Protection Armor Systems process of procuring more advanced models of the
Interceptor OTV that provide more extensive fragmentation
Beginning as a boutique industry supplier to Special protection. The systems still rely on the standard ESAPI/
Operations Forces (SOF) for specific real world field ESBI plate protection with no immediate increase in “rifle
requirements, Ceradyne, Inc. evolved into a major supplier stopping coverage” as part of these advanced models.
of SAPI, ESAPI, XSAPI and associated side plates for PM
Soldier, the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
More info: www.peosoldier.com
and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).
Most recently, Ceradyne has focused its manufacturing For your complimentary subscription, please
expertise and attention on ESAPI which has moved into the visit our website at tacticaldefensemedia.com
sustainment supply phase for the DoD. “We manufacture
ESAPI to the demanding requirements of the military’s
Purchase Description,” said Marc King, president of
Ceradyne Armor Systems.
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www.tacticaldefensemedia.com Armor & Mobility January 2012 | 5
Rifles,
Optics & Handguns
By Joe Talley, Independent Security Consultant
There rarely comes a time where the rifle or handgun have of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps have heavily driven the
become more of a focal point of discussion for the military, development and acquisition process of modern small arms-
government, industry, law enforcement and consumers than for today and tomorrow. A recent examination of the different
today. Modern conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have only aspects of Battlefield Effectiveness by PEO Soldier, the entity
increased this focus on our basic combat systems, while in charge of the direction of weapons procurement, highlights
rapidly generating advancements in technology from hyper- a “framework” as to how Army leaders emphasize their focus
lethality to advancements in keeping servicemen alive. At no and decision-making process:
other time has there been a greater period of change in terms
W + a + o + t (+
of our military forces and their cumulative effect on the shooting eaPons mmo Ptics raining
s ) = B e
industry: the oldier attleField FFectiveness
• U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps are currently fielding The effectiveness of the American soldier on the battlefield
critical small arms weapon systems and changing unit is a culmination of the technologies he is equipped with in
Tables of Organization (TOEs) and Standards Operating terms of his weapon and equipment, the fundamentals of his
Procedures (SOPs) to reflect combat experiences with training, and his core strengths as a member of an effective
these new systems fighting unit.
• U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps are facing the first Armor & Mobility has created this Special Section in order to
widespread use of new types of ammunition address these key areas of focus which carry over to the overall
shooting industry as the relationship between the military, law
• U.S. Army is conducting a major small arms competition enforcement and manufacturers has been consistently driven
which may set the direction for its assault rifle production by the needs identified over ten years of combat in Iraq and
for decades Afghanistan.
• U.S. Army is releasing a new set of requirements to begin Through an in-depth focus on the current issues relating
a similar process for its handguns to weapons, ammunition, optics and other targeting tools,
and finally training as it applies to the major product consumer
• U.S. government faces critical economic challenges while groups – the U.S. Army and Marine Corps – Armor & Mobility
trying to manage new technologies and the realities of aims to highlight how the latest technologies and key events
rapidly changing threats and battlefield conditions occurring within the current political and economic climate are
driving decisions that will effect the shooting industry for years
While commercial, law enforcement and military needs all to come.
affect the shooting industry in different ways, the combat needs
6 | Armor & Mobility January 2012 www.tacticaldefensemedia.com
“This is my rifle. There are many like it, but the individual carBine (ic) comPetition
this one is mine.
For the last three years, most carbine manufacturers have
I will learn its weaknesses, its strength,
focused their attention on the approaching competition, looking
for an opportunity to compare their AR-based platforms against
its parts, its accessories, its sights and its
the standards set by the current M4, in terms of accuracy,
barrel… I will keep my rifle clean and ready.
reliability and price. The IC competition ultimately resulted from
previous, limited performance tests (the Carbine Dust test)
We will become part of each other…
where other carbines performed better than the M4 in terms of
So be it, until victory is America’s and there is stoppages. Congressional attention to the matter may have also
no enemy, but peace!” influenced PEO Soldier to conduct the competition.
PEO Soldier Weapons PM Colonel Scott Armstrong
- excerpt from the Rifleman’s Creed, United States Marine Corps
discussed the IC competition with Armor & Mobility magazine.
