FirstSpear TV

Five Questions for Spectra Group CEO Simon Davies

November 6th, 2024

We had a chance to ask five questions of Simon Davies, the CEO of the UK-based communications company Spectra Group.

Q – Perhaps you could begin by giving the readers a sense of what Spectra does and how it applies to war fighting.

A – Spectra Group is a specialist provider of secure voice, data and satellite communications systems. Established over 20 years ago, Spectra Group is a veteran-led organisation that prides itself on designing and manufacturing specialist high-quality communications equipment and systems that have been operationally proven to meet the needs of the modern warfighter, in the most demanding operational conditions.

For example, SlingShotTM was conceived and designed to meet Special Forces requirements and, now with over 7000 units sold worldwide, has been operationally proven with both specialist and regular forces globally. SlingShot is a unique, low-size, weight and power (SWaP) system that enables existing UHF and VHF tactical radios to extend their reach into the realm of strategic communications, providing true Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) and Communications on the Move (COTM), without purchasing new radios. All Spectra Group products are designed with the soldier in mind and are therefore easy to use, secure and have a low probability of intercept or detection.

Tropo

The Troposcatter Family of Systems (FoS) is designed to provide high-bandwidth battlefield data links between key headquarters down to Company level in a modular and easy-to-transport system. With low latency and high bandwidth, the systems are simple, intuitive and easy to set up.  Also, due to its architecture, Troposcatter works in a GPS/GNSS denied environment, so can operate at the poles, and is equally difficult to detect or intercept.

Q – What is your latest product?

A – Spectra Group launched our new radio concept GENSS, in January 2024, and it is now in the final stages of prototype testing. GENSS builds on the foundations of our award-winning SlingShot system, embodying Spectra Group’s vision of producing ultimate radio systems that capitalise on technological advances, adapt to the evolving demands of military operations and simplify the user experience.  It has been designed and developed through a collaborative effort of tactical communication experts, seasoned military specialists and top-tier U.K. scientists and engineers.

GENSS is a significant advancement in the field of tactical radio communications, due to its modular core framework and software-defined flexibility, heralding a new era in communication technology. It is a modular, agnostic hardware radio system designed to be agile and provide the ultimate interoperability through straightforward software reprogramming to adapt quickly and easily to meet the diverse needs of its users. Capable of operating across HF, VHF, UHF, and satellite bands, GENSS is engineered to conquer Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) barriers and support Communications on the Move (COTM), delivering a robust and agile solution for voice and high-bandwidth data transmission across all domains — land, sea, and air.

Q – What lessons is Spectra learning from the conflict in Ukraine, and how are you applying them to your systems?

A – Modern-day conflict against a determined and advanced adversary is having many effects on communications equipment, its bearers but also the operators who use it. Spectra are conscious of the need to keep radio systems and their representative IT solutions as simple as possible for the operator whilst when needed being able to work in contested spectrum environments.

The GENSS product has been designed to be able to operate within the noise floor if needed to avoid detection. It also has an automatic adaptive coding and modulation capability that removes the need for constant ‘link engineering’ by the operator allowing the radio to adapt to tactical conditions and guarantee message delivery. The burden on the soldier is ever increasing not only the amount of technology that one must carry, and the power needed, but also the cognitive burden of becoming an expert on all systems. GENSS has been designed to provide simplicity at the point of use, whilst the unit manages internal processing and power management effectively and efficiently using the best software initiatives available.

Q – To follow up, based on what we are seeing in Ukraine, do you see NATO and in particular, the Five Eyes alliance, cooperating more now on communications systems and standards.

