armada aug sept 2013 main magazine

THE TRUSTED SOURCE FOR DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION SINCE 1976

Issue 4/2013 August/SeptemberINTERNATIONAL

Cover Armada Sept13.qxp:Armada 8/26/13 12:13 PM Page 3

03INTERNATIONAL 4/2013

06WHAT’S UP?TITUS LIVE!

I Eric H. Biass and Paolo Valpolini

38GUNFIRE LOCATION SYSTEMSACOUSTIC GUNSHOTDETECTION SYSTEMS

I Paolo Valpolini

50LANDING HELICOPTER DOCKSLANDING SHIPS ANDHELICOPTER DOCKS

I Luca Peruzzi

60RUGGED PORTABLE COMPUTERSRUGGEDGOOD LOOKS

I Tom Withington

FAKE CITYI Paolo Valpolini

12MOUT TRAINING SYSTEMS


INTERNATIONAL

Contents4/2013

The first realistic simulation systemswere developedfor air force pilots, the Vietnamwar having showedthat the very firstmissionswere those that caused

the highest number of casualties. Unsurprisingly, thesamephenomenon applies to the infantryman:

according to aDarpa survey the learning curve startsto stabilise after the first 100 days in operation,

duringwhich 40%of infantry fatalities occur. Truerealistic training definitelywas needed.

www.armada.ch | www.armadainternational.com

COMPENDIUM SUPPLEMENT

MODERN SOLDIER PROGRAMMES

I Paolo Valpolini

26NAVAL MID-CAL REMOTE-CONTOL GUNSREMOTE-CONTROL CANNONPROLIFERATION AT SEA

I Luca Peruzzi

Contents_Armada.qxp:Armada 8/26/13 6:02 PM

Index

04 INTERNATIONAL 4/2013

Altmark 14

AMREL 63,64

Anadolu Shipyard ( ADIK) 36

Apple 4

Ascom Security Solns 20

Aselsan 34

Atlas Elektronik 32

BAE Systems 28,35,36,54,56,58

Ben-Tronics 32

Beretta defence technology 16

Bharat Electronics 24

BioMimetic 45,46

Blackberry 4

Blücher GmbH 6

BMS 45,46

BMT Defence 12

Boeing 54

Bumar 22,23

Cassidian 7

Ceradyne 32

Chemring Group 12

Cobham 45,46

Cosworth 12

CQC Defence 12

DCNS 52,53,58

Dell 64, 65

Diehl Stiftung 13

DRS 18

EADS 13, 20

Elbit Systems 14,16

Esterline-Racal Acoustics 20

Eurocopter 54

Fincantieri 56

Finmeccanica 56

Fokker Aerostructures 13

General Dynamics C4I 3,4

General Dynamics-Mowag 20

Getac 62

Grid Defence Systems 63,64

Handheld Algiz 60

Harris 9

Invisio 30

ITT Exelis 54,16

Kongsberg 9,20

Kortron 65,66

L-3 Communications 54

Lenovo 61,62

Logic Instrument 64

Martec 12

MBDA 30,52

Mobile Demand 63

MSI Defence Systems 31,32

Navantia Shipbuilding 54

Nexter 06,07,08,09,10,11,34

NFM 13,14

OTOMelara 28,30,35,36

Panasonic 61

Physical Optics corporation (POC) 26

QinetiQ 1,38,39,12,25

QioptiQ 7

Rafael 27,54

Rapid Mobile 30

Raytheon 39,3

Reutech 34

Revision 32

Rheinmetall Defence 13,28,46,6,18

Riva Trigoso 56

Rosoboronexport 52

Ruag 14,16,17,20

Saab 17,18,20,54,28

Sagem 42,52,13,20

Samsung 4

Selex ES 56,16,17

Sikorsky 54

Singapore Technologies 50,24

Source of Sound 30

SSZ 20

STN Atlas Elektronik 13

STX France 52

Tatra 7

TE Connectivity 12

Textron 40

Thales 52,53,7,10

Ultra Electronics 45

Vectronix 8,10

WB Electronic 23

Zeiss Optronics 6

AIMPOINT 23

AR - MODULAR RF 27

ARMADA - WEBSITE 23

ARMADA SUBSCRIPTION 51

ASELSAN 35

AUSA C3

BERETTA 15

BRIDEX 33

DDC 57

DIMDEX 59

DSA MALAYSIA 65

DSEI C3

ELBIT SYSTEMS C2

EUROSATORY 41

EXELIS 37

INDODEFENCE 29

INVISIO 19

IVECO 19

LEMO 63

MTU 21

NAMEXPO 31

NEXTER 29

NFM 9

NORTHROP GRUMMAN C2

ODU 47

OTOMELARA 31

ROSOBORONEXPORT 24-25

RTD 33

RUAG CORPORATE SERVICES 15

SAAB DYNAMICS 49

SAAB SECURITY & DEFENCE 11

SAGEM C4

TEXTRON C4

TRIJICON 25

VECTRONIX 5

VIASAT 5

I INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

I INDEX TO MANUFACTURERS

Companies mentioned in this issue. Where there are multiple references to a company in an article,only the firstoccurence and subsequent photographs are listed below

Entries highlighted with RReedd nnuummbbeerrssare found in Compendium Modern

Soldier Programmes 2013


Issue 4/2013

August/September

INTERNATIONAL

Exclusive to Armada, the Titus prototypeunveiled by Nexter at DSEi 2013 was earlier put through itspaces by Armada’s senior editors who measured theunexpected capabilities of this new armoured vehicle interms of performance, uncompromised safety, self defenceoptions, and high habitability (comfort and environmentalawareness features), despite a very attractive pricetagand low running costs (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

INTERNATIONALis published bi-monthly by Media Transasia Ltd.Copyright 2012 by Media Transasia Ltd.Publishing Office: Media Transasia Ltd,Room No. 1205-1206, Hollywood Centre 233,Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong.Tel: (852) 2815 9111, Fax: (852) 2815 1933Editor-in-Chief: Eric H. BiassRegular Contributors: Roy Braybrook,Paolo Valpolini, Thomas Withington

Chairman: J.S. UberoiPresident: Xavier Collaco Sr. Manager International Marketing: Vishal MehtaManager International Marketing: Yusuf AzimDeputy Manager Marketing: Tarun MalviyaSales &Marketing Coordinator: Atul BaliCreative Director: Bipin KumarDeputy Art Director: Sachin JainAsstt. Art Directors :Mukesh Kumar, Ajay KumarVisualiser: Sujit SinghProduction Manager: Kanda ThanakornwongskulGroup Circulation Manager: Porames ChinwongsChief Financial Officer: Gaurav KumarAdvertising Sales Offices� AUSTRIA, BENELUX, SWITZERLANDCornelius W. BontjePh: +41 55 216 17 81, [email protected]� FRANCEPromotion et Motivation, Odile OrbecPh: +33 1 41 43 83 00, [email protected]� GERMANYSam Baird Ph: +44 1883 715 697,[email protected]� ITALY, NORDIC COUNTRIESEmanuela Castagnetti-GillbergPh: +46 31 799 9028, [email protected]� PAKISTANKamran Saeed, Solutions Inc.Tel/Fax: (92 21) 3439 5105 Mobile: (92) 300 8238200 Email: [email protected]� SPAINVía Exclusivas, Macarena Fdez. de GradoPh: +34 91 448 76 22, [email protected]� UK, EASTERN EUROPE, GREECE, TURKEYZena CoupéPh: +44 1923 852537, [email protected]� RUSSIAAlla Butova, NOVO-Media Ltd,Ph: (7 3832) 180 885 Mobile : (7 960) 783 6653Email :[email protected]� USA (EAST/SOUTH EAST), CANADAMargie Brown, Ph: (540) 341 7581,[email protected]� USA (WEST/SOUTH WEST), BRAZIL Diane Obright, Ph: (858) 759 3557,[email protected]� ALL OTHER COUNTRIESVishal Mehta, Tel: (91) 124 4759625,Mobile: (91) 99 999 85425, (44) 11 5885 4423, E-Mail: [email protected] Azim, Tel: (91) 124 4759595,Mobile: (91) 96 50 881121, E-Mail: [email protected] subscription rates:

Europe: CHF 186. + 36. (postage)Overseas: USD 186. + 36. (postage)

Controlled circulation: 24,351,certified by ABC Hong Kong, valid from1st April 2012 to 30th June 2012.Printed by Media Transasia Thailand Ltd.75/8, 14th Floor, Ocean Tower II,Soi Sukhumvit 19, Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoeynue,Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.Tel: 66 (0)-2204 2370, Fax: 66 (0)-2204 2390 -1Subscription Information: Readers should contactthe following address: Subscription Department, Media Transasia Ltd. Room No. 1205-1206, HollywoodCentre 233, Holywood Road, Central, Hong Kong.Tel: (852) 2815 9111, Fax: (852) 2851 1933

AABBCC

www.armada.chwww.armadainternational.com

Volume 37, Issue No. 4, August 2013/September 2013

Contents_Armada.qxp:Armada 8/27/13 10:20 AM

What’s Up?

If it weren’t for the photograph, the aboveparagraph would sound more like anaccount of a ride aboard a typical 8x8armoured personnel carrier. Instead, we

are on board the latest vehicle developed byNexter in France, namely a 6x6 with thelooks of an Mrap, but one that literally is aquantum leap ahead of its brethrens.Looking at the state of the market and

leveraging experience acquired with thedevelopment of its XP2 6x6 technologydemonstrator, Nexter decided that it wastime to bridge the gap between the Aravisand the VBCI and thereby meet therequirements of those armies that need toreplace their armoured personnel carrierfleets and at the same time adapt to theevolved operational environment. Most

importantly this includes the current hybridnature of present conflicts, which caninvolve a wide spectrum of militaryactivities – as evidenced in recent operations– and an uncompromising eye on through-life costs. Strategic andoperationalmobility,plus operational flexibility considerationsset aside, not only does the “low-cost”aspect, as opposed to “cheap”, need tosucceed in lesswealthy countries, but it alsohas to be understood in tier-one countrieswith military budgets in constant decline.

Nexter’s newborn takes 14almost anywhere, but in style.(Armada/Eric H. Biass)

The tactical commander looks at the outside situation from his central seat,slightly recessed in relation to the other two front seats. To his left the driver exploitsthe vehicle’s traction to its full, easily overcoming obstacles (and the ride issurprisingly smooth) while on the right the vehicle commander/gunner managesthe medium-calibre gun, ready to react to any possible threat. In the backten dismounts are ready to take action, debussing through the rear ramp, whichis equipped with a vision block and a firing port.

Titus Live!


Eric H. Biass and Paolo Valpolini

WHAT'S UP:Armada 8/26/13 12:15 PM Page 2


With the hitherto code-named XP-3 thistranslates into modularity, controlledthrough-life cost, and a high-performancechassis of international repute. The vehiclehas finally been given a more imperialdesignation, Titus, which in fact stands forTactical Infantry Transport & UtilitySystem. At 17.5 tonnes (curb weight), itshybrid conflict combat weight wouldtypically hover around the 23.3-tonnemark,although its maximum acceptable gross isset at 27 tonnes.

I MOBILITYFor an off-roadmilitary vehicle a key factorof mobility is grip consistency. This in turnentails adequate (in fact a maximumpossible amount of) load spread, and “longlegs” to go catch the grip in the deepestconditions. Load spread is very much thejob of the tyres, which in this case is

entrusted to Michelin 16.00R20, which arecomfortably wide boots that can bepressure-adjusted to terrain needs.The other component of the afore-

mentioned grip factor, is of course thechassis.There are several, butnotmany,waysof providing the necessary wheeldownstroke. One is to allow the chassis totwist atwill, as very effectivelydonebyawell-known German brand, but with a severedrawback in termsofpayload capacity if thathas to be a long, heavy and rigid cabin. Thesecond, andnominallyperfect, is a rock-solidchassis restingona totally independent long-stroke suspension operating onsuperimposed wishbones, but which is as

nice as it is expensive, especially above acertain tonnage. The ideal answer comes inthe form of the swing semi-axle principle.This is probably as old as independentsuspension itself, but its infamouswanderingcharacteristics have been perfectlymasteredby Tatra as far back as the early 1920s to theextentof earning theCzech firma long stringof lorry-class victories at the unforgivingParis-Algiers-Dakar rally, starting in 1988whenCzechoslovakia was still on the wrongside of the Iron Curtain. The uniqueness oftheTatra chassis selectedbyNexter is that allits rotating drive elements – propshafts andsemi-axles alike–are encased inhefty tubing,with the semi-axledifferential crown-bearingshafts literally swinging around theirrespective pinion gears (see Tatra’s almostself-explanatorydiagramherewith).A first for a Tatra 6x6, however, was

Nexter’s idea of altering the axle layout bymoving the second axle, usually emplacedclose to the thirdaxle,half-waybetweenaxle1and 3. This is of course brilliant in terms oftractiondistributiononadifficult terrain thatwould actually command higher groundclearance, butwouldmake the vehicle totallyimpractical in its steering capabilities withthe sole front wheels having to break the in-line rigidity of the other two axles. This iswhere Nexter’s second piece of clevernesscuts in, with the emplacement of a second,butdifferential, steeringgear in the thirdaxle.

Clear outside view enjoyed by the forward-sitting tactical commander and the first fewother men looking over his shoulder in therear cabin. (Armada/Paolo Valpolini)

The operating principle of Tatra’s swing-axlesuspension design, here for a standard 6x6, inwhich each tube-enclosed semi-axle differentialcrown-bearing shafts swings around itsrespective pinion gear. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

Wheel in positive, all-time contact with theground for strong grip is a sine qua non ofmobility, a precious amenity here provided by anadapted Tatra chassis. ( Armada/Eric H. Biass)



Very importantly this not only adds agility,but also provides a never-heard-of steeringdiameter of 13 metres in the kingdom oflorries, when current saloon cars struggle tokeep this under the 12-metre mark! A sideadvantage of this dual steering is a reductionof the inside chord in full-lockmanoeuvres. Itmustbe said, however, thathittingmotorwayspeeds with a wiggling tail is out of thequestion. Therefore a safety system reducesthe amount of rear axle steering as speedincreases. Steering angle is the same as thefront up to 10km/h, then goes diminuendoto actually be zeroed above45km/h.Power on tap also has its say on the

mobility theme. For this purpose, Nexterwent out shopping overseas to fit aCummins engine, pouring some 440horsepower into a six-speed Allison auto-shifter. The result is pretty smooth andnicely “doseable”, with phenomenal enginebraking power. The test terrain near Pariswas pretty demanding and never did thevehicle find itself short of power, eventhough we were far from the usual combatweight. In spite of terribly impressivefurrows dug in the terrain, never was anykicking or loss of purchase noticeable.Onlywhen questioning power reserve in sandyenvironment were we told by Nexter that a550-horsepower engine was beingenvisaged as an option.

I PROTECTIONThe aim of Nexter to provide the customerwith what he really needs extends toprotection. The basic vehicle features a Level1 protection on the engine bonnet andarmoured glasses, increasing to Level 2(both ballistic and mine) for the all-steelcrew cell, while the vehicle is capable towithstand a 50 kg IEDblast. These levels canof course be easily increased when higherthreats must be met by fixing add-onarmour, theTitus being fitted fromscratch toaccept such solutions. Currently Nexterenvisages Level 3 for the engine bonnet andarmoured glasses, while ballistic and mineprotection can be beefed up to Level 4, IEDtolerance to 150 kg blast with immunity to155 mm grenade shrapnel – intermediatelevels being of course available.As said initially, meeting exactly

customers’ needs is considered a key issuewhen keeping costs down. Hence a degreeof modularity. However, modularity itselfcan represent an added cost, thuspredispositions formodularitymust also betaken into account. This means that if acustomer thinks that he will need to addextra elements at a later stage, the vehiclewill be outfitted to accept such solutions.Conversely, if a customer is fully convincedthat his vehicle will remain as is, solutionsthat allow to addmodular elementswill notbe considered, and the acquisition costs ofthe vehiclewill be lower. These concepts hadto be illustrated prior to describing thevehicle in detail, as the customer will bepresented a consistent options chart andthusmany characteristicsmight vary.

