US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

SinoSoldier

Colonel
The Army Is Testing a Missile-Proof 'Iron Curtain'...


"The U.S. Army is testing a system designed to protect military vehicles smaller than tanks from attacks. The "Iron Curtain" uses a combination of sensors and downward-firing projectiles to stop incoming rockets and missiles from striking vehicles by setting off their shaped charge warheads. The result could be vehicles as small Humvees protected from anti-tank guided weapons.

The proliferation of anti-tank weapons with shaped charges has made the modern battlefield very deadly for any vehicle daring to cross it. High explosive, anti-tank (HEAT) warheads are found on everything from shoulder-fired rocket propelled grenade launchers of the Taliban to Kornet-EM anti-tank guided missiles arming the Russian Army. Defeating them is one of the Army’s top concerns, and a brigade of Abrams tanks equipped with the Israeli Trophy active protection system (APS) is headed to Europe in the near future."

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The issue with this system and the Israeli Trophy or Chinese GL-5 is that any personnel that happens to be in the vicinity of the blast would be killed. The best way would be to develop a high-powered laser than can destroy such warheads at a greater distance. Or maybe even a "mini" CIWS-type system that uses small-arms-caliber ammunition.

I wonder if the Russian Afghanit system has improved on this.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
The Army Is Testing a Missile-Proof 'Iron Curtain'...


"The U.S. Army is testing a system designed to protect military vehicles smaller than tanks from attacks. The "Iron Curtain" uses a combination of sensors and downward-firing projectiles to stop incoming rockets and missiles from striking vehicles by setting off their shaped charge warheads. The result could be vehicles as small Humvees protected from anti-tank guided weapons.

The proliferation of anti-tank weapons with shaped charges has made the modern battlefield very deadly for any vehicle daring to cross it. High explosive, anti-tank (HEAT) warheads are found on everything from shoulder-fired rocket propelled grenade launchers of the Taliban to Kornet-EM anti-tank guided missiles arming the Russian Army. Defeating them is one of the Army’s top concerns, and a brigade of Abrams tanks equipped with the Israeli Trophy active protection system (APS) is headed to Europe in the near future."

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Sounds very similar to the Trophy active protection system.
No and Yes

First The US Army is investing in three Hard kill APS system. Rafael Trophy though Leonardo which is going on Abrams. IMI ( being merged into Elbit ) Iron Fist and The American Artis Iron Curtain.
Now at there most basic these are operating on the same principle. you fire a interceptor at a inbound projectile. But the Three systems work very differently.

Trophy aka ASPRO-A or Windbreaker is the Only Proven APS system this side of the former iron Curtain ( the political one). Trophy uses Millimeter Wave radar to detect and range a inbound threat. The computer calculates trajectory speed and likely nature of the threat then adjusts one two Interceptor launchers and at a set time fires. The interceptor is a pack of 35 Explosively formed projectiles that operate on a shotgun principle to destroy the threat.
The problem... Trophy has issues especially on light vehicles why? Explosively formed projectiles. If you look at a Trophy launcher behind the launcher there is a "box".
Merkeva 4 Tank with Trophy HV note the octagonal radar and counter measure with launcher.
trophyot3.jpg.0760af9dcaf93f5b9b2f566bce583588.jpg
That box is a shield to prevent damage to the host by the Explosive. this places limits on how many and where the launchers can be placed and the full size countermeasure system being added to Abrams and currently on Merkeva 4 cannot be mounted on a thin skinned vehicles as the explosive force would damage the host. This also limits the effects of the countermeasure. The countermeasure can rotate around but cannot defend from attack behind that shield. that Shield mind you is to protect sensitive things like optics, Machine guns or Tank commanders that have a sensitivity to Explosively formed projectiles. Near by Infantry also have a sensitivity to such systems... very bad for moral.
Rafael introduced the MV version of the Trophy system for use on Medium weigh armored vehicles like IFV's, and these systems can be coupled with a Soft kill system. v Trophy MV being tested on a Stryker a number of years back.
Trophy_on_Stryker_b.jpg
To get around this Rafael introduced a second APS system dubbed Trophy Light Vehicle which I will touch on later, but is not being looked at by the US Army.