A – Data interoperability and open standards have always beencrucial in the NATO alliance to allow tactical data links to interact effectively with one another. However, with the rapid development of more advanced and complex communications systems and increasingly sophisticated digital and cyber threats to such systems, close cooperation between allies is increasingly important. Spectra Group have worked together with 2iC, a specialist UK battlefield software integration company, to fully integrate the GENSS product with their Lean Service Architecture specification. This is an open schema-based software solution to provide a services-orientated communications integration architecture designedfor mobile, low-powered Internet of Things (IoT) on the battlefield. UK MOD, US SOCOM and many other NATO partners have published under the Open Government license that they are adopting this open architecture.

Q – Artificial intelligence has become all the rage. Just looking around the show floor and AUSA, you see AI enabled systems in every corner. Is Spectra integrating artificial intelligence, and perhaps even machine learning, into its systems, and if so, how?

A – The GENSS radio platform is delivered with an Open API architecture which can be adapted to use AI applications as required.  Whilst Spectra Group does not create AI software applications directly, the GENSS platform can be utilised to allow soldier-based software and AI solutions can be easily adopted to maximise capabilities and features available utilising GENSS.

SSD would like to thank Mr Davies for his time and insight into a rapidly evolving field.

For more information, visit spectra-group.co.uk.

Chinese Way of War vs Military Culture: Topic of Latest CASO Panel

November 6th, 2024

THE ARMY UNIVERSITY, FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kansas – The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict continues to alter the geopolitical situation in Europe and the Indo-Pacific Command region.

The latest Cultural and Area Studies Office panel, recognizing the National Defense Authorization Act’s definition of China as a pacing threat, focused the discussion on the Chinese way of war and the People’s Liberation Army.

Dr. Mahir J. Ibrahimov, CASO Director, set the stage for the session by introducing the topic, and the Brigadier General Mark W Siekman, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve, Combined Arms Center, who provided senior leader opening remarks.

Panelists from various Command and General Staff College and Army University departments, analyzed whether or not a clear Chinese way of war is present within the PLA’s current state of their air, ground force, maritime and even historical background as a pacing threat, or if it is more of a cultural adaptation.

“If you’ve heard GEN Flynn, the current USARPAC commander, he would argue, China is the most consequential threat, in the more consequential theater, and in the most consequential time,” Siekman said.

Chinese recovery from Century of Humiliation 

More than a dozen unsuccessful conflicts, spanning more than 100 years, to include the Century of Humiliation, as discussed by Dr. Geoff Babb, Department of Military History, CGSC, can be described as a prologue to the PLA today.

“The Century of Humiliation does not belong to Chinese Communist Party but rather the people of China and is highlighted by the Chinese Communist Party and Xi Jinping,” he said.

Pre-People’s Republic of China, Babb discussed, faced humiliating defeats to Britain, France, and the United States, the later creating the foundational distrust between the U.S. and China that stands today.

The PRC is primarily focused on protecting borders and sovereignty which drives the military and economic decisions of leaderships like Xi Jinping’s, who faced turning a country’s dismal combat track record around.

The introduction of Communist China to the military environment created, what could be argued, a way of war vice a military culture to rejuvenate the nation.

“The Chinese are, in my opinion, strategically defensive and operationally offensive,” Babb said. “When that might change or is that changing is unclear, but they’re certainly building the military forces to be able to do that.”

The PRC’s influence of the PLA is not something to be overlooked, Babb pointed out, highlighting the New Golden Age with the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and Treasure Fleet, which combines merchant and military ideals, and the Restored Wall with A2AD.

Each of the three could suggest the PRC’s values and shared understandings, or culture, have created a bridge to the PLA’s way of war.

Three P’s and Two Hows to Understanding PLA’s Ground Force Modernization

Proximity to politics, professionalization, and principles plus how the PLA is seeing itself in modernization and how we make sense of what PLA is trying to do was the framework for understanding the PLA’s modernization efforts presented by Lt. Col. Jason Haub, Advanced Strategic Leadership Studies Program, School of Advanced Military Studies.

The PLA, having seen nearly a dozen major reforms, was brought to its current theater command structure, thanks to Jinping spurring another massive reform in 2016.

