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B&T USA Announces Commercial Release of its APC9K SD2 US Army Submission

Monday, August 14th, 2023

Tampa, FL (August 14th, 2023) – B&T USA is excited to announce that due to continual requests by those familiar with the project, we have been persuaded to produce a limited number of integrally suppressed APC9K SD2 models complete with its scalable suppressor system. This variant was submitted for consideration during the United States Army Sub Compact Weapon (SCW) trials, with said branch ultimately selecting B&T USA’s APC9K and awarding it the SCW Contract.

“To win a US Government contract, you must submit a product that as closely meets their defined specifications as possible — not necessarily what you think the end user needs or even a product that is scalable to best suit its future needs — as was the case with the SD2; the advanced platform was not what the Army required in 2019, but one we anticipate it may in the future” said Chris Mudgett, Vice President of Marketing, B&T USA.

“At less than 15-inches in overall length, the APC9K SD2 is the shortest integrally suppressed submachine gun currently available. It is optimized for low visibility carriage and discreet deployment; while delivering unsurpassed accuracy, controllability, and ergonomics. With its advanced scalable suppressor system, the SD2 is a solution for your future mission.”

For more information on B&T USA, visit: www.bt-usa.com.

Posted in Army, Press Release, Suppressors, weapons | 4 Comments »

Army Modernizes Batteries to Boost Supply Chain, US Manufacturing

Friday, August 11th, 2023

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Army researchers are advancing the capabilities of tactical batteries as a critical piece of the military’s comprehensive effort to improve U.S.-based manufacturing and strengthen the industrial supply chain.

Engineers at the Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center are focused on integrating advanced cell chemistry into batteries as the next generation of modernized Soldier electronics are fielded. The team is focused on developing standardized form factors for use in Soldier-worn and handheld equipment such as radios, GPS, night-vision devices, and weapons.

“By standardizing battery form factors, the Department of Defense aims to aggregate demand throughout the services and improve buying power among the industry’s battery cell manufacturers,” said Dr. Ashley Ruth, a C5ISR Center research chemical engineer. In addition, standardization avoids the old model of fielding a proprietary battery for each piece of gear, as technology developers have historically delivered unique batteries for new capabilities.

The Center is an element of the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM.

“The Army is working on forecasting a fully developed demand signal for a range of Soldier batteries,” said Dr. Nathan Sharpes, a research mechanical engineer with the Center. “This provides an incentive for industry to onshore battery manufacturing to the United States and support the domestic industrial base and secure the supply chain. The overall DoD goal is the ability to procure cutting-edge batteries affordably and reliably with a coordinated strategy.”

The C5ISR Center’s latest R&D effort in support of battery standardization is the Operational Single Cell for Accessory Readiness, or OSCAR. The program’s benefits include safety, performance, and cost, according to Sharpes.

OSCAR research originated from the need to develop a AA form-factor military battery capable of recharging.

New electronics in the Army’s R&D pipeline can require higher instantaneous power draw than current AA form-factor batteries can provide, according to Sharpes. OSCAR will be capable of performing like a AA battery in legacy applications but also enter a high-power mode to satisfy next-generation enabler devices such as night-vision scopes that are typically mounted to a rifle or helmet.

With the capability for recharging more than 100 times, OSCAR batteries represent significant cost savings compared with existing single-use options. The C5ISR Center anticipates prototypes available for lab and safety testing in the near future.

OSCAR follows the team’s successful development of the Small Tactical Universal Battery, or STUB, which is a standard family of batteries for handheld and small form factor devices, with eight sizes that share a common mechanical and electrical interface — the key to unlocking interoperability, Sharpes said. Each battery size provides a different amount of energy, from which Soldiers could choose, depending on their mission needs. This interoperable battery system seamlessly delivers the correct voltage and power level needs to any device.

Army project managers can now procure these batteries for integration into fielded Soldier-worn and handheld systems. The STUB program’s current emphasis is to mature manufacturing to ensure the Army has sufficient and consistent demand for industrial production.

These C5ISR Center’s research projects support the broader effort within the Defense Innovation Unit’s Family of Advanced Standard Batteries program, along with DEVCOM’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center and the Navy.

“We’ve committed our R&D to the collective goal of building a robust U.S.-based battery supply chain that incorporates the latest technological advancements,” Ruth said.

