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U.S. Army Awards TRX Systems $402 Million Production Contract for DAPS GEN II

Thursday, May 4th, 2023

The DAPS GEN II systems developed and delivered by TRX will provide Assured PNT to warfighters, enabling seamless dismounted operations in GPS-denied environments.

GREENBELT, MD. MAY 04, 2023

TRX Systems has been awarded a $402 Million, seven-year, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Army for the procurement of Dismounted Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing System Generation II systems and services (DAPS GEN II). The award to TRX is a Program of Record contract from the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S) for delivery of systems that provide Assured PNT to Soldiers operating in GPS denied or contested environments.

The TRX Systems solution to be provided under the contract, known as TRX DAPS II, enables dismounted maneuver operations with speed, surprise, and agility, even where GPS is compromised or denied. TRX DAPS II provides Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) to dismounted users by disseminating assured position and time to dependent devices in GPS challenged environments. Reliable PNT is essential to the positioning of forces, navigation, communication networks, situational awareness applications, and systems related to protection, surveillance, and targeting; it is critical for Army Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) in contested areas and for the Brigade Combat Team (BCT) and their supporting units.

Designed to replace the Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR) for Dismounted Soldiers with Nett Warrior (NW), TRX DAPS II fuses inputs from M-code GPS, inertial sensors, and complementary PNT sources to determine the integrity of positioning, navigation, and timing sources and deliver assured PNT. It is a small, lightweight PNT device that supports both standalone operation and integration with the NW ensemble, and it can distribute PNT information to a customized tactical watch. The TRX DAPS II solution employs a modular architecture and adheres to Army PNT interface standards, facilitating the addition of new PNT sensors as threats evolve.

In 2021, TRX was selected by the U.S. Army to deliver a DAPS GEN 1.2 solution via a Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) and began shipping devices in volume in 2022 – less than 8 months after the award. Building on the success of the QRC program, after thousands of hours of field testing and incorporation of hundreds of additional Project Manager, Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PM PNT) requirements, the next generation of dismounted Soldier navigational tools, TRX DAPS II, will be in production for the Army later this year.

“Warfighters can be subjected to enemy electronic attacks that degrade their access to reliable position and time, putting their operation and safety at risk,” said Carol Politi, President of TRX Systems. “The Assured PNT information provided by TRX DAPS II will secure dismounted Army forces’ ability to shoot, move, and communicate in GPS challenged environments.”

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

SIG SAUER Delivers Next Generation Squad Weapons to US Army for Production Qualification Test

Monday, May 1st, 2023

Last week SIG SAUER delivered the latest tranche of weapons and ammunition to the US Army for the Production Qualification Tests (PQT) phase of the Next Generation Squad Weapons program.

NGSW replaces the M4 carbine and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon which fire the 5.56mm NATO round with the XM7 Rifle and XM250 Automatic Rifle chambered in the new 6.8x51mm Common Cartridge Architecture Ammunition within the Army’s Close Combat Forces which are comprised of Infantry, Cavalry Scouts, and Engineers. All told, the program will be around 100,000 rifles and 30,000 automatic rifles.

This delivery of 34 x XM7, 44 x XM250, and around 300,000 rounds of 6.8×51 Common Case Architecture ammunition loaded as General Purpose (GP), Reduced Range (RRA), and Blank cartridges will be parceled out to several Army facilities to conduct simultaneous testing of various attributes.

According to the Defense Acquisition University, the PQT is a “technical test completed prior to the Full-Rate Production (FRP) decision to ensure the effectiveness of the manufacturing process, equipment, and procedures. This testing also provides data for the independent evaluation required for materiel release so the evaluator can address the materiel’s adequacy with respect to the stated requirements.”

The contract award was announced just a year ago, with SIG’s high pressure composite case cartridge design being selected over the True Velocity polymer case and Lone Star Future Weapons bullpup weapon combination. However, the journey to this point actually began in 2017 when then Chief of Staff of the Army, GEN Milley informed Congress that the service needed an Interim Combat Service Rifle in 7.62mm NATO to deal with overmatch issues on the modern battlefield.

The ICSR concept was quickly cancelled and would lead to a Prototype Opportunity Notice for the Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle to replace the M249 SAW, which cast a wide net to industry to ultimately inform the Next Generation Squad Weapon requirement. Beginning in early 2019, NGSW challenged industry to develop a carbine, automatic rifle, and ammunition to deliver a government provided projectile at velocities mirroring the commercial 270 Win Short Mag cartridge. It was quite a tall order considering the limits on size and weight imposed by the Army.

