The Raytheon Company has acquired Technology Associates Inc., a privately held supplier to the U.S. intelligence community, providing system engineering support for mission-critical programs. Technology Associates’ capabilities include data extraction and analysis; digital media intercept and exploitation; embedded system programming; and information assurance services. Based in Reston, Va., Technology Associates was established in 1990 and has 110 employees.

Technology Associates will become part of Raytheon’s Intelligence and Information Systems (IIS) business. Technology Associates President Preston Harrelle joins Raytheon and will continue to lead business operations while taking on a broader cyberstrategy role across the Information Security Solutions (ISS) product line. “By acquiring Technology Associates and integrating its talent and expertise into our business, we’ll further strengthen our ability to meet the evolving needs of our customers.” Lynn Dugle, president of Raytheon IIS commented.

The U.S. Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) is testing seven Active protection Systems, mostly from international vendors, to determine the maturity and potential of such systems, protecting U.S. forces against Rocket Propelled Grenades and other Anti-Armor weapons. The Active Protection Systems Live Fire Test and Evaluation effort, which was mandated by Congress in 2008 provides U.S. with comparative insight into potential defenses readily available to protect U.S. forces. The test program will also formulate a comparative baseline for consideration during possible future defense acquisition programs.

The congressionally mandated evaluation is performed by the OSD, with assistance of the Institute of Defense Analysis (IDA). The evaluation includes seven systems considered relatively ‘mature’. Sofar four systems were tested, including the Swedish-South African LEDS 150 from Saab, TRAPS developed by Textron Systems, the Israeli Iron Fist from IMI and Iron Curtain, a close-in APS developed by ARTIS. Yet to come early in 2011 are the AMAP-ADS close-in APS from the German company IBD, the Israeli Trophy, made by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and Raytheon’s Quick Kill, originally developed for the Future Combat Systems program. The tests could also evaluate other experimental systems developed in the past decade such as the CICM, IAAPS and FCLAS, these could also be ‘revived’ for the tests.

LEDS-150 mounted on an Eagle light armored vehicle undergoing live firing test. Photo: Saab

The first test employed the LEDS 150 developed by Saab South African Avitronics subsidiary, in cooperation with ATK. For these tests the system was integrated on an Eagle armored vehicle. LEDS 150 employs radar and infrared sensors to detect and target the incoming threat, firing an active countermeasure destroying the threat far away from the protected vehicle. According to sources at Saab, the system performed well overall, but as it was the first time it was integrated on such a small vehicle, some of the elements did not perform as expected, and the team applied to repeat the test with new hardware.

Textron was the second to demonstrate the APS, and the first to demonstrate a ‘close-in’ system based on its Tactical Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) Airbag Protection System (TRAPS) system. For these tests TRAPS was mounted on a MRAP, effectively demonstrated its capability to protect armored vehicles against RPG threats. Textron also tested another countermeasure, called TRAPSNet – comprised of a modular net system. According to the company, these are the first in a family of countermeasures that will enable spiral upgrades to address advanced threats while maintaining the common hardware of the TRAPS system.

“We designed the TRAPS architecture to be flexible, scalable and highly effective,” says Chief Technology Officer Thomas McNamara of Textron Systems Corporation. “The system is compatible with multiple military vehicle types, and it delivers reliable, robust performance against different RPG threats while minimizing costly, time-consuming modifications and vehicle recertification tests. In addition, TRAPS offers significantly lower weight and demonstrated lower collateral damage than competing active protection systems. Following the successful OSD testing, we are prepared to deliver the customer a mature, affordable and rapidly deployable active vehicle protection solution.”

Another ‘Close-in’ type system tested recently is the Iron Curtain, developed by ARTIS. This system employs motion sensors and countermeasures fired downward, destroying an incoming RPG few inches ahead of the vehicle’s wall.

The most recent test involved a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle was fitted with the Israeli Iron-Fist active protection system developed by Israel Military Industries (IMI). The system withstood numerous rocket attacks under a two month test and evaluation program. According to IMI, the rigorous test program spanned over several months and evaluated the system under complex engagement scenarios. “The Iron Fist demonstrated exceptional performance in each test scenario. All tests were performed with the system installed on the MRAP vehicle.” An IMI source told Defense Update.