By Dan Lafontaine, DEVCOM C5ISR Center Public Affairs

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Power | 5 Comments »

First Annual Army Cyber Seminar to Help Recruit and Retain Talent

Wednesday, August 9th, 2023

WASHINGTON – A panel of Army senior leaders will select 12 Soldiers and civilians to learn the intricacies of cyber strategy and policymaking.

As part of the service’s broader effort to retain and recruit its top talent, the first annual Secretary of the Army’s Cyber Strategic Seminar will give participants the rare opportunity to receive exposure to top Army and government leaders.

The proposed activities in the nine-month session include meetings with officials from across the federal government, industry and academia, and practical exercises with Army senior leadership. The dozen finalists will also brief Army senior leaders at the conclusion of the program.

The seminar, jointly administered by Army Principal Cyber Advisor Michael Sulmeyer and Army Cyber Command commander, Lt. Gen. Maria Barrett, will also help identify and train the Army’s top talent in cyber security.

“What we’re looking for is to develop leaders who have a particular aptitude for cyber-related issues,” Sulmeyer said. “And hopefully, they will use this program to increase their awareness and creativity around how cyber operations fit into multi-domain operations, [and] how cyber operations can inform operations in other domains.”

As the Army competes for top talent in cyber security, the seminar will showcase career opportunities in the field.

The Soldiers and Army civilians will discuss topics that include weapons systems security, intelligence support to cyber functions, the defense industrial base and acquisition support to cyber operations. Participants will gain an understanding of partnerships with foreign allies to defend and secure critical data, as well as meet with leaders in cyber security across government, the private sector, and academia.

The dozen selectees will include Soldiers in the grades of sergeant to sergeant first class, warrant officer 1 through chief warrant officer 3, and first lieutenant to major, and civilians GS-9 through GS-13. Finalists must have a minimum secret clearance and be available to attend all sessions of the seminar.

The group will meet monthly for a different activity planned by Army Cyber Command. The application period began last month and ends Aug. 11. The participants will be announced at the Association of the U.S. Army annual meeting in October, with the seminar set to begin shortly after.

The search will not be limited to individuals in cyber or tech-related positions. Soldiers and civilians in all military occupational specialties and career fields can apply.

“What we wanted to do is to identify the Army’s top talent across enlisted [Soldiers], warrant officers and civilians and provide a way to broaden their exposure to strategic policymaking, to be able to take them to different venues,” said Sulmeyer, who previously served as senior policy advisor for U.S. Cyber Command. “Our hope is that [the seminar] is a tool not just to develop their careers and make them into even stronger Army leaders, but also to retain them in the force.”

Cyber and data centricity have increasingly become important factors in multi-domain operations. Secretary Wormuth has prioritized recruiting Soldiers with expertise in the field.

“[Secretary Wormuth] has placed such a premium on strategic recruitment and retention,” Sulmeyer said. “[The seminar] was a way that she thought the Army could lead in identifying our top talent and giving them exposure to strategic cyber issues.”

Interested Soldiers and civilians can apply at armyeitaas.sharepoint-mil.us/teams/CyberStrategicSeminar. Candidates must self-nominate to apply but will need a supervisor endorsement if they are selected for an interview. Finalists will be selected based on an interview and written application.

By Joe Lacdan, Army News Service

Posted in Army, Cyber, Guest Post | Comments Off on First Annual Army Cyber Seminar to Help Recruit and Retain Talent

American Rheinmetall Vehicles and Team Lynx Awarded Contract for U.S. Army’s XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle program

Monday, August 7th, 2023

The U.S. Army has awarded American Rheinmetall Vehicles (Sterling Heights, MI) and the industry leading companies of Team Lynx – Textron Systems, Raytheon Technologies, L3Harris Technologies, Allison Transmission, and Anduril Industries – a contract for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Phase 3 Detailed Design and Phase 4 Prototype Build and Test phases of the five-phased program, now named the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle program. The Army awarded a total of two contracts for Phase 3 and 4 performance. The two competitors will now complete the designs that began in the Phase 2 Concept Design phase and build at least seven and as many as 11 prototypes for Army evaluation with a full contract value in excess of $700 million.