The Army soon thinned the herd of close to 20 potential solutions to just three:

-AAI Corporation Textron Systems with their Case Telescoping ammunition

-General Dynamics-OTS Inc (later novated to Lone Star Future Weapons) with their polymer case ammo

-SIG SAUER with their composite case ammo

During the Other Transaction Authority procurement, the three vendors participated in numerous Soldier Touch Points, modifying their systems along the way and delivering improved designs at each phase of the program. Eventually, the Textron system was dropped from the program. At that point the Army faced a choice between a high pressure ammunition paired with a traditional firearm design from SIG and Lone Star Future Weapons’ bullpup weapons firing True Velocity’s polymer case ammunition. Ultimately, the Army selected SIG and since the award, they’ve already delivered weapons and ammunition for testing purposes.

Barring any unforeseen issues, fielding of systems in this fast paced program is expected to begin in the fall with SIG anticipating deliveries to the Army beginning in September. First Unit Equipped could be as soon as October.

In fact, SIG has been leaning forward in the foxhole throughout the entire process, investing in new infrastructure and manufacturing weapons components and ammunition in anticipation of each upcoming phase to avoid any delays. SIG has already reconfigured their production floor to accommodate the new manufacturing line. They’ve also been testing everything, from raw materials to full systems.

“We learned a lot during the Modular Handgun System program and have applied those lessons to how we approach NGSW”, said SIG SAUER CEO Ron Cohen. He went on stating, “This is the continuation of a long-term partnership with the Army to produce and deliver weapons, ammunition and target acquisition systems.”

With multiple contract wins over the past few years, SIG has developed a reputation of offering the government what they ask for, on time, and on price. For NGSW, they were also the only company to have both ammunition and weapon developed by the same company. While it was certainly an advantage during development, it makes things much easier now that they are moving toward full rate production. Any issue identified during testing can quickly be traced to its cause by assembling a team with representatives from across the company. What’s more, there’s not a back and forth over implementing solutions. While he makes the final decisions, Mr Cohen is results oriented and has empowered his team to get things done.

During our discussion Mr Cohen also pointed out an interesting observation. This is the first time in the history of the US military that they have simultaneously introduced a new caliber, rifle, and machine gun. This is sure to lead to unforeseen challenges across the DOTMLP-F spectrum.

Despite rumors to the contrary, and poorly researched and written articles, the NGSW program is not cancelled. To the contrary, it is moving fast, at the speed of war, with the first unit equipped this fall. From actual requirement to contract award was just over three years. From contract award to PQT is right at one year and that includes several months of no work due to contract protests. Considering the wholesale change involved, that is fast.

NGSW is happening. The next questions we will address are concerned with how this capability will transform the Army and whether the Army will expand this capability to those outside of the Close Combat Forces. Likewise, we also be watching to see if the other US services adopt NGSW as well as our allies and if so, how it affects them.

Posted in Advertiser, Ammo, Army, weapons | 8 Comments »

High Risk, High Reward

Monday, May 1st, 2023

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo — The people of Kosovo have been working for over 20 years to continue removing unexploded ordnance from conflicts that occurred in the region. The torch has now been passed to the 720th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Company during Kosovo Force Regional Command-East’s 31st rotation.

“Normally whenever we get one of the 9-lines they’re coming from local civilians,” said Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Baldwin, an EOD Technician with the 720th EOD Company from Baumholder, Germany. “They’ll encounter ordnance either on their own property or when traveling for commerce up in the mountains.”

The team typically receives two to three calls a week during the winter months, and up to five calls during the summer months. This increase is due to individuals going into areas that are usually inaccessible during the winter, like up in the mountains for example, Baldwin said.

“We’ve been finding a wide range of stuff, all the way from World War I up to the war in Kosovo back in the ‘90s,” said 1st Lt. Naomi Dawood, commander of Task Force EOD from the 720th EOD Company, Baumholder, Germany. “I would say hand grenades are probably the most common things we find here though.”

The EOD team at Camp Bondsteel is on call 24/7 and has an average response time of 30 minutes upon receiving a 9-line request. After normal business hours, or if there are multiple calls at once, it may take an hour or more before they are able to leave the base.

