Mar 2, 2012ASDNews Source : Rheinmetall AG

Without a doubt, India is the regional superpower of South Asia. Its armed forces form a mainstay of Indian security policy, and are now undergoing further modernization. Facing up to the challenges of an expanded mission spectrum, they rely increasingly on network-enabled operations: a “system of systems” consisting of sensors, C4I capabilities and effectors that enables an appropriate response to any and all threats.

From 29 March to 1 April 2012, Defexpo will take place in New Delhi. It is one of the largest defence technology trade fairs in Asia.

As one of the world’s leading suppliers of defence technology systems, Rheinmetall will be on hand with a representative selection of its diverse array of products for military and security forces. Building on a proud tradition, the Düsseldorf, Germanybased Rheinmetall Group covers many different capability categories.

Wiesel – mobile, air-portable, versatile

In order to operate in difficult terrain – in the mountains, for example, or in an urban environment – today’s armed forces need a flexible, quickly deployable, protected platform that can be readily integrated into network-enabled operations and which, above all, can be transported by air either on board or as underslung cargo. It was precisely with these capabilities in mind that Rheinmetall developed the Wiesel (‘weasel’) family of vehicles, which the company will be presenting at Defexpo 2012.

A lightweight tracked armoured vehicle, the Wiesel is standard equipment in German airmobile and mountain units. While the Wiesel 1 was originally employed as a weapons platform, the somewhat longer Wiesel 2 is now available in numerous other configurations.

Today the Wiesel family covers practically the full range of military ground capabilities, encompassing a reconnaissance vehicle, a command post version, an anti-tank-missile launcher platform, an automatic cannon platform, an engineering scout vehicle and a field ambulance version. Other variants include joint fire support team and joint fire support coordination team vehicles and a 120mm mortar carrier; Finally, a Wiesel-based mobile air defence system consisting of an air defence command post vehicle, an air defence reconnaissance and fire control vehicle, and an air defence weapon carrier round out the portfolio.

Much like other Rheinmetall vehicles – e.g. the Fuchs/Fox armoured transport vehicle – the Wiesel has accompanied the Bundeswehr right from the start in every deployed operation. Whether in the deserts of Somalia, the mountains of Kosovo or the rugged terrain of the Hindu Kush – the Wiesel has what it takes: high mobility coupled with protection. Transportable by air in a medium transport helicopter or as underslung cargo, the various members of the Wiesel family can be quickly deployed to new flash points. The Wiesel is thus the ideal platform for the Mountain Strike Corps, which is now in the process of formation.

Countering the threat from above: advanced air defence systems

Aerial attacks continue to pose a major threat to troop concentrations, military bases, civilian population centres and critical civilian infrastructure.

In the domain of VSHORAD technology, Rheinmetall’s Air Defence division is the global leader and the sole single-source supplier of battle management systems, fire control systems, automatic cannon, integrated missile launchers and Ahead ammunition. Its core competencies include the development and manufacture of complete air defence systems as well as simulators and training equipment.

Aware of India’s ambitious plans to modernize its air defence capabilities, Rheinmetall is presenting a wide array of sophisticated air defence solutions at Defexpo 2012.

The need for a 35mm gun-based air defence system able to meet current and coming requirements led to the recent development and manufacture of the Oerlikon Skyshield air defence system. Lightweight and compact, it is the world’s most advanced and effective system for low-level air defence. It basically consists of an Oerlikon Skyshield fire control unit and two high-performance Oerlikon Revolver Gun MK2 automatic cannons, specifically designed to fire Ahead airburst ammunition.

The heart of Rheinmetall’s proprietary Ahead technology is a high-precision timedelay projectile. At the optimum moment, it ejects a lethal cloud of heavy metal pellets, reliably neutralizing small and even very small projectiles, such as rockets, artillery and mortar (RAM) rounds, much the way a shotgun shell destroys a clay pigeon.