“American Rheinmetall Vehicles and our teammates are excited about the award and we look forward to continuing our important work with the Army in this critical modernization program,” said Matthew Warnick, Managing Director for American Rheinmetall Vehicles. “Team Lynx brings together some of the finest defense technology companies in the world and will deliver a truly transformational, modern Infantry Combat Vehicle that ensures our Soldiers can fight, survive, and win on future battlefields.“

American Rheinmetall Vehicles and Team Lynx are developing a next-generation XM30 that achieves the Army’s requirements for a combat vehicle with superior protection, unsurpassed firepower, and unbeatable mobility. Operating with other units or independently, the vehicle can sense, move, and strike in a connected, rapidly changing, complex, and lethal operational environment unlike any Infantry Combat Vehicle before.

With its modular design and open architecture, the Army can tailor the Lynx OMFV to meet specific missions or threats, rapidly evolving to adapt to future requirements. These features also significantly reduce the training and logistics burden, leading to greater operational readiness. The Lynx OMFV’s Ground Combat Systems Common Infrastructure Architecture (GCIA) hosts an electrical, software, and structural architecture that results in a uniquely modular concept that reduces production and lifecycle costs. This open systems approach to the vehicle architecture, coupled with weight growth margin and electrical power reserve, delivers a transformational platform today that is prepared for rapid adoption and insertion of the emerging new technologies of the future – ensuring overmatch today and overmatch tomorrow.

“American Rheinmetall Vehicles has brought together remarkable companies, ideas, technologies, and approaches to deliver a truly next-generation, lethal, survivable, and enduring infantry fighting vehicle concept,” said retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Bill Mayville, a member of the ARV Board of Directors. “This team is delivering on the Army’s highest and most ambitious priorities and I am confident it will continue to bring exceptional solutions as part of this important modernization effort.”

Design work for the upcoming phases will primarily take place at American Rheinmetall Vehicles’ facility in Sterling Heights, MI, with support from partners across the country. Final prototype assembly is slated to be done at the Textron Systems production facility in Slidell, LA. Upon completion of Phases 3 and 4, the Army plans to down select to one vendor for Low-Rate Initial Production in Phase 5 of the program near the end of 2027.

Posted in Army, Contracts, Press Release | Comments Off on American Rheinmetall Vehicles and Team Lynx Awarded Contract for U.S. Army’s XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle program

Summit Predicts Army of 2030, Future Designs for 2040

Sunday, August 6th, 2023

FORT LIBERTY, N.C. — Achieving the Army of 2030 and designing the Army of 2040 will require transformative vision, thoughtful leadership and sound investment, according to speakers at the July 26-27 Association of the U.S. Army Warfighter Summit and Exposition in Fayetteville, N.C.

Senior Army leaders from nearby Fort Liberty, N.C., across the U.S. Army and industry provided details and discussions on “America’s Army: Ready for Today, Modernizing for 2030 and Beyond.” The theme echoes the Army’s three priorities: people, readiness and modernization. This is the second year AUSA hosted the Warfighter Summit.

More than 800 attendees heard about the future of Soldier training and Army doctrine, Army modernization over the next seven to 17 years, the XVIII Airborne Corps’ role as America’s Contingency Force, the role of Army Security Force Assistance Brigades in 2030, insights from recent conflicts in Europe, training units at the Army’s Combat Training Centers and irregular war campaigning for 2030 with U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

The summit’s primary focus is the Soldier and the defense industry professionals who support the Army warfighter. The summit linked Fort Liberty Soldiers and senior leaders with industry partners to increase understanding of the Army’s emerging requirements and strengthen the partnership between Fort Liberty, AUSA and the surrounding community. Over 65 exhibitors highlighted organizations that provide Soldiers with educational and employment opportunities, military equipment and high-tech devices. The audience included active-duty Army, U.S. Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers.

In addition to civilian, commercial vendors, the Warfighter Summit featured U.S. Army equipment, including: the Joint Lightweight Tactical Vehicle, the Infantry Squad Vehicle, the Polaris MRZR-D4, the Ground Mobility Vehicle, the MH-6M Light Assault Helicopter and the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter.

The Army has been consistent and persistent in pursuing modernization initiatives to deliver the Army of 2030 and design the Army of 2040. It is committed to six modernization portfolios: long-range precision fires, next generation combat vehicle, future vertical lift, the network, air and missile defense, and Solider lethality.