However, it’s not just the Soldiers from 720th EOD Company that gets to have all of the fun. Their team works closely with other NATO partners and allies, as well as the Kosovo Security Forces, or KSF, to work together on clearing the region and keeping communities safe.

“Working with other EOD units has really been an honor,” Baldwin said. “It’s very interesting to see some of their practices, they’re very different from what we typically do on response missions, but that’s because we haven’t had a lot of interoperability training with them before coming into theater.”

The KSF also has an advantage when it comes to locating these unexploded ordinances, known as UXO, according to Dawood.

“They’ve been super cooperative and eager to work with us,” Dawood said. “They obviously live here, so they’re a little bit more knowledgeable about the land than we are, which is nice when we get lost sometimes trying to find a UXO.”

The road to becoming an EOD technician is no small feat. The job comes with a rigorous interview process, followed by 9 months of advanced individual training. Another unique part about this military occupational specialty is that enlisted Soldiers and officers alike work side-by-side as classmates throughout the entire course.

1st Lt. Dawood originally wanted to become a doctor when she was commissioning through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program, but decided she wanted something a little more adventurous.

“Wanting to become an EOD tech is probably the best thing I’ve done in the Army,” Dawood said. “It’s very exciting and it’s always a challenge, which I really like.”

The excitement and challenges seem to be a large interest in those Soldiers who are interested in taking the career path of an EOD technician. As one of the noncommissioned officers in Task Force EOD, Baldwin said he also enjoys the high intensity moments that come with the job.

“As an EOD tech, I think my favorite part of my job is wherever I’m working with my team members, essentially by ourselves. There is a huge degree of responsibility we inherit whenever we are on mission,” Baldwin said. “We have support from local law enforcement and usually a medic, but other than that, it’s myself and two of my team members working on UXO calls in very high risk situations.”

Operations such as these are vital to the region in ensuring a safe and secure environment for all people of Kosovo. The collaboration between Kosovo Force and local law enforcement is essential for continuing effective communication and dialogue.

“The KFOR mission really is important because it is one of the examples of NATO coming together, supporting a conflict resolution and trying to bring stability to a region,” Baldwin said.

Task Force EOD is committed to their mission here in Kosovo. Their team members are dedicated to the history of the region and the people who live there today.

“This is something that I’ve heard about for a very long time, even before I became an EOD tech, so it’s awesome for me to actually be here and have an impact on the community and learn about the ordnance that’s here,” said Dawood.

By CPL Skyler Schendt

Posted in Army, EOD, Guest Post | Comments Off on High Risk, High Reward

Sky Soldiers Train to Defend the Skies with NATO Allies

Sunday, April 30th, 2023

PULA, Croatia — A small group of 173rd Airborne Brigade paratroopers, or “Sky Soldiers,” traveled to Croatia take part in a multinational air defense and electronic warfare exercise from April 19 through 21, 2023 called Exercise Shield 23.

Exercise Shield is an annual Croatian air defense exercise that aims at strengthening the execution of air defense tactics against low and medium altitude moving aerial threats.

During the exercise this year, units from the United States, Croatia, Poland and Slovenia collectively trained on air defense and electronic warfare tactics, techniques and procedures, including air-space control, synchronization, surveillance, threat detection and live fire engagements against flying objects.

The exercise strengthened air defense interoperability between NATO allies by combining multiple air defense platforms in the same area of operations.

Capt. Mitchel Hess, the 173rd Airborne’s air defense officer, has attended the last two Shield exercises.

“The relationship we have built with the Croatians is of great importance to our collective security,” said Hess. “Through allied training and collaboration, we have developed a strong partnership. The Croatians have demonstrated their dedication and professionalism, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them for years to come.”

Croatian Army 2nd Lt. Jure Brkic, Croatian Air Defense Regiment, has been one of the lead officers on the Croatian side for building a successful partnership with the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

“From the initial planning to final planning, we had a lot of brainstorming of ideas for training,” said Brkic. “And of course, the relationship between allies is important in many ways. Such as getting familiar with different doctrines, problem solving, interoperability and learning new weapon systems.”

Each country brought a different air defense platform to the seaside training area near Pula and utilized basic drones and flares to simulate detecting and engaging enemy targets. The Sky Soldier air defenders brought Dronebuster 3Bs, while the Croatian Air Defense Regiment used the QR-07S3 Drone Jammer System.