The Iron Fist APS uses passive and active sensors for threat detection, situational awareness and fire control. The system can employ both an electro-optical ‘soft kill’ countermeasure and ‘hard kill’ interceptors that are launched against incoming threats, therefore covering a broader spectrum of threats, compared to RPG-dedicated ‘Close-In’ type APS. “The combination of soft and hard kill methods effectively defeats RPGs and guided missiles, including advanced models fitted with tandem warheads, as well as tank rounds.” In addition to its defensive role, the IMI system also contributes to situational awareness and counter-action: In addition to the protection by soft and hard kill means Iron Fist accurately identifies the enemy firing positions, enabling rapid counterstrike thus eliminating repeated attacks.

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) has selected to equip the Iron Fist on its new Namer Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). The system is currently in final development and integration for the Namer. During the VIP event that followed the successful test IMI presented potential applications of the Iron Fist, designed for medium and light vehicles, including the man-portable, ‘Shock Absorber’ missile ‘soft kill’ countermeasure solution, and a light-weight, ‘Bright Arrow’ remotely controlled weapon station with Iron Fist integrated, which can be installed on a HMMWV.

Related links:

• Active protection for Armored Vehicles
• APS Developments in the U.S. Army
• Eurosatory 2008: Active protection systems
• Airbag RPG Countermeasure Completes First Testing Phase
• Trophy Completes Integration to Retrofit the Merkava Mk4 Tank
• MERKAVA – 40 Years of Action
• IDF Approves Acquisition of IMI’s Iron Fist APS for Namer AIFVs

The Stunner missile, part of the David Sling missile defense system, seen here on one of its early test launches performed in 2009. Photo: Rafael

Israel and the U.S. reiterated the agreement to continue their cooperative development of the David Sling weapon system (also known as Majic Wand), extending the agreement signed in 2008 that paved the way for the development of a Short-Range Ballistic Missile Defense Project. The new agreement provides the necessary funding for continued development of the system, considered highly important for Israel’s defense.

According to the Missile Defense Agency announcement, the David’s Sling Weapon System Project Agreement will advance efforts to develop Israel’s capability to intercept short-range and theater ballistic missiles, large-caliber rockets, and cruise missiles. It is capable of intercepting ballistic targets fired at distances of 70-250 km. Developed as relatively low cost weapon (compared to the Arrow 2 alternative) Stunner missiles are designed with dual seeker enabling the missile to detect, track and home in on its target under all visibility and weather conditions, within and beyond visual range. The new system will become the lower tier of the multi-layered missile defense system, integrating the Iron Dome Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) system, David Sling, Arrow II Endo-Atmospheric missile interceptor and Arrow-3 Exo-Atmospheric missile interceptor, providing the upper-tier layer. Both Stunner and Arrow 3 are hit-to-kill missiles, while Iron Dome and Arrow II are designed to kill targets at close proximity.

The continued project signed yesterday will continue the development of the Stunner Interceptor developed jointly by Rafael and Raytheon. David Sling system also comprises a command and control system developed by Rafael and mPrest (which also developed the Iron-Dome C3 system) and the IAI/Elta multi-mission radar, providing the primary sensor for the system. David’s Sling will also address the threat posed by the types of inexpensive and easily-produced short-range missiles and rockets used during the 2006 Lebanon War, and will also advance low-altitude intercept technology and provide that technology to benefit U.S. and Israeli industry.

The Stunner missile has already demonstrated in test flights; the current phase will enable the team to expand testing of the entire system, as part of the original development schedule the system could reach initial operational capability in 2013. Arrow 3 is also expected to become operational by the middle of the decade. Beyond the missile defense application, Israel is also considering using the Stunner missile as the next generation successor for its air/air missiles.

United States was Army Lt. General Patrick J. O’Reilly, director of the Missile Defense Agency represented the U.S. side with and Rear Admiral Ophir Shoham, Director of Israel’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development; Mr. Tzahi Malach, Department of Finance, Ministry of Defense; and Mr. Ehud Shani, Director General, Ministry of Defense representing the Israeli side.

Related posts:

• Israel Plans a Short Range Ballistic Missile Defense System (SRMD)
• Israel Embarks on a Third ‘Iron Cap’ Ballistic Defense System
• Israel Sets Stage for a Massive $60 Billion Military Buildup
• Rafael Expands Air- and Missile-Defense Family of Weapons
• David’s Sling – Israel’s Extended Air & Missile defense System

Artist depiction of how the exoskeleton could be used to load missiles on aircraft. Image: Raytheon

Raytheon is introducing a lighter exoskeleton system offering stronger system with more endurance over the company’s first generation exoskeleton developed by Sarcos in 2002. Sarcos became part of Raytheon in 2007. The new ‘second generation’ XOS 2 system is built from a combination of structures, sensors, actuators and controllers, and it is powered by high pressure (3,000psi) hydraulics. XOS 2 is lighter, stronger and faster than its predecessor, yet it uses 50 percent less power, and its new design makes it more resistant to the environment.

