The 505th CCW held a wing-wide workgroup to provide updates on upcoming major changes to 505th exercises and syllabi. The workgroup was advised by several U.S. Air Force senior mentors, including Lt. Gen. (ret) Russell Handy and Lt. Gen. (ret) Jeffrey Lofgren, who provided critical insights into how the wing can accelerate change.
Col. Frederick Coleman, 505th CCW commander, told his squadron and group commanders, “There are a lot of things in the operational C2 enterprise that we don’t control. But we own training, and if we want to enable the air component commanders to fight and win our nations wars, we have to get training right.”
Col. Coleman directed changes to the Air Operations Center initial qualification syllabus to ensure training includes academics on new and emerging systems; he directed the consolidation of AOC and Air Force Forces courses into a single air component course; and he gave guidance on changes to the 505th’s BLUE FLAG and VIRTUAL FLAG exercises to ensure they were more customer-focused and geared towards Agile Combat, or ACE, and resiliency requirements.
Coleman continued, “The 505th CCW has the Air Force’s largest pool of operational C2 subject matter experts. We have to leverage the knowledge and expertise in this wing to enable our warfighters.”
By Deb Henley
505th Command and Control Wing
Public Affairs
Posted in Air Force, Guest Post | Comments Off on 505th Command and Control Wing: Accelerating and Advancing Command and Control
CAMBRIDGE, MA—December 20, 2021—Draper has earned an award for its patent of an antenna technology that shows promise for improving reception and evading detection in locations where signal complexity might be a problem. Military units may benefit when the antenna is installed in their communication devices.
The achievement was recognized by the Boston Patent Law Association at its 11th Annual Invented Here! event Nov. 12, 2021.
Antennas can, of course, be designed to receive and transmit a range of signals, including GPS, cellphone and Wi-Fi. Making signals difficult to detect is desirable in many military contexts, such as stealth aircraft. But devising an invisibility cloak isn’t easy for antennas used for typical military uses, such as beacons and radar systems.
A major challenge for designing any antenna is the noisy and complex environments it might encounter. Military antennas, for instance, interact with multiple frequencies, which requires multiple layers of protection for the antennas and their signals to remain undetected. The result can be an antenna wrapped in a protective layer, called a radome, which can be “expensive, complex and time-consuming” to design, build and maintain, according to the patent.
Draper addressed the challenge of unwanted signal detection by devising a scheme for antennas of various types that can be tuned by adjusting the frequency selective surfaces, or FSS. FSS is a thin, repetitive surface designed to reflect, transmit or absorb electromagnetic fields based on the frequency of the field.
Engineers at Draper designed the antenna to dampen or hide its presence without impacting its effectiveness. They did so by developing an FSS that has the ability to automatically change how the FSS resonates to an incoming radar signal without degrading signal reception to the antenna. The result is a lower radar signature of the antenna. If a different radar frequency needs to be mitigated against, then the tunable FSS which is embedded in the antenna element can be tuned to the new radar frequency without degrading the performance of the desired communications frequency.
The inventors responsible for the patent “Frequency Selective Surface Antenna Element” are Amy Duwel, John Grandfield and Jacob Treadway. The patent application was prepared and submitted by Sunstein LLP.
The Boston Patent Law Association, established in 1924, is one of the oldest associations of intellectual property lawyers and professionals in the U.S. The BPLA’s Invented Here! award highlights inventions made by New England inventors or New England companies.
The Specialized Chemlight Insert is an organizational solution designed for those that carry an array of marking devices and require multiple colors and spectrums of marking devices to be secure and organized. The SCI is capable of carrying 6 x 6″ chemlights. Designed to fit in the front pocket of Crye and Patagonia pants, and the internal divider pocket of the Spiritus Systems JSTA pouch.
Offered in Black, Coyote, Ranger Green or MultiCam.
Griffin Armament was a technology innovator in tubeless silencer design, developing the first commercially available tubeless suppressors in the US in 2010. Early Gate-Lok™ cans like the M4SD2 and M4SD as well as the first-generation Recce cans were tubeless designs. Tubeless designs are relatively featureless compared to user serviceable and modular suppressors; however, they can be made very lightweight due to not having a double walled material thickness like traditional tubed silencers and baffles. Deleting the outer tube helps reduce weight of the system but also imposes other engineering hurdles that can be difficult to overcome. Ten years after Griffin’s initial innovation into tubeless suppressors the company introduced a new tubeless series, the EXPLORR® suppressors. These suppressors sought to push the limits of what was capable. Using new tubeless designs, the 30 caliber EXPLORR was only 12 ounces in a full 17-4 stainless steel design and utilized tig autogenous welding. The goal was to create dedicated rifle suppressors that nearly matched the lightweight specifications common to full titanium suppressors.
Shortly after this however, laser welding became market viable and was incorporated into the build process, prompting the next generation EXPLORR® suppressors allowing even further reduced weights to the tubeless class. Additionally, ECO-FLOW™ baffle technology was integrated to the EXPLORR® series further reducing gas blow back and allowing for the most optimal sound suppression balance at the ear and the muzzle. The Taper Mount -RI™ (Rapid index) system has also been added to the new EXPLORR® generation allowing a faster install along with Griffin’s trademark low profile flash suppressor end cap to ensure total system performance. Lastly, the line has expanded to a total of 4 suppressors. Two dedicated Taper Mount -RI™ versions and two 1.375×24 utility mount versions or HUB (hybrid universal base) as this thread pitch is becoming known, comprise the series. The 1.375×24 HUB mount versions are extremely versatile allowing for Griffin Taper Mount interface, (they ship with Griffin’s PLAN-A adapter), A2 mount, 3 lug mount and more.
