April 2022 | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for April, 2022

DoD IG Releases Report on Audit of the Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System

Wednesday, April 27th, 2022

The Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General has released their report on an audit to determine whether Army officials effectively managed the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program to meet user needs.

IVAS is a $21.88 Billion program to field a militarized version of Microsoft’s HoloLens. Modifications were based on seven requirements that enhance the Soldier’s decisions and capabilities to execute combat tasks with speed and precision identified by the Soldier lethality cross-functional team: communication, lethality, mobility, protection, situational awareness, survivability, and training and human performance.

This program is so important to the Army that it even has its own Program Manager under PEO Soldier. During development PM IVAS used Soldier Centered Design during multiple testing events in the IVAS rapid prototyping phase. This process is intended to ensure that Soldier needs are considered when making design tradeoffs and production decisions. A core metric is user acceptance.

Unfortunately, the IG found that program officials did not define minimum user acceptance levels to determine whether IVAS would meet user needs because Army policy does not require program officials to define suitable user acceptance levels.

Consequently, the IG recommends that the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology) develop Army?wide policy requiring program officials to define suitable user acceptance measurements for testing and evaluation.

Furthermore, they also recommend that the Program Executive Officer Soldier define clear measures of user acceptance levels to meet user needs before Soldier Touch Point?5 testing of IVAS. In addition, they recommend that the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology), as the decision authority for IVAS, verify whether the Program Executive Office Soldier meets established user acceptance measures and addresses Soldier?identified issues before IVAS production.

This should help satisfy those who feel that the program is moving too quickly, is technologically immature, or does not have Soldier buy-in.

Posted in Optics, PEO-Soldier | 2 Comments »

Air Mobility Command Reopens Space-Available Travel

Wednesday, April 27th, 2022

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) —

As of April 22, all restrictions on space-available (Space-A) travel have been lifted.

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense temporarily suspended most Space-A travel aboard Air Mobility Command and contracted aircraft, effective March 21, 2020 in order to limit COVID-19’s spread and impact on the force.

Medical screening protocols may still apply for travelers heading outside the contiguous United States (OCONUS). Members traveling to a foreign country will need to follow any testing requirements listed within the Electronic Foreign Clearance Guide.

This reopening permits Space-A travel for uniformed service members, retirees, dependents and Reservists to travel within the continental United States and outside the continental United States, if space allows.

Per Department of Defense policy, if necessary, Space-A travel limitations can be reinstated to help stop the spread of any future outbreaks of COVID-19. Mobility aircrew readiness is paramount to ensuring the Department is postured to project mobility airpower and global reach.

For additional information on Space-Available Travel, visit AMC’s travel website here.

Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post | 1 Comment »

AeroVironment Successfully Demonstrates Multi-Domain Unmanned Systems, Computer Vision and Sensor Fusion Software at IMX/CE 22

Tuesday, April 26th, 2022

• Demonstrated multi-sensor data fusion and automatic target recognition (ATR) using AeroVironment’s Blue Hotel tactical grade computer vision and data analysis software package

• AeroVironment’s battlefield proven DDL technology provided robust command, control and video datalink for U.S. and Royal Navy airborne assets in the challenging maritime environment

Blue Hotel AI/ML in action at IMX/CE 22, fusing together data from multiple UAVs and USVs to provide ATR and identify patterns of activity. (Image: AeroVironment, Inc.)

ARLINGTON, Va., April 26, 2022 –AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain robotic systems, today announced the successful maritime demonstration of Interoperability to Interchangeability (I2I) operations by the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy using AeroVironment’s Puma™ 3 AE small unmanned aircraft systems. The demonstration was part of a combined event – International Maritime Exercise 2022/Cutlass Express 2022 (IMX/CE 22) – that took place from Feb. 6-17, 2022.

IMX/CE 22 is the largest maritime exercise in the Middle East with more than 60 partner nations and organizations participating with 9,000 personnel and 50 ships. IMX/CE 22 was also the largest maritime unmanned systems exercise to date with more than 80 unmanned systems, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs).

The I2I capability demonstration was supported by AeroVironment as part of the U.S. 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59 team, denoted as Task Force X (TF-X), participating in IMX/CE 22. TF-X was comprised of various multinational government and industry partners working together to integrate and demonstrate new unmanned systems capabilities for U.S. and coalition naval forces in a series of pre-planned serials.

During the exercise, AeroVironment’s Blue Hotel computer vision and analytics solution demonstrated the visual identification of maritime targets simultaneously from multiple UAV and USV video feeds in real-time during all of the TF-X serials. It was also used by the U.S. Navy as the primary video repository and distribution hub for TF-X, providing all coalition partners with access to real-time video feeds and artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) analytic results for Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). The advanced AI/ML software enabled the warfighters to quickly sift through the large amounts of video data, pinpointing individual vessels of interest, and providing real time information on their activities throughout the exercise.

“Built upon past demonstrations, such as REP(MUS) 21 and 2018 U.S. Navy Coastal Riverine Craft maritime S2S exercises, these successful I2I operations coupled with Blue Hotel’s automated target recognition and MDA capabilities offer a glimpse at the maritime and autonomy product capability expansions AeroVironment’s MacCready Works Advanced Solutions team is spearheading,” said Jeff Rodrian, AeroVironment vice president of AV Ventures.