Decisions like this for the PLA are dual tracked through the PRC and PLA, Haulb explained, making it difficult for the PLA ground forces’ modernization to remain a headline priority.

The most recent restructuring jeopardized the PLA ground force’s status within the larger PLA, suggesting a military culture shift, that could create barriers to the PLA’s attempted professionalization.

Further, these PRC driven military adjustments continue to cloud the clarity of what the Chinese way of war is.

“PLA ground forces are not the top priority in terms of modernization effort, and probably have some of the largest hurdles as they grapple with what is this new joint structure, joint theater command structure and how the PLA will fight,” Haub said.

Haub described PLA as a problem solving, learning organization, with a ground force that has a breadth of catching up to do to remain a near threat to the U.S.

“I think it is important to have the framework of a Chinese way of war but to also understand, when we put that aside, how we assess things for what they are and not simply limit ourselves to view things only through an overly sensitive cultural lens,” he said.

Air and space Chinese way of war 

China continues struggling with engine manufacturing and modernization, creating disproportionate aircraft improvements, that hold them back from competing equally with the U.S. air modernization effort.

This, however, is not enough to continue the narrative of the exponential U.S. – Chinese air/space gap.

“The capability gap is rapidly shrinking in both the air and space domains. It’s more concerning now in the air domain. Given a bit more time, it is quite plausible that the PLAAF will outstrip the U.S. Air Force in terms of numbers,” Dr. John Modinger, Associate Professor, SAMS, and retired Air Force said.

When it comes to above the ground combat, the Chinese have adopted, what Modinger described, as a “copying and pirating” approach to remaining a competitive threat.

Most air and space craft in the Chinese war portfolio are near identical mimics of American versions.

While not completely aligning with the definition of a Chinese way of war, Modinger offered that the number of crafts and satellites in the U.S. technology constellation is what separates the two nations.

“We see increasing evidence of the Chinese mirroring the United States,” he said. “Not going with their own way of war, but in fact paralleling our developments, if not stealing our technology.”

China goes so far with this technique as to recruit the pilots manning the top-of-the-line U.S. air and space crafts, Modinger explained.

Add to the air and space pot a 550% increase in the number of Chinese launched satellites, the gap above the clouds continues to shrink.

Space and air are competition lanes the U.S. continues to lead not just China, but the world, in terms of technology and use. However,  Modinger pointed out that the closing gaps should be noted.

“China will continue to increasingly drop from ‘near’ peer competitor to pacing threat or peer threat,” he said.

Chinese Maritime Triple Threat 

The Chinese PLA Ground Force is seemingly shackled from rapid modernization due to the cumbersome collaboration with the PRC, and the PLAFF must resort to looking off the U.S.’s paper to remain competitive in the sky.

On the sea, the Chinese way of war is harder to define due to a simple lack of actual combat tested instances.

Dr. John Kuehn, DMH, CGSC, began his discussion suggesting the Chinese fight at sea is primarily defensive.

“It is built on a doctrine of local area dominance, which is extensive anti-access, area denial systems,” he said.

In the way of war vice military culture lens, Kuehn suggested, overall, the Chinese lean culturally, strategically defensive, and operationally offensive.

The Chinese Navy is the most individualized, meaning not mimicking the U.S. counterpart, of those within the PLA in terms of size and regional location.

The Chinese Navy tonnage exceeds that of the U.S.’s but with a majority being surface ships.

The size and variety of maritime presence is largely a question mark of capability, Kuehn said, due to the Chinese naval history being river based.

Outside the riverbanks, the PLA Navy’s contemporary mission is the defense of the first island chain from Hokkaido in the north down to Singapore.

This fits the Chinese approach to security, to strategy, to warfare, which is using the weaker to undermine the stronger,” Kuehn said. “Use of mines. Use of coastal warfare. Use of non-belligerent tactics. Use deception. For the Chinese this looks like anti-cruise ship missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles. Missile batteries ashore.”