Delivering the Army of 2030 and designing the Army of 2040 are priorities of Forces Command, Army Futures Command and Army Training and Doctrine Command. All three commands — as well as the U.S. Army Special Operations Command — were represented at the two-day professional forum.

The Warfighter Summit opened July 26 with a keynote presentation by Gen. Gary Brito, commanding general of Training and Doctrine Command.

“The Army’s most valuable asset is its people,” said Gen. Gary Brito, commanding general of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. “This is a big, total-team effort and we will succeed at this,” Brito said. “To deliver the Army of 2030 and get ready for 2040, we are turning today’s recruiting challenge into an opportunity and continuing to innovate our talent management approaches.”

“From an acquisition lens, 2030 is really tomorrow,” he said.

Brito said the Army is at an “inflection point right now,” facing changes like those it made 50 years ago at the start of the all-volunteer force and the creation of TRADOC and FORSCOM.

“I think from a technology perspective, this is probably the most disruptive period of time since World War II,” said Gen. James Rainey, Army Futures Command commanding general.

“War remains a contest of wills between human beings: people,” Rainey said. “You have to be able to impose your will. You have to be willing to pay the cost. Because of that, we are going to need the U.S. Army to be able to dominate the land domain … anywhere against any body as part of a joint force with partners and allies. To do that, we need people ”

FORSCOM Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Sims celebrated his 53rd birthday with a keynote speech at the AUSA Summit.

“Kids these days. I’ve seen you on the job … In training, on deployments and with your teams. I know what you are all about. When I travel around the force, I witness levels of insight and resourcefulness among junior Soldiers.”

“Kids today are smart,” Sims said. “They have unfettered access to all the world’s information. They know how to navigate and apply it in useful ways. Smart young Soldiers have always been one of the Army’s biggest competitive advantages.”

Sims also spoke about “Training the Force of 2030” — to include the Army’s premier Combat Training Centers: the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California and the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, Lousiana.

Fort Liberty leaders emphasized the Army post’s role as America’s Contingency Force during a discussion by Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Liberty, and by XVIII Airborne Corps’ Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas J. “T.J” Holland.

“The XVIII Airborne Corps is really FORSCOM’s and the Army’s contribution to the contingency force,” Donahue said. “It’s made up of four separate divisions, but the ‘critical sauce’ is those separate brigades. That forms the Army’s contribution to any time we have to go anywhere to compete against any adversary across the globe. Fort Liberty is the strategic platform for the U.S. Army. It has every contingency Special Operations Forces; every contingency force on the larger capability is here.”

U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s deputy commanding general, Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson, also highlighted Fort Liberty’s vital role in irregular warfare.

“USASOC provides all of the Army Special Operations Forces to the Joint Force,” Roberson said. Over the last 20 years, we were focused on irregular warfare campaigning throughout the world.”

Maj. Gen. Donn Hill, commanding general of the Army Security Force Assistance Command, also based at Fort Liberty, said “The adviser teams of today are designed to advise at the tactical level. We were all about counterinsurgency and stability operations, but the world has changed. The Army is changing.”

“We’re in 30 countries on any given day,” Hill said about the six security force assistance brigades. Additionally, the teams are on the ground persistently, spending six months with allied partner armies before they are replaced by another team of Soldiers.

Lt. Gen. Kevin Vereen, deputy Army chief of staff for installations, G-9, at the Pentagon discussed employment opportunities for Soldiers and spouses. “The G-9 enables readiness through our quality-of-life plans, programs and policies that help the Army recruit, train, fight and win,” he said.

A highlight of the Warfighter Summit was a discussion by Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston, who spoke about the key leadership role of the U.S. Army’s Non-Commissioned Officer Corps. He also conducted a panel discussion with Fort Liberty NCOs and Soldiers about the 75th anniversary of the integration of the U.S. Armed Forces.

By FORSCOM Public Affairs

Posted in Army, AUSA, Forces Focus, Guest Post | 6 Comments »

Elbit America to Deliver Bradley Components for U.S. Army

Friday, August 4th, 2023

Gunner hand stations for multiple variants of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle contribute to Soldiers’ lethality and survivability on the battlefield

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – AUG. 2, 2023 – Elbit Systems of America (Elbit America) received a firm-fixed-price delivery order for gunner hand stations for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (Bradley) through the Defense Logistics Agency to support the United States Army. Production of the gunner hand stations will be conducted in Fort Worth, Texas and deliveries will begin in July 2024.