I SITUATIONAL AWARENESSAs said above the cabin hosts the driver tothe left and the commander/gunner to theright, the prototype vehicle being equippedwith a Nexter ARX20 remotely controlledturret located on the front left corner of theroof. Behind the cabin in a central position, aseat for a tactical commander is available.This vantage position not only allows himto observe the situation on the BMS screenon his left and a secondary screen on hisright, but more importantly to maintain adirect viewon a 120° frontal sector throughthe large single-piece armoured glasswindscreen, a key issue to ensuremaximumsituational awareness.Thewindscreenallowsalso thedismounts,

especially those seated in the front seats, tohave an idea of the outside scenario. Thisbeingsaid, threearmouredglasswindowscanbe installed on each side of the vehicle. Thecurrentprototypewasnotequippedwithsuchamenities (but was prepared for them), butwas instead fitted with Level 3 opaque sideprotections. Situational awareness iscomplemented by a four-camera layoutprovidinga360° coverage.

I ERGONOMICSNexter has carried out thorough ergonomicstudies for the creation of the Titus, firstusing awoodenmock-up, to take all lessonslearned from earlier vehicles into account.The hull has an internal volume of 14.4 m3without obstacles from front to back, towhich 2.4 m3 of internal and 1.5 m3 ofexternal storage space can be added, thelatter divided into three bins on each side.

Once the very obvious and classicallayout of the office has sunk in (whichtakes the whole of a minute), thesecond feeling that needs to be gottenused to once on the move is theseemingly happy tail of the vehicle.However, once one’s neurones haveclicked to the fact that this is notcaused by anymischievous sideslip ortail-end misbehaviour, that extramanoeuvrability actually becomessomewhat addictive and one rapidlyappreciates the precision with whichthe vehicle will put its treads exactlywhere commanded, even in greasyterrain.Another feature anydriverwillappreciate, is the phenomenal enginebraking that the gearbox manages topercolate through to thewheels to theextent that depressing the brake pedalis only really necessary to completelystop the vehicle.

AT THE WHEEL

The commander/gunner position; the front screen is that of the RCWS, with the joystick on theright, while the screen on the right is that of the BMS. (Armada/P. Valpolini)

What’s Up?



The vehicle floor being quite high abovethe ground, the rear ramp reaches anintermediate step that gives access to thevehicle, the door being flanked by two sidegrip bars that make egress and access everso much easier. We personally andrepeatedly tested entering and exiting thevehicle which actually sets an example inthis respect: the ramp drops lower than theVBCI’s for example, and the intermediatestep plays an essential role in increasingdoorframe head clearance. On each side ofthe rear compartment are two rows of facingenergy absorbing seats. The maximumnumber of passengers is 14, in a layout thatincludes two crewmembers in the front caband two six-seat rows in the back, sanstactical commander.With the latter’s centreseat installed, rear seats are limited to 10.The lower number refers to Félin-equippedpersonnel, the higher to soldierswith lighterequipment.

Headroom is almost a lofty 1.37 metreswhile each infantrymanhas570mmwidthathis disposal, comfort having been heavilytaken into count. A noteworthy point is thatfor armies with Félin-like individualequipment, Nexter has devised a wider typeof sidedoor for thedriver andcommander toallowthemeasieraccess.Anoptionsans frontright door is also considered. Depending ontheprotection level and their resultantoverall

weight, the front doors canbe equippedwithelectric actuators.Hatches are available to thevehicle and tactical commanders, while twomore in the back corners provide access totwo lightmachineguns.Therear rampcanbereplacedby twodoors.

If comfort enables men to debus in areasonably good state after a long cross-country and therefore be fit to fight straightaway, well, comfort is part and parcel ofergonomics. The soldiers taking part in thevarious testson thisparticularlyharsh–not tosay extreme – terrain saw action in formerYugoslavia and Afghanistan andunequivocally confirmed the authors’opinionon that chapter,namely that theTitusseems heads and shoulders above anythingelse on six wheels and could hardly bematched by an eight-wheeler. As amatter offact, we never reached bottoming-outsituations, andneverhearda clangingprotestfrom the chassis even when the driverappeared to think that an RPG was beingaimed at us. The shock absorbing virtues oftheTatra chassis are simplyprodigious.

I VERSIONSThe aforementioned modularity offersnumerousconfigurationsandversions.Firstofall the APC version can be kitted in differentways according to the threat level and themission.Nexter proposes six different kits ofincreasing weight and complexity, seatingarrangement remaining 2+9 or 2+11dependingonpersonnel equipment.

The basic version is used for patrolpurposes, its only weapon being a self-protection remotely controlled 7.62machine gun. It has three sidewindowswithfiring ports, the same found on the othertwo low-intensity versions proposed, one forpublic order keeping and one for riotcontrol, all tipping the scales at around 19tonnes. Loudspeaker, Galix non-lethalgrenades and forward crowd fence are usedfor public ordermissions, while riot controladds cable cutters, anti-Molotov systemsand a dozer blade to remove barricades.

For conventional combat, weightincreases to roughly 22 tonnes, the remotelycontrolled weapon being substituted for aheftier ARX20 turret. The crewcompartment protection level is upped toLevel 3 (or even 4), side windows give placeto add-on armour, while shotgun detectionsystem, IR jammer, LWR,MWRandBIFF, aswell as a frontwinch can also be added. Thecounter-insurgency configuration includes a12.7/7.62mmremote controlweapon, a bar-

Three external bins per side provide an extra1.5 m3 storage volume for individual andsection equipment. The Nexter Nervamicro-robot stored against the rear bulkead of theTitus would typically be used in urban warfareconditions for “around-the-corner”reconnaissance. (Armada/P. Valpolini)

The Titus fitted in a 13-soldier configuration, with two five-seat rows for dismounts plus thethree seats in the front cabin. (Armada/P. Valpolini)



armour against RPGs such as the NexterPG-Guard, a 360° peripheral camerasystem, a jammer, and of course all-roundLevel 4 protection, with highest possibleroadside bomb protection; two lightmachine guns are added at the back of thevehicle, very much in an “Afghanistanlessons learned” configuration.

A similar version can also be equippedwith a roof-mounted tactical ladder to allowspecial forces to directly storm intobuildings from higher floors. This of courserequires clearance of all roof equipment.The two latter configurations take theweight to 23 tonnes, which is one tonneshort of the heaviest configuration so farenvisaged for urban warfare. This basically isthe counter-insurgency version with a dozerblade and a Nexter Nerva micro-groundrobot for reconnaissance purposes.

Nexter has already envisaged a series ofmission kits that will transform the Titusinto various support vehicles. Possibilitiesinclude an 81 mm mortar carrier with 80rounds, a tank killer with two firing posts

and 12 missiles, and a sniper vehicle withtwo sniper teams equipped with 12.7 mmand 7.62 mm rifles, all with a three-mancrew and three to four team members. Truederivatives come in the form of ambulance

with four stretchers, engineer, light recoveryand logistic (able to carry a Nato pallet andequipped with rear doors), command postwith three working consoles, and artilleryobservation vehicles, the latter with a

The rear steering axle is here clearly seen atwork. At low speed the steering angles offront and rear axle are the same. Above 40km/h, the rear axle is blocked in-line.(Armada/Eric H. Biass)

The combination of low-dropping ramp and intermediate step on the door thresholdthat greatly improves ingress/access will be highly appreciated by soldiers wearing heavilyarmoured vests. (Armada/Paolo Valpolini)

What’s Up?



Margot mast-mounted observation systemfor example. Even those versions are kit-based and can be reconfigured in theatre.The only version that requires a major

modification to the vehicle is the proposedmortar carrier version armed with a 120mmrifledTDA2R2M firing through a two-door roof hatch.Thekittingprinciplewillmake it easier to

logistically support the Titus. Nexter is thusdeveloping an increasingly effective logisticsystem that ranges from spares supply to fullturnkey logistic support. Being son ofMrapand of wheeled APC/IFV, according toNexter the Titus should be able to carry outover 85 % of the missions of an infantryfightingvehicle andall of those required froman armoured personnel carrier in a hybridconflict, which should open up aconsiderablemarket for this newvehicle.

I MARKETTalking of market, Nexter officials told theauthors that they launched the project sometwo years ago after assessing the incidence

of two major facts, namely the number ofolder armoured personnel carriers andinfantry fighting vehicles that are about tobe run into the groundon the one hand, andthe evolution of hybrid conflict situations inwhich a number opportunities will bemissed by the non-adequacy of largervehicles like the VBCI and Boxer due totheir far too high cost on the other. Thisanalysis enabled the company to evaluate

the potentialmarket at around 1,000 units.The vehicle seen here is a first prototype,

but a second one is planned to incorporateinevitable improvements (some that willthen be retrofitted to the first), and perhapseven a more powerful engine. The Titus,which fully complies with open roadregulations and rolls straight into an AtlasA400M, could be readied for production inearlyDecember.

For conventional combat situations, the Nexterremotely controlled ARX20 should provideconvincing power (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

In the counter-insurgency configuration the Titus can be equipped with two rear lightmachine guns, such as the FNMinimi shown in the picture. (Armada/P. Valpolini)

TITUS TECHNICAL DATAEmptyweight 17.5 tonnesOperational weight (Lev. 3) 23.3 tonnesGrossVehicleWeight 27.0 tonnesLength 7.55metersWidth 2.55metersHeight 2.73metersTrack 2.55metersEngine Cummins 440 hp (optional 550 hp)Maximum speed 110 km/hEndurance > 700 kmAttack angle 40°Exit angle 60°Ground clearance 0.29 ÷ 0.49meters (0.38meters standard)Ramp 60%Side slope 30%Horizontal obstacle 1.2metersVertical obstacle 0.65metersFording 1.2meters without preparation



The first realistic simulation systemswere developedfor air force pilots, the Vietnamwar having showedthat the very first missionswere those that caused thehighest number of casualties. Unsurprisingly, the samephenomenon applies to the infantryman: accordingto a Darpa survey the learning curve starts tostabilise after the first 100 days in operation, duringwhich 40%of infantry fatalities occur. True realistictraining definitelywas needed.

Fake City

Mout Training Systems

Mout Training Systems new:Armada 8/26/13 11:56 AM Page 2

T he infantrymanneedsproper realistictraining, just as the late 1960s and1970s pilots did. As pilots started“playing” with Air Combat

Manoeuvre Instrumentation-equippedranges, infantrymen were soon beingequipped with laser-based simulationsystems that allowed tomimic the realities ofwar on training grounds. This is evenmoreimportant for one of the most lethalbattlefields that a soldier can encounter,namely the urban environment.Monitoringand evaluating their behaviour in such ascenario is more complex, due to thenumerous obstacles that impair not onlyviewbut also signals to reach thewarfighters.Numerous companies have addressed thatproblem, and various armies have built theirurban training centres to improve the skillsof their soldiers prior to their deployment.

Since the beginning of the AltmarkGefechtsübungszentrum (GÜZ) project, inother words the German Army militarytraining ground, Rheinmetall Defence wasfully involved as the leading company of theconsortium called to develop the newinstrumented training centrewith one of itssubsidiaries, STN Atlas Elektronik. Theother companies involved wereEADS/Dornier and Diehl Stiftung & Co.STN Atlas competencies are now part ofRheinmetall Defence Electronics, and sincethe late ‘90s the GÜZ has consistentlyevolved. Indeed, in August 1997 the initialconfiguration allowed up to 800 players toparticipate in the training, but by the end ofpilot phase, in 2003, the system was


Paolo Valpolini

Amap of the future MOUT training area that the German Bundeswehr is planning to buildat the Altmark Gefechtsübungszentrum. (German Army)

The “UrbanWarrior 5” exerciseinvolved some 400 infantrymen and

no less than 40 combat vehiclesamong which Challenger 2s.(British Ministry of Defence)


upgraded and 2,500 troops were then beingable to exploit the simulation system, whichreceived a further upgrade of the CTCcommunications in early 2009.

A Rheinmetall company since 2008,RDA (Rheinmetall DienstleistungszentrumAltmark) is running the Altmark CTCunder a public-private partnership scheme.However, considering today’s growingrequirement, the most important step hasjust started: the increasing importance ofurban warfare will be transferred also intothe GÜZ. Rheinmetall Defence won a €100million bid to build Schnöggersburg, a 6km2 town that will include some 500buildings with a subway, a financial andhistorical centre, ghetto-blocks, residential,industry and slum areas, as well as anairport. A shopping mall and a 22-meterwide river will also be part of the set.

Rheinmetall is proposing two differentsystems, one radio-based system wheresoldiers equipped with a small ID tag aretracked with an accuracy of fewcentimetres, and a second which is a muchmore mobile laser-based system that is ableto tell in which room a the soldier is.Apparently the Bundeswehr requirement isfor the second solution, however theconfiguration is far from being frozen since,so far, only the planning phase was funded.

As for direct and indirect fire effectsagainst buildings, and their relevance to thesoldiers inside the structure, Rheinmetallequips the outside walls with laser detectorsthat log in the incoming threat that pass theinformation to indoor transmitters that inturn send a hit code to the soldiers withinthe indirect effect range. By taking intoaccount the position of the soldier and amodel based the building type it can

generate injury data, thus triggeringrealistic effects on the players.

The radio-based system was selected forthe new Russian Mout CTC that is beingbuilt in Mulino, in the Volga region,Rheinmetall having won the €100 millionbid in late 2011 teamed with Russian JSCoOboronservis. Here the German company isresponsible only for the integration of itssimulation systems in the town, which iscurrently being built. In early July 2013 thesystem passed factory acceptance test,Rheinmetall waiting the buildings to befinished before installing simulation assets.

The laser-based system has beenprovided to an undisclosed Middle East

customer who placed an order withRheinmetall for a Mout facility in 2009,optical laser-coded transmitters beinginstalled on room ceilings.

Ruag Defence of Switzerland is alsoinvolved in CTC simulation and has led thedevelopment of the Swiss Army centres,two of which are aimed at open terrainoperations and two at urban terrain, one inBure and the other in Walenstadt , the latterbeing scheduled for delivery in Fall 2013.The engagement system is based on the


A Rheinmetall optical position sensor installedinside a room; less precise than radio-basedsystems, it enables one, however, to quicklyinstrument existing infrastructures.(Rheinmetall)

Rheinmetall has been selected by theBundeswehr to develop Schnöggersburg, a 6km2 townwithin the Altmark CTC. Thecompany is currently equipping a similartraining area in Russia. (Rheinmetall)

RUAG Gladiator control box allows to verify not only hits but also the level of wounds, and thusthe incapacitating level of the action. (Armada/P. Valpolini)

The laser simulation system for the 40mmunderbarrel grenade launcher developed byRuag. (Armada/P. Valpolini)



Ruag Gladiator in its most expandedvariant, the Gladiator Mout CTC thatincludes the localisation of the soldierswithin buildings, thanks to aradiofrequency-based locating systeminstalled in the rooms, the outdoor positionbeing provided by a GPS-based system.Moreover the Gladiator Mout CTC alsoallows one to receive the attack data that arepassed through the building.

The Gladiator provides not only hitwarning, but also differentiates kill andwound, thus providing an increasedmeasure of realism by allowing the trainingof medical units to cut in. Currently RuagCTCs can cope with 600 players, howeveran upgrade is being developed to take in300 more actors in order to simulateasymmetrical warfare situations. Hand-grenades, 40 mm underbarrel grenadelaunchers, artillery, mines and IEDs/boobytrap simulation devices have been added tofirearms simulators. As for the controlcentre, the Ruag software allows one tovirtually “enter” each room – monitoringand then analysing and replaying theengagement. A set of images captured bythe cameras relevant to the action can bepulled up on a screen, providing full control

of the action and comprehensive debriefingtools. Excon can also take part in aproactive way generating smoke, flashlightor sound into buildings.