Additional supplements to the Navy are the Chinese’s enormous Coast Guard and “bully” of maritime security, militia.

“The Coast Guard has some of the biggest cutters in the world,” Kuehn said. “They have at least 50 cutters that are big enough to be used as a second Navy.”

This trio of maritime protection using (illegally) water cannons, shouldering, intel collection and missile use makes the PLA Navy an aspect of Chinese combat power worth understanding.

“This is an area, where on continuum of conflict the Chinese has choices and they are already executing them with their very high handed and sort of bullying approach to maritime security especially in the South China Sea,” Kuehn said.

Whether the four areas of PLA modernization are seen as a clear definition of a Chinese way of war or a rather a semi-contemporary adopted military culture, the challenge Chinese military forces present to U.S. national security is one of importance and need of attention.

This panel is part of a seminar series discussing issues of operational and strategic importance to the U.S., which CASO in coordination with CGSC, universities, think tanks, interagency and other partners conduct every two to three months, which is also live streamed on CGSC’s Facebook page.

The full panel discussion can be viewed on the CGSC Facebook here: www.facebook.com/USACGSC/videos/2468414380022454/.

All past CASO panels are available for viewing on the CGSC YouTube page here: Cultural and Area Studies Office (CASO) – YouTube

By Sarah Hauck, The Army University Public Affairs Office

Chemring Awarded Contracts Worth £278m

November 5th, 2024

Chemring is pleased to announce that its Norwegian subsidiary, Chemring Nobel, has signed a twelve-year framework agreement with Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG (“Diehl Defence”) for the supply of MCX energetic material. Under this framework agreement Chemring Nobel also signed an initial purchase order valued at €231m; deliveries under this contract will be over a five-year period commencing in late 2026. In 2023, Diehl Defence and Nammo AS created an industrial working group to supply the German Government with 155mm munitions for the German Armed Forces and their allies and in July 2024 they received their initial delivery order.  Under this order, production of 155mm munitions will use Nammo’s munitions technology for which Chemring Nobel is the only qualified supplier of MCX material.

Chemring is also pleased to announce that its US subsidiary, Chemring Energetic Devices (“CED”), has received an order valued at $106m for the delivery of critical components for use in an undisclosed US missile programme. Deliveries under this contract will be over a five-year period commencing in 2026.

Further to the announcement on 17 October 2024, Group adjusted operating profit for the year ended 31 October 2024 is expected to be in-line with consensus expectations of £70.9m.

Michael Ord, Chief Executive of Chemring, commented:

“These significant contract wins illustrate the deep long-term relationships that we have built with our customers.  It is further evidence of the sustained and growing demand for our products and supports our investment decisions to increase the capacity of our three energetics businesses, and reinforces Chemring’s position as a key supplier to NATO.”

Jay Stuart Named Vice President of Commercial Sales for Sierra and Barnes

November 5th, 2024

MONA, Utah. – November 4, 2024 –Sierra Bullets and Barnes Bullets announces Jay Stuart as its new Vice President of Commercial Sales, tasked with leading the sales efforts and securing business opportunities. Stuart joins Sierra and Barnes with an extensive background in the outdoor industry, previously working with leading companies such as Vista Outdoor, Union Sportsmen’s Alliance, Boy Scouts of America and Remington Outdoor Company. Having invaluable experience in sales leadership, Stuart brings a wealth of knowledge in assessing opportunities and cultivating strong client relationships.

“We are very excited for Jay to join our team,” said Sierra and Barnes VP, Marketing and Business Development Andrew Sparks. “He has a wealth of experience in both sales and the outdoor industry and will be an invaluable asset to our Sierra and Barnes team.”