Austin, Owner and lead design engineer at Griffin Armament stated,
“I believe tubeless suppressors are closing on the limits of lightweight performance and durability. Ten years ago if someone told me we were going to make a 10 ounce, welded 300 win mag rated suppressor I wouldn’t have believed them. We always strive to be better. We want to make a better product, that’s lighter, more quiet, durable, and with better features. We did that here. The new EXPLORR™ series was designed to provide users with the lightest, most accurate, and durable suppressors on the market, hands down. You’ll find a host of special features on our cans and the EXPLORR® is no different. The weight specs and performance of this series is unbelievable. This can family is designed for guys who love shooting rifles with cans. We’re excited to launch the EXPLORR® and I believe it will help keep Griffin at the forefront of suppressor offerings. As always, I’d like to say thank you to all our great customers, without you we wouldn’t be able to have the careers that we love.”
This photo demonstrates weld technology advancements from early generation tubeless suppressors to current day (2021). Left: A circa 2012 (early generation) tubeless Griffin M4SD suppressor, crushed under 15 tons of pressure. Note bulges and split welds. Middle: Griffin EXPLORR® gen 2, laser welded suppressor crushed under 15 tons of force. Note, all welds are intact. Right: Griffin EXPLORR® gen 2, laser welded suppressor crushed under 60 tons of pressure. Note, all welds are still intact despite immense crushing force.
EXPLORR® Features
• Full 17-4 stainless steel billet construction
• Flawless wire EDM cut bores true to the mounting interface
• Fully H900 heat treated for increased service life
• Full circumferentially laser welded
• Patented and Tuned ECO-FLOW™ baffles
• Accommodates the entire Taper Mount line of muzzle devices
• Rear mount body is the serialized component, securing your investment
• Front three-quarter inch Hex Cap, and rear wrench flats
After a stringent tender process, Edgar Brothers are proud to announce the award of the multi-year contract by the UK Ministry of Defence to provide and support the British Armed Forces with the Fused Target Locator (FTL) solution for light reconnaissance operations.
The successful system put forward by the Edgar Brothers team includes a carefully selected collaboration of industry leading partners utilising SAFRANs JIM COMPACT Lightweight, multifunctional, long-range binocular system, supported by Forsberg’s MANTIS® Battle Management System, integrated applying EXSEL Groups extensive expertise.
The system integrates to optimise operation of the JIM Compact. This world-leading sensor is remotely controlled on the masthead or tripod from the operator’s MANTIS® software loaded end user device. Providing a lightweight, low signature, multi-sensor surveillance and target acquisition system; that is man portable, vehicle mountable and will detect, recognise and identify likely adversaries at range, which enables timely and effective decision making.
“We are immensely proud to have been selected to supply the FTL system to UK MoD. Along with our industry partners Safran, Forsberg and EXSEL we feel we have created a system that will give our troops the edge in the battlespace for many years to come. The award of this contract enables us to create more jobs “ here in the UK as part of our continued growth strategy.
My third favorite Christmas tale comes from the Battle of the Bulge.
December 22 1944 – Encircled by German forces at the Battle of the Bulge, the 101st Airborne Division, under acting commander Brigadier General McAuliffe received a message from German General Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz delivered under flag of truce.
To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.
The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Our near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.
There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.
If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours term.
All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well-known American humanity.
His response was perfect.
To the German Commander.
NUTS!
The American Commander
Posted in History, Morale | Comments Off on My Third Favorite Christmas Tale – “NUTS!”
FORT BENNING, Ga. — Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, joined their counterparts from Canada and Australia in collecting toys for Fort Benning Santa’s Castle Dec. 7.
According to Lt. Col. Isaac Lee Henderson, Battalion Commander, 1-507th, from Chiefland, Fl., this was a great opportunity for the Fort Benning community to help families in need over the holidays.
“This is an awesome mission. I’m one of those kids that grew up with a single mom that worked two or three jobs to allow us to have a decent Christmas,” said Henderson.
Carrie Kennedy, a volunteer at Fort Benning Santa’s Castle, expressed gratitude for the toys collected for the kids in the military community.
“We appreciate all the generosity and support from Fort Benning and the local community,” said Kennedy.
The 304 participating parachutists each brought a toy before participating in the international jump, led by jumpmasters from Fort Benning, Canada and Australia. Participants were awarded their foreign jump wings after completing the mission.
“The mission of the toy drop that we did a couple of days ago was to give a kid an awesome Christmas,” said Henderson as they delivered the toys to Santa’s Castle Dec. 11. “I love doing this!”
Established in 1986, Santa’s Castle provides toys to children of Fort Benning soldiers who are experiencing financial hardship during the holiday season.
Story by Alexander Gago
U.S. Army photos by Patrick A. Albright, Fort Benning Maneuver Center of Excellence Public Affairs