This weapon has been successfully deployed in NATO operations since 1996. It forms the main armament of the Oerlikon Skyshield MOOTW/C-RAM system, which the German Bundeswehr has procured for defending its forward operating bases.

Furthermore, Rheinmetall’s air defence technology is by no means limited to static defence roles. Mobile applications are equally feasible. For short-term missions, a truck-mounted version is available which can be deployed without unloading the system from the truck. This is particularly useful if the mission involves protecting a succession of different sites for short periods. Mounting a Skyshield air defence system on an all-terrain 8x8 vehicle – e.g. a military truck made by Rheinmetall’s partner Tata – ensures maximum operational flexibility.

Existing Skyguard and Skyshield systems can also be retrofitted with Ahead technology. Furthermore, thanks to the modularity of its systems, Rheinmetall is able to bring additional components into play, readily creating multi-mission capabilities tailored to the needs of individual clients.

C4ISTAR – Enhancing your vision, your impact and your information

As one of the world’s leading suppliers of defence technology systems, Rheinmetall is an increasingly important partner in the field of C4ISTAR systems. The Group’s product spectrum ranges from single sensors and components to sensor platforms and fire control units, and from individual soldier systems to complete battle management systems.

These sensor and fire control systems represent top-notch technology and are in service with a number of armed forces worldwide.

Rheinmetall has longstanding experience in equipping combat platforms with sensor and fire control systems. To enable customers to cope with today’s requirements, Rheinmetall has developed digital turret and vehicle systems that provide modular and flexible solutions for a variety of combat and turret systems, as well as to standard vehicles e.g. for law enforcement or security surveillance missions. Due to the technology applied and the system architecture these solutions can be used either for adapted upgrades or fully integrated solutions for systems under development.

As part of these digital turret and vehicle systems the Situational Awareness System (SAS), for example, on show at Defexpo 2012, is a complete panoramic close-up sight for local situational awareness. It can be integrated easily into turret or chassis and offers a 360° - both day and night sight - near-field view of the vehicle’s immediate surroundings, with automatic alarm and target-tracking functions. SAS provides outstanding “look through armour”, increases the safety and reduces the workload of the crew thanks to a high degree of automation.

The situational awareness of a combat vehicle can be complemented by the vehiclemounted version of Rheinmetall’s Acoustic Sniper Locating System (ASLS). ASLS comprises a powerful microphone antenna array with integrated analysis electronics as well as a control and display functions inside the vehicle.

When a round is fired ASLS instantly computes azimuth, elevation and distance of the sniper relative to the vehicle. Simultaneously ASLS alerts the crew acoustically and visually, displaying the results of the location  analysis on the vehicles manmachine-interface in real-time. In combination with the fire control system of the vehicle’s the crew can react within no time and start to engage the enemy position, before the next round is fired. Additionally, the geo-referenced position of the sniper –determined with a GPS system – can be fed into a C4I system, e.g. for information of other forces in the area, target assignment or subsequent engagement. ASLS is also available in a stationary version and a man-portable version, which can be connected to modern soldier systems.

In the field of soldier systems, Rheinmetall was awarded a contract by the German Army in 2011 to deliver the cutting edge “German Future Soldier - Expanded System”. The IdZ2 (formerly IdZ-ES) enhances the battle performance, endurance and protection of modern war-fighters on the ground and embeds them directly into the network-centric operations loop. Visitors will see the IdZ2 during Defexpo.

Rheinmetall Defence: totally oriented to today’s military

With its Combat Systems, Electronic Solutions, and Wheeled Vehicles divisions, Rheinmetall Defence supplies the world’s armed forces with systems and equipment systematically designed to assure successful outcomes in complex modern military operations.

Rheinmetall also maintains an extensive network of international partnerships for serving new markets as well as enabling technology transfer that will substantially benefit both the industry and the military of customer nations. This makes Rheinmetall the ideal industrial partner in the quest to