In addition to its Swiss Army-relatedactivities, Ruag Defence is working on

solutions for Germany and other countries,and is also developing a mobile solution.The Swiss company was one of the threemain actors in the development of theFrench Army Cenzub (Centred'entraînement aux actions en zoneurbaine). Located within the Sissonnetraining area west of Paris, a first area of theJeoffrécourt village was equipped by a teamincluding two French companies, Gavap asprime contractor and Diginext, as well asRuag. The latter company provided its new-


Artillery, mines and hand grenades are part ofthe Ruag simulation system that allows todevelop realistic and credible scenarios.(Armada/P. Valpolini)

Themultiple screen at Bure allows Swissinstructors to follow in real time all the actionsthat are happening in the Mout facility.(Armada/P. Valpolini)




generation laser-based small arms combatfiring simulator STCALNG (Simulateur deTir de Combat aux Armes Légères –Nouvelle Génération), with a 200-grammagnesium laser-emitter, which attachedto different interfaces, allows each type ofweapon to be simulated (the emitter beingtriggered by a blank cartridge in the Famas,Minimi and AAN F1, or by a push buttonin the FR F2 and FR 12.7 sniper rifles). Toensure precise position data insidebuildings, Gavap installed ultrawide-band(UWB) emitters in the rooms andintegrated UWB tags in the simulationharness. Ultrawide-band is used to locatesoldiers inside and close to the buildings,allowing soldiers located on the twoopposite sides of a wall to be discriminated,while in the approach area aGPS receiver isused. Data are send to the Comzub box,also integrated by Gavap into the harness.This transmits them via the HF receptionnetwork, installed by Ruag. All data go tothe Excon, developed by Diginext, thatallows full monitoring of the action andAAR reviewing. The first pilot trancheinvolved a commercial areawith one-storeybuildings, while a second tranche iscurrently under test, and involves a longrow of buildings, of up to five-floors. Athird tranche should materialise in Q32013. Gavap, Ruag and Diginext areproposing their common expertise on themarket and are seeking export orders.

Saab is a well established player in thelive simulation field and is providing lasereffectors and sensors to numerouscountries for mechanised and armoured

units. Its infantry Personnel DetectionDevice and Small Arms Transmitterremains the core of its simulation systems,however Urban Training Package (UTP) isadded to cope with Mout situations, inorder to provide seamless transition fromoutside to inside a building, in terms ofboth positioning and effects.

Saab’s UTP is modular and deployable,

The Saab Room Association Device isbattery powered and ensure seamlesstracking transition from GPS-coveredareas into buildings. (Swedish MoD)

This picture provides a good idea of thedimensions of a Rad sensor, the IR systemthat allows to detect the soldiers presence intoa room. (Saab)


and includes a multi-sensor trackingsystem that allows one to follow the variousplayers in urban canyons and insidebuildings. Positioning is based on theRoomAssociation Device (RAD), an IR systemthat normally covers doors and windowaccesses and provides soldiers locationwitha good degree of accuracy. It is the RADwireless, battery-powered net that ensurethe seamless transition from GPS-coveredareas to GPS-blind buildings. Aradiofrequency net provides data linkcoverage with the soldiers systems. Acomputer-based Structure InformationDevice contains information on thebuilding/area, while theDirect FireModuleallows the effects of direct fire such as tankgunfire on buildings to be simulated. TheDFM senses the building zone under attackcommunicating primary and secondaryeffects to the players inside. The system iscompatible both with Miles and Osagsystems. (The Osag 2.0 Basic’ optical codewas developed by Saab in cooperationwith

theGermanBWB in order to set a standardfor simulation devices).

A hand grenade simulator as well asreactive targets and audio and videosystems can also be added, and the CombatNet Radio can be recorded for laterevaluation.The Saab system also includes a full

rehearsal and after-action review systemwith 2D and 3D representations of theurban terrain; a portable modular digitalvideo monitoring and recording systemallows to readily select time-coded video.The Gamer manpack man-portable,instantly deployable exercise-control-and-evaluation system can. The UTP has beenprovided to numerous customers amongwhich the US Marine Corps, the RoyalNetherlands Army, the AustrianArmy andthe British Army.In December 2012 the British Army

carried out a further Mout trainingexperiment aimed at verifying how anarmoured infantry company groupsupported by MBTs would operate in anurban scenario of the future, and to try andunderstandwhat simulation environments(live, virtual or constructive) are mosteffective in answering different types of

conceptual development question. Dubbed“UrbanWarrior 5” the exercise was carriedout at the FrenchCenzubMout facility andwas supported by Niteworks, responsiblefor managing the technical aspects of thelive experiment, including collating andanalysing the mass of data generated,Swedish Saab and QinetiQ UK, whoprovided simulation tools and “syntheticwrap” to imitate other key elements of thebattlefield.Saab fielded 400 player systems, 40

armoured vehicles from Challenger 2s andWarriors to ProtectedMobility variants, 60anti-tankweapons, enough instrumentationto provide indoor tracking and through-wall effects in up to 20 buildings at a time,an Excon capability, and a small team ofanalysts to support the Niteworksexperimentation team. The experienceacquired with Urban Warrior 5 and in aprevious exercise in Scotland makes Saabconfident of its capacity to move trainingcapability anywhere its customers needs it.Lessons learned in terms of tracking fidelity,tuneable lethality and vulnerability,bandwidth, rapid and disseminated replay,dynamic analysis tools, installation speed,and realistic special effects will be exploited



British soldiers fully equipped with Saabsimulation gear taking part in the “UrbanWarrior 5” exercise. (UKMoD)


to further developing those issues in orderto improve the level of training support.According to Saab two persons in one daycan rig up to five houses of mediumdimensions, these being then reproducedon the Excon computer formonitoring andafter action replay purposes.

The latest facility developed by SaabTraining Systems is the Swedish Army newMout installation in Kvarn, 40 km west ofLinköping.To cover the entire village,whichmeans over 100 rooms and 1,100 windows,some 4,000 room association devices havebeen installed as well as over 500 videocameras, split between daylight,intensification and thermal cameras.Currently the village is rigged only fordismounted operations but the SwedishArmy intends toupgrade it by instrumentingall types of players. Excon receives full video,audio,positionandstatusof eachroom,and isable to induce elements such as smoke,simulated fire, andaudioeffects suchas thoseof helicopters, crowds, etc.

Other Mout training solution comesfrom the virtual world. Observing aninfantry teammoving in a funny way in an

empty spacemay seem somewhat odd, untilyou notice that each member of the squadwears an optical viewer inwhich he can see avirtual reality scenario that evolves as heprogresses and changes his position andline of sight. Although not a substitute oflarger and much more expensive trainingsystems, virtual reality solutions canhowever allow to reach higher trainingskills before deploying the unit to a Mouttraining facility, thus better exploiting thetime at that location and, in the end, acquirea higher overall training level.

Numerous virtual companies areproposing their products for militarytraining.Quantum3Dentered thismarket in2003 and has since developed a man-wearable immersive solution that wasadopted in 2011 by the US Army. TheExpeditionDIWarrior is made of a numberof elements centred around the wearable

Saab sensors installed in the KvarnMouttraining facility recently delivered to theSwedish Army. (SwedishMoD)

AWarrior AIFV on themove at Sissonneduring exercise “UrbanWarrior 5” carried outin France by the British Army in December2012. (UKMoD)





computer, installed on the back of thesoldier’ load-bearing vest. Battery-powered,the simulation platform is capable ofrunning themost advanced software thanksto the quad-core Intel processor and anNVIDIA graphics processing unit. Fullywireless, the system uses a 60° FoV head-mounted display with a 1280 x 124 highresolution screen to provide the soldierwiththe best possible immersive view of thetraining scenario, while instrumentedweapons thatmimic realM4,M4/M320 andM249 are currently available.Ahead trackerand a bodyposture tracker based on inertialmagnetic sensors allow the system to record

instantly the soldier’s movements andposition, providing the correspondingpictures on the display. An audio headsetdelivers surround sound and IP radio, andan integrated microphone allows realistictactical communications.All comms are recorded for after-action

review. The ExpeditionDI is an openarchitecture platform and can supportnumerous different simulation software –any software being able to be integratedusing theExpeditionDISoftwareDevelopersKit. As the system can be installed in anylocation, a shed can easily host the system.The ExpeditionDI can be deployeddownrange allowing mission rehearsal, aphysical space of 3 x 3 metres being neededfor each user, the virtual playground beingunlimited. Depending on the size andcomplexity of the desired scenario, thedesign can take as little as an hour, or up to afewmonths formore detailed scenarios.

InFebruary2013Quantum3Dannouncedits teamingwithUKAntycipSimulation,partof ST Electronics, for the distribution of itsExpeditionDI inEurope.Georgia-basedMotionReality is active in

motion-capture technology since1984and isprovidingmilitary customerswith itsVirtsimMilitary, an untethered, fully immersivesimulation system allowing the execution ofbasic individual manoeuvres, complex unittactics, and mission rehearsals in varioustypes of scenarios, Mout being obviouslyincluded. Individuals, teams, or full squadscan move on a surface of over 450m2.Trainees wear the Virtsim gear over theirequipment and carry replica rifles orhandguns providing recoil and simulatingthe proper magazine round content,commanding magazine change. Moreovermalfunctions can also be introduced viawireless commands. Full 3D after-actionreview is provided.


The Q3D system allows to overlay virtualimages in order to obtain a fully realisticscenario. The enemy as well as further friendlyforces can be virtually injected into thescenario. (Q3D)


Russia is resuming the supply ofadvanced weapon platforms to Chinain amove that may have implications

for India.At the end of last year, Russiaconcluded a framework agreement withChina for the sale of fourAmur-1650diesel submarines. In January it signedanother intergovernmental agreementfor the supply of Russia’s latest Su-35long-range fighter planes.Due to difficult road and climatic

conditions, vast distances, wars which theSoviet Union and Russia were drawn into, aswell as a historically formed school ofautomotive design and engineering, theRussians have acquired the knack of makingexcellent highly reliable all-terrain militarymotor vehicles capable of driving cross-country and themost difficult routes.First of all it refers to a family of Ural

vehicles. They were purposefully designedas army trucks for extreme operationconditions. Their high off-road capability isprovided by special axle design, a central tirepressure control system and other technicalfeatures. The vehicle safely goes whereothers cannot move got stuck in themud,buried in the sand, skidding in the snow orstuck among the boulders, logs or the ruinsof urban buildings. It easily negotiatestrenches 0.6-1.2 mwide, vertical walls up to0.55m high, water obstacles up to 1.75m

deep, slopes up to 20 degrees, and sideslopes up to 31 degrees. The Ural reliablyoperates at the temperatures of -50 to +50 °Cand at an altitude of up to 4500meters abovesea level. The vehicles are equipped withvarious types of diesel enginesmeeting theEuro 0 to Euro 3 emission standards.Compliance with modern requirements

and broad commonality betweencomponents and assemblies make the Uralfamily basic for the troops and enable itseffective use jointly with armored vehicles onthemarch and at the forefront for towingartillery systems, transportation ofammunition and soldiers.The advantages of the Ural vehicles are

obvious: outside storage, easymaintenanceand a number of design features provenduring the years of operation. The basemodels of the family are available in 4x4,6x6, and 8x8 variants.Adesign featureprovides a high level of crew protectionagainst landmine blasts. There are alsoversions with an additional protectionset – heavy hidden armor plating that helpspreserve the lives of people and cargo.These powerful trucks have excellently

proved themselves in many parts of theworld. TheMexicans used them extensivelywhen eliminating the consequences ofHurricane Katrina, the Uruguayans - in UNmissions in Congo and Haiti, Guatemalans -

in operations against drug trafficking. In1994, the Ural became the world's first truckthat passed through the polar North on theLondon - NewYork rally routeToday the Ural multi-purpose vehicles are

in service with the armies in more than 40countries and have established themselvesas the standard of cross-country capacity,endurance and reliability. Moreover, differentcombatant arms usemore than 400 items ofspecial equipment and weapons installed onUral chassis, because its capacity is 6 to 12tons and the weight of the towed trailerranges from 7 to 12 tons.The best features of Russianmilitary

vehicles have been embodied in a series ofKamAZmilitary trucks developed aroundcommercial models. Owing to the additionalfeatures – high power-to-weight ratio,increased safety margin of the wholestructure, easy steering, reliable brakes anda comfortable cabin – the family of KamAZmilitary trucks has received the highestcategory of quality. The war inAfghanistanand other conflicts of recent years haveproved a high cross-country capability,reliability, endurance and easymaintenanceof these vehicles. KamAZ trucks are used tomount weapons andmilitary equipment, towartillery systems, special and transporttrailers, as well as to carry troops andmilitarycargo on the roads of all categories andacross rugged and difficult terrain.Excellent capabilities of the vehicle

were appreciated by overseas buyers. Morethan a thousand of these vehicles hadbeen sold to Qatar, Bahrain, Yemen, andSyria in 2004-2011 alone.Meanwhile, JSCKamAZ continues to

step up the pace of production of bothmilitaryand commercial vehicles. In 2012, the2,000,000th truck rolled off the assembly line.In some years, KamAZ vehiclesmade up onethird of the domestic truck fleet, carrying up totwo-thirds of all cargo delivered by road.The Company’s export deliveries grow,

too. So, 13,500 vehicles of variousmakeswere sold abroad in 2007, which accountedfor 25.5 percent of the total output. That iswhy KamAZ is the eight-time winner of theBest Russian Exporter competition. Thepossibility of establishing assembly

RUSSIAN MILITARY MOTOR VEHICLES: FOR ON-ROADAND OFF-ROAD DRIVING IN MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS

Urals in combat

ROT Armada 2013 2pg Final:Layout 1 8/26/13 1:07 PM Page 2

production of KamAZ trucks in Cuba is underconsideration and the output will be 500vehicles a year. Similar projects are beingstudied also by other countries.Meanwhile, KamAZ continues to fascinate

specialists year after year. These trucks havewon the prestigious Dakar (earlier Paris -Dakar) Rally 11 times and other top-levelinternational races. The last victory waswonin the Lima – Santiago Rally in 2013.TheGAZ-2330Tigrmulti-purpose, all-

terrain armored vehicles, adopted byRussia’sMinistry of Defense andMinistry InternalAffairs, will also be of interest toRosoboronexport’s foreign partners. This is aconventional all-wheel-drive armored vehicle.The grossweight of theGAZ-2330 is seventons. The vehicle is designed to operate at anytime of day and year at the temperatures of -45 °C to +50 °C. It is indispensable in thesearch-and-rescue and special operations. Itshigh cross-country capacity is ensured by ahigh ground clearance, all-wheel independentsuspension and an automatic tire pressurecontrol system.That is why theTigr climbs a35 degree slope, negotiates a side slope of 35deg, a trench up to 0.5mwide, a vertical wall0.4mhigh and a ford up 1.2meters deep. Itshighmaneuverability, speed up to 140 km/h,cruising range of 900 kmand payloadcapacity of 1.5 tons (up to 11 trooperswitharms) are provided by a powerful dieselengine enabling the vehicle to overcomemountain passes at an altitude of 4650mabove sea level. In addition, armor protectionof theTigr body corresponds to STANAG

Level II andmine resistance – to Level I.Depending on the body type, the

GAZ-2330 has three to five doors providingquick, comfortable and safe boardingand landing of servicemen.Aunique, fully independent suspension

with stabilizer bars, original shock absorbersand a lever fulcrum of unusual designenable the vehicle to drive on any road andoff-road, providing a smooth ride, reliablehandling and stability.TheTigr uses amechanical transmission,

which, at customer request, can be replacedwith anAllison automatic transmission and thedisc brakewheels –with FrenchMichelin tires.There are places in the vehicle to install

andmount various weapons, including theKornet-EM anti-tankmissile system (ATMS).The system uses 8 ready-to-fire missiles andits full ammunition load consists of 16missiles. Salvo firing at two targetssignificantly increases the firing capabilitiesand rate of fire of theATMS. The system canfire all the existing Kornet-Emissiles andmeets all the requirements for current andfuture anti-tank systems.Advanced andrelatively low-cost technology solutions givethe Kornet-EM a number of entirely newcapabilities. Originally developed to countertanks, today the Kornet-EM is effectivelyused to destroy other targets: soft-skinnedand lightly armored vehicles, manpower,various kinds of fortifications, infrastructureelements and even air targets.For partner countries intending to

develop their own production andmaintenance of military vehicles,Rosoboronexport offers to organizeknockdown assembly of the Uraland Tigr vehicles in foreigncustomers’ territory.In addition, large-scale production

of brand newmodels of armoredvehicles is being prepared inRussia.Among them is theVPK-3924SPM-3Medved ("Bear") special armoredvehicle. Despite it has recentlycompleted a series of the official tests,there is already a governmentcontract for the vehicle and requestsare coming from foreign partners.

