Special Operations “ASSAULT COMMUNICATIONS” 75th Ranger Regiment Light Weight All-Terrain Vehicle (LT-ATV) By David E. Theriault, CW2 (ret), (3d Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment OIF/OEF veteran), President 4K Solutions, LLC The 75th Ranger Regiment is a lethal, agile and flexible force, capable of executing a myriad of complex, joint special operations missions in support of U.S. policy and objectives. Today’s Ranger Regiment is the Army’s premier raiding force.

With complexity came the need for smaller, robust command and control, and communications

capabilities that could be quickly inserted and exfilled onto and off of the Ranger objectives.

Early-on, Ranger Commanders quickly realized that they needed a more robust command and control

communications capability. Early single-channel and tactical satellite (TacSat) systems that came in by

air-drop, helicopter air assault, airland operations or over-land were deemed not sufficient. Signal

leaders and Ranger NCOs worked tirelessly to develop small mobile platforms that could be used for

lighting quick raid operations. These platforms needed to be rugged, easy to operate, dependable,

capable of carrying all of their communications equipment and, most importantly, able to fit onto US Air

Force fixed wing aircraft; C-130’s, C-141’s, C-5’s, (and later, the C-17), as well as US Air Force Special

Operations MH-53 Pavelow Special Operations helicopters and US Army and USMC CH46 and CH47

variant helicopters.

Throughout the 1980’s - 1990’s, and the start of the Global War

on Terror, the Rangers’ primary Assault Communications platform was based on the British Land Rover.

These platforms were customized and fielded to the Regimental Signal Detachment and each of the 3

Ranger Battalions to support secure single-channel FM, UHF and VHF as, well as secure TacSat radios.

Secure Communications could be accomplished on-the-move and halt as well as remoted into buildings

and structures via radio remote systems. The Rangers were instrumental in fielding technologies that

allowed their radio systems to be remoted into the “assault cp circle” or into a building on an objective.

A 3d Ranger BN Signal Ranger Operates radios

through a remote system during a night joint exercise. Based on initial early deployments into Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, the Rangers

realized they needed an improved communications platform for long-term operations. The Land Rover

communications vehicle lacked a robust communications capability and had a tendency to get stuck

when off-road.

In the early 2000’s, Rangers working with BAE Systems developed a custom High Mobility Multipurpose

Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) communications variant that had greater power capacity, additional radio

nets and increased reliability then the Land Rover. The Rangers added secure SINCGARS radios and

multi-band TacSat radios were integrated in communications racks in the cargo area behind the driver

and passenger seats. This vehicle also had High Packet Waveform (HPW) capability which enabled them

to send data files, imagery and text messages throughout the AOR. The HMMWV, though not as

“tactical” for raids, did allow the Rangers to carry more equipment and supplies into combat.

By 2003, Rangers began working on a smaller, more “helicopter

tactical” communications capability. Lessons learned in Afghanistan in regards to the weight restrictions

of the MH-47 in the higher elevations pushed the Rangers to look for a smaller and lighter

communications vehicle. Based on the John Deere Mule, had scaled-down quantities of SINCGARS

Radios, Multi-Band radios with low data capability. The premise behind the Guppy was for a simple

helicopter drive-off communications platform.

In 2009, after exhaustive testing, the United States Special

Operations Command (USSOCOM) Selected the Kawasaki Teryx as their new light-weight, rugged and

agile vehicle platform and awarded a $28.3m contract for over 1,623 Teryx® vehicles for fielding across

USSOCOM forces.

USSOCOM had recently retired the MH-53 fleet and the replacement MV-22 Tilt-Rotor helicopters were

coming online across the Air Force Special Operations Command. This aircraft platform has a smaller

cargo area and steep ramp which precludes the use of Ranger HMMVW’s.

In 2011, the Ranger Regiment’s RS8 Force Modernization C4I NCOIC, was tasked to develop an in-house

plan to modernize the Regiment’s Teryx’s vehicles. The Teryx, known as the LT-ATV, was originally

intended for medical casualty evacuation, with each cargo bed area configured with stretcher

stanchions. The RS8 Force Modernization NCOIC had to work “around” the stretcher stanchions without

impacting the Commander’s ability to evacuate casualties, while at the same time installing a robust

Command, Control, Communications ISR capability.