PEO Soldier is currently staging a two-year, $30 million, multi-
Every Marine recruit learns how critical their rifle is to phase test of competitors’ platforms, ultimately selecting one
their survival through this timeless Creed, and this is one of winner from the competition. At that time, the Army may pursue
the founding philosophies of combat training. There is even several options. They could decide to execute an initial $150
greater focus placed on the rifle as the basic combat element million contract to build a new carbine and eventually replace the
today, more than ever before, as the shooting industry and the current fleet of both M4s and M16s (pure fleet) – this would likely
military are facing a perfect storm of economic and political be the most costly option.
change set against rapidly improving technology. While there
are always significant developments in law enforcement, Alternatively, the Army could create a mixed fleet by replacing
competition and commercial shooting technologies, one of the the M16’s with the new carbines and improving the existing
regular drivers of weapons development is the need for ever M4s to M4A1s for the combat support users. Finally, they could
increasing lethality and reliability of the rifleman. decide not to change weapons and “pure fleet” all of the M4s
to M4A1s (likely the least expensive option here). The overall
t c l
he urrent andscaPe time horizon could be from at least 6 to 10 years to completion,
depending on how many weapons would eventually be replaced.
The latest iteration of change is being driven by the
U.S. Army’s Individual Carbine (IC) competition which finally From PEO Soldier, the three phases include:
kicked off in October 2011. This three-year competition will
result in a winner which may or may not replace the current Phase I:Occuring in Early 2012 – The competition is
Colt M4 Carbine. The stakes – currently, there are 500,000 measuring Nonfiring Attributes and Cost Proposals
M4s used by combat troops and another 600,000 M16s
used by combat support troops. The Army has developed Phase II:Later in 2012 – The competition is conducting Initial
a “dual path strategy” that involves a “Product Improvement Test Firing – This is 800,000 M855A1 rounds – the Army’s new
Program” along with the carbine competition. The current plan 5.56 mm round – fired at Aberdeen Test Center, Maryland
is to improve the Army’s existing inventory first- by producing
24,000 new M4A1s, and second-, possibly upgrading 65,000 Phase III:By 2013 – The competition will “down select” to 3
current M4s to M4A1s, depending on the results of the IC vendors who will then each receive a contract to produce a test
competition and any decisions related to an acquisition. The group of their weapons for a Limited User Evaluation – in a test
current M4 costs the U.S. government about $1,300-$1,400 environment and based on user performance and feedback.
per unit. COL Armstrong notes that this will be “as close as we can get
to combat” but was not able to confirm if this included fielding
Converting an M4 to an M4A1 involves refurbishing the in combat.
20-year old model with new kits that include replacing the
bolt assembly, a heavier barrel for a higher cyclic rate (now Once there is a winner, PEO Soldier will then conduct a cost
full auto), improved trigger, and ambidextrous controls for left- benefit analysis regarding the value of purchasing new carbines
handers. This is like installing a Holley four-barrel carburetor at that time, likely in 2014 or later.
and new pipes on a rebuilt 1980 Corvette or, at least building
that same car new now. With a higher octane gas (improved The competition process itself is unique compared to
ammunition), the car runs a little faster and a little cleaner. previous weapon solicitations. Part of the process of the
There are definite improvements to lethality and reliability to a evaluation included requiring the competitors to use the Army’s
proven platform and DI operating system. An improved M4A1 new M855A1 round, which has different characteristics of similar
with a well-tuned carburetor still runs differently. however, from 5.56 mm rounds. Since the round is not commercially available,
modern fuel injection. the Army provided the opportunity for vendors to test fire up
to 10,800 rounds of the new ammo in their carbines to shoot
www.tacticaldefensemedia.com Armor & Mobility January 2012 | 7
RIFLES
the ammo, make changes to their models, and then reshoot
to confirm their changes prior to the actual competition. This
occurred over a four-day period in Spring 2011 at H.P. White Colt Defense: CM901 or “Enhanced M4”
Labs in Maryland. Vendors would be able to use the lab’s video
In speaking with
and testing equipment or they could bring their own if necessary.