Thanks to its high levels of protection,cross-country capacity and cruising range, theMedved is capable of successfully performingawide range of special missions in differenturban environments, aswell as in remoteareas of the land border and in difficult terrain.Various weapons can be installed on the

Medved while assault troopers (7-8 fully-equipped fighters, not including the driverand the vehicle commander) can use theirpersonal weapons through portholes.The armored vehicle is equippedwith a

Russian new-generation 300hp diesel engine,theYaAMZ-536, having the service life of upto 800,000 km.TheMedved uses provenautomotive components. The vehicle body (asteel armoredmonocoque constructionwithbulletproof windows) provides STANAG4569Level III ballistic protection for the crew andtroopers. The bottomof the body is V-shapedtowithstand an explosion of a 6 kg (TNTequivalent)mine. The vehicle weighs 14 tons;itsmaximumspeed is 100 km/h, range - up to1,000 km.TheMedved is equippedwith aninstantaneous smoke screen laying systemprotecting the vehicle not only from the opticaland laser sights, but also fromelectro-opticaland thermal imaging equipment. Multi-actionautomatic fire suppression systemsextinguish fires in the engine transmissioncompartment and in wheels. To ensure crewhabitability and survivability, provision ismadefor air conditioner, heater, and scuttle cask.The high performance characteristics of

the armored vehicle ensure its successfuluse by army units, police, special forces andpeacekeeping units in themost difficultgeographic and climatic conditions in bothon-road and off-road situations.

Tigr with Kornet-EM

KamAZ

Armada Marketing Promotion

ROT Armada 2013 2pg Final:Layout 1 8/26/13 1:07 PM Page 3


In recent years, worldwideNaval Forces have been facedwith new challenges rangingfrom the outburst of global terrorism to the shift of navalwarfare to littoral scenarios.To copewith awider range of non-traditional asymmetrical threats ranging fromsmall high-speed surface craft used for suicide attackswith explosives or for piracyacts, to fast inshore attack craft armedwith heavymachine guns, rocket-propelledgrenades or anti-tankmissiles, not tomention lowand slowair vehicles such ashelicopters, light aircraft and unmanned platforms,manyNaval Forces have investedin small-calibre guns to protect their fleet platforms.

Remote-control CannonProliferation at Sea

Naval Mid-Cal Remote-Contol Guns

NAVAL MEDIUM-CAL REMOTE.qxp:Armada 8/26/13 12:06 PM Page 2

Alongside lightweaponsystems suchas pintle-mounted 7.62mmmachine guns, small-calibreweapon systems using 20 to 30

mm-calibre cannonhavebeen introduced toprovide increased range and significantlygreater stopping power. From non-poweredandmanuallyoperated solutions,manynavalforces and companies have developedpoweredandstabilisedmounts thatareable tofire regardless of ship motion, fitted withadvanced sights and remote controls toenhanceprotection.

I RAFAELBased on the requirement drawn fromexperience gained by the Israeli DefenceForces and demonstrated during at-sea live-firing trials for the first time in mid-1995,the Rafael Advanced Defense SystemsTyphoon naval stabilized and remotelyoperated gun system family can claim to bethe first of its kind to have hit the marketand achieved significant sales success.Designed to be operated independently byusing an on-mount electro-optical packagethat includes a television camera, a thermalimager and a laser range-finder, (though itcan be slaved to an off-mount electro-optical director), the Typhoon performs itsfire-control calculations using its own on-mount ballistic computer. Able to receive arange of guns up to 30mm with on-mountammunition stowage of 200 roundsdepending on calibre, the highly stabilizedmounting with a pointing accuracy of lessthen 0.5mrad can accommodate a 7.62mmco-axial machine gun, adding a back-upand saving ammunition costs duringtraining. Able to operate autonomously orin a slavedmode (inwhich case the system iscontrolled from an operator console andslaved to a surveillance or fire-controlsystem that calculates lead angle andelevation for accurate line-of-sighttarget tracking), the Typhoon familyincludes mountings incorporating eithersurface-to-surface or surface-to-airmissilesin addition to the gun. For example theTyphoon NTD employs Spike-ER missileswhile the Typhoon GSA model addsunspecified short-range surface-to-airmissiles. In addition to Australia,Columbia, India, Singapore andSri Lanka, the Typhoonwas selected by theUS Navy to whom it is supplied as the Mk


Luca Peruzzi

A Rafael Typhoonhere seen on an

Australian ArmidaleOPV. (Austal)


38 Mod 2 Machine Gun System Ordnancealteration (Ordalt).BAE Systems, teamed with Rafael, is

upgrading legacyMk38Mod0/1mountings,basedon theATKM242Bushmaster 25mmchain gun, with a fully stabilised Typhoongun mount and on-mount TopLite EOD.TheMk 38Mod 2 also saw ForeignMilitarySales contract awards from the PhilippinesandSpain.

I OTO MELARAWith a long history as a supplier of small-calibre naval guns ranging from 12.7 to 40mm, Finmeccanica’s OtoMelara developedthe Mod 584 single 30 mm Marlin-WS(Modular Advanced Remotely controlledLightweight NavalWeapon Station) tomeetthe emerging requirement of modern navalwarfare. The Marlin-WS introduces a newmodular configuration that offers theflexibility to accommodatedifferentweapon,sensors and fire-controls on a fully stabilisedlightweight non-deck penetrating mount.Adopting a fullydigital architecture, it canbe

configured to support a number of modes,including remote-control and slaved to shipcombat system, remoteor autonomoususingan independent electro-optical sensorspackage and on-mount ballistic computer,and remote or autonomous operation usingan on-mount coaxial electro-optical suitewithballistic computer.Offered with Rheinmetall Mk 30-2 and

ATK Mk 44 30 mm cannon with an on-

mount ammunition capacity of 160 rounds,Oerlikon KBA and ATKM242 Bushmaster25mm guns with 200 rounds on-mountstowage, the general configuration of theMarlin includes a dual ammunition feedsystem with selectable feeder, two-axismount, gun cradle, motor gearboxes forelevation and training, angular positiontransducers, a servo-drive module and anelectro-optical package. Off-mount systems


Under teaming between BAE Systems andRafael, the US Navy is upgradingMk 38Mod0/1 guns with a fully stabilized Typhoon gunmounting and on-mount TopLite EOD. Thesame system has already been sold to Spainand the Philippines. (Luca Peruzzi)

To equip its Fincantieri-built Saettia patrol vessels, the Iraqi Navy has acquired the Marlin-WSversion with coaxially mounted electro-optical sensors. Themodularity of the Marlin becomesparticularly obvious when comparing this picture with the other Marlin photographed by theauthor showing the weapon systems on board the Holland patrol vessel. (Oto Melara)

Oto Melara’s Marlin-WS) introduces a newmodular configuration offering the flexibility toaccommodate different weapons, sensors and fire-control systems. In this Holland OPVinstallation for example, the electro-optical suite is on an independent mount. (Luca Peruzzi)



include below-deck power supply unit andremote-control console.With an unladen weight of 1,090-to-

1,350kgdependingongun, ammunitionandelectronic package, the Marlin-WS is alsooffered in a yet-to-be tested configuration

that would include two twin-tube launchermodules for both MBDAMistral and KBM9M342 Igla-S surface-to-air missiles.Providing high performances in terms oftraverse/elevation rates, according to OtoMelara, the Marlin-WS has been sold and

installed on Iraqi Navy’s Fincantieri-builtFateh-class patrol vessel, the United ArabEmiratesAbuDhabi-class corvettes, supportships and Coast Guard vessels, theNetherlands Navy’s Holland-class offshorepatrol vessels, the Portuguese Navy’s Vianado Castelo-class OPVs. It is also ordered forthe Royal Omani Navy’s Al-Ofouq classpatrol vessels.

I MSI-DEFENCEWith more than 240 Seahawk stabilisedmountings, using25mmor30mmguns, soldto at least 16 navies, Britain’s MSI-DefenceSystemsoffers a complete family of 20/25/30mm naval gun systems, which uses astandard range of control systemconfigurations, including the ‘Remsig’ optionwith system controlled via vessel combatsystem, the autonomous ‘A1’ optionwithon-mount suite of electro-optic sensors and the


MSI-Defence Systems of Britain has deliveredmore than 240 Seahawk stabilisedmountings,using 25 and 30mmguns to at least 16 navies. The Sigma version also features short-rangesurface-to-air missiles. Here featured is the DS30 on board the Sandown class MCM vesselduring the IDEX 2013 exhibition.

During the IDEF 2013 exhibition, OtoMelarapresented the latest model of its 40mmgunmount. The single Fast Forty naval gun comeswith an enhanced Bofors 40mm capable of a450 round-per-minute firing rate with dualfeeder and amongst other improvements,reduced weight and a radar cross-sectionreduction shield. (OtoMelara)



more sophisticated ‘A2’ with gun controlsystemsupportedbya remoteEOD.CradlingATK Mk44/M242, Oerlikon KCB orRheinmetall Mk 30-2 guns in dual or singlefeed configurations (or a mix of gun andsurface-to-air missiles in the Sigma

configuration), the Seahawkportfolio buildson the earlier DS25/30 and DS30M Mk 2Autonomous Small-CalibreGun (ASCG) inservicewithonRoyalNavyType23 frigates tomeet the service’s Defensive Anti-SurfaceWarfare requirement,with additional ordersexpected for other platforms of the SeniorService.MSI-Defence Systemshas already sold or

delivered Seahawk systems to Algeria,Malaysia, NewZealand,Oman, Philippines,SaudiArabia, Thailand andmore recently toIraq. Through US foreignmilitary sales, thecompany is providing the Iraqi Navy withfully autonomous DS30M A2 Seahawksequipped with ATK Mk44 30 mm guns,below-deckcontrol console, off-mountEOD,autotracker andballistic computer.To meet the growing demand for a

primary weapon to be installed on smallercoast-guard and constabulary craft down toabout 20 metres, MSI-Defence Systems alsooffers the 20mm Seahawk Lightweight,whichoffers thebenefit ofminimal footprint,easy installation and low powerconsumption. Presented in model form atIDEX 2013, the 20mm baseline Seahawk

At IDEX 2013, MSI-Defence Systems presentedthe Seahawk 20mm baseline systememploying the Denel G12 20mm, which isparticularly intended for 20-metre boats.(Luca Peruzzi)


employs a Denel G12 20mm cannon, anelectro-optical sensor package, anautotracker and a compact remote-controlconsole, but MSI-Defence Systems seessignificant retrofit potential for customerswishing to reuse legacyordnance and20mmx 139 ammunition frommanually operated20mmsystems.

I RHEINMETALLGermany’s Rheinmetall Defence MLG 27stabilised, remotely controlled, non-deckpenetrating small-calibre gun is a GermanNavy fleetwide installation, but recently sawinstallationon foreignplatforms.TheUnitedArabEmirates deploy theMLG27onboardBaynunah-class corvettes and Ghannatha-class fast patrol boats, while the KuwaitNaval Forces acquired the system to equipMk V fast patrol boats, being deliveredunder aUSFMScontract. Basedon the same27mmBK 27 gas-operated revolver cannonfitted to Typhoon and Tornado combataircraft, it can fire up to 1,700 27x145mmfrangible armour-piercing sabot (FAPDS)rounds perminute, ofwhich 90 are available

as ready-to-fire ammo. Developed as an all-purpose ammunition for naval applications,Rheinmetall claims it achieves similarpenetration as a sub-calibre kinetic energyround, but also delivers fragmentation-based incendiary effects comparable tohigh-explosive ammunition.

Conceived to replace 20 and 40mmgunsin German Navy, the 850kg MLG 27 relies

on a non-deck penetrating mount and anAtlas Elektronik fire control system thatincludes target tracking and fire controlcomputation. Controlled from a remoteconsole, tracking and fire control is assistedby a stabilised electro-optical package(daylight TV camera, thermal imager, laserrangefinder, dual-mode video-tracker, andassociated interface electronics) mountedon the gun’s trunnion.With the announcedacquisition last September of EMDigital inBritain to create Rheinmetall AdvancedStabilised Platform, the German defencegroup has widened the range of stabilisedmodular platforms from small (5.56mmto 14.5mm and 40mm automatic grenadelaunchers) to medium-calibre weapons(20mm - 40mm), including the WS30lightweight 30mm system developed byEM Digital in conjunction with a SouthAsianNavy.


With the acquisition of EM Digital to create Rheinmetall Advanced Stabilised Platform (SASP),the German Defence group has enlarged its product portfolio of remotely controlled navalguns, including theWS 30 lightweight 30mm system seen here. (Luca Peruzzi)

The Rheinmetall MLG 27mm saw aninteresting development on its domesticmarket, having been earmarked to equip bothGerman Navy combat and support vessels;abroad, and particularly in the Middle East, itis already in service with United Arab Emiratesand Kuwait Naval Forces. (Luca Peruzzi)




I NEXTERBuilding on experience garnered with verylightweight gun mounts (15A/15B) andtechnologies used for helicopter gun turrets(THL20/THL30), France’s Nexter Systemsdeveloped the Narwhal – a smart acronymindeed to cover Naval Remote WeaponHighly Accurate, Lightweight. Currentlypromoted in two versions, the mostsophisticatedNarwhal 20Bwhich features a20M963 gun firing 20mm x 139mmmunitions, with single feed and a gun re-cocking unit for a total weight of 470kgincluding ammunition, and the Narwhal20A which sports a 20M621 with 20mm x102 standard Nato ammunition, arestabilized in elevation and azimuth. Theycarry their own electro-optical sensor withdual-field camera, uncooled thermalimager, laser rangefinder andmoving targetautotracker.Characterized, according to Nexter, by

compactness, lightness and lowstresses to thecarrier platform, the system is operated from

a remote console allowing manual orautomaticmodes, but canbe integratedwiththe combat system for slaved fire control.With a3,000mtarget detectionanda1,500meffective firing range, the Narwhal 20Aprototype has been successfully tested ininclement sea and weather conditions onboard a OCEA shipyard platform againsttargets at ranges of 500 to 1,200 metres. Toprovide the French Navy’s Aquitaine classFremmmulti-mission frigates with close-inprotection, DCNS ordered Nexter 22Narwhal 20Bs in November 2011, withinstallation to start on the second-of-classNormandie. The system is believed to havealsobeenordered for the singleFremmbeingbuilt for theRoyalMoroccanNavy.

I ASELSANIn parallel to its successful and well-proven12,7/25mmequipped Stamp/Stop products,Turkey’s Aselsan presented the Muhafiz 30mmremotely controlled and stabilizednavalgunsystemat IDEF2013.Fedvia twoseparateammunition lines, the200-roundperminute,30mmMk44Bushmaster-IIgun is integratedon stabilized pedestal. The independentelectro-optical suite,whichcanaccommodatethermal andTVcameras, a laser range finderand gyroscope, can operate in a surveillancemodewithout aiming thegun.

Tipping the scales at 1,250kilos including150 rounds, the Muhafiz does not requiredeck penetration and provides automatictarget detection and tracking, ballisticcalculation and slew to targets assigned fromexternal sensors and command and controlsystems. With a demonstrated effectiverange of 1,500metres andhigh tracking andfiring ability with high probability of hitaccuracy at the same range, theMuhafizwasselected for the 34-metre MRTP 34 fastpatrol/attack craft being built by theTurkishYonca-Onuk shipyard for the Qatar ArmedForces. It was also tested by theUnitedArabEmirates.

I REUTECHBased on a SouthAfricanNavy requirementfor a20mmsystemasprimaryarmament forits future inshorepatrol vessel and secondaryweapon for futureOPVsandauxiliary ships,and the Rogue family of remotely weaponsystems (RWS) for 12,7mmlightweight gun,South Africa’s Reutech Solutions developedthe Super Rogue 20 mm gun system.Weighing less than 500kg and using theRogue’s electronics, thenewmount features aGI-2 gun firing standard 20mm x 139mm,and carries a day camera and a thermalimager.TheBeninNavy is the first customerof theSuperRogue20mmgunsystem,which

France’s Nexter Systems developed twoversions of the Narwhal. Themostsophisticated one is the Narwhal 20B seenhere, that has been ordered for the FrenchNavy’s Fremm frigate fleet.



Presented by Aselsan at IDEF 2013, theMuhafiz 30mm system employsMk44 Bushmaster-IIand includes a 150-round container. The elector-optical suite can operate independently fromthe gun. It will equip theQatar Naval Forces newMRTP 34 fast patrol/attack craft. (Luca Peruzzi)

was installed by French shipbuilder OCEAon board new 35 mm FPB 98 patrol craft tobedelivered to theAfricanNavy.