Last year, the Sky Soldiers brought FIM-92 Stinger missiles to engage launched flares. This year, Polish air defenders brought their Piorun Portable Anti-Aircraft Missile System or “Thunderbolt” and demonstrated two live missile launches.

Distinguished visitors from each participating country’s military came to oversee the training at the end of the exercise. The culminating event was an incredible display of NATO air defense. All countries’ militaries demonstrated their capabilities by engaging aerial targets with their respective platforms. From Dronebusters to missiles to anti-aircraft guns, the point got across — the air defenders are truly stronger together.

The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapidly deployable forces to the United States European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Forward deployed across Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build partnerships and strengthen the alliance.

Story by MAJ Robyn Haake

Photos by SGT Mariah Gonzalez

Posted in Army, Guest Post, International, Training | 1 Comment »

Squad Immersive Virtual Trainer

Saturday, April 29th, 2023

One feature of the US Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) is the Squad Immersive Virtual Trainer (SiVT) which facilitates squad-level training in a mixed reality-based synthetic environment. It can be used to train almost anywhere at any time; bringing training to Soldiers instead of bringing Soldiers to training.

Taking full advantage of Microsoft’s HoloLens technology which IVAS is based in, Soldiers are immersed in a synthetic, virtual reality environment and can interact, including movement and engagement, with various scenarios, even those created by small unit leaders.

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Innovative Technology Supports Remediation Success at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant

Thursday, April 27th, 2023

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Some of the statistics at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant are attention-grabbers and provide context for the ongoing work and challenges at the small-caliber ammunition production facility.

For starters, the plant annually produces more than 1 billion rounds of ammunition per year on its 3,935 acres in Independence, Missouri.

The installation was established in 1941, and the environmental impacts of that production — particularly in the early years at the facility — generated large quantities of potentially hazardous wastes, including oils/greases, solvents, explosives and metals — some of which were released into the environment.

In 1980, LCAAP instituted an environmental restoration program, and in 1987 the cleanup at LCAAP was added to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List. This cleanup is divided in 36 discrete areas of concern and four operable units to allow for the comprehensive planning, remediation and measurement needed for a project of this scope and scale.

“The environmental restoration program is important at LCAAP. The health and safety of personnel at the installation and in the surrounding community is significant,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Denton, LCAAP commander. “Our teams are continuing a robust monitoring program to ensure that our staff and the local community are not impacted by legacy contaminants. That includes monitoring from things like vapor intrusion, as well as surface water and sentry boundary groundwater monitoring across the entire installation.”

Denton said that as a mature site with continuing remediation needs, the LCAAP team is working to continually improve and upgrade the use of cutting-edge technology to produce high-resolution site assessment, aggressive monitoring, and treatment of non-aqueous phase liquids — known as NAPL, while maintaining a strong community involvement program. This includes the establishment in 1997 of a Restoration Advisory Board, with both regular meetings and information sharing, as well as an extensive archive of data at the local public library.

Part of successfully managing a remediation site of this complexity is understanding the need for developing new solutions to existing issues.

For example, the cleanup of waste pits that contain an estimated 2 million pounds of petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorinated solvents and extensive NAPL contamination. The LCAAP team had been using limited zero valent iron and established barriers to prevent movement of the contaminants and used hydraulic fracturing techniques. However, the restoration timeline estimated for the site remained at hundreds of years using these methods.

The team, in collaboration with Army contractor Environmental Chemical Corporation, is now at work using an in situ thermal remediation system that has allowed for treatment of 28,000 bank cubic yards of the waste pits contaminated with NAPL. The process uses thermal gas conduction and high-resolution site assessment as well as dye-enhanced laser induced fluorescence.

“The DyeLIF system provided real-time NAPL results, allowing for a real-time, dynamic and adaptive strategy to deal with a complex problem,” said Sara Clark, environmental coordinator at the Joint Munitions Command. “This high-resolution site assessment has been used to generate more than 100,000 readings to create a precise 3D model of the NAPL contaminants within these pits.”

Another example is the use of the in situ thermal remediation system to heat soil, groundwater and NAPL contaminants within the waste pits to the boiling point of water for effective extraction and treatment, which dramatically improved restoration timelines.

The team is employing similar methods on other sites at LCAAP and working to build actionable models for use at other sites with legacy contaminants. These efforts have gained LCAAP’s team Secretary of the Army recognition for innovative planning and implementation of remediation efforts. The team has been selected to represent the Army in the Department of Defense Environmental Awards competition in recognition of this work.