Posted in Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on AeroVironment Successfully Demonstrates Multi-Domain Unmanned Systems, Computer Vision and Sensor Fusion Software at IMX/CE 22

Silvus Launches StreamCaster 4200 Plus Drop-in Module

Tuesday, April 26th, 2022

Module Enables Plug-and-Play Compatibility with a Variety of Existing Subsystems

Los Angeles, California (April 25, 2022) – Silvus Technologies, Inc. (“Silvus”) today announced the launch of the StreamCaster 4200 Plus Drop-in Module, an embedded integration package for the StreamCaster 4200 Enhanced Plus at AUVSI Xponential 2022.

Equipped with a familiar mechanical footprint, hole pattern, and JST connectors for plug-and-play compatibility with a variety of subsystems currently on the market, the Module makes Silvus’ industry-leading MN-MIMO technology more accessible than ever. With the Module’s ability to quickly and easily integrate with existing hardware and cable interfaces, end users will benefit from:

• Reduced time to market and development investment

• Industry-best range, throughput, and robustness

• Low size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP)

• Dual bands in a single package without needing to swap hardware

• Spectrum Dominance waveform enhancements, including Anti-jam, LPI/LPD, and ToF Ranging

• Interoperability with StreamCaster (AN/PRC-169) Program of Record radios

“Unmanned system platform integrators demand options depending on end user preference and mission requirements,” said Jimi Henderson, Silvus Vice President of Sales. “The StreamCaster 4200 Plus Drop-in Module’s design approach provides integrators with the ability to quickly and easily upgrade their existing 802.11 based datalink with the extended range, reduced weight, and more advanced anti-jam and LPI/LPD capabilities that MN-MIMO provides, while ensuring interoperability with a growing number of US DoD Programs of Record where StreamCaster radios are being adopted.”

After meeting internal quality standards and successful completion of on-site client integration testing, the StreamCaster 4200 Plus Drop-in Module is now available. For more information or to request the full integration package, contact info@silvustechnologies.com or visit us at Booth 2414 at AUVSI Xponential.

Posted in Comms, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on Silvus Launches StreamCaster 4200 Plus Drop-in Module

SIG FOXTROT2 Weapon Light Now Available

Tuesday, April 26th, 2022

580 Lumens and 13,000 Candela,
User Adjustability at Your Fingertips

The FOXTROT2 is designed for the user that wants maximum output and maximum adjustability at their fingertips. This versatile weapon mounted light has 580 lumens/13,000 Candela and is programmable with 3 user defined modes; Momentary, Latching, and Threshold Mode.

Additionally, the user can adjust the light on the rail using the supplied 4-Position Sliding Rail; Interface Inserts For Maximum Adjustment Range On The Firearm.

The FOXTROT2 mounts to any Picatinny 1913, SIG SAUER proprietary, or Glock rails with no need for adapters or cross-slot modifications. Ambidextrous Activation Paddles to power the ultra-efficient white LED runs up to one hour on a single CR123 battery.

The rail-mounted light is ideal for home defense, law enforcement, or military applications and should fit most holsters designed for handgun lights.

www.sigsauer.com/foxtrot2

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Lights, Weapon Accessories | 4 Comments »

HUXWRX to Exhibit at Warrior West

Tuesday, April 26th, 2022

Posted in Advertiser, Suppressors, Tradeshow | 1 Comment »

The S.O.Tech ARVN Pack Redux is BACK!

Tuesday, April 26th, 2022

“A combination of the old tried and true with modern technology – a reflection of SOTECH.”

Respecting the calls for us to reintroduce our h-harnesses and belts, we recognized a trend to go back to the battle tested designs of the past. In doing so, we wanted to honor our beginnings by doing a reboot of an ALICE Pack predecessor – the ARVN Ranger Pack, a favorite of MACV-SOG and other SOF units.

At a base level, this is a hat tip to our early days modifying ALICE packs, but it’s much more significant than that. SOTECH started in a time when we were issued the same tired designs that barely evolved from World War Two through Korea and Vietnam and into the Cold War of the 80’s.

There was a creativity born from lessons from the field, and a handful of innovators started companies to modify and then create alternatives. In this vein, we took the day pack version of what would become the ALICE and modernized and modified the design with Tegris and improved cuts (the pack was designed for small-framed Vietnamese soldiers). The result is an EDC pack that takes you back to your days in BDUs every time you cinch that ribbed web through those metal tabler buckles.

The ARVN pack meticulously recreated, every small detail accounted for. Original steel hardware upcycled from original issued kit.

Updates from the original:

-Updated 420D Nylon vs canvas. Same nylon as the Medium and Large ALICE packs
-Snap closure front 2 pockets for easier and faster access
-Hidden HDPE insert with foam backer for extra comfort
-Updated frame, from steel to modern laser cut Tegris
-Repositioned bottom shoulder strap ring to the side for extra comfort

Packs go live on sotechtactical.commain page on 4/29 at 12pm PST.

Posted in Advertiser, Packs | 10 Comments »

Visit SureFire at ADS Warrior West

Tuesday, April 26th, 2022

Posted in Advertiser, Tradeshow | Comments Off on Visit SureFire at ADS Warrior West