We (4K Solutions, LLC), had an existing contract for tactical communications power solutions already in-

place that was to be placed in the LT-ATV. As the LT-ATV morphed in scope and capabilities, we met with

the customer and Ferno Military Systems, located in Alpharetta, GA. Ferno Military Systems has had a

long relationship with USSOCOM forces, DOD, and other US government agencies requiring rapid

transitions from “concept” to “reality”, involving, design, prototyping, testing, and production. Ferno

Military Systems was contracted to design the mounting solution using components from their Standard

Series (IMS) Integrated Mounting System. The key to the design solution is that it allows the Rangers to

rapidly install and deploy, or remove and relocate the antenna systems and other communications

equipment on the vehicle platform. Ferno Military Systems designed and manufactured the front

bumper mounting tray for the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), removable telescoping poles for X-

wing antennas’, removable LOS antenna mounts, monitor mounts, and a custom mounting plate located

on the roof of the LT-ATV.

The LT-ATV required a robust dc battery power solution to run the VSAT terminal, baseband equipment

and single-channel TacSat radios. Working with the various team members, we chose deep cell marine

batteries that Ferno mounted in the cargo bed using custom battery mounting plates. Based on success

in the US Army we selected a robust power supply solution. Ferno Military Systems fabricated and

installed a quick change floor mount located between the driver and the passenger locations. The team

at Ferno Military Systems had to react quickly and creatively in order to get all the “pieces of the puzzle

to fit” in a short period of time.

While all of this was happening in Georgia, the DC power distribution system was being rapidly

designed, tested and shipped down to Georgia. The robust power distribution system, when combined

with the robust power supply system handles the high amperage requirements of the VSAT terminal and

all the onboard communications systems. The Rangers are seeing 3-5 hours of battery run time before

they must recharge the batteries. The small alternator of the Teryx prevented them from utilizing it to

recharge the large marine deep cell batteries.

Additional capabilities were added to support ISR Full Motion Video feeds. A weatherproofed 21” LCD

was custom mounted on the rear of the LT-ATV to allow key staff to view live ISR feeds being fed over

the Rover 6 ISR receiver.

Custom mounted ISR Video LCD mounted on the LT-ATV to view Rover6 video feeds.

A custom front mount tray capable of supporting a fully deployed VSAT terminal was designed and

fielded across all of the vehicles.

The MV-22 Osprey’s small cargo area and steep ramp prevented the LT-ATV from maintaining its organic

roof. Ferno designed a quick release solution to allow the LT-ATV to be quickly removed and installed

with break-down pins. The Rangers are able to leverage the added “real-estate” of the roof using

custom mounting plates for LOS and TacSat antennas.

The Ranger Regiment continues to adapt their fighting

methodologies, tactics and techniques to face challenges around the globe. The Regimental

Communications leadership’s adaptive approach allows them to be flexible to emerging requirements

and is leaning forward in developing their next generation tactical mobile communications capabilities.

Our two companies have been privileged to work on this project and look forward to supporting our

customers in the future.

Ranger Battalion Signal Officer sending secure message traffic, on the Ranger LT-ATV, over a TacSat radio.

About the author David E. Theriault, Chief Warrant Officer 2 U.S. Army Retired, President and Founder of 4K Solutions, LLC, is the former Automated Information Systems Officer, 3d Ranger BN who has deployed on 6 Ranger combat rotations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served in Special Operations units for almost 19 years.

About 4K Solutions, LLC 4K Solutions, LLC (www.4ksolutions.com), headquartered in Midland, Georgia brings over 20 years of Special Operations Communications leadership experience delivering direct critical communications support and consul on some of the most demanding "no-fail combat missions in the world. 4K Solutions specializes in providing Solutions Architecting, Value-Added Reseller, Business Development, IT Training and Professional Services, delivering key solutions, technologies and consulting that help you get your job done. Strength areas include Information Assurance and Tactical/Crisis Communications. Headquartered in Midland, Georgia, 4K is a certified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and combat veteran of OEF and OIF. About Ferno Military Systems Ferno Military Systems, Inc (www.fernomilitarysystems.com), headquartered in Alpharetta, GA Ferno is recognized as the global leader in the manufacturing and distribution of emergency patient-handling equipment, custom military and special operations and mortuary products and exports to more than 75 countries. For more information about Ferno please visit www.fernomilitarysystems.com.

4K Solutions, LLC 11255 Rambling Trail Midland, GA 31820

Sales @4ksolutions.com (706) 593-9070

Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business

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All Rights Reserved Copyright David E. Theriault & 4K Solutions, LLC, 2013