July 2024 | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for July, 2024

SIG SAUER – ROMEO-X Enclosed Series Red Dot Sights

Saturday, July 6th, 2024

Ever since SIG announced the ROMEO-M17 optic for the Modular Handgun System, customers have been asking for a version to fit their P320 pistols. During the recent SIG NEXT event in New Hampshire, they announced the ROMEO-X Enclosed series of red dot sights.

“The ROMEO-X Enclosed leverages our expertise as the industry leader in combining the durable optic technologies that are trusted by the U.S. military and armed forces around the world with a new standard in strength and reliability for the ultimate compact red dot,” said Andy York, President, SIG SAUER Electro-Optics. “The ROMEO-X Enclosed has a fully enclosed, sealed, argon purged optical system, so it won’t fog, and has a low deck height so it easily co-witnesses with your standard-height iron sights. This feature-rich red dot is inspired by the mil-spec ROMEO-M17 that delivers dependability without compromise, trusted by the military, and is the total solution for the most demanding shooters and circumstances.”

They is available in a compact version (ROMEO-X Enclosed COMPACT), to fit micro-compact pistols such as the P365, and a PRO version (ROMEO-X Enclosed PRO), to fit full-size pistols such as the P320. It is also offered with three different reticles, a 3 MOA Dot, Circle Dot, and 6 MOA Dot.

You’ll note the low deck height for standard-height iron sight co-witness. Also, expect a minimum continuous runtime of 20,000 hours at medium brightness setting. This is partially thanks to their MOTAC™ (Motion Activated Illumination) and MAGNETAC™ (Magnetic Activation) technologies.

According to SIG, the ROMEO-X Enclosed features a distortion-free aspheric glass lens, a patent-pending Beryllium Copper flexure-arm adjustment system, and a 7075 aircraft-grade aluminum housing with machined anti-reflection grooves on shooter facing surfaces. The ROMEO-X Enclosed Series optics incorporate a high-efficiency point source red LED emitter available in either 3 MOA or 6 MOA dot, and also an available circle dot reticle, side independent brightness adjustment buttons, 15 brightness settings including night vision settings, and a side-mounted CR1632 battery compartment with a threaded battery cap so the optic does not need to be removed from the pistol for battery changes.

The ROMEO-X Enclosed Series optics are now available at sigsauer.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Optics | 6 Comments »

New York National Guard Soldiers Test Army’s Newest Equipment

Saturday, July 6th, 2024

FORT DRUM, N.Y. — Soldiers from the New York National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team traveled to Fort Drum, New York, June 24-28, 2024, to get hands-on with new technologies designed to mitigate the risk to Soldiers on the battlefield.

The Soldier borne sensor unmanned aerial vehicle and lightweight laser designator rangefinder systems were recently fielded to various units across the brigade, with Soldiers receiving both classroom and practical instructions on the operation of the two new tools in their arsenal.

The Soldier borne sensor, or SBS, “is portable and lightweight, increasing the effectiveness of our operations,” said Staff Sgt. Andy Huang, a combat engineer with the 152nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, and native of Brooklyn, New York. “It’s designed to, instead of using us to do surveillance, it can do surveillance and reconnaissance and search for enemy fighting positions or friendly forces.”

The SBS is designed to mitigate the risk to Soldiers by having the miniature drone complete dangerous work Soldiers would typically perform on their own. Its small size, only measuring a few inches, and low-noise capabilities make it nearly undetectable by enemy forces.

“It’s small and lightweight, and with how high it can go, you can’t really hear it,” Huang said. “So, you can recon a lot of stuff, and the bad guys can’t see it.”

The second system fielded and trained on during the week was the lightweight laser designator rangefinder, or LLDR, a crew-served, Soldier-portable, long-range target locator and laser designation system. The LLDR provides Soldiers on the battlefield with highly accurate target location information while using the laser designator to call for fire using precision, near-precision and area munitions.

“The LLDR allows you to basically have another person see what you’re doing or what you’re looking at without the (Soldier) having to move,” said Spc. Jeffrey Anicet, a joint fire support specialist with 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery Regiment, and native of Middletown, New York. “For us, for the observers, it makes it easier for us to target rounds, especially with mortars. Then, when working with aircraft on guided ordinance, we’re able to precision drop along those coordinates exactly where we want them to the tenth of a meter.”

The LLDR relies on a unique assembly of advanced sensor technologies, such as thermal imaging, cameras, laser designator spot imaging, digital magnetic compass, GPS, and more, to measure everything from distance to target to the rotation of the Earth, allowing Soldiers on the battlefield to relay more precise targeting data.

“It’s definitely going to benefit everyone across the board, when we start working more with the infantry, when we’re calling in fires for them, it will be a lot easier and a lot more accurate,” Anicet said. “It will be a lot safer for everyone on the battlefield.”

Systems specialists and field service representatives from Program Executive Office Soldier led the training on both systems, providing guidance and practical expertise on the new systems. Though only a handful of Soldiers from the 27th IBCT received the training, they will bring their newfound expertise back to their units.