Stuart’s experience and leadership in sales is evident through his success in developing field sales forces, agents and independent representatives throughout the US. He has a proven track record in partner strategy development and client and donor relations. Having most recently served as Director of Sales and National Retail Accounts for Vista Outdoor, Stuart managed and directed sales responsibilities. This entailed developing annual sales plans and securing new product placements for several major retail accounts. His experience is a testament to his ability to create growth and increase consumer brand loyalty.

“Having previously worked with Jay, I am thrilled to have him on board and believe he will play an integral role in propelling our brands forward,” said Jim Bruno, CEO of Sierra and Barnes. “His expertise and passion for this industry makes him the perfect fit for our team.”

In his new role, Stuart oversees domestic and international commercial sales markets, as well as manages and leads the sales teams for Sierra and Barnes. He provides a deeper understanding of market trends and maintains a constant pulse on consumer needs, competition and brand position. Stuart will also play a crucial role in trade show planning and attendance.

“I am looking forward to being part of a great team and iconic American-made ammunition brands. Sierra and Barnes are leaders in the ammunition space, and I see a tremendous amount of pride in the quality and workmanship from the women and men here,” said Stuart. “I am also looking forward to working with Jim again. We have a great relationship and leverage our sets of strengths to support each other. I have a great sense of pride being part of the shooting sports industry, and I’m excited to continue this journey with Sierra and Barnes.”

Jay Stuart can be reached at jays@sierrabarnesbullets.com. More information on the latest new products and offerings from Sierra and Barnes is available at www.sierrabullets.com and www.barnesbullets.com.

Aware Defense

November 5th, 2024

During AUSA, Gentex introduced me to Aware Defense, a company which specializes in auditory defense, or hearing protection.

They demonstrated a patented, precision measuring device called eFIT, which scans the ear to create a model for perfect fit ear plugs and comms devices. Unlike foamies which only work properly about 7% of the time, these inserts protect hearing and don’t fall out, even during physical activity.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and tinnitus rank as the top two causes of disability claims among Veterans with over 50% of close combat personnel suffering from some form of hearing loss.

Aware not only offers simple ear plugs but they also have inserts with hearing augmentation and integration with communications systems as well as the inclusion of biometric sensors. Once a model of the ear has been scanned it is available to produce any number of ear inserts. Aware works with other vendors to integrate their custom-shaped ear plugs so if a unit changes systems, there’s no need to make a new measurement. The existing record is used.

Aware has multiple products available but the two most interesting off our use are the EarShield (preserves essential hearing levels) and EarDefender (also available in vented).

Aware can visit units with the eFIT scanner to take measurements or lease it to a unit or installation.

awarecbw.com/collections/military-shop

Team O’Neil’s Tactical Driving Tuesday – Night Driving with White Light

November 5th, 2024

Team O’Neil is a preeminent training facility for rally deiving and has bene ised for decades by Special Operations Forces for mobility training. In this week’s installment of their driving tip series, Instructor Wyatt goes over driving at night with white lights.

You can receive such training in person, by attending the Team O’Neill Tactical Driving Course at their facility in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This five-day course includes driving under NODS and is available to military and other government agencies as well as civilians.

Tactical Tuesday: Advanced Layering with Vertx

November 5th, 2024

Stay ahead of the cold with Vertx’s cutting-edge fabric technology! The Merino Wool Base Layer from Vertx doesn’t just regulate temperature; it harnesses natural anti-microbial powers to keep odors at bay. Pair it with the Crucible Mid Layer, featuring PrimaLoft® Gold insulation, for lightweight warmth that breathes easy. Thanks to active vent technology, comfort is guaranteed—even during high-intensity pursuits. Whether you’re layering up for work or adventure, you’re shielded from the inside out.

Gear up with this unbeatable duo—explore the collection now at Vertx.

LAST CHANCE! Grab your 25% off sitewide at vertx.com with code BOO25 before their HALLOWEEN SALE ends at midnight!

Army Advances Human-Machine Integration Tests to Enhance, Fight with Combat Units

November 5th, 2024

WASHINGTON — Robots integrated into Army formations can help protect Soldiers and revolutionize warfare in multiple domains.