Iron Curtain Basically radars on the Vehicle detect a inbound threat, and calculate time of impact. before impact a Shaped charge set in a overhanging structure will fire. the Blast destroying the Threat, In theory, however leave the potential for top attack and offer no defense for Explosively formed projectiles, Sabots or ATGMS. Where they shine though is more against Recoiless weapons and offered best on Utility vehicles like Humvees, L-ATVs, MRAPS and the like. Interestingly the Army has been testing Iron Curtain on a Stryker. Iron Curtain works in a similar way to Trophy LV. These are a Different system from the Trophy HV and MV versions described above.
This is a M-ATV mrap fitted with Iron Curtain
Iron-Curtain-APS.jpg
This is a MATV with Trophy LV note optics an radar modules.
TrophyLV 2.JPG
as I said they Work in a similar manor but are not interchangeable although the Iron Curtain system does share it's radar with Iron Fist.

Iron Fist by IMI ( now part of Elbit systems) works on a Third concept the US army has been testing it on a Bradley.
This system works again having a radar to detect an inbound threat it then launches a Blast Grenade from one of up to 4 turret style launchers this grenade gets in about a foot or 2 of the threat and detonates.
if-lc_725.gif
Iron fist has the nice feature that it can be mounted on just about any weight of vehicle and across the range of treats but with a critical limit to the number of countermeasures and risk to anything that might be on the top of the tank like say a Optical sighting system, remote weapon or a Tank Commander ( getting a large Blast fragmentation grenade fired at you is a pretty emotional event). to get around this IMI also introduced the Bright arrow system which combines a Iron fist launcher with a remote weapons station.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
The issue with this system and the Israeli Trophy or Chinese GL-5 is that any personnel that happens to be in the vicinity of the blast would be killed. The best way would be to develop a high-powered laser than can destroy such warheads at a greater distance. Or maybe even a "mini" CIWS-type system that uses small-arms-caliber ammunition.
The problem with a laser is power, The Problem with small arms ammo is although you might be able to take a RPG round Hardkill APS are intended to cover a range of threats including but not limited to RPGs, ATGM, HEAT shells, HESH shells, even some Sabot rounds can be countered depending on system. those demand a more substantial system to counter them.
I wonder if the Russian Afghanit system has improved on this.
not likely. Afghanit is a evolution of Arena which is a evolution of Drozd which works in a way akin to GL5. these use fixed countermeasure launchers which place limits on there defenses The countermeasure is either a Explosively formed Projectile or Fragmentation warhead which means that any infantry in the path is going to have a very bad day.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
V-280 Valor hits cruise speeds

By:
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  4 hours ago

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demonstrator has now flown in cruise mode, reaching 190 knots.

To achieve cruise mode, the rotors in the V-280 pivot from vertical lift to fully forward-facing. While the company reached 190 knots in recent flight tests, it will continue to expand the envelope until it reaches an expected speed of 280 knots, a company spokesman told Defense News on May 15.

The aircraft is part of the Joint Multi-Role Demonstration program that will inform the U.S. military on requirements for a fleet of future helicopters expected to come online,
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.

There are two demonstrator aircraft involved in the program: Bell’s aircraft, and a Sikorsky-Boeing coaxial demonstrator
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.

Bell
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in December. Sikorsky and Boeing plan to begin flying their aircraft by the end of 2018.

According to Bell, the V-280 has logged more than 90 hours of rotor turn and more than 27 hours of flight time. The aircraft has been put through the paces of ground taxi and hover taxi tests as well as low-altitude hovering maneuvers to include 360-degree pedal turns and forward/aft/lateral repositions and 60 knot roll-on landings.
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stuff the SDF:
Lawmakers seek $7.5 billion to counter China’s rise

9 hours ago
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The U.S. should forge stronger military ties with Taiwan and add $7.5 billion in national defense spending in the Pacific region in order to
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, according to a legislative proposal from four U.S. senators.

The bipartisan
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, or ARIA, would authorize $1.5 billion annually for five years to deter and defend against China. A mix of State Department and Defense Department funds would
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and readiness in the region, improving defense infrastructure and critical munitions stockpiles.

