Coleman APS-2 worksite serves as staging area for U.S. Bradleys set to support Ukraine

MANNHEIM, Germany – The first shipment of M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles from the U.S. has arrived at the Coleman Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksite, and a team of experts headed by the 405th Army Field Support Brigade is there staging and preparing the Bradleys for onward movement.

The more than 60 Bradleys – which left Charleston, South Carolina, about three weeks ago and started arriving at the Coleman APS-2 worksite in Mannheim earlier this week – are part of a $2.85 billion U.S. military aid agreement announced earlier this year to help provide Ukraine with additional defensive capabilities in order to protect itself from Russia.

Via www.army.mil

U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground hosts cutting edge artillery demonstration

In mid-September, YPG hosted a demonstration showcasing the use of the United States’ most cutting edge 155mm artillery munitions with the South Korean K9A1 Thunder Self-Propelled Howitzer and K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ARV). 

It has become well-known that U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) testing actively supports six of the Army Futures Command's Cross Functional Teams (CFTs) building the Army's future force.

In mid-September, YPG hosted a demonstration showcasing the use of the United States’ most cutting edge 155mm artillery munitions with the South Korean K9A1 Thunder Self-Propelled Howitzer and K10 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle.

Both platforms are manufactured by Hanwha Defense Corporation (HDC), South Korea’s largest defense contractor. Recently, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with HDC to assess the feasibility, performance and capabilities of carrying and firing the American munitions by the two platforms.

“The purpose of our partnership is to check the compatibility of our munitions with those two vehicles,” said Sam Perez, who serves as principal investigator for the CRADA. “We’ve been working on this effort for the last year and a half to ensure we can safely fire the munitions from those two vehicles.”

On the demonstration day, about 60 visitors from across the Army and several friendly foreign nations observed the K9A1 undergo loading from the K10 and then embark on multiple realistic fire missions across two adjacent gun positions. The K9A1 demonstrated its ability to shoot and scoot, in which a self-propelled howitzer fires artillery, then immediately departs to a different location to evade possible counter-fire from an adversary. Weapons operators on board the howitzer also demonstrated the platform’s ability to burst fire three rounds within 16 seconds, and fire six rounds within 45 seconds. The K9A1 fired both XM1113 and M795 155 mm rounds, the former of which with rocket assistance. The testers also demonstrated the K10 capability of transferring the US Artillery munitions and inert Korean Modular Charge System to the K9A1.

“These are the things within the scope of work of the CRADA with Hanwha that they wanted to demonstrate in terms of the capabilities,” said Anthony Sebasto, Acting Director of Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Armaments Center at Picatinny Arsenal. “While the systems were here, they also wanted to have the opportunity to show the US and other foreign nations the capability of their system.”

Preparing for the demonstration took months of test planning and coordination, even prior to a pre-demonstration test in July that involved every scenario the visitors saw in September. Weapons operators from YPG and South Korea both participated.

“We did some safety testing leading up to this demonstration event to collect data to prove out the compatibility and safety for the crew since they are doing on-board operations,” said Jered Ford, YPG Artillery and Mine Branch Chief. “It’s not easy to work on the technical test side with the planning and preparations involved in that on top of the logistics of many visitors coming together at a gun position.”

“There were several tests that we had to do just to ensure the safety of the South Korean crew that did the man-firing,” added Jonathan Bazua, the YPG test officer who ran the event. “There was a lot of pre-demo work that had to be done to accomplish the actual demonstration safely. You’ve got to get a lot of small details right to make everything work.”

Following the demonstration, the DEVCOM personnel gave high marks to the support they received from YPG.

The K9A1 is used by nine other nations in addition to South Korea, and more may acquire the platform in the future.

“There will be opportunities for countries that are acquiring the K9A1 to see that the U.S. munitions are compatible with the system,” said Perez. “This is just the beginning of our collaborative efforts. There is the potential for more demonstrations like this in the future at Yuma Proving Ground.

Via www.army.mil

Ivy Division Crazy Horse crews test Army’s newest 120mm Abrams Main Battle Tank round

Yuma Test Center, Arizona. — Deep in the desert here, two Ivy Division tank crews of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team recently tested the Army’s newest 120mm tactical service round.

Under 112 degree-plus heat, they simulated combat missions with full ready rack combat loads of the XM-1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) round for their M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks against a host of actual and simulated threat targets.