I BOFORS 40 REVISITEDThe request for lightweight primaryweaponsystems tobe installedonsmaller coast-guardand constabulary craft, capable to counterevolving threats at reduced life-costs, aswell asthe potential number of Bofors 40mm usersthat could be interested in extending theirsystems’ service life, haspushedwell- and lesswell-known producers of this gun, namelyBAESystemsandOtoMelara, todevelopnewversionsof their product families.

BAE Systems completed thedevelopment programme of the new-generation 40mm Mk 4 version in thefourth quarter of last year, after successfulfiring trails conducted between Octoberand November from the Swedish Navy’s36.5m picket boat Jägaren in the watersnorth of Gothenburg. Developed as aprivate venture since 2009, with the aim ofarming small inshore patrol craft andOPVswith a compact, lightweight, and affordablemultirole weapon system, the Bofors 40



Mk4 gun system was conceived anddeveloped to obtain a 40% reduction involume, weight and price compared toearlier Mk3 version. BAE Systems believesin newmarket opportunities for the patrolcraft sector, which was previously denieddue to heavier 40mm turrets. BAE Systemshas substantially re-engineered the mountintroducing amore compact cupola, a fully-digitised modular architecture (providingweapon synergies and future flexibility), thesame elevation mass as the SwedishArmy’s CV 90 armoured vehicle family’s,and new electric drives instead of the olderhybrid electro-hydraulic types. Thecompany also involved the suppliers in theproduct fine-tuning and cost reductionphases.Weighing less than 2,500kgwithoutammunition compared to the older 3,700kgBofors 40mmMk3, the newmodel has 100ready-to-fire rounds, with the possibility toshift between two different ammunitionstypes. Remotely-operated from an off-mount fire-control system using a digitalinterface, the Mk4 gun is also availablein a gyro-stabilised locally controlledversion with TV camera sight and optional

muzzle velocity radar for the man-on-the-mount configuration. Capable to fire any40mm L/70 round according to BAESystems, the company promotes fullcompatibility with the latest programmable3P ammunition, providing 6-modeprogrammable all-target ammunition,which means less round types, transport,storage, weight and space requirements.With a maximum range of 12.5km and acyclic rate of fire of up to 300rds/min, theoperator can now select any firing ratebetween 30rds/min and 300 rds/min. BAESystems is nowpushingmarketing activitieswith initial focus on existing 40 mm users,including Royal Swedish Navy, as well asinternational shipyards, with a firstcustomer contract foreseen to be securedthis year.

I ADIK & OTO MELARALast December, an undisclosed valuecontract was signed between Turkey’sAnadolu shipyard (Adik) and Italy’s OtoMelara for the supply of a new-generationSingle Fast Forty 40mm multipurposenaval mount to be installed on board the

two LST (Landing Ship Tank) platformsbeing built for Turkish Navy. Designed tosatisfy the requirements of full automation,high reliability, easy installation andreduced maintenance, the new gun mountis the latest application of Oto Melara’s40 mm gun production, which is basedon a higher rate-of-firemodel developed inpast years by the same company, andcapable of 450rds per minute with a dualammunition feed providing two differenttypes of 144 ready-to-fire ammunitions.Characterized by a new mount withoutdeck penetration and a reduced radarcross-section shield, the Single Fast Forty isbeingmarketed in three different versions,from a full CMS slaved configuration to astand-alone, locally managed by adedicated command and control console orman on-board the mount, configurationwith or without integrated EO/IR firecontrol system and fully stabilizedplatform, with aweight ranging from 4,350to 4,600kg with ammunition. Designed toengage both air and naval threats, the SingleFast Forty mount has been selected byTurkey in its most sophisticated version(with also man on-board the mount) witha view to mounting two on each of its LSTsas of 2016.

Developped for inshore craft and OPVs, the new-generation Bofors 40Mk 4 gunmount isclaimed to offer a 40% reduction in volume, weight and price compared to the earlier Mk 3version. (BAE Systems).



S ince 2008 the QinetiQ NorthAmerica Swats (Shoulder-WornAcoustic Targeting System) is thesituational awareness of US soldiers

deployeddownrange.A total ofnearly17,000systems have been sold to the US Army,where it is known as the IndividualGunshotDetector. It is alsousedby theMarineCorps.The core of the system is a 300-gramshoulder-carried sensorpad that contains the

microphones, a GPS receiver, a gyro, amagnetic compass andaccelerometers.Withan accuracy of ±7.5° in azimuth and a 10%in range (itsmaximumdeclared range is 400metres in the open), it proved very reliable,returns on warranty from the field havingamounted to less than 1%.Not only does theSwats provide the soldier with the relativeposition of the gunshot source, but it alsorecords the grids in the system toupdate thatrelative positionwhile the soldiermoves andto share this with other elements of thesquad. The information is available through

an aural device or with a display unitweighing110grams.

Available toNato countries via theNSPA,the Swats is in service in France, Australiaand an undisclosed Asian nation, and wasrecently ordered by a Middle East nation.Active tenders are underway in Europe andthe Middle East. QinetiQ NA is constantlyupdating the systemvia software addingnewlanguages and features; new algorithms arebeing implemented to increase detectionrange, while a more efficient use ofcomponents will increase battery life,


Better situational awareness has become paramount forthe soldier in the field, whether he is dismounted or onboard a vehicle. Acoustic sensors capable of telling thesoldier where enemy fire is coming from have thusbecome a common sight on the battlefield. Soldier-wornsystems performances are necessarily limited by theirdimensions, although new technologies are coming tothe rescue in this department, while vehicle-bornesystems have become the “ears” of the vehicle itself.Base protection is another major area of application foracoustic shotgun detection systems.

Acoustic GunshotDetection Systems

Gunfire Location Systems

Information from the QinetiQ Swats can beprovided to the soldier either via an audiosignal or as a visual info in the helmetmounted display. (QinetiQ)

Paolo Valpolini

Gunfire Location Sept13 final:Armada 8/26/13 11:45 AM Page 2

currently of about 14 hours. QinetiQ ishowever already working on a wholly newsystem that features a waterproof, largerhigher resolution screen with a simplifiedmenu structure, anew lighter, smaller sensorensuring a x50higher speed, anda100 timeslarger memory allowing to accommodatemore sophisticated algorithms.QinetiQhasdevelopedtheEarsFSS(Fixed

SiteSystem) that starts toattract some interestfor base protection, as well as the Ears VMS(Vehicle Mounted System) that is currentlybeingrequestedbysomecustomers.Howeverthe company is developing a new vehiclesystem with improved angular and rangeaccuracy thatwill alsoprovidea3-D imageofthe scene to allow it to be used as a targetingitem for RCWS. Currently at TRL 6-7, it was

demonstrated last year to the US Army.QinetiQdidnotprovidea launchdate for anyof itsnewsystems.

I BOOMERANGWith over 10,000 Boomerangs sold tovariousnations (withmost of thesedeployedin theatre), Raytheon BBN is another majorplayer in this field. No significantannouncements have been made sinceour last article on this subject, but in themean time Raytheon BBN developed theBoomerang Warrior-XP (where the “p”stands for “Perimeter”) for use as a defencesolution for bivouacs and camps. The unit

weighs less than 6kg, which is much lighterand smaller than the original Boomerang,andcomprises a sensor andapower/networkbox that allows numerous sensors to belinked to the Boomerang SituationAwareness System and thus cover 360°(although the Warrior XP can work as astand-alone item). The system runs on aruggedised laptop using Windows 7 andprovides shooter localization in azimuth,range, elevation and 10-digit gridcoordinates, data being automatically fusedfor a more accurate solution shown on anintuitivemapdisplay. It also shows thebulletdetection zone, thus the threatened area.


Rheinmetall developed the AkSL detector which is now offered as part of the Gladius soldiermodernisation package (Armada/P. Valpolini)


Shooter locations may be stored for after-action review or intelligence purposes.According to BBN the Warrior XP detectsover 90% of the shots. Bullet miss detectionis 1 to25metres, false alarmrate less than1%and response time 1.5 seconds, and powerbeing provided by the Ethernet link, theoperational duration is indefinite.

The company is also still developingwhatused to be called the Haltt (Helicopter AlertandThreatTermination–Acoustic), butnowknownasBoomerangAir. It uses amodifiedsoftware to filter out the aircraft’s own noiseand vibration. Its sensors are integratedwithin thehelicopter’s bodyand is thus is noteasy to identify. Their number varies withaircraft type and size, though the companydeclined toprovide any further details.

I PDCUEAnother vehicle system is the AAI TextronPDCue, apretty goodacronymfor ProjectileDetectionandCueing,which isbasedon foursensor arrays located at the vehicle’s cornersthat ensure full 360° coverage.The separationof the sensors ensures high azimuth andelevation accuracy, error being in the orderof±1° forbothangles,while rangeerror is lessthan25%but improves at ranges beyond350

metres (maximum range is 1.2 km). ThePDCue was integrated on the M1151 up-armouredHumvee and the Crows II remotecontrol weapon station for operationalevaluation.Thecompanydidnotprovideanyfurther comment on the most recentevolution as it currently is involved in somesensitive bids.

I PILARIn mid-2012 Acoem-Metravib added a

new product to its acoustic sensorsportfolio. Already seen previously atprototype stage, the Pearl (PersonalEquipment Add-on for ReactiveLocalization) is aimed at providing thesingle warfighter with a low-cost gunshotdetection and localization system to beinstalled via a Picatinny rail on assault rifles,machine guns or sniper rifles. A single-piecesystem, it includes a small miniaturisedacoustic sensor array with embedded


Base protection is becoming one of themainroles for shotgun detection systems, here aQuinetiQ tripod-mounted Ears sensor on a fixedsite in Afghanistan (left). Vehicle crewsituational awareness is considerably increasedwith such detectors, as exemplified by thisvehicle-mounted Ears-VMS version. (QinetiQ)

AAI Textron developed the PDCue, which has been integrated with a Crows II weapon stationinstalled on a US ArmyM1151 Humvee. (US Army)




electronics, a built-in processing unit withgyro meter, and a man-machine interfaceshowing to the soldier the shot directionboth in azimuth and elevation thanks togreen and red diodes. If the soldier movesfrom its initial position the Pearl allowscontinuous target tracking until theoperator resets the system. Three buttonsallow to handle the system: on/off,day/ night and next shot/reset. Theunder 400-gram Pearl detectssupersonic projectiles fired fromfirearms of 5.45mm to 20mmcalibre.According to Metravib shot detection

probability is higher than 95%, withlocalisation errors of ±10° in azimuth andelevation and ±20% in distance, with aresponse time of less than one second.Running on two standard AA 1.5 Voltsbatteries, its low power consumption (lessthan 2W)ensures anautonomyof over 12hours.RS232 orRS485 portsare available forexporting potential targetindications into an electronicsight, thus allowing the soldierto maintain his aimingposition. Thecompanyhas infact alreadyintegratedit with the

Sagem Sword TI sight. Further integrationwith target locating systems such as theSagemSophie tobeusedby snipers spotters is

envisaged, as well as with low-cost remote control guns.Metravib is ready to customiseits system to fit helmets,shoulders or backpacks, andseparate wrist-display forexample, and has alreadydemonstrated the Pilar integrated

with a helmet display.A first order for20 Pilars, which is already inproduction, was placed by Brunei, and

considerable further orders areexpected in Fall 2013.As the use of the Pilarmay lead to doctrinechange, Metravibhas developed a“Blue Pearl”featuring aspecific softwarefor use inconjunction with

blank ammunitionduring training.

Obviously Metravib stillmarkets its vehicle- and fixed

installation-mounted Pilarw. Compared tothe original Pilar deployed in Sarajevo in1995 the current system is able to accuratelyidentify in real time the source not only ofsmall arms firebut also thatofRPGs,mortarsand anti-tank missiles. The latest version ofthePilarwVehicle has a response timeof lessthan two seconds and provides an azimuthaccuracyof±2°when thevehicle is stationaryor ±5° on the move. Elevation accuracystandsat±5°while rangeprecision isbetween10 and20% for aggressive shots.The Pilarw also provides calibre

identificationandaudioalert.Beingdesignedfor vehicle, it canprovide grid coordinates ofthe fire source if it is coupled to an inertialand/or GPS navigation system, and it canobviously be integrated with the remotecontrol weapon, adding a slue-to-cuecapability. Two modes are available: UrbanTerrain (for aggressive shots only), andRural

A precursor in sound shotgun detection, 01dBMetravib recently developed a rifle-mountedsystem that has a weight of less than 40 grams. The detail picture on the right shows well theled system that leads the rifleman towards the shotgun source. (01dBMetravib)


The four-microphone Pilar array, a systemthat is available for both vehicles andinfrastructure protection. (01dBMetravib)


Environment, which takes all types of shotsinto account. The two-kilo vehicle versionarray is foldable, but is less than 50cm highwhen in operation. The Data Interface andAcquisition Module installed in the vehicleweighs3.6kg.Oneof the latest sales successesof the Pilarw was the order by the FrenchArmée de Terre for its latest VAB upgradeknown as the TOP, equipped with theKongsberg Protector M151. Known inFrance as the Slate (Système de LocalisationAcoustiquedeTireurEmbusqué) it has beenintegratedwith the remoteweapon station toprovide automatic slewing towards thethreat. Eighty such kits have been suppliedsince February 2012.

The Pilarw Area, for its part, is a mostrecent version that allows to link up to 20antennae to a single electronic unit andthereby offers a 1 x 1 km area coverage andan improved accuracy. Sold toGermanyandItaly, it is currently deployed inAfghanistan.Numerousdemoshavebeencarriedoutwiththe Pilarw Helicopter and orders areexpected, especially from Latin America.Two antenna arrays would be used on lighthelicopters, and four on heavy types.Depending on the helicopter-generatednoise,which is a factorof aircraft dimensionsand flight speed, the system can provide a

rough indication of the firing source, front,left, rear, right, or a more refined oneproviding the “o’clock location”, the rangeandcalibre. Metravib is considering furtherevolutions, such as vehicle-mountednetworked systems, but is looking for apartnership with a major integrator tofinalise theproject.I AVISALeveragingwork in the automotive industryDutch Microflown Avisa developed novelAcousticVector Sensors (AVS) to detect andlocalise gunshots, artillery, aircraft andvehicles. Not only can the AVS measure thesound pressure (the typical measureprovided by microphones), but it also givesthe vector value acoustic particle velocity.The single sensor is based on Memstechnology, andmeasures the velocity of airacross two tiny, resistive strips of platinumthat areheated to 200°C.

Usingthreeorthogonallyemplacedsensorsin one single point and a sound pressuretransducer it readspressureandvectorvaluesin 3D, all in a very compact and light item ofsay,5x5x5mmandafewgrams.MicroflownAvisa underlines that its technology providesbetter accuracy compared to microphone-based systems in termsof azimuthandrange,although it does not provide elevation (seetable). Tests carried out in the Netherlandsand in Germany have shown that an AVS-based systemcan identify the point of originof mortar fire with a 2% accuracy in rangeand less than 0.5° in azimuth. Following aperiod of intense development, MicroflownAvisa has received a first contract for bothtarget practicing andhostile fire localizationapplications, followed by a second contractfor a mobile system and similar purposes,while a third involved a hostile firelocalization system for the protection oftheDutchEmbassy inKabul.

Yet another contract concerns thedevelopment of an AVS solution to beinstalled on vehicles. The one million EuroR&D contract signed in early 2013 has aduration of two years. Known as Whelac(wheeled acoustics) it will provide vehicleswith all-round 3D acoustic situationalawareness, the AVS being able to locate andclassify small arms, rocket, artillery, mortarand RPG fire, but also helicopters andgroundvehicles. Theobjective is tomaintainfull detection capabilities in vehicles drivingup to 80 km/h, and deal with the enginenoise. As acoustic awareness insidearmoured vehicles is much reduced, theWhelac would consistently improve crew


Avisa developed miniaturised sensors that notonly measure sound pressure but also thevector value acoustic particle velocity (Avisa) isworking on the integration of its sensors intomicro-drones given their reduced dimensionsand weight. (Armada/P. Valpolini)



safety by providing warning againstapproaching threats.Anetworkedversion tobe used, inter alia, in convoys is also beinganalysed. The reduced size, weight andpower consumption of AVS-based gunshotdetection systems makes them a premiumsolution for other systems like light drones.An application known as “Walking Ears” is

up and running, and 40people are currentlyworking within Microflown on innovativeprogrammes, India being a potential firstcustomer for the drone applications.