XOS 2 test engineer Rex Jameson breaks four wooden boards during a demo at the Raytheon Sarcos research lab in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo: Raytheon

“XOS 1 was essentially a proof of concept. With XOS 2, we targeted power consumption and looked for ways to use the hydraulic energy more efficiently. That’s resulted in us being able to add capabilities while significantly reducing power consumption.” According to Dr. Fraser Smith, Vice President of Operations at Raytheon Sarcos, the target is 20% of what the original XOS used, therefore enabling it to operate in ‘non tethered’ mode. To eliminate the potential risk associated with lithium ion rechargeable batteries, XOS2 uses a small internal-combustion engine to charge the batteries maintain hydraulic pressure. Smith hopes a XOS2 type system could be fielded within five years. “Getting exoskeletons deployed is inevitable. They are desperately needed, and I believe the military looks at them as viable solutions to a number of current issues they are trying to address. ” Smith said.

According to Raytheon, XOS 2 does the lifting for its operator, reducing both strain and exertion, enabling one operator to do the work of two to three soldiers. For example, the wearer can lift weights up to 200 lbs repetitively without tiring. Without the use of augmentation systems, repetitive heavy lifting can lead to injuries, orthopedic injuries in particular. The suite is flexible and responsive enough to enable the wearer to walk at a speed of 3.5 mph.

The exoskeleton is essentially a wearable robotics suit, designed to help with the many logistics challenges faced by the military both in and out of theater. The Army is hopeful that by deploying exoskeletons the number of support personnel in theater could be reduced. Raytheon hopes that tethered XOS type systems could be fielded with logistical support role within five years.

Raytheon unveiled the new suite at its Salt Lake City research facility. Representatives from Paramount Pictures, including the actor Clark Gregg (aka Agent Phil Coulson of the Marvel Movie franchise) were in attendance to capture footage of new robotic suite, to include in a video that’s being produced to support the release of Iron Man 2 on DVD and Blu ray.

A notional representation of the U.S. Army Ground Combat Vehicle. Photo: US Army

The Army has cancelled the request for proposal process for the Ground Combat Vehicle, delaying the program by about six months. Details about revised rules for a more affordable program are expected within 60 days. Despite the setback, the Army is still hopeful the GCV could be deployed by the year 2017. However, in the near term the service could lose part of the $934 million funding, part of the fiscal 2011 budget request set aside for the development of the GCV prototypes.

The decision followed a report by the Army and Office of Secretary of Defense, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (OSD/ATL), that evaluated the new vehicle and determined that the service should better prioritize its requirements to better define achievable goals on schedule. Critics in industry have claimed the requirements for the vehicle were set to be too vague as the Army was not in agreement on exactly what the vehicle’s should do. “The refined RfP will result in a vehicle that provides soldiers with critical armored protection in the modern combat environment.” The Army statement said. One of the main concerns about the GCV was that to provide such protection the vehicle weight could increase up to 70 tons.

The announcement comes as the Defense Department prepares for major budget cuts. The GCV program is considered vital for the Army, but since the definition and requirement were too vague from the beginning, the Army finds it difficult to justify committing to a long-term multi-billion dollar program only to replace the Bradley fighting vehicles. The proposed GCV meant much more than just a replacement, it is intended to be a bridge between current warfare and future, networked operations. While different from the cancelled Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) mainly for political reasons, GCV should be much better protected and survivable, and well equipped to operate in distributed operations, where small units, sometime individual vehicles are empowered to conduct decisive military operations. Modifying current vehicles to perform such missions was found to be too complex.

Three industry teams participated in the program; next month (September) the Army had planned to award contracts to at least two of the three teams, for the development of  demonstrator vehicles. These teams competing for these contracts were SAIC-led group with Boeing and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann; a BAE Systems – Northrop team, and a third group led by General Dynamics Land Systems partnered with MTU Detroit Diesel, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The development phase of the program is valued at $2.1 billion. The entire program could cost about $40 billion.