Tank Crew 1 commanded by 2nd Lt. Jake Hall, with Gunner Sgt. Spencer Vanderbilt, Loader Pvt. Dalton Diserio, and Driver Pvt. Justin Jones, not only knows what it feels like to roll out in a fully combat loaded tank on an operationally-realistic simulated mission, but they have witnessed the firepower the AMP round brings to the fight.

“This round is not something to be taken lightly,” said Vanderbuilt, of Charlie Company “Crazy Horse,” 1st Battalion “Fighting Eagles” of the 8th Infantry Regiment.

“Being able to see and then destroy anti-tank guided missile targets beyond 2,000 meters and then transition immediately to breaching walls or obstacles is an incredibly powerful feeling!”

“We now know what it feels like to roll out in a fully combat loaded tank on operationally realistic combat missions and recognize how important the AMP round will be to U.S. Army ABCT fighting forces in the fights yet to be fought,” added Hall.

Tank Crew 2, commanded by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Smearman, with Gunner Sgt. Juan Segura, Loader Spc. Blake Phillips, and Driver Pvt. Adam Allwine, also unleashed AMP fury on the same host of targets in the Yuma desert.

Phillips, said he was amazed by the AMP round’s performance and awesome power.

“The Abrams Tank’s lethality has been re-vAMP’ed!” he said.

Capabilities of the AMP round included the new airburst mode and breaching double reinforced concrete walls.

After shooting over 90 AMP rounds at anti-tank guided missile teams, massed infantry, infantry fighting vehicles and bunker targets, the Crazy Horse armored crews unanimously agreed training conducted during the test was the best in their careers.

The tankers pushed each other hard, testing the AMP round in what evolved into a competitive shooting competition in the Yuma desert, both day and night.

Test Team Master Gunner Vehicle Crew Evaluator Master Sgt. Joel Ramirez, of the Fort Hood, Texas-based U.S. Army Operational Test Command said the purpose of the operational testing is to collect performance data and Soldier feedback to inform the Army’s procurement decision regarding the AMP round.

“We do this by having the tank crews employ the tactical service round in a manner and in an environment that closely mimics combat conditions,” said Ramirez.

He went on to explain how the 3rd ABCT tank crews shot over 8 complex modified tank gunnery combat scenarios during the four-day record test.

“Despite extreme desert heat, dust storms and rain squalls, the Crazy Horse crews really impressed me with their level of motivation and drive to test the AMP round,” said Mr. Kent Evans, the Maneuver Requirements Division Soldier and Capability representative from Fort Benning, Georgia.

The XM-1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) round was designed to enhance a tank crew’s ability to perform missions with greater lethality and survivability, according to Mr. Jeff McNaboe, lead project engineer, Program Manager for Maneuver Ammunition Systems.

Developed by engineers from Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, the Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) round is a replacement for 4 legacy service rounds.

Via www.army.mil

Mockups of the Russian S-300 ADS and T-72B MBT

 The mockups of the Russian S-300 ADS and T-72B MBT spotted in Alabama, USA.

Previously the mockup of the Type-99 has been spotted in the US roads.

And now the Type-99A https://t.co/UudXgxhVQU pic.twitter.com/QR4ZKgQpxc

— The Dead District (@TheDeadDistrict) August 13, 2021

Pratt Miller and QinetiQ's RCV-L EMAV

 The soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Div. test Expeditionary Modular Autonomous Vehicle (EMAV) (Pratt Miller and QinetiQ's RCV-L) as a practice exercise in preparation for Project Convergence 21 at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.

US Army's future ground combat systems at Project Convergence 21

The US Army"s Griffin ATLAS with integrates new gyro-stabilized Thermal Sighting Unit (TSU) conduct live fire exercise during Project Convergence 21.

Two ERCA XM1299 SPHs and its resupply vehicles conduct live fire

A Stryker/LAV-700 fitted with ALAS-MC turret conduct live fire exercise

Air Launched Effects (ALE) experiment at Project Convergence 21

 

UNITED STATES - 10.07.2021
During Project Convergence 21, the Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team experimented with using Air Launched Effects (ALE) to help Soldiers see the battlefield and extend their reach. Testing with Soldiers in the field allowed the FVL CFT to gain valuable feedback on this emerging capability! 

Air Launched Effects (ALE) are a Family of Systems (FoS) consisting of an air vehicle, payload(s), mission system applications, and associated support equipment designed to autonomously or semi-autonomously deliver effects as a single agent or as a member of a team.

ALE is a crucial piece of the Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft Ecosystem advanced team concept synergistically enhancing survivability, threat identification, targeting, and lethality of Army aviation brigades and ground force commanders’ assets.