I SNIPER EGGAnswering the BritishMinistry of Defence’s‘Competition of Ideas’ initiative and urgent

operational requirements, Ultra Electronicsleveraged its deep expertise in acoustics todevelop a rifle-mounted gunshot locator.Initially knownas theRMGL, theSniperEggis a all-in-one system capable to detect andlocalize the sourceof incominghigh-velocity5.56 to 12.7 mm calibre rounds. This 450-gram system can be installed via Picatinnyrail on the rifle’s right side and features the“egg” at the front, with its microphonesensors, anda160x128pixel display that actsasman-machine interface.Whena shot is fired, theSniperEgg shows

the soldierwhichwas the incomingdirectionthanks to clock-type indicator and,while thesoldier turns towards the threat, aminiaturized three-axis inertial trackingsystem ensures continuous movementcompensation and the clock moves towards12o’clock reading. For fine tuning inazimuthandelevationcross-hairs replace the clockonthe screenwhen theweapon is alignedwithin30° of the target. Nominal accuracy is ±5° inazimuth and elevation and 15% in range(range is shown on the lower right corner ofthe screen, while the number of detectedevents can be seen on the lower left corner).Anaural alarmis available.Detection range is

This diagram neatly shows the operatingprinciple of the Sniper Egg. (Ultra Electronics)


Avisa exploited its technology to develop a system that allows to precisely pinpointmortar or artillery shooting grids. The system has been installed at the Dutch Embassy inKabul. (Armada/P. Valpolini)


from 30 to 1,200 metres, Ultra stating aprobability of correct detection andlocalisationofover 90%,with low false alarmrate. Target refresh frequency is 10 Hz forseamless displaymotion.The Sniper Egg is waterproof and is

poweredby twoAAbatteriesprovidingup toseven hours of autonomy (a battery chargeindicator showson the top-right cornerof thescreen). A simplemenu allows to set systemparameters such as display brightness (thedisplay isNVG-compatible),maximumandminimumranges.UltraElectronics is currentlyworkingona

Hostile Fire Indication system forhelicopters, based on the availabletechnology, however no information on theprogrammestatus is available. The companyhas also received funding for researchacoustic low-velocity projectile detection,such asRPGs.

I PINPOINTCobham of the US, in cooperation withBioMimetic Systems (BMS), developed anew family of acoustic gunshot detectionsystems known as PinPoint. Two versions

have been produced, one for dismounts andone for vehicles or fixed sites. The formercomes in the form of a shoulder-mountedsensor array thatprovides range, bearingandelevation, data being provided via interfacein the form of audio message or visual alertshown on a 45 x 51 mm wrist-watch style

display either as range, bearing andelevationor grid coordinates. The twoAAbatteries ofthe 1W system allow for 10 to 12 hours ofoperation. The shoulder sensor dimensionsare 89 x 89 x 26 mm for an overall weight ofless than400grams.An acoustics specialist, BMS developed


A close variant of the version-mountedPinPoint seen here is used to protect fixed

installations. (Cobham)

Ultra Electronics’ Sniper Egg canpick a round at a range of1,200metres. (Ultra Electronics)


applications thatusemixedanaloganddigitalhardware with an asynchronous signallingmethodknownaseventbasedprocessing thatis modelled on neurological function. Thisprovides sensors with broad dynamic range,robust performance, and a high adaptabilityto environmental conditions. Accordingto Cobham and BMS this yields high

performances innoisyandreverberanturbanenvironments. One hundred millisecondafter detection the gunshot source data areshown on the display, relative position databeingupdatedas thewarfightermoves thanksto integrated sensors.Noaccuracy figures areprovidedbyCobham.The PinPoint Dismount can detect and

displaya shot every30milliseconds thanks tofast time-domain processing techniques, thesystem being able to store up to 1,000 shots.However forpracticality thedismount systemallows the user to recall the last 15 shots. ThePinPointVehiclehas similar characteristics interms of reaction time, but its accuracy ishigher due to its larger sensors. These comein the form of a low pyramid that containsfourmicrophones (oneat eachvertex), aswellas theprocessing.Theoverall sensorhasa sizeof337x356x108mmandaweightof2.27kg.The 3W unit is powered by the vehicle, theaccepted voltage being between 8 and 28Volts. Like the Dismount, it features serialdata port, audio, GPS, USB and powerinterfaces. Itusesa standardWindowsruggedtablet todisplay shooter location informationandcanbenetworkedviaEthernetorradios. Itcan also store 1,000 shots, although only thelast 250 can be recalled inside the vehicle.Both systems are now available, Cobhamhaving already bagged orders frommilitaryandparamilitary customers.

I ASLSRheinmetall Defence Electronics developedthe Acoustic Shooter Locating System(ASLS) to increase vehicles’ crewsprotection.It consists of a round base-plate containingthe energy-efficient signal processing systemand the battery and of an “antenna”made ofeight specialmicrophones designed for veryhigh soundpressure levels and360°coverage.Originally, each microphone was mountedon a vertical spike, but a new arrangementwas unveiled at IDEX 2013, with one singleverticalmast carryingeighthorizontal spikes,the microphones maintaining exactly thesame special position. This solution wasadopted to allow easier and cheaperproductionand, for added robustness, a cagenow protects the array. Detection range is20% greater than that of the weapon itself,while static and on-the-move angularaccuracies are respectively less than2° and5°.Refresh rate is less than1.5 secondsandrangeaccuracy typically ± 10%. According toRheinmetall the false alarm rate is low evenwhen the system is operated in urban orcompartmented areas. The antenna has apower consumptionof less than15W,powersupply voltage being between 10 and 3 V,while the battery in the base allows for



In the Cobham PinPoint system thewristwatch-like display shows the directionand distance of the firing source. (Cobham)


vehicle-independent operation, provided adisplay is added.The ASLS base also hosts attitude sensors and a GPS receiver to

compensate for vehicle movement. The signals obtained from theASLS can be fed into a dedicated display, into a Battle ManagementSystemaswell as into a remote-controlweapon to automatically slew itonto the threat source, the crew being also alerted by an acousticalarm. When tested by the German Army the system confirmed itsperformances, but its height proved to be a problem when used in thepresence of a remote-control weapon on a light vehicle.

Almost fully developed, the ASLS could rapidly enter productionshould a customer materialise. However Rheinmetall is currently

One of the intermediate versions of Rheinmetall's ASLS shotgun locationsystem (top), as seen at IDEX 2013. The final version is contained in acase that is similar to that of the SAS, thus the two systems can bestacked on a vehicle. (Armada/P. Valpolini)



offering a new system based on theexperience so far acquired. The eightmicrophones hare now packed into acontainer that has the same shape of theSituational Awareness System (SAS), theoptronic system that ensures close rangesurveillance aimed at armoured vehicles.The acoustic sensor can thus be installed ontop of the optronic one. However theformer ensures a 360° surveillancecapability, a typical installation is on thefront of the vehicle, while the optronicsensor provides 180° vision, thus twomodules are needed. According toRheinmetall experts the new sensormaintains the same accuracy in azimuth asthe ASLS, though its reduced heightdegrades elevation accuracy. The newantenna weighs 4 kg and is 280 mm wide,

260mmdeep and 180mmhigh.AminiaturisedversionknownasAkSL, for

Akustusches Schützen-Lokalisationssystem,has also been developed by the company,whichhas filedaproposal to theBundeswehrin late April 2013 in reaction to an RfP thatalso sees the reaction of a number ofcompeting companies. The AkSL is born tobe a stand-alone system, but it can easily beintegrated into computer-based systems. Itconsists of an acoustic shoulder sensor padthatcarriespositionandorientationsensors toallow threat location to be maintained even

when the soldier moves. Azimuth, elevationand range data are fed into the wristwatch-type display (cable linked following theGerman requirements). The display alsoshows the plot and plot orientation, thenumberof theevent, the timeof theeventandbattery status. An aural message – o'clockreference and distance – is also sent to anearplug that fitsunderhearingprotectionsordirectly into active ear protection systemssuch as the Peltors' used by the KSK, therequirementshavingbeendevelopedtogetherwith the German special forces. A wirelesslink to the wristwatch display via a ZigBeestandard link has already been tested in thelaboratory.Thebackof the sensor carries twobuttons: the “on” and “off ” one on the rightalso controls status check, while the left onecontrols volume andmagnetic calibration.Athird button, but on the front of the sensor,allows one to repeat the detected events andto choose environmental conditions, namelyquiet scenario or urban scenario, algorithmsproviding a trade-off between falsealarm/detection rate andrange.Typically the AkSL provides a ± 5°

accuracy inazimuth,±10%inrangeandhasamaximumrange that is 20%higher than thatof the weapon that shoots. According toRheinmetall, accuracy is lesser than that ofthebigger systembut is fully compatiblewiththe infantryman role. In its currentconfiguration, sensor, display and cable, theAkSL weighs less than 500 grams and ispoweredby twoCR123batteries. In late 2012the AkSL was also successfully tested fromhelicopters (two sensors one on each side)from hovering to 200 km/h, overflyingtraining areas where specific shootingsessionswerebeingundertaken.

I DATABUOYIn theUnitedStates, the Institute forSoftwareIntegratedSystems (Isis)Vanderbilt hasbeenworked for years on counter-sniper systems,with the most recent evolutions turningtowards networked sensors. The centre hasrecently teamed with Databuoy LLC toproduce andmarket the ShotPoint, a systemmade of a series of nodes each featuring fourhigh performance microphones, GPS andIMU location systems, an electronic boardwith embedded software, a radio and anappropriate batterypackage.According to its position relative to the

shooter a node can pick up both themuzzleblast and the shockwave, or only the latter.The nodes form an ad-hoc network andcommunicate detections across the network

The ShotPoint is a networked systemdeveloped by Software Integrated Systems(Isis) Vanderbilt in cooperation withDatabuoy LLC. (Databuoy)



to a control node that fuses all the solutionsinto a single optimal solution. The controlnode then sends the data to a web host andthose are shown on an appropriate display.Multiple nodes collaborate and fusedetections to more accurately locate theshooter, find the bullet trajectory andestimate calibre.According toDatabuoy theShotPoint average error is less than 3metresor 1° in bearing and less than 7 metres inrange when nodes are deployed with therecommended spacing of 50 -150 metres

between each other. The detection rate is inexcess of 95% while the response time islower thanone second.The currently offeredpackaging is 170 mm diameter and 120 mmhigh cylinder, featuring a foldable antennaand hosting the radio, that works in the 2.4GHz band, and the four 4 D batteries. Theserepresent over one third of the 1.68 kg of thesystem, and thanks to the low powerconsumption, 0.5 W, each node has anautonomy of five days. However Databuoyis ready to provide different packagings to

suit requirements. ShotPointnodes are easilyemplaced, as they self-locate and self-formtheir network. Fusion and control softwareisAndroid-compatible and can runon tabletdevices. ISIS Vanderbilt and Databuoystarted marketing the ShotPoint in early2013 and are taking part in several bids. TheShotpoint can also be used as a forceprotection tool on combat outposts andsmall temporary infrastructures.Apotentialcustomer is considering the system forsoldier-following ground robots.

I COMPARISON TABLE (SOURCE MICROFLOWN AVISA)

ACOUSTIC ACOUSTIC MULTI-MISSION EXISTING GUNSHOTMULTI-MISSION SENSOR SENSOR (NETWORKED) DETECTION SYSTEMS

Direction Accuracy +/- 1.5 degrees +/- 0.2 degrees +/- 2 degrees

Distance Accuracy +/- 5% of range +/- 2% of range +/- 20% of range(+/- 20m at 400m) (+/- 8m at 400m) (+/- 80m at 400m)

Elevation Accuracy No elevation No elevation +/-5 degrees

Muzzle Blast Detection Range 5-7km 5-7km 1500m

Shockwave Detection Range 500m 500m 50m


T he recent strategic shift of interestsin the Asia-Pacific and MiddleEast areas has pushed local Govern-ments and shipbuilding industries to

look into thedevelopmentofnewprojects formultipurpose amphibious vessels, ranging

from Landing Platform Dock (LPD) toLandingHelicopter Dock (LHD). The sametrend is sweeping across first-rank navalforces in South America and in theMediterranean basin. However, only arestrictednumberof shipbuilders around theworld,mainlybased inEurope andAmerica,but today also present in South and Far Eastregions, maintain the knowledge and


The recent crisis and humanitarian relief operations around theworld highlighted theneed for first-rank naval forces to deploy largemultipurpose amphibious ships able tosupport out-of-area operations, with extended accommodation for personnel, materiel,vehicles andmedical/primary care capabilities, alongwith strengthened rotary-wing,watercraft and command, control and communication capabilities.

Landing Ships andHelicopter Docks—NewDesigns for Multiple Duties

Luca Peruzzi

Landing Helicopter Docks

Singapore Technologies Marine isproposing on the international market the‘Endurance 160’ design for an LHD of14,500t, 163.7 m long and 25.6 m large,which can embark up to 400 troopsand vehicles, in addition to an undisclosednumber of helicopter which canoperate from a five landing spots flightdeck. (Luca Peruzzi)

Landing Helicopter Docks:Armada 8/26/13 11:54 AM Page 2

platform heritage in this specific vessel sector,pushing other countries and shipyards torequest technical support or launchingprograms with technology transfer inaddition to direct contracts.

I THE EUROPEAN SHIPBUILDERSBuilt by DCNS and STX France, with DCNSacting as combat system supplier andintegrator, the Bâtiment de Projection etCommandement (BPC) platform representsthe successful output of French Navy’s jointexpeditionary capabilities plans. With a fullload displacement of 21,500 tonnes, a lengthof 199 meters and a beam of 32 metres,together with an all-electric propulsionsystem based on two podded motorsproviding a maximum speed of 19 knots, theMistral class BPC design can transport abattle group including 450 troops and 60armored vehicles, including 13 Leclerc mainbattle tanks. BPC designs also offer amplecapacity for hospital facilities and extensivejoint command operations in modularfacilities. Troops, matériel and vehiclescan be delivered ashore by up to 16 em-barked rotary-wing platforms, includingNHIndustries NH90 TTH/NFH andEurocopter AS532AL/EC725 Cougarmedium tactical transports, supported by

EC665 Tigre HAP/HAD combat helicopters,in addition to four CTM (Chaland deTransport de Matériel) landing craft or twoL-CAT/EDA-R (Engin de DébarquementAmphibie-Rapide) high-speed landing craft.Built by CNIM and delivered in fourexamples to French Navy, these platformsoffer enhanced performance and transportcapabilities, being capable to carry 80 tonnesat 20 knots.

Since becoming operational between 2006and 2012, the Mistral, Tonnerre andDixmude BPCs demonstrated theircapabilities, from the evacuation ofinternational citizens in Lebanon todeployment of troops in Mali, passingthrough the participation to Libyanoperations with an embarked airmobilegroup including Puma Gazelle and Tigerhelicopters, which contributed to the rotary-

wing raids over Libyan territory. Accordingto the latest Defence White Paper, the fourthBPC is cancelled. Dixmude introducedenhancements based on the previous vesselsin-service experiences, including better viewfrom the modified island bridge area and theintegration of the Thales Senit 9 combatmanagement system with a MRR3D-NGmultirole radar, radio and satcom suite, andSIC 21 command support system. A sensorsuite upgrade for all French Navy’samphibious fleet is introducing the SagemEOMS-NG EO, providing both 360-degreesurveillance and weapon system control. Self-protection is entrusted to MBDA Simbadtwin-Mistral missiles launchers and two20mm guns.

Russia developed a long tradition ofamphibious ships construction during theCold War, but the poor performancesdemonstrated by its aging fleet during the2008 Georgian War motivated anintergovernmental agreement in early 2011with France covering the supply of fourMistral class vessels. This agreement laterevolved into an estimated €1.2 billioncontract which became effective in late 2011between DCNS and Russia’s defence exportagency JSC Rosoboronexport, for the supplyof two same-type vessels and associated


In late 2011, an estimated €1.2 billion contractbecame effective betweenDCNS and Russiandefence export agency JSC Rosoboronexport,for the supply of two same-type vessels (thetype here seen in amock-up rendering) andassociated services including initial logistics,training, and technology transfers. The BPCswill be delivered in 2014 and 2015. (DCNS)



services including initial logistics, training,and technology transfers. DCNS acts asprime contractor and combat systemintegrator, while platforms construction isundertakenby subcontractor STXFrance atits Saint-Nazaire shipyards with thecontribution of Russian shipbuilder UnitedShipbuilding Corporation (OSK).Admitalteyskie Verfi and Baltiysky Zavodcompanies subsequently joined in torespectively cover the design engineering oftheRussian contribution and thebuildingofthe rear hull modules of both vessels,equaling 40%of these hulls. Activities beganinAugust 2012, and first steel cutting for thefirst-of-class Vladivostok occurred inFebruary 2013 at STX France’s shipyard inSaint-Nazaire. The keel laying ceremony isscheduled forOctober 2013,while deliveriesof the two vessels are planned for 2014 and2015, providing a huge enhancement toRussian Navy’s capabilities in powerprojection.NoofficialRussian confirmationwas however provided about theconstructionof the following two ships.