The bill would also support
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to Taiwan, and fund the enforcement of freedom-of-navigation and overflight rights — moves to defy Beijing’s calls to keep out of the contested South China Sea.

CNBC reported this month that China had installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea.

The bill’s lead sponsor, Sen. Cory Gardner, chairs the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity. he said the idea had originally come from Senate Armed Services Committee Chair John McCain, R-Ariz., and that he would work with appropriators to see it funded.

“This is not a new concept, and this is as close as we’ve come to an Asia-Pacific security initiative,” Gardner told reporters Tuesday.

The other sponsors are the subpanel’s ranking member, Sens. Edward Markey, D-Mass.; Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; Ben Cardin, D-Md., and Todd Young, R-Ind. The name of the bill recalls the
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, a pot of money to bolster European capabilities against Russia—since renamed the European Deterrence Initiative.

On Tuesday, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs
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and Deputy East Asian and Pacific Affairs Alex Wong, appeared before Gardner’s subpanel, where they endorsed the legislation’s goals.

“With the help of Congress and the funding provided, we’re trying to build a force that’s appropriate to the longer-term challenges with China’s military modernization program, and trying to work with allies and partners to make sure they are adequately equipped and prepared for those long-term challenges,” Schriver said.

The U.S. is already boosting allies’ maritime domain awareness and maritime capabilities. The bill would augment foreign military financing and international military education and training programs, both with the idea to help partners “to resist coercion and to deter and defend against security threats.”

The bill explicitly excludes Myanmar, whose military has been accused of human rights violations, and Philippine counternarcotics activities, which have been linked to extrajudicial killings

In written testimony, Schriver emphasized the
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investment in joint, integrated fires to “reach inside an adversary’s anti-access and area-denial envelope with advanced, long-range munitions.”

The Pentagon’s implementation of the
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calls for dispersal equipment and “survivable, sustainable logistics” to help in a potential conflict with China.

Schriver said the competition with China was not only a military rivalry with the U.S. The U.S. is seeking to partner with all nations that respect national sovereignty, fair and reciprocal trade and the rule of law.

“It’s a competition of ideas and values and interests. I think many more countries, including the most significant and influential counties in Asia outside of China support these concepts,” Schriver said.
 
speaking of lasers, here's a hilarious quote from
USAF prepares for rapid demo of high-energy laser weapon
15 May, 2018
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:


Nearly a decade ago, the Air Force Research Laboratory wrapped testing of a 100kW-class chemical oxygen iodine laser on a Lockheed Martin C-130 after an Air Force Scientific Advisory Board report determined the weapon had “no tactical utility”.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
railguns then? LEL
Funny.
speaking of lasers, here's a hilarious quote from
USAF prepares for rapid demo of high-energy laser weapon
15 May, 2018
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:


Nearly a decade ago, the Air Force Research Laboratory wrapped testing of a 100kW-class chemical oxygen iodine laser on a Lockheed Martin C-130 after an Air Force Scientific Advisory Board report determined the weapon had “no tactical utility”.
Those lasers though filled the aircraft's fuselage from nose to tail.
 
The Tradition claims Every Marine is a Rifleman. Well now Every Marines is a Automatic gunner.... who also has either a fancy scope or a Grenade launcher.
more inside Marine Corps announces sweeping changes to ground-combat forces
Published: May 15, 2018
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The Marine Corps is making sweeping changes to the structure and equipment of its ground-combat forces aimed at improving lethality and agility on the battlefield.

Officially announced last week, the modifications are the result of nearly two years of study and experimentation known as Marine Corps Force 2025 and Sea Dragon 2025. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller spoke about them earlier this month at a gala for the service’s top officers and enlisted ground-combat leaders in Arlington, Va.

Changes will be felt at almost every level of Marine Corps life.

The number of Marines in a rifle squad will be decreased from 13 to 12. The service will also add more automatic weapons, drones and all-terrain vehicles, while improving night optics, grenade launchers and shoulder-fired rockets.

The Marines are fast-tracking some of the changes, but others will be phased in over the next three to five years.

“The surest way to prevent war is to be prepared to dominate one,” Neller said in a Marine Corps statement. “And that is what we are going to do.”