More on GCV in the following Defense-Update articles:

U.S. Army Defines Ground Combat Vehicles Priorities

U.S. Army Requests Proposals for a New Ground Combat Vehicle

Teaming for the Ground Combat Vehicle

Army Begins GCV Contractor Selection Process

A notional representation of the U.S. Army Ground Combat Vehicle. Photo: US Army

The Army has cancelled the request for proposal process for the Ground Combat Vehicle, delaying the program by about six months. Details about revised rules for a more affordable program are expected within 60 days. Despite the setback, the Army is still hopeful the GCV could be deployed by the year 2017. However, in the near term the service could lose part of the $934 million funding, part of the fiscal 2011 budget request set aside for the development of the GCV prototypes.

The decision followed a report by the Army and Office of Secretary of Defense, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (OSD/ATL), that evaluated the new vehicle and determined that the service should better prioritize its requirements to better define achievable goals on schedule. Critics in industry have claimed the requirements for the vehicle were set to be too vague as the Army was not in agreement on exactly what the vehicle’s should do. “The refined RfP will result in a vehicle that provides soldiers with critical armored protection in the modern combat environment.” The Army statement said. One of the main concerns about the GCV was that to provide such protection the vehicle weight could increase up to 70 tons.

The announcement comes as the Defense Department prepares for major budget cuts. The GCV program is considered vital for the Army, but since the definition and requirement were too vague from the beginning, the Army finds it difficult to justify committing to a long-term multi-billion dollar program only to replace the Bradley fighting vehicles. The proposed GCV meant much more than just a replacement, it is intended to be a bridge between current warfare and future, networked operations. While different from the cancelled Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) mainly for political reasons, GCV should be much better protected and survivable, and well equipped to operate in distributed operations, where small units, sometime individual vehicles are empowered to conduct decisive military operations. Modifying current vehicles to perform such missions was found to be too complex.

Three industry teams participated in the program; next month (September) the Army had planned to award contracts to at least two of the three teams, for the development of  demonstrator vehicles. These teams competing for these contracts were SAIC-led group with Boeing and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann; a BAE Systems – Northrop team, and a third group led by General Dynamics Land Systems partnered with MTU Detroit Diesel, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. The development phase of the program is valued at $2.1 billion. The entire program could cost about $40 billion.

More on GCV in the following Defense-Update articles:

U.S. Army Defines Ground Combat Vehicles Priorities

U.S. Army Requests Proposals for a New Ground Combat Vehicle

Teaming for the Ground Combat Vehicle

Army Begins GCV Contractor Selection Process

Raytheon has developed an all new airframe and wings for the new SDB-53/B Small Diameter Bomb. The weapon was selected for the next generation SDB-2, to enter service in 2014. Photo: Raytheon

The U.S. Air Force has awarded the Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) US$450 million for the development and production of GBU-53/B for the Small Diameter Bomb increment II program. SDB II is the next generation of the lightweight, aerial precision-strike standoff weapon designed with integral capability to accurately strike moving and fixed targets in adverse weather conditions. Raytheon has developed an all-new, streamlined bomb casing and folding swept-wing for the new weapon (shown in the photo above), departing from the MBDA designed ‘Diamond Back’ configuration used by the Boeing designed SDB (photo on left). The SDB family of weapons developed by Boeing quadruples the number of weapons an aircraft can carry, enabling aircrews to attack more targets on each sortie.

Raytheon’s proposal was selected over a competing offer from Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Raytheon will begin producing the new weapons in 2013 with initial deliveries completing the first production lot by late 2014. The GBU-53/B incorporates an three-modal seeker featuring millimeter-wave radar, a semi-active laser (SAL) and an uncooled imaging infrared. The use of an uncooled thermal imager is a unique implementation of such sensor in aerial weapons, demonstrating the maturity and high resolution achieved with bolometric technology. “Our uncooled IIR seeker met all the warfighter’s requirements and reduced the weapon’s total life-cycle cost and logistics footprint” said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. The tri-modal terminal seeker is a derivative from the seeker systems used in the 120mm Medium Range Munition for the M-1A2 tank and the cancelled XM-501 Precision Attack Missile. Raytheon also integrated a new ‘multi effect warhead’ designed to defeat armored targets, structures and soft target in the open with minimal collateral damage.

The SDB II multi-effect warhead defeats armored targets by penetration with shaped charge generated plasma jet. The effect is augmented by blast and fragmentation. Photo: Raytheon

Raytheon conducted a successful technical demonstration program, during which the company tested and verified that its form factored tri-mode seeker could seamlessly transition between modes. The GBU/53-B seeker proved its reliability during flight testing when it flew 26 missions in 21 days without a single hardware failure.