These platforms will differ from FrenchNavy-standard BPCs in having higherhangars for the Kamov Ka-52K Alligator

attack and Ka-29 armed transporthelicopters, full-shut well dock door andonboard systems adapted to Russian-standards and cold operationalenvironments, in addition to a modifiedislandand slightly reinforcedhull.ARussiancombatmanagement systemwill be installed,togetherwitha communications suite,whichreportedly includesbothRussianandFrenchequipment based on Thales’ Aquilon fullyintegrated system. The vessels are to bearmed with self-defence weapon systems,including two AK630 30mm gatling gunsand two SA-N-10/Gibkha 3M-47 quad-launchers, according to released images.A Russian diplomatic representative inFrance unveiled in 2012 the acquisition planfor L-CAT LCMs, but this has not beenconfirmed since. Alternatives could involvethe smaller Russian project Serna LCU, or amodified Project 21280 Dyugon craft withloweredmasts.

I NAVANTIA ENHANCES AUSTRALIANAMPHIBIOUS CAPABILITIESWith the retirement of the 17,700-tonnePrincipe de Asturias carrier on February2013, the Buque de Proyección Estratégica

MARK 6 3-18X44MM

FIGHT TO WIN SMALLER, LIGHTER, FASTER... MORE POWER

[email protected] | WWW.LEUPOLD.COM | PORTLAND, OREGON, U.S.A.


(BPE) or strategic projection ship JuanCarlos I will be Spain’s sole aircraft carrier.Built byNavantia shipbuilding group to leada multinational task group with a brigade-size lift of amphibious forces andcommissioned in service in September 2010,the BPE is a multirole vessel that canaccomplish amphibious, disaster relief andaircraft carrier operations thanks to its 12-degree ski-jumpandaviation facilities for theBoeingAV-8BHarrier II Plus.With a 27,050tonne displacement, a length and beam ofrespectively 230.8 and 32 metres, acombined diesel-electric and gas turbinepropulsion system with two POD-typepropellers offering a maximum speed of 21knots, the Juan Carlos can transport anamphibious force of 910 troopswith 12mainbattle tanks, 65wheeled, 27 amphibious andarmoured vehicles. The helicopter fleetincludes 18 to 25 machines (NH90TTH/NFH, Sea King SH-3D, AB-212, CH-47 Chinook and soon EC665 Tigre HADcombat helicopters). Landing craft may

include four Navantia-build LCM1E typelanding craft or one LCAC.Last February the superstructures of the

first of two 27,800-tonne LHDbeing built byNavantia and BAE Systems AustraliaDefence, the later acting as prime contractor,were added to the hull at Williamstown,Victoria (Australia),marking thecompletionof the first Canberra class. Built under theADAS (Amphibious Deployment andSustainment) JP2048phase4A/Bprogrammeassigned in 2007 by the Australian DoD, thecontract covers thedeliveryof twoshipsbasedon Spanish BPE project, in addition to thecombat direction system integration centre,simulated training and integrated support.

These LHDs differ from the Juan Carlosmainly in terms of equipment suite, aderivative of Saab 9VL Mk3E combatmanagement system, Sagem Vampir-NGEO/IR, Saab Giraffe AMB multifunctionradar, L-3 Communications integratedcommunication systems, Sperry and KevinHughes integratednavigation andhelicoptercontrol radar suite, a self-defence packagebased on ITT Exelis ES-3701 ESM, BAESystems Australia Nulka missile decoys plusRafael Typhoon 25 mm remote weaponsystems. In addition to an air componentwhich can include Eurocopter Tiger ArmedReconnaissance Helicopters (ARH), NH90TTHs, Sikorsky Blackhawks/Seahawks andBoeingCH-47Chinooks, some1,050 troops,110 vehicles and materiel can be deliveredwith the same Navantia-built LCM1E typelanding craft, acquired in 12 examples undera separate contract. The Canberra classLHDs will be delivered in February 2014and August 2015, providing a quantumleap in amphibious and disaster relief



The Mistral and Tonnere BPC platformssailing alongside. The third-of-classDixmude differs from main enhancements tothe island structure and electronics systems.These ships have played a key role in therotary-wing operations in the Libyan crisis.(Marine Nationale)


operations in the Asia-Pacific regioncompared to current Australian DefenseForces dedicated capabilities.

I ALGERIA TURNS ON ITALY’S EXPERTISEGiven the experience gained by Italy withthe design of three 8,000t San Marco/SanGiusto classes LPDs, which enteredservice between 1987-1994, and with CavourSTOVL aircraft carrier, Algeria passeda €400 million contract to Orizzonte SistemiNavali (a joint-venture between Fincantieriand Selex ES), for the design and constructionof a new Bâtiment de Débarquement et deSoutien Logistique. The contract placed inJune 2011 includes personnel training andsimulation equipment from the Italian Navy,

as well as logistic support supplied fromOrizzonte Sistemi Navali.

Slightly longer (142,9 metres) andbeamier (21.5 metres) with an increased8,800-tonne displacement and a diesel-basedtwo-shaft propulsion system providing a 20-knot maximum speed, the new projectresembles the Fincantieri LPD, but features aship length strengthened flight deck (except

for the bow area), two helicopters spots, abelow-deck aviation hangar, and a biggerisland structure. The combat system includesSelex’s ES CMS and MFRA (multifunctionfunction radar active) radar with the verticallaunch MBDA Aster 15-based missile, theSelex ES/GEM Elettronica integrated bridgeand navigation, Elettronica ESM and OtoMelara decoy launchers, 76/62 mm SuperRapid and 25 mm guns. The BDSL canaccommodate around 440 troops andtransport three-personnel LCVPs and three-vehicle LCMs. Built by Riva Trigoso andMuggiano shipyard near La Spezia, the vesselis planned to be launched in December 2013,delivery is expected in September 2014 fortraining and platform and systems


Based on Navantia’s Juan Carlos I design,the two Canberra class LHDs being built byBAE Systems Australia and outfittedwith Navantia and other team industries likeSaab and L3 Communications will bedelivered in February 2014 and August2015. (BAE Systems)



familiarization, while full operationalcapability is expected in February 2015. Inthe meantime Algerian navy personnel willbe trainedby the ItalianNavy inTaranto.TheLCM craft will be built in Algeria, based onthe same Italian Navy LCM standard, withVittoria shipbuilder providing support.Fincantieri also received from the

Italian Navy a feasibility study contract for a20,000 tonne LHD project with a length andbeam of respectively around 190 and 33metres, a maximum speed of 20 knots and acapability to transport up to 750 troops withampleof space forwheeledarmouredvehiclesand cargo. Featuring a Finmeccanica-provided, but reduced combat managementand weapon package, the stern dock is toaccommodate up to four LCMs or twoLCACs, while the aviation hangar will havespace for 6 AW101 helicopters that operatefrom a six spot-configured flight deck.Althoughnofunding isavailable in the Italiannavy’s latest aquicistion plan, the new LHDhasa foreseendelivery arounddecade-end.

I TURKISH SHIPBUILDER OUTSIDERUnder a comprehensive multi-year plan toboost industrial andarmedforcescapabilities,

Turkish Undersecretariat for DefenceIndustries (SSM) issued a requirement to besubmitted onMay 2011 for a logistically self-sustainingamphibiousvesselwithabattalion-size transported force in the MediterraneanandBlack seas,with secondaryhumanitarianrelief role, requesting rotary-wingcapabilitiesand stern dock dimensions, which drove thedesign towardsamore-than25,000t through-deck LHD-type. Selection is expected thisyear, with a contract award unlikely before2014beginning.SEDEF teamed with Spain’s Navantia to

bid a variant of Juan Carlos I BPE, whileDesan’s design is based on ChinaShipbuilding & Offshore International Co(CSOC) 20000T Landing Patrol Dock (seeunder). RKM Marine developed its ownthrough-deck multipurpose design in-house, and presented it at IDEF 2011exhibition. With a 25,000t fld, a length andbeam of respectively 216 and 34 m, a flightdeck with four landing spots for heavyhelicopters and a well dock capable toaccommodate twoLCACs or four LCM, theLHD has a propulsion system with fourdiesel engines providing a maximum speedof 22 knots. The RMK design LHD can

accommodate 1,068personnel including thelanding force, and can carry 90+ vehiclesincluding 13 main battle tanks, around 80armoured/transport vehicles, 6 Seahawkor4AW101 helicopters in the hangar plussmaller ones on the vehicles deck. Thecombat system of Turkish Havelsan groupembraces a self-defence gun suite.

I ASIA-PACIFIC REQUIREMENTSBOOST MARKETWith the recent economic strategic shifttowards Asia-Pacific region, the powerprojection and disaster relief capabilityrequirements of thehigher ranknavies of theareawere significantly boosted.China Shipbuilding & Offshore

International Co (CSOC) unveiled for thefirst time at Defense & Security 2012exhibition inBangkok themodel of an LHD,whichwasdetailedatAbuDhabi’s IDEX2013show, last February. Named the 20000TLanding Patrol Dock, the 20,000 to 22,000-tonne, 211-metre long and 32.6-metre widedesign is poweredby fourdiesel engines, andhas a 7,000 nm range at 16 knots with a 30day-endurance.Characterizedbyawell-deckof undisclosed capabilities, a flight deckwith



four helicopter spots and an hangar for fourhelicopters, thenewLHDfeatures aChinese-based combat system with two FL-3000Nmissile launchers and two 40 mm guns.Capacities include up to 1,068 personnel(including 700 troops), over 50 armouredvehicles and eight helicopters. The design isbeing proposed with local DESAN shipyardforTurkishNavy’s LHDprogramme.According to a People’s Liberation Army

AviationNavy admiral during aChineseTVinterview in November 2012, this projectlooks at the export market, since a nationaldesignwouldbemuch larger, similar in size toaUSLHDs, approaching40,000 tonne.Drawing heavily on the Republic of

Singapore Navy’s experience with its four141-meter Endurance-class tank landingships (LST), SingaporeTechnologiesMarine(ST Marine) unveiled the Endurance 160designvariantof the family in late 2010.Witha 14,500-tonne displacement, a length andbeam of respectively 163.7 and 25.6 metres,a 146-metre flight deck with five landingspots and a well dock, the vessel resembles alarger Italian Navy San Giorgio-class LPDs.With a 290-man crew and air wingpersonnel, the Endurance 160 can reach aspeedof 22knandanenduranceof 7,000nm

(15 kts), carry up to seven helicopters in thehangar, 400 troops, 27armouredvehicles andup to fourFastCraftUtility landingvessels inthewell-dock.In the 1998-2003 period, Japan com-

missioned three Osumi-class LPDs, whichwere built by Mitsui and Universalshipbuilders. The 14,000-tonne shipsresemble Italy’s San Giorgio-class but with alarger flight deck and a sterndock.Officiallyintended as helicopter platforms, they caneach carry 330 troops, 10 main battle tanksor 1,400-tonnes of cargo.SouthKorea commissioned theDokdo in

July 2007. Built by Hanjin Heavy Industriesunder a contract awarded in October 2002,the single 19,000-tonne LPH can lift 720troops and 10 tanks, operate two LCACsfrom a stern dock and has a 10 UH-60helicopter-capable hangar.In lateNovember2011, IndianMinistryof

Defence announced that “DefenceAcquisitionCouncilhadaccordedacceptanceof necessity for induction of four largeamphibious ships” to enhance the nationalarmed forces’ amphibious lift capabilities,assistance to civil administration, disasterrelief and other contingencies. Since Indianshipyards never developed such vessels, this

tender attracted the interest of internationalshipbuilding groups, including DCNS withits Mistral class BPC, Fincantieri with itsMultifunctional ship,Navantiawith the BPEand Hanjin Heavy Industries with Dokdo-typedesign.Through-deck LHD-type designs of

different sizes and displacements attractedthe interest of other nations includingMalaysia, Philippines and South Africa.These navies’ requirements can be satisfiedby the above-mentioned shipbuildinggroups with a tailored family solution.Fincantieri offers bothMultifunctional shipand BDSL-type designs, DCNS sponsors itsMistral 14,000 (BPC140)-21,000 (BPC210)family, Navantia pushes the Athlas 13,000-26,000t familywhileGermanThyssenKruppMarine System competes with its 15,000 to20,000-tonne Multirole Helicopter Dock(MDH) design equipped with a through-flight deck and stern dock. The MHD150(15,000t) can carry 750 troops, vehicles andcargo, landing crafts or LCAC and a 11-NH90 aviation detachment. Othercontenders in this enlarging market areNetherlands Damen shipbuilder with theEnforcer family, which obtained largesuccesswith the LPDprojects.

The Canberra class can accommodate up to 1,050 troops,110 vehicles, includingmain battle tanks and othermateriel, which can be delivered ashore by helicopters and theNavantia-built LCM1E type landing craft. (BAE Systems)




Rugged Portable Computers

Handheld’s Algiz XKWis one of the lightest

rugged laptops on themarket, weighing just

1.5 kilograms. Thecomputer is certified to

all of the requiredmilitary standards andit runs the Windows-7

operating system.(Handheld)

Rugged Good LooksWalk into any electronics emporium, and you will see row upon row of laptopcomputers, all of them competing to be thinnest and lightest machines thatthe consumer can buy. These wafer-thin electronic brains, with their minimalistaesthetics, promise to effortlessly run your electronic world.

RUGGED PORTABLE COMPUTERS new:Armada 8/26/13 12:12 PM Page 2

All this graceful slimness is veryimpressiveuntil themomentone isin an airport security queue and inthe feverish rush to ‘place any

electronic items’ in the appropriate tray, thelaptop slips out of one’s hands and crashes tothe floor with pieces of plastic ricochetingaround the security area. A moment ofaccidental clumsiness has suddenly becomerather expensive.

Formanyofus, anairport securityqueue isperhaps the most demanding environmentthat our laptopswill face. This is not the casefor themilitary.Computers arenot anoptionon today’s battlefield, they are anecessity. Yetdesigning a computer which can withstandthe harsh temperature variations that onemayfind indesertsor tundra, theunremittingvibrationof anarmouredvehicle, or a regularcoveringofwateror engineoil isnoeasy task.For these reasons the laptop computers usedby soldiers must maintain reliability in themostdemandingof situations.

Rugged laptops include several specificdesign features suchas sealedkeyboards andcasings that can keep out dust andmoisture,screens that are readable in direct sunlightand internal components which canwithstandharsh changes of temperature andvibration. One United States MilitaryStandard (MIL-STD) is of particular note:MIL-STD-810 relates to the environmentaland vibration stresses that such equipmentmustbeable towithstand.Rugged laptopsarenot used only by the military; othercustomers include public safety firstresponders, agricultural users and eventravelling salesmen. Given their number ofpotential customers, both military andcivilian, it is little surprise that a wide rangeof products are on themarket.

I PANASONICWhen it comes to rugged laptops, there arefew names quite as well known as theToughbook.Before it graces thebattlefield, aToughbook laptop has already beensubjected towhat canonlybedescribedas anepic process of punishment. According to

Panasonic, Toughbook’smanufacturer, eachmachine must experience 500 separatechecks before they leave the factory. Thisincludeshigh temperatures, impacts onhardsurfaces – 26 in total performedconsecutively – and twelve hours of waterspray. The company adds that it is the “onlymajormanufacturer that designs, builds andtests its mobile computers in its ownfactories,” which allows it to control “thequality of Toughbook computers every stepof the way.” In terms of fully rugged laptops,Panasonic produces the Toughbook-31.MIL-STD-810Gcertified, theToughbook-31includes a 13.1” LCD screen, built-inwebcam and offers up to 13 hours of batterylife. This computer is not only certified toMIL-STD-810G, it also meets therequirements of MIL-STD-461F whichcovers electromagnetic compatibility andresistance to electromagnetic interference.