Gunner hand stations are used by Soldiers to position the turret and initiate signals to the fire control systems within multiple Bradley variants. No matter the mission in which the Bradley is used – transport or scouting – the gunner hand station is the same, providing superior capability to the gunner.

“For more than 20 years, Elbit America has designed and manufactured the hand stations for Bradley variants,” said Ridge Sower, Vice President for Ground Combat and Precision Targeting at the company. “Our expertise producing these components have led to modular designs and commonality across vehicle platforms. The end result is a superior, rugged solution that we can produce quickly and get to Soldiers on the battlefield.”

Elbit America currently provides gunner hand stations, commander hand stations, ruggedized tactical displays, the turret processor unit, and the single card turret processor unit for the Bradley Family of Vehicles.

Learn more about Elbit America’s land and C4I solutions at https://www.elbitamerica.com/land.

Posted in Army, Contracts, Press Release | 2 Comments »

Army Accepts Prototypes of the Most Advanced Version of IVAS

Friday, August 4th, 2023

This week, the Army accepted delivery of the first 20 prototypes of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) 1.2 variant. The milestone is the latest step in the process of getting the most advanced version of the situational awareness system in the hands of Soldiers.

Microsoft delivered the 20 prototypes to Project Manager Soldier Warrior (PM SWAR), the program office within Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier responsible for overseeing the development of IVAS.

IVAS is a single platform that features an all-weather fighting goggle and a mixed reality heads-up display that integrates next-generation situational awareness tools and high-resolution simulations to provide Soldiers with improved mobility and lethality, during the day or at night. IVAS provides Soldiers with a single device to fight, rehearse and train.

“This is a really big deal for the program,” said Col. Anthony Gibbs, PM SWAR. “A little over a year ago we did an operational test with version 1.0 of the system. We learned a lot. We got a lot of good Soldier feedback. So last summer we came back and restructured the program. We took those lessons learned and all that Soldier feedback and in less than a year have what we now call version 1.2 of the system.”

Soldiers and squads will use IVAS to gain a fuller understanding of their operational environment. Its enhanced low-light and thermal sensors improve target identification. IVAS integrates with ground and air platform sensors, allowing Soldiers to see outside vehicles before dismounting into a hazardous situation. IVAS provides 3D mapping and navigation capabilities and can ingest data from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

“[IVAS] complements what’s currently in the Army’s inventory while expanding close combat force capabilities by leveraging the digital architecture for shared awareness and computing at the edge,” said Lt. Col. Denny Dresch, Product Manager IVAS. “IVAS provides a first-person augmented reality perspective that enables the integrating of operational data such as routes and control measures into the person’s field of view.”

The system’s embedded training tool, the Squad Immersive Virtual Trainer (SiVT), also provides Soldiers objective-based scenarios and battle drills through holographic and mixed-reality imagery, giving units the flexibility to train their squads with minimal resources.

IVAS 1.2 builds and improves on the capabilities of previous versions of IVAS (IVAS 1.0 and IVAS 1.1). Specifically, IVAS 1.2 incorporates reliability upgrades, features an improved low-light sensor and introduces a new form factor with a lower profile heads-up display (HUD) with a distributed counterweight for improved user interface and comfort.

IVAS 1.2 also has the capability to attach to a combat helmet with a “hinged” device to allow Soldiers to raise and lower the display, similar to traditional night vision goggles.

IVAS 1.0 and IVAS 1.1 will primarily be issued to schoolhouses and operational units for use in training to support the Army’s Campaign of Learning. The close combat force will receive IVAS 1.2.

“Anybody who has had IVAS on, even the early versions, knows that this is a transformative capability and really has the potential to change the way that we fight,” said Gibbs. “This new version, 1.2, we think it’s really going to hit the mark in terms of what we need to put out there for our Soldiers to give them the situational awareness and the leap-ahead capability they need to stay ahead of our peers.”

The 20 prototypes will be featured at a User Assessment in August, during which two squads of Soldiers will use IVAS 1.2 to measure the system’s performance and ensure engineering efforts are on schedule and meeting design objectives.

Story by Frederick Shear, PEO Soldier

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Optics, PEO-Soldier, Sensors | 3 Comments »