By Thomas Milligan, USAEC

Posted in Ammo, Army, Guest Post | Comments Off on Innovative Technology Supports Remediation Success at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant

DEVCOM Soldier Center Supports Development of Improved Liquid Cooling Garments

Thursday, April 20th, 2023

NATICK, Mass. — The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, or DEVCOM SC, is supporting the development of new liquid cooling garments for prolonged in-field use. The cooling garments, a component of the microclimate cooling system, will help protect Soldiers from overheating, a condition that can lead to diminished cognitive and physical performance, heat injury, and in extreme cases, death.

The new garments are an improvement over the existing microclimate cooling garment, or MCG, and the environmental control vest, or ECV.

“The newly developed thermally conductive flame-resistant cooling vest, liquid cooling garment, is significantly — nearly 30 percent — more efficient in extracting body heat than the currently fielded ECV, and the new garment is 15 percent lighter,” said Joe Salmeron, a project engineer at DEVCOM SC. “With a higher heat extraction rate, warfighters are likely to have reduced thermal burden. This could lead to carrying fewer batteries and allow more time for mission execution.”

The liquid cooling garment, or LCG, can be seamlessly integrated into any protective garment using a cooling vest, including the Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency-funded S&T developing system, the Tactical All-Hazards Ensemble.

DEVCOM SC led the effort for the Phase II Enhancement of a Small Business Innovation Research agreement. Through the Small Business Innovation Research program, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center Air Warrior group contracted the small business, Oceanit. Oceanit was tasked with developing a high-performance, lightweight LCG.

Through this effort, Oceanit has created a highly effective cooling vest by incorporating its proprietary tubing material, Thermocore®. The tubing material’s thermal conductivity matches that of the human body, enabling effective heat transfer between the body and the coolant in the tubing.

DEVCOM SC and the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, or USARIEM, worked jointly to provide testing support that played a key role in the product’s development. DEVCOM SC and USARIEM conducted thermal manikin testing and modeling simulations to measure physiological thermal burden.

Due to the garment’s improved compressive fit, the garment doesn’t add bulk or negatively impact mobility. The garment also features custom manifolds that allows for the inclusion of additional items such as shorts, pants, sleeves, and cap.

The new garment is part of DEVCOM SC’s larger commitment to improving Soldier protection and performance while increasing lethality.

“Knowing that the cooling garments can make a difference for the warfighter by reducing heat injuries is very rewarding,” said Pratibha Sinha, DEVCOM SC’s project lead for the microclimate cooling program.

Story by Jane Benson, DEVCOM Soldier Center Public Affairs

Photos by David Kamm

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

Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense System Achieves Full Rate Production

Tuesday, April 18th, 2023

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Integrated Fires Mission Command Project Office, under Program Executive Office Missiles and Space, announced that the Army’s Integrated Battle Command System received a successful full rate production Defense Acquisition Board decision on April 10.

This major milestone for the Integrated Battle Command System, or IBCS, follows completion of initial operational test and evaluation, which concluded in October 2022.

“IBCS is the Army’s top air and missile defense modernization effort and the only Army acquisition category 1D program with the Defense Acquisition Executive, Dr. William LaPlante, as the milestone decision authority,” said Col. Chris Hill, project manager of the Integrated Fires Mission Command Project Office in Huntsville. “Navigating a successful [full rate production Defense Acquisition Board decision] is truly a monumental accomplishment for the collective team. Our Soldiers’ and civilians’ dedication, expertise and collaboration with industry and the stakeholder community has paved the way for a more effective and coordinated capability against complex air and missile threats that will serve our Army and joint force for decades to come.”

IBCS executed a diverse range of rigorous testing on its path to achieving FRP. Testing and evaluation proved the system’s capability to integrate a variety of sensors and effectors to work together under an integrated command and control system. IBCS is a key component of the Army’s broader modernization efforts and provides transformational air and missile defense capabilities.

“The Army is proving it can and will succeed with its modernization plans as we continue to build momentum for the future,” said Brig. Gen. Frank Lozano, Program Executive Officer, Missiles and Space. “The sensor and effector integration this program brings to air and missile defense will ensure that our warfighters are best equipped to provide air defense against enemy threats. The success of this program is a testament to the incredible talent and capability of the Soldiers, civilians and industry partners whose work ensures the safety and security of our nation.”

Story by Nathaniel Pierce

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