The Marines sent an experimental unit to Okinawa in May 2017 to test various unit sizes, concepts and technologies as the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s ground-combat element. The systems were on full display during last summer’s Talisman Saber drills in Australia.

A ‘better’ Marine Corps
Some of the changes are being made to the fundamental makeup of the Marines’ smallest ground units.

A rifle squad — whose mission is to “locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, or repel the enemy’s assault by fire and close combat,” a Marine Corps instruction said — has typically consisted of 13 Marines.

Each squad includes three fire teams of four Marines each, built around a single automatic weapon and led by a sergeant serving as squad leader. Fire teams include a corporal fire-team leader or grenadier, two lance corporals — one with an automatic rifle and another assisting — and a private or private first class serving as rifleman.

Under Neller’s changes, fire teams will now feature three Marines, Capt. Ryan Alvis wrote in a statement. All will be armed with an M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle with suppressors and improved optics.

Though fire teams are losing a Marine, they are gaining two automatic weapons, giving each squad a total of 12.

Two new positions — assistant squad leader and squad systems operator — are also being created for each squad, Alvis’ statement said. Rifle squads will keep an additional slot open for one rifleman per fire team should they need to add depth, but the positions will remain unmanned.

Late last month, the Marines awarded a contract to Heckler & Koch for up to 15,000 M27s that will partially replace M4 carbine semiautomatic rifles, a Marine Corps statement said. The rifles cost about $1,300 each.

The new makeup of the squad will see a squad leader — who will remain a sergeant with five to seven years of experience and formal squad leader training — backed up by a corporal as an assistant, the statement said. The new squad-systems operator will be a lance corporal formally trained in a variety of technologies.

Fire teams will consist of corporals in the leadership role, backed by lance corporal grenadiers and automatic riflemen.

The changes will be implemented across all Marine infantry battalions over the next three to five years, the statement said. Neller said this will ensure Marine Corps infantry formations remain the most “lethal, agile, and adaptable in the world.”

“We are going to change,” he said in the statement. “Not that we aren’t good; we are. But we must continually strive to get better.”

21st century battlefield
The Marines will also immediately begin distributing quadcopter drones to every squad. Platoons will gain a drone operator, and rifle companies will get a counter-drone section of five Marines.

Marine squads will also receive improved binocular night-vision devices and improved optics that include thermal capability and improved M320 grenade launchers.

They will gain additional firepower and rocket range as the Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System, known as MAAWS or the “Carl Gustav,” replaces the Mk-153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon, or SMAW.

Squads will also get handheld devices that provide a digital link to close-air support and adjacent units, and an M38 Squad Designated Marksmanship Rifle with a suppressor and variable 2.5-8 power optic, the statement said.

The M38 is not a sniper rifle, but provides improved identification and engagement of targets up to 600 meters away. Marines carrying it will be required to complete additional training on range estimation, scope theory and observation.

Beyond the squad level, Marine scout snipers are to receive the Mk13 Mod 7 Long Range Sniper Rifle, the statement said. That rifle is used by members of U.S. Special Operations Command.

Weapons companies will get four additional extended-range Javelin antiarmor missile systems, bringing their total to 12, to offset the loss of four wire-guided TOW missile systems, the statement said. Eventually, TOWs will be eliminated from Marine Corps battalions altogether.

The Marines also announced the elimination of two 81-mm mortar systems, bringing the total down to six; however, they will pack a bigger punch with extended ranges and ammunition improvements.

Marines should also see more Polaris MRZRs, an all-terrain vehicle that resembles a dune buggy.

Each rifle company will gain an operations/intelligence section, a logistics cell and small arms repair, the statement said. Marine battalions will add an information management officer and an information environment operations officer and chief to integrate “information warfare capabilities.”

Each infantry battalion will gain a forward air controller, which means each rifle company will have one assigned.

Plans also call for combat engineer squads to increase to 13 Marines and engineer platoons to be attached to each infantry battalion.

The Marines’ 2nd Tank Battalion will get an additional company while the service upgrades its M1A1 active protection systems and target acquisition and sensor suites, the statement said.

The service also plans to bring back 5th Battalion, 10th Marines as a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, battalion in fiscal year 2023.

The Marines also plan to field upgraded light armored vehicles with anti-tank capabilities.
 
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