Panasonic produces a host of accessoriesfor the Toughbook-31, which enables thecustomer to use their laptop in a number oflocations, and a range of different tasks. Forexample, the company has several vehicledocks on offer, which have single and dual-antenna configurations, allowing the use ofthe computer inside a vehicle. This isparticularly useful for troops wishing to usetheir laptop to run battle managementapplications. In addition to these vehicledocks, customers can also obtain both longlife and lightweight lithium-ionbatteries, twoand four megabit memory cards, batterychargers andadapters.

I LENOVOSharing a similar level of fame to Japan’sPanasonic, Lenovo’s ruggedized part of itsThinkPad product line promises enviablerobustness without a reduction inperformance, according to the company.Leading the pack is its T400ThinkPad. Thiscomputer does notmeet theMIL-STD-810Frequirements for resistance to rain,although it does have spill-resistantkeyboard which offers protection againstmoisture and againstwhat the company saysis one of the leading courses of laptopfailure. Moreover, it is highly portable,boasting aweight reduction of up to 40% inweight compared with competing robust


Tom Withington

Arguably the most famous rugged laptop isPanasonic’s Toughbook series. Thecompany’s Toughbook-31 is the latest in itslong-line of rugged laptops which are used byarmed forces around the world. (Panasonic)


laptop designs. In fact, themachine tips thescales at 2.13 kilos. The company offers anumber of different battery options to equipthe T400. This includes a four-cell batteryoffering 4.3 hours of operation, a six-cell6.5-hour option, a 9.8-hournine-cell batteryand anine-cell and bay battery combination

for those users needing 13 hours ofoperation. Lenovo argue that theirmachinesare competitively priced regarding othercommercially-available rugged laptopproducts, stating that they offer up to 90%of the durability of other competingproducts, but at a reduced cost.

I GETACFeatured in Armada’s article examiningRuggedTablets published towards the endof2012,Taiwan’sGetac is amarket leader in thefield of rugged laptops. The company’sproduct line includes the B300 and X500,plus theX500Mobile Server.Getacdescribesthe B300 as a “hard as nails road warrior”which is certified to MIL-STD-810G. AnIntel Core-i7 processor gives the computeran enviable performance, while the batteryprovides up to 40 hours of operation. The13.3” screen is readable indirect sunlight andboth a smartcard reader and fingerprintscanner are included in thedesign toenhancesecurity. Customer options available for theB300 include resistance to salt fog andcompatibility to night vision devices. All ofthese features are enclosed ina comparativelylight designweighing just 3.5kg.The B300’s stablemate, the X500, is the

“first rugged fully equipped standarddefencegrade commercially available notebook,”according to itsmanufacturer.Weighing 5.2kilos, the computer has a 15.6” screen and isofferedwithanumberofoptional accessoriesincluding a dual-bay battery charger (thisenables two batteries to be chargedsimultaneously), vehicleorofficedock, stylusand a number of battery options. Much as


Lenovo has entered therugged laptop marketpromising machineswhich are a match forother competingproducts on the market,but which are availableat less cost. Leading thepack is its T400machine. (Lenovo)

Getac provides a number ofrugged laptop products.Several products fall within itsproduct line including the B300 and X500,along with the X500 Mobile Server. Getac hasworked to ensure that its rugged laptopshave a lightweight design. (Getac)



Getac claims the X500 to be the world’s first commercially-availablemilitary-grade laptop, it says that itsX500FullyRuggedMobile Server isthe “world’s first server-class fully rugged notebook.” The server has aIntel Core i7-820QM processor and a 15.6” screen. It can operate intemperatures ranging form -20ºC to +45ºC, is housed in amagnesiumalloy case giving good resistance to severe vibration and shock.

I AMRELAmrel of ElMonte, California, has a number of rugged laptops for themilitary customer to choose from including the Rocky RF9 17”, RK915.1” and the RT9 13.3”. Like many of the rugged laptops surveyed inthis article, the Rocky RF9 17” uses theWindows-7 operating systemand is MIL-STD-810G certified. Customers have several options tochoose from, includingWirelessLocalAreaNetwork (LAN)andWide-AreaNetwork (WAN)coverage, plusBluetooth andGlobalPositioningSystem (GPS) options – all in a package weighing 5.6 kilos. The RK915.1”hasmanyof the specificationsof theRF9, althoughwith a smallerscreen size of 15.1” compared to the larger 17” of the RF9. Customersrequiringanevensmaller screencanopt forAmrel’sRT913.3”machine.This smaller screen size affords a weight saving compared to theprevious two laptops,with theRT9 tipping the scales at 4.3 kilos.

I MOBILE DEMANDAlthoughmainly involved in the construction of rugged tablets,MobileDemanddoes provide a rugged laptop in the formof the xTabletC1200.Thecomputer is equippedwitha12.1” screenwhich isviewable indirectsunlight.Akeyboardis includedinthedesign,alongwiththetouchscreeninmuch the sameway that several tablet computers in the civilianworldnow also include a keyboard. Mobile Demand stresses that its designmeets MIL-STD-810G specifications and that it can withstand a dropfromover four feet,whilehavingakeyboardwhichcanresist liquidspillsalongsidespeakers,portsandswitcheswhichareresistant todust ingress.Usingonebattery charge, thexTabletC1200canoperate for around fourhours,butasecondhot-swappablebatterycanprovideafulleight-hourday.Of particular interest is the fact that this computer is one of the lightest

CONNECTORSFOR HARSH

ENVIRONMENTS

U.S

.Nav

yph

oto

used

with

perm

issi

onw

ithou

tend

orse

men

t.

A ratchet screw system enables quick and secure coupling of the connectors.

An innovative solutionfor harsh environments

Very high contact density

Ratchet screw coupling mechanism

6 different sizes

Lightweight aluminium shell

2 to 114 contacts

Optimum space saving

Oil and fuel resistant

IP 68

High shock and vibration resistance

Vibration absorbtion flange

Arctic grip or knurled design

Lightning test passed

USB version available

LEMO SA - Switzerland

Phone: (+41 21) 695 16 00Fax: (+41 21) 695 16 02 [email protected]

Contact your local partner on www.lemo.com

Grid DefenceSystems of the United

Kingdom offer a range ofrugged laptops including the

Gridcase-1590 and theGridcase-1595, the principle

difference between thesetwomachines being

their screen size. (GridDefence Systems)


examined in thisarticle: itweighs just2.5kgs.Furthermore, operatingtemperaturesofbetween-20ºCupto+50ºCpresentnoproblem.

I GRID DEFENCE SYSTEMSThe leafy English county of Bucking-

hamshire in the United Kingdom is home toGRiDDefenceSystems.Ruggedcomputing isa speciality of the firmwhich has been in thebusiness of providing such laptops to armedforces around the world for two decades.GRiD says that its laptops canprovide at leastfive years’ of operation, with support for aminimum of ten years. Two products areoffered; chiefly the GRiDCASE 1590 and theGRiDCASE 1595. The GRiDCASE 1590 hasa 15-inch, backlit screen and a sealed backlitQWERTY keyboard. Able to operate intemperatures of -20°C up to +50°C, thecomputermeets all of the required standardsfor rugged laptop performance. A range ofIntel core processors outfit the product, andthe company adds that other processors areavailable on request. A 16 gigabit memory isfeaturedalongwithaDVDdrive, andsupportfor both the Windows and Linux operatingsystems.Weighing eight kilograms, the 1590is built fromhardwearing aluminiumalloy toensure its strength.GRiD Defence Systems’ GRiDCASE

1595 has a larger 19-inch screen, comparedto the 15-inch screen of the GRiDCASE1590. Like its sibling, it can house a range ofIntel processors, with customers also beingable to request specific processors if desired.The GRiDCASE 1595 shares many of thefeatures of the 1590, including a 16 gigabit

memory, a DVD drive andsupport for the Windows and

Linux operating systems. Threehours of operation are provided by the

computers’ batteries, although the largerscreen of theGRiDCASE1595 does providea slight weight penalty with this machinetipping the scales at twelve kilograms.One of GRiD Defence Systems’s rather

uniqueproducts is itsGRiDCASE1510HandHeld Laptop. In April this year, the firmqualifiedthisproduct towithstandimmersioninoveronemetreofwater.The laptopitselfhasa clamshell design and hot-swappablebatteries to enable its uninterrupted use.Despite its strong construction, the 1510 hasa lightweight of below one kilogram. AQWERTY keyboard is fitted as standard and

the computer is equipped with a 5.6inch screen which is viewable in directsunlight. The aluminium case is fullysealed and the 1510 is outfitted with theWindows-7 operating system. Up to twogigabits of memory are standard, along withup to eight hours of battery operation. TheGRiDCASE1510 isnot the firm’sonly ruggedhandheld computer, it also produces theGRiDCASE2505,althoughthisproductdoesnot have the same clamshell design as the1510, and is instead configured as a tabletcomputer.

I LOGIC INSTRUMENTSeveral of the companies surveyed in thisarticle offer a range of rugged laptops, andLogic Instrument is no exception. The firmhas three distinct products, namely theTETRAnoteEX13,EX15andEX17.Meetingtheexacting requirementsofMIL-STD-810F,the EX13 is also compliant with MIL-STD-461E, like several of the other laptopsmentioned in this article.MIL-STD-461 provides a series of

standards regarding electromagnetic com-patibility formilitary equipment. Encased ina ruggedmagnesium body, the TETRAnoteEX13 weighs 4.3 kilos and has up to eightgigabytes of storage space. The 13.3”touchscreen is readable in harsh light andLogic Instrument offers the computer witha number of customer options includingan internal vehicle adaptor, GPS moduleandWLANcard.Logic Instrument’sEX15provides customers with a larger 15”screen and the ability to operate intemperatures of -30ºC. This computerweighs 5.6kg and offers similar memoryto theEX13 (see above).Options availableinclude an Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile



Dell’s rugged laptops features anumber of patented technologies which

the company has developed toensure that its machines

have excellentprotection againstdust andmoisture

ingress, as well as ascreen which is

readable in harshsunlight. (Dell)

Amrel’s Rocky series of rugged laptops offersthree distinct machines which can be outfittedwith a number of communications systems

providingWireless Local Area NetworkandWide Area Network coverage toname but two. (Amrel)


Processor T9400, and an isolated chassis forvehicle installation.Those users requiring a large screen can

opt for the EX17. The Central ProcessingUnit of this laptop is an Intel Core 2 DuoMobile P8400, although the company offersthe IntelCore2DuoMobileProcessorT9400as an option. Along with several of theoptional extrasofferedonLogic Instrument’sother rugged laptops, the EX17 has anoptionalMIL-STD-1275military vehiclepower supply certification.

I DELLDell computers areone of the world’sfamous names, andtheir machines are astaple part of office andhome computing aroundthe world. The company’smilitary laptop line includes itsLatitudeE6420-XFRmachine. Using theWindows-7operating system, it boasts BallisticArmorprotectionand,accordingtothecompany,hasbeen tested to ‘high defense-grade standards’,and is certified to MIL-STD-810G. The 14-inch screen can be used in direct sunshine

whileanumberofhot-swappablecomponentsguarantee undisturbed use of the computer.Protection against foreign object damage hasalso been built into the machine, using the

company’s PrimoSeal ingressprotection, while protection againstharsh temperatures is facilitated withDell’s QuadCool technology. Dellrealises that a number of users will notonlywish to operate their computer inthe great outdoors, but may alsowant touse it inside thechallengingenvironment of a vehicle travelling

off-road.Withthis inmind,thecompanyprovides computer docking equipment, andconstantconnectivitywithwirelessandmobileinternet services.

I KONTRONLike many computing companies, Kontronis headquartered in California. The firm’srugged laptopproduct line includes theV100Fully Rugged Convertible Notebook. The

Logic Instrument manufacturesa number of rugged laptop

products. The FieldBook has amoveable screen and can beused as a keyboard-equippedoutdoor tablet PC, effectivelyproviding the user with amini

rugged laptop. (Logic Instrument)




‘brain’ of thismachine is a third-generation IntelCorei7/i5 vPro Processor.Customers get a 10.4”sunlight readable touchscreendisplayplus anumberof connections includingGPS and a3.5G WWAN. As with many of thecomputers surveyed in this article, theV100runs theWindows-7 operating system. Therobust design of the V100 includes amagnesium alloy case which has a vibrationand drop-resistant design. Optional nightvision compatibility can be requestedalong with a vehicle adapter, a lightweightbattery and a number of power adaptoroptions.Despite boasting anumberofusefuldesign features, the V100 remains alightweight system imposing a weightpenalty of just 2.3kgs.

I FUTURE CHANGESIt is well over thirty years since the first massproduction portable computer, Osborne-1,enteredthemarketplaceandpavedthewayforthemachinethatwouldfollow. Itmaynothaveexactly been a laptop, weighing 10.7kg, butOsborne-1 ushered in an area of computingthatwouldgive rise to the rugged laptops thatthis article has profiled. Osborne-1’scapabilities were a shadow of those found onthe machines discussed above, yet theintervening years have heralded a steadyimprovement incomputingperformance.

Today’s rugged laptops are highly capablemachines. The coming years are likely to seeeven greater strides forward vis-à-vis theircapabilities. However, in terms of designcriteria, aswithmany subsystemsusedby themilitary, the immediate challengeswill focuson reducing size, weight and powerconsumption. Strides are being made in thisdomain already with some of the laptopswhich have been discussed in this articleboasting significant reductions in weightwhichput them ina similar category to someof the lightweight civilian laptops availablecommercially. While nobody would doubtthe utility of the rugged laptopweight has, tosome extent, remained their Achilles’ Heel.Packing the same high performance into alightweight, yet rugged,package is achallengethat rugged laptop designers are no doubtalreadyaddressing.

Kontron’s V100 fully rugged convertiblenotebook includes the latest processortechnology and a sunlight-readabledisplay. Meanwhile the computer’smagnesium case provides it with a robustprotection against impacts. (Kontron)

The Osborne-1 was theworld’s first fully functioning portable,

rather than laptop, computer. It had two 8”floppy disk drives, had no hard disk, and ran

on something called CP/M as operatingsystem! The bulky construction of this

machine has since given way to muchsmaller, and higher performance, portablecomputers: a trend likely to continue in the

future. (Armada archives)

NEXT ISSUE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER2013: 1 OCTOBER,ADVERTISING: 16 SEPTEMBER

Ground robots: These radio or cable remote-control vehicles are used where it is preferablenot to send a human being. They usually sendback images of what their day and/or thermalcameras see, but can also provide informationon air contamination, carry weapons or bombdisposal equipment. Lately, thanks to sensorminiaturisation and ruggedisation some havebecome “tossable”, but a new family of carrieror servants is also emerging.

Stabilised sensor turrets: They are thesensors without which no drone would exist.They also are used on any inhabited oruninhabited ground or sea-going vehicle toprovide their operators with a still andsmooth pictures of a remote scene when thevehicle they are mounted on is bouncing likea pea on a drum.

Rover systems: Here too,miniaturisation hasplayedwonders, enabling the Rover real-timegeo-referenced picture transmission technologyto be available to the soldier on foot. A few yearsago not only did the display have to be vehicle-carried, but also required a good share of thatvehicle's electrical power resources.

Infrared microcameras: New sensormanufacturing techniques have enabled certaintypes of infrared cameras to function withoutnitrogen cooling bottlesmaking them useablewhere space and weight are at a prime.

C-ram: Until recently, rockets, artillery shells andmortar bombswhere able to continue theirdeadly flight undisturbed. No longer so now.Systems have already proved their worth againstmortar shells and rockets, thoughwork is stillunderway to crack the tougher 155mmshell.

Paris Air Show: The latest technologies anddesigns unearthed by Armada’s “envoyés trèsspéciaux” to the World’s oldest air show.

Military Radio CompendiumA separate publication distributed with thestandard issue of Armada, this third edition ofthis now popular title will cover all the latestdevelopments in the field of military radios,and will as usual come with the muchacclaimed four-page, fully illustrated datafold-out table.

Infantry fighting vehicleand Armoured personnel carrierCompendiumAs armoured vehicles are now becomingincreasingly specialised, Armada has deemednecessary to handle them in separateCompendia since the characteristics of a samebase vehicle can vary out of proportionsaccording to its final use, because of itsarmaments and/or protection levels.


armada aug sept 2013 main magazine

Documents