Colt Defense, they
confirmed that they
c o
aliBer Pen
did have an entry,
but they were careful
The competition was also unique in that it allowed for entries
not to provide any comments beyond that in order to not
of any caliber to be considered, whether this was 5.56 mm,
influence it’s participation in the competition. Industry sources
7.62 mm, or anywhere in between. This might have been more
have highlighted Colt’s modular CM901 as a solid replacement
attractive than past solicitations to a number of modular entries
for the M4- not only was it designed to fit all legacy M4/M16
such as Colt’s CM901 carbine where the model has the option to
upper receiver assemblies and has a more accurate, free-
be rapidly converted between 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm calibers, or
floating barrel, it now could convert from 5.56mm to 7.62mm
changing barrel lengths, at the individual soldier level. According
(“in seconds” according to company literature). Beyond
to industry sources, however, the competition does not award
changing barrel lengths and caliber, it can also be configured
merit for this modularity, probably in an attempt to ensure that the
for different gas impingement, piston or hybrid gas / piston
competition was as fair and equal as possible. Each vendor was
operating systems at the unit level.
only allowed to submit one specific model for entry.
It has been reported that Colt ultimately did not enter the
At the same time, the weight requirement (believed to be
CM901 in the competition- given the adaptability and
around 8 lbs based on a full magazine) was a set requirement –
compatability of the CM901 design it provides a platform that
therefore, this likely would limit most competitors to only 5.56 mm
matches a majority of carbines and rifles beyond the Army. It
caliber entries as a modular carbine or a larger caliber would likely
is likely that Colt did not want to provide the technical data
not be light enough to meet the competition requirements. As an
rights to the Army as part of the package to produce only
example, the standard FN SCAR-H 7.62mm version weighs just
one third of a potential contract. Weight may have also been
around 8 lbs- before adding the 20-30 rounds of ammunition.
a factor as the 5.56mm version with a 14.5 in. barrel weighs
about 7.5 lbs without a magazine. Ultimately, it looks like they
Another significant sign of the times was the requirement that
may have entered a variation of their M4 that outperforms the
the competitor sign over the technical data rights package for
M4A1.
the winning entry in the event the Army decided to contract the
vendor to produce the carbine on a wide basis. This requirement FN Herstal: The SCAR - L
allowed for the Army to spread the production between the
winner and two other companies, with each being contracted to The SOF Combat
produce one third of the carbines. While the Army would need Assault Rifle is the
to negotiate a large enough payment to the vendor for the initial result of a SOCOM-
contract, this would then allow the Army to take the design to driven competition for
any other vendor for future production orders, or just produce the a modular weapon
actual carbines itself without outsourcing the contract. system that could be quickly modified between different
barrel lengths at the user level. In 2009, members of the 75th
On a final note, the U.S. Marine Corps announced in Ranger Regiment used them in combat. The initial contract
late November that they were bowing out of the competition of 600 SCARs was fielded for $634,390, or approximately
themselves. In a decision which reflects the overall Marine Corps $1,050 per gun in 2004. By 2010, SOCOM cancelled
decisions on spending across programs, they announced that the SCAR-L production citing lack of funds and limited
they will instead upgrade their existing M16A4’s and M4’s. performance difference from the M4. The remaining funds
were used to purchase 7.62 mm SCAR-H models and their
the challengers 5.56mm conversion kits.
In Spring 2011, PEO Soldier conducted a pre-solicitation With a short-stroke, gas-piston operating system and
conference to explain the competition and “ensure that everyone free-floating barrel for greater accuracy, the SCAR is
was on the same level”, according to COL Armstrong, with over manufactured in two versions: SCAR-L (Light) and SCAR-H
40 different vendors expressing interest. By the time the bids were (Heavy). The SCAR-L version fires 5.56×45mm NATO using
required to be submitted in October, a number of major industry improved “STANAG” M16 magazines. The SCAR-H fires the
vendor had opted out of the competition. As an additional note 7.62×51mm NATO from a 20-round magazine. Both models
to the competition, vendors were required to present a proposal utilize different length barrels dependent upon CQB or longer-
that highlighted their experience in mass production of a similar range needs.
weapon, and also the capability of being able to produce the
winning entry in US-based facilities on a large scale. It is likely that the SCAR-L was submitted as the SCAR-H was
likely to be too heavy to be meet competition requirements.
8 | Armor & Mobility January 2012 www.tacticaldefensemedia.com