Human-machine integration forces can take on dangerous battlefield operations, including overwatch, or movement of troops to a point of tactical advantage, and the suppression of the enemy, said Brig. Gen. Chad Chalfont, commandant of the Army Armor School at Fort Moore, Georgia.

Those capabilities could help achieve the Secretary of the Army’s goal of “no blood for first contact,” where human machine integrated formations make platoons and companies better at maneuvering, communicating and surviving on a transparent battlefield. HMIF could shoulder risk normally assumed by Soldiers.

Army Futures Command, headquartered in Austin, Texas, is scheduled to host the Human-Machine Integration Summit IV at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, on Nov. 6-7, 2024, to inform academic, industry and government partners on HMI development and explore cost-cutting solutions.

The Army has been working with prototypes and performing exercises with the new technology including robotic combat vehicles, or RCVs. On July 24, the Comanche Troop of 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Division, completed training exercises with the RCVs as part of Army Futures Command’s RCV Pilot-24 exercise.

During the July exercises, Soldiers performed reconnaissance and security missions with the platoon using two control vehicles to navigate four robots, Chalfont said.

Chalfont said they learned they needed a third control vehicle for that platoon to operate effectively and to operate across different nets. They also learned techniques to better communicate within their platoon while also reporting up and out to their company commander.

The 1-7 Cavalry Troop, based out of Fort Cavazos, Texas, performed the exercise during a National Training Center rotation in September, but restructured the unit to use three control vehicles to control four RCVs.

The robotic combat vehicles were designed to act as scouts and combat escorts with a Soldier controlling the vehicle remotely. Those vehicles can also serve as decoys to protect Soldiers from enemy fire and assist the execution of multi-domain strikes. The Army originally had three RCV models in development but has since decided to focus on a single, lightweight variant.

Brig. Gen. Phillip Kiniery, Infantry School commandant at the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Moore, said he wants to be able to take that infantry squad and maximize the cognitive and physical capabilities of that squad by putting the burden on the robot. He wants to increase the depth and duration by which an infantry squad can maintain contact with the enemy so that infantry squad leader can bring everything they have to bear as a system and overwhelm the enemy.

Col. Kevin Bradley, director of the Next Generation Vehicle Cross Functional Team at Detroit Arsenal in Warren, Michigan, said the Army has reached a pivotal time in its history where robotic technology could give U.S. forces a competitive advantage in maneuverability, like the period between World War I and World War II.

Bradley said just as the airplane, radio and tank were critical to unlocking maneuver in World War II, human-machine integration forces — the combination of robots, autonomy and their ability to reduce or offset risk — is the key to unlocking expanded maneuver in a transparent battlefield.

Chalfont cited the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as an example of the evolution of warfare, where Ukrainian forces have developed capabilities to fight against the Russian army. He said a cycle of adaptation is occurring in that conflict. The next question is what will forces do with that information and where does the adaptation occur?

Bradley said the Army will need to test to see if RCVs and other robotics platforms can keep pace or fight with a brigade combat team or an infantry brigade combat team.

Col. Scott Shaw, director of Maneuver Capabilities Development Directorate at Fort Moore, said the service absolutely wants Soldiers controlling multiple robots in the air and on the ground using the same device.

Shaw said the Army in some cases has a “two Soldiers to one robot” ratio and is very much working toward one Soldier controlling many robotic platforms.

He said that robots used in combat must have true maneuverability, be able to traverse different environments and be able to withstand some damage from enemy fires.

Col. Ken Bernier, project manager for future battle platforms at Detroit Arsenal said the Army will continue experiments integrating HMIF into its formations, eventually conducting a full operational test. Bradley said that after building the base platforms of the RCVs, the focus will shift toward technology and common control, including a focus on software.

By Joe Lacdan, Army News Service