The U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command (REDCOM) have ordered 660 Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVG) from three manufacturers for testing, toward massive fielding of new ENVGs in upcoming years. The awarded companies are ITT, L-3 Insight Technology and DRS Systems. The three contracts, each valued around US$250 million, cover the delivery of the 220 systems in the base year, (2010) and options for the delivery of production quantities in the years 2011-2013. The Army is expecting to field new and improved digital fused imaging goggles by 2014.

Sofar ITT has been producing the Army’s first generation AN/PSQ-20 ENVG under a sole source indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract worth about $560 million. This contract expires by the end of 2010. ITT has already provided over 2,400 ENVG systems with another 6,500 to be delivered on the current contract.

The development of the ENVG began in the year 2000. First models were fielded in 2008 with special operations units. By early 2009 the 10^th Mountain Division was the first regular Army unit to receive few hundred items . The recent follow-on contracts address an ENVG follow-on program, with ITT has addressed with an updated version of the current ENVG system, called ‘Spiral Enhanced Night Vision Goggle’ (SENVG). This new device is designed to meet high volume production rates and the critical performance requirements of the ground-based soldier.

The SENVG incorporates the 18 mm image intensifier tube and a display beam combiner assembly (DBCA) utilizing an OLED-XL microdisplay produced by eMagin. The SENVG utilizes several qualified ENVG subassemblies and is powered by three AA batteries, which reduces the logistics burden and gives the customer an estimated $130 million savings over the product’s life cycle. Through various system enhancements the SENVG has a digital upgrade capability that will allow the goggle to export fused imagery for transmission via battlefield networks.

Since the fielding of the ENVG PEO Soldier has been delivering ENVGs and in parallel, developing a lighter, more rugged digital system (ENVG-D), that will also support image transfer and display of images from other sensors and sights, Digital Video Recorders (DVR) and remote computing devices. The current systems are significantly more expensive and heavier, compared to the systems they are intended to replace – PVS-7 and PVS-14. The new ENVG (D) is expected to overcome these weaknesses and meet the Army’s objective weight and cost requirements.

Read more on the Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVG) on Defense-Update.

The U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command (REDCOM) have ordered 660 Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVG) from three manufacturers for testing, toward massive fielding of new ENVGs in upcoming years. The awarded companies are ITT, L-3 Insight Technology and DRS Systems. The three contracts, each valued around US$250 million, cover the delivery of the 220 systems in the base year, (2010) and options for the delivery of production quantities in the years 2011-2013. The Army is expecting to field new and improved digital fused imaging goggles by 2014.

Sofar ITT has been producing the Army’s first generation AN/PSQ-20 ENVG under a sole source indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract worth about $560 million. This contract expires by the end of 2010. ITT has already provided over 2,400 ENVG systems with another 6,500 to be delivered on the current contract.

The development of the ENVG began in the year 2000. First models were fielded in 2008 with special operations units. By early 2009 the 10th Mountain Division was the first regular Army unit to receive few hundred items. The recent follow-on contracts address an ENVG follow-on program, with ITT has addressed with an updated version of the current ENVG system, called ‘Spiral Enhanced Night Vision Goggle’ (SENVG). This new device is designed to meet high volume production rates and the critical performance requirements of the ground-based soldier.

ENVG (Enhanced Night Vision Goggle) Training

The SENVG incorporates the 18 mm image intensifier tube and a display beam combiner assembly (DBCA) utilizing an OLED-XL microdisplay produced by eMagin. The SENVG utilizes several qualified ENVG subassemblies and is powered by three AA batteries, which reduces the logistics burden and gives the customer an estimated $130 million savings over the product’s life cycle. Through various system enhancements the SENVG has a digital upgrade capability that will allow the goggle to export fused imagery for transmission via battlefield networks.

Since the fielding of the ENVG PEO Soldier has been delivering ENVGs and in parallel, developing a lighter, more rugged digital system (ENVG-D), that will also support image transfer and display of images from other sensors and sights, Digital Video Recorders (DVR) and remote computing devices. The current systems are significantly more expensive and heavier, compared to the systems they are intended to replace – PVS-7 and PVS-14. The new ENVG (D) is expected to overcome these weaknesses and meet the Army’s objective weight and cost requirements.

Read more on the Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVG) on Defense-Update.