The ALE FoS extends tactical and operational reach and lethality of manned assets, allowing them to remain outside of the range of enemy sensors and weapon systems while delivering kinetic and non-kinetic, lethal and non-lethal mission effects against multiple threats, as well as, providing battle damage assessment data. They will provide scalable effects to detect, locate, disrupt, decoy, and/or deliver lethal effects against threats.

As relatively low cost systems, they are attritable or optionally recoverable. Using a Modular Open Systems Approach provides modularity and rapid integration of new technologies.

PFC Ethan Loudermilk from the 82nd Airborne Division and the civilian personell discusses training with and learning Air-Launched Effects during Project Convergence 21 at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.

Project Convergence is the Army's campaign of learning designed to aggressively advance and integrate our Army's contributions, based on a continuous structured series of demonstrations and experiments throughout the year. It ensures that the Army is part of the joint fight and can rapidly and continuously integrate or converge effects across all domains: air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace; to overmatch our adversaries in competition and conflict.

Project Convergence ensures the Army has the right people with the right systems, properly enabled in the right places to support the joint fight.

(US Army video by PFC. Vincent Levelev)

US Army tests XM1113ER projectile for its Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA)

General Dynamics’ Innovative Rocket-Assisted Projectile Exceeds 70-Kilometer Milestone Range in Demonstration.

Designed for the U.S. Army’s future Extended Range Cannon Artillery system, XM1210 (XM1113ER). It was showcased at the General Dynamics-OTS exhibit for the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) annual conference Oct. 11-13 in Washington D.C.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (OTS) successfully tested four XM1210 (XM1113ER) High Explosive Rocket-Assisted Projectiles that demonstrated a range capability in excess of 70 kilometers for the Army’s future Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) system.

The key milestone was achieved Oct. 2 at the Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. The XM1210 (XM1113ER) projectile is a critical component of the Army’s Long-Range Precision Fires modernization program that aims to create windows of opportunity for the joint force to penetrate an enemy’s anti-access, area denial (A2AD) network.

The ERCA system during the M982A1 Excalibur round test-fire. Details on the link - U.S. Army’s ERCA Cannon Shoots M982 Excalibur Rounds to 70 km in Latest Demo

“Having the ability to reliably deliver mass fires at extended ranges with precision will revolutionize the modern battlefield, so we’re thrilled the XM1210 (XM1113ER) is meeting the Army’s requirements,” said Jason Gaines, vice president and general manager, General Dynamics-OTS Munition Systems. “It’s an honor for our team to work side-by-side with our U.S. government customers and industry partners to further our mission of delivering lethal and precise capability at 70 kilometers by 2023.”

The XM1210 (XM1113ER) uses cutting-edge technology to extend the range of a 155mm artillery round. The innovative munition combines guidance capability with warhead lethality to form a more affordable solution for the Army’s ERCA system. Providing a range of more than 40 kilometers from a 39-caliber cannon and more than 70 kilometers from a 58-caliber cannon, the projectile improves protection for the artillery warfighter by increasing stand-off distance from enemy fire.

The documents about the front hull special armor the basic M1A2 tank used

Damian Ratka have found very interesting data about the basic M1A2 hull frontal armor package.

The two interesting sources at DTIC archives, that might answer us what type of front hull special armor the basic M1A2 tank used. These sources are Ballisticians in War and Peace vol.3 and The U.S. Army Laboratories at Watertown, Massachusetts.

First document from Ballisticians in War and Peace vol.3 says to us that BRL (Ballistic Research Laboratory) developed special armor for M1A2 hull front providing 35% more KE and 25% more CE protection vs original M1A1 front hull armor.

The secend document is the U.S. Army Laboratories at Watertown, Massachusetts document, provides us information that Watertown with BRL developed in 1988-1991 timeframe a tandem ceramic armor that provided 33% increase in protection vs KE threats. Coincidence? I don't think so.

So we might safely assume, that while basic M1A2 used Heavy Armor Package with DU alloy in turret, hull used Tandem Ceramic Armor Package. 

Sources:

Ballisticians in War and Peace

THE U.S. ARMY LABORATORIES AT WATERTOWN, ASSACHUSETTS - CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: A HISTORY

P. S. Some data about Abrams armor:

ტანკების ჯავშანდაცვა - NATO vs СССР

დასავლეთის ტანკების ჯავშანდაცვა (Abrams M1, Leopard-2, Challenger 1/2 და Leclerc)

ოფიციალური დოკუმენტი M1 Abrams-ის კომპოზიტური ჯავშნის შესახებ

ტიტანის ჯავშანი - ანუ როგორ შევამციროთ Abrams-ის წონა

2nd Infantry Division’s Soldiers test potential Army command post prototypes at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Washington — A potential Army Command Post prototype underwent operational testing during the annual Bayonet Focus Exercise here recently.

Soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division’s 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team tried out the Command Post Integrated Infrastructure (CPI2) System gear while preparing for their upcoming National Training Center rotation.

2nd SBCT used the CPI2 vehicles as their sole Mission Command centers for the exercise duration, according to Ms. Marjorie Gill, Test Officer, with the Fort Hood, Texas-based Mission Command Test Directorate, U.S. Army Operational Test Command.

They also did a series of jump scenarios to demonstrate the CPI2 ability to be torn down, moved, and set up again quickly.

“Soldiers provided individual observations and opinions on how the system might be improved,” said Gill. “Any issues they had with the system and comments on how their organization might use the system as part of their CP were also invited.”

The CPI2 integrates capabilities on Mission Command Platforms (MCP) and Command Post Support Vehicles (CPSV), aligning with the Army’s Command Post (CP) efforts to enhance Brigade and higher echelons with Mission Command (MC) resources on any battlefield, she explained.

Currently, Army CPs at the higher commands are quite large and require a long period to set up and tear down, Shelby said.

“This all lends itself to limited survivability, maneuverability, and suitability with such a large footprint,” she said.

The CPI2 system’s goal is to use a combination of various vehicle platforms and shelter systems, which allow different levels of command posts the functionality needed while increasing survivability by being able to tear down and move locations fast, according to CPI2 Program Manager David Delgado.

“CPI2 integrates emerging technologies and capabilities with mobile mission command platforms and command post support vehicles for improved agility and survivability on the battlefield,” he said.

While the CPI2 program is in its infancy, the Product Office CPI2 is designing the CPI2 system in two increments.

The current test was part of Increment 0. Delgado said, “This increment involves multiple phases of prototyping, integration, and follow-on formal design decisions resulting in the fielding of a standardized CPI2 command post to 5 different Brigade Combat Team (BCT) configurations as part of Capability Set (CS) 23.”

Army Capability Sets are the Army’s plan to ensure the force keeps pace with advancements in network technology and the ability to deliver a modernized tactical network to Soldiers to achieve all-domain dominance over time, he explained.

“Army Evaluation Command (AEC) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland will use these data points to determine effectiveness, suitability, and survivability of CPI2,” said Capt. Douglas Jordan, AEC Effectiveness Evaluator.

Delgado said with the current assessment complete the Army will conduct further tests to balance technical maturity, integration of design, operational relevance, and affordability for a final design decision during early 2022.

“Production on the selected system will begin in FY22 for fielding in FY23,” he said.

The next phases of testing, according to DelGado, will involve units different from 2nd SBCT, so the Army gains a better perspective of how the current system design will support command post operations of the various units in today’s Army.

Via www.army.mil 

Here is the Point Blank Enterprises, Inc. OMFV concept

 United States Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal has awarded Point Blank Enterprises, Inc. Contract for Concept Design for the U.S. Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Program.

MIAMI LAKES, Fla., July 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal has awarded Point Blank Enterprises, Inc. (PBE) business unit, The Protective Group (TPG) a $60.6M Firm Fixed Price Contract for Phase 2, Concept Design for the U.S. Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) Program. The OMFV is planned to be an important weapon system platform in the Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs) and is part of the larger Next Generation Combat Vehicle Family of Combat Vehicles. The OMFV concept is envisioned to encompass future capabilities and basic operational requirements including: scalable survivability and protection, remotely controllable, preplanned growth to easily integrate future capabilities, embedded platform training, and decisive battlefield lethality. The Army plans for the first OMFV delivery in the fourth quarter of FY2028 for final testing with a final Full Rate Production (FRP) decision in the third quarter of FY2029.

Mark Edwards, Executive Vice President for Point Blank Enterprises said, “We are honored to be selected to participate in this essential Army combat vehicle program. We have assembled a diverse industry team that, like Point Blank, is fully committed to providing the most advanced and reliable products to our men and women in uniform. This award reaffirms our ability to assemble and manage diverse technical teams performing complex and innovative collaborative design engineering programs. Our OMFV design concept will not be constrained or limited by previous design engineering approaches or technologies that produced the last generation of combat vehicles. Innovative engineering solutions and continuously integrating improvements into our product designs are in our DNA, both of which are key to this phase of the OMFV program.”

For nearly 50 years, Point Blank Enterprises, Inc. has been a leading provider of threat protection products engineered to maximize user survivability.

Latest iteration of M1 Abrams main battle tank wraps up testing at Cold Regions Test Center

By Mark Schauer

What has outstanding offensive and defensive capability and represents the aweing tip of the spear in a major land war?

It’s the M1A2 System Enhancement Package (SEP) version 3 (v3) main battle tank, which wrapped up extensive coldweather testing at U.S. Army Cold Regions Test Center (CRTC) this winter to ensure it functions as it should wherever in the world it could be called on to serve.

Since testing at the Department of Defense’s lone extreme cold natural environment testing facility began in January 2020, the SEPv3 was driven more than 2,000 miles in rugged conditions across three seasons of sub-Arctic weather, fired hundreds of rounds for accuracy in extreme cold, and underwent testing of its auxiliary power unit, as well as numerous other sub-systems.

The list of improvements to test in the SEPv3 is lengthy: improved fire control electronics mean the SEPv3’s gun can shoot faster and more accurately; the armor has been improved; it can even utilize hubcaps and road arms manufactured with a 3D printer. Onboard diagnostics are much more robust, and technical manuals can be accessed from removable screens.

Though the platform was extensively tested at Yuma Test Center prior to being put through its paces in Alaska, the sub-zero temperatures brought forth glitches that would have been unimaginable in the desert.

“While we were doing the main weapon firing, we ran into a system issue where we weren’t able to fire,” said Elissa Palm, test officer. “After some pretty extensive troubleshooting, we were able to work with the product manager to identify a fix. We were able to prevent non-mission capable tanks from being fielded and implemented the fix across the fleet, then validated here with additional testing.”

Conducting evaluations in the extreme cold of an interior Alaskan winter usually brings unexpected challenges even for the rugged professionals of CRTC, and this test was no different. One night, overflow ice from the nearby Delta River flooded the gun position, then quickly refroze rock-solid.

“We had one of the portable latrines with ice that was hip-high: you weren’t going to move it until it got melted,” said Greg Netardus, Chief of CRTC’s Test Operation’s Division. “All of the equipment was frozen in: wheeled vehicles carrying the ammunition would not have been able to maneuver down there. It was not safe to put people down here.”

CRTC’s vast expanse includes other ranges that could be utilized, but not ones that had important infrastructure that the testers needed.

Since testing began in January 2020, the SEPv3 was driven more than 2,000 miles in three seasons of sub-Arctic weather, fired hundreds of rounds, and underwent testing of its auxiliary power unit, as well as numerous other sub-systems. (Photos by Sebastian Saarloos)

“We don’t have multiple ready to fire ranges with targets at known distances for the tank, so our Allied Trades shop did a really nice job in a very short time building a new mobile target based on a Conex and getting it set up for us,” said Palm.

The target that CRTC’s Allied Trades shop had to recreate on the fly consisted of tall poles upon which a target is pulled into place with a hand crank. The fixed target is emplaced in the ground, which required approvals for work and brush clearance prior to construction.

“We used a 40-foot ISO container as a base, so there was no dirt work or anchoring required,” said Sam Porter, CRTC’s Allied Trades Lead. “An ISO container meant we could build it offsite in the shop, where we had cranes and a man lift. We took the design of the target that was in place and modified it.”

The mobile target was re-used in the summer, and provides a flexible new capability for future tests.

“With this, they should be able to set it up and utilize wherever they are able to fire that gun,” said Porter.

To take advantage of the coldest temperatures possible, weapons firings were oftentimes conducted in the small hours of the morning. Possibly the most difficult testing challenge, however, occurred earlier in the calendar year: when the COVID crisis hit in March 2020, eight members of the testing team who had come to CRTC from Yuma were especially impacted by sudden restrictions in travel and new temporary duty (TDY) authorizations.

“A lot of times on these long-term tests, we like to trade people in and out so they can get back to their families,” said Palm. “This time it was really hard for us to get TDY approvals, so the crew was great in that most of them volunteered to stay until the end of the effort.”

The M1 and its variants have been tested at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground and its constituent test centers for more than 40 years, and likely will continue to be for as long as the system remains in the ground combat arsenal. This testing has played a vital role in keeping the M1 the most capable tank in the world.

Via "The Outpost" newspaper