“This is like a train-the-trainers course,” Huang said. “We’re going to train almost everyone [in my unit] on how to use this system. So, it’s not just me who knows how to use it, everyone to the lowest ‘Joes’ would know.”

By MSG Warren W. Wright Jr., 42d Infantry Division Public Affairs

Posted in Army, Guest Post | 1 Comment »

Two U.S. Army T901 Improved Turbine Engines (ITE) Arrive at Sikorsky for Black Hawk Integration Efforts

Friday, July 5th, 2024

Fundamental to Black Hawk modernization, the new GE Aerospace engine will boost aircraft performance and range

The U.S. Army’s Improved Turbine Engine (ITE) will be integrated into the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter. Representatives from the U.S. Army, GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin gathered to mark the next step in ITE integration on June 27 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photo courtesy Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.

The T901 engine will increase the Black Hawk’s power by 50%, while also improving fuel efficiency, and is a critical component of the roadmap to a modernized Black Hawk – a key part of Lockheed Martin’s 21st Century Security® vision. Photo courtesy Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., June 27, 2024 – Two of the U.S. Army’s T901 Improved Turbine Engines (ITE) arrived at Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), signaling a new phase of Black Hawk® helicopter modernization efforts. The T901 engine, which is manufactured by GE Aerospace, will increase the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter’s performance, including lift capability and range, providing Army commanders more options for planning and executing missions.

The T901 engine will increase the Black Hawk’s power by 50%, while also improving fuel efficiency and is a critical component of the roadmap to a modernized Black Hawk – a key part of Lockheed Martin’s 21st Century Security® vision.

“Increased performance and range offered by the T901 are high-value capabilities the Army is able to implement on the Black Hawk in a cost-effective way that will not require expensive re-engineering,” said Hamid Salim, vice president of Army and Air Force Systems at Sikorsky. “The ITEP and other enhancement efforts ensure the Black Hawk remains in operation well into the 2070s, securing its position as the Army’s foundational tactical air assault and utility aircraft of choice.”

What’s Next

Sikorsky is positioned to conduct a multi-aircraft test program to support the Army’s ITEP acquisition milestone schedule.

· The two T901 engines will be installed in one Black Hawk test aircraft for ground runs and flight testing.

· Aircraft hardware is already on hand to accept two additional T901 engines for installation into a second Black Hawk test aircraft, which will accelerate the test program.

The Army’s Utility Helicopters Project Office (UHPO), Aviation Turbine Engines Project Office (ATE PO), and Sikorsky have completed several key program milestones to prepare for this integration, including:

· Successful completion of the H-60M Preliminary Design Review and Critical Design Review.

· Software Formal Qualification Testing (FQT) for the Integrated Vehicle Health Management System (IVHMS) and is on track to complete the Flight Management System FQT this summer.

· Receipt and completion of all aircraft test instrumentation required to support the test program.

· Receipt of all aircraft “A-kit” hardware required to install two T901s into the H-60M in preparation to execute ground test and flight test.

“We view this as an extension of the work we’ve completed on ITE with our Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) prototype and are even better positioned for a timely and simplified integration of the engine into the H-60M, due to data and insights we’ve retrieved from successful ITE tests completed to date,” said Salim.

Sikorsky received, installed, and successfully conducted engine light-off of the T901 engine in the FARA prototype aircraft. The ongoing FARA test program is specifically designed to collect data relevant to the Black Hawk engine integration to support risk reduction for the Black Hawk flight test program.

A Modernized Black Hawk

Sikorsky H-60M modernization efforts continue to be primarily focused on ITE, as well as Modular Open Systems Approach/digital backbone and Launched Effects. Digital innovations, such as a new sustainment digital twin, improve safety and mission readiness while reducing costly downtime and unscheduled maintenance.

For additional information, visit our website:

www.lockheedmartin.com/blackhawk.

Posted in Army, Aviation, Press Release | Comments Off on Two U.S. Army T901 Improved Turbine Engines (ITE) Arrive at Sikorsky for Black Hawk Integration Efforts

Overwatch Group and PteroDynamics Ink Strategic Relationship

Friday, July 5th, 2024

Companies Sign Exclusive Distribution Agreement for Transwing® VTOL UAS in the UK, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates

Overwatch Group, a UK-based end-to-end design and manufacture company specialising in advanced unmanned system and munitions technologies, and PteroDynamics Inc., an innovator in vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft systems, today announced a landmark long-term strategic relationship and the first distribution agreement to bring the pioneering dual-use autonomous Transwing® (VTOL) to certain territories outside the United States. Overwatch will be the exclusive sales representative of the Transwing® unmanned aerial systems (UAS) aircraft on behalf of PteroDynamics within the United Kingdom (UK) for all non-commercial sales, and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) for all prospective commercial and defence sales. Overwatch has also made a strategic investment in PteroDynamics.

As the first distributor for this technology, Overwatch will help expand the employment of the Transwing® aircraft platform outside the United States, starting in the UK, UAE, and KSA. Overwatch will bring its engineering expertise in unmanned systems and payloads to satisfy requirements for potential customers in these territories.

PteroDynamics’ Transwing® is a revolutionary VTOL aircraft system that overcomes the limitations inherent in other VTOL designs by marrying the speed, range, and endurance of fixed-wing aircraft with superior VTOL performance in an efficient, highly automated platform. The aircraft folds its wings to transition seamlessly between vertical and winged horizontal flight, requires no additional launch and recovery infrastructure, and occupies a minimal footprint, making it immediately ready for VTOL operations out of the box. Its unique performance characteristics provide defence and commercial operators with a more cost-effective, autonomous alternative for critical logistics resupply and other missions to remote locations without runways, which are currently undertaken by crewed aircraft, boats, or other less practical means.

Prototypes of the Transwing® are currently under assessment by the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAVAIR NAWCAD) for the Blue Water Maritime Logistics UAS (BWUAS) program for automated long-range maritime resupply missions. Automating maritime logistics and resupply also represents a significant opportunity for commercial operators. Unplanned downtime of offshore oil and gas production results in average losses of U.S. $49M per year per producer, and nearly 100,000 commercial sea-going vessels of more than 100 gross tons make 4.4 million ports of call yearly, each time requiring deliveries prior to coming to port, which are costly and difficult to schedule.

Drew Michael, CEO at Overwatch Group said, “We are extremely proud to have secured our long- term strategic relationship with PteroDynamics. Both companies are dynamic engineering enterprises that design and manufacture unique, patented technology from the ground up. Our R&D of cutting-edge payload technologies continues to gather pace as we develop our next generation of drones, and we now wish to extend our expertise into wider markets. Having assessed the market, the Transwing® stood out as transformational dual-use technology, and the whole of Overwatch is excited by how we will enhance it.”

Matthew Graczyk, CEO at PteroDynamics said, “PteroDynamics’ ability to build successful working strategic relationships with leaders in our industry enables us to accelerate innovation and build the solutions that solve the critical unmet needs of our customers. Not only does Overwatch have deep domain experience in avionics and aero-mechanical engineering, but their ties with commercial and defence customers in the UK, KSA, and UAE will prove to be a game-changing advantage for both companies. We are excited to work closely with Overwatch and look forward to growing this important strategic relationship.”

Posted in Industry, International, Press Release, UAS | No Comments »

The Dread and Fear of Kings On YouTube

Friday, July 5th, 2024

One of my favorite gentleman’s clothing and accessory companies, The Dread and Fear of Kings, has launched a YouTube channel.

youtube.com/@TheDreadandFearofKings

Posted in Clothing | No Comments »

FirstSpear Friday Focus: Happy Independence Day

Friday, July 5th, 2024

Happy Independence Day, thanks to all the warriors who continue to fight every single day to protect our freedoms.

Posted in FS Friday Focus, Guest Post | No Comments »

General Conley Takes Command of Air Force Special Operations Command

Friday, July 5th, 2024

HURLBURT FIELD, Fl. —

Lt. Gen. Michael Conley assumed command of Air Force Special Operations Command from Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind in a change of command ceremony at the Freedom Hangar here July 2.

Presiding over the ceremony, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin praised Bauernfeind’s past accomplishments and Conley’s future potential as the commander of AFSOC. Allvin said the image that came to mind when he thought of the transition to a new commander was the passing of a baton in a race.

“Races are won or lost by fractions of a second,” he said. “The stakes are high for our Air Force, our special operations community and our nation and we can’t afford to take a pause. Mike Conley is up to speed. He’s ready. He brings a breadth of experience working with the Air Force, major command and joint staff. He also has a depth of experience in the AFSOC mission.”

During the ceremony, four formations of Air Commandos stood at attention to represent the Airmen of AFSOC. The military formation, comprised of 85 Airmen, represented the five active-duty, one Reserve wing, and two National Guard wings; and more than 20,000 active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilian Airmen who serve across AFSOC.

U.S. Army Gen. Bryan Fenton, commander of United States Special Operations Command, also provided remarks during the ceremony, as AFSOC is the Air Force component of USSOCOM. Fenton welcomed Conley as AFSOC’s new commander and praised the command for its spirit of innovation.

“Mike, welcome aboard,” he said. “You are taking charge of an exceptional team. You know this already because you’ve been a key part. You’re inheriting an incredible organization that is not only pathfinding and trailblazing for SOCOM but equally for our Air Force and on top of that, the Department of Defense. And they are doing it at lightning speed. You’re exactly what AFSOC needs to continue that transformation.”

Lt. Gen. Michael Conley assumed command of Air Force Special Operations Command after previously serving as the director of operations for Headquarters AFSOC. He was responsible for implementing and directing operational command policy for AFSOC’s worldwide special operations units including 20,800 personnel, approximately 300 aircraft and $17 billion in assets. He also served as the vice commander for AFSOC’s 27th Special Operations Wing and the commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing.

“I am honored and humbled for this opportunity,” he said. “I am committed to making this command the best it can be in ensuring we are ready to go whenever you need us to.

Bauernfeind was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal as well as the USSOCOM ceremonial colors for his accomplishments as commander and then received the final salute from the Air Commandos. He will depart AFSOC to become the next Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy.

By Lucelia Ball, Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, SOF | No Comments »