A Portable Welder? Absolutely. Special Operations Forces operate in austere environments and often have to construct facilities and conduct repairs of their own, as well as allies’, equipment. This is generally done by specialized enablers, assigned or attached to SOF. To do this, they need specialized equipment which is compact, robust and often able to accept different power sources.
To this end, SOFWERX, in concert with USSOCOM PM-ES, will conduct a Combat Evaluation (CV) Challenge for the USSOCOM Mobile Technology & Repair Complex (MTRC) to address known operational deficiencies with current welding technologies employed in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.
The command currently employs the following commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) welding equipment: Miller 212, Miller 252, Miller 255, Millermatic 200, Millermatic 220, CST 280, and various ‘stand-alone’ TIG welders. They all have limitations.
USSOCOM is looking for relatively mature welding systems and capabilities to reduce the overall number and types of welding systems from over 5 systems to less than 3 systems per each MTRC Team location, while concurrently reducing the logistics footprint and supporting the existing operational requirements.
This $200,000 Challenge will be conducted 20-22 October 2020 and interested companies must throw their hat in the ring by 03 September 11:59 PM EDT.
For full details, visit events.sofwerx.org/welder.
I believe the Colonial Marines already figured this out.
Tell them to just buy a Miller Multimatic with a small generator. You got DC stick, TIG, MIG in one small box that can use 120V or 220V. You can weld almost anything with that.
It would be interesting if someone came with a small engine driven welder tho.
Miller Multimatic 200 works well still kicking after a year of going to multiple sites, and being thrown around in the dirt and dust. Couple of spools of flux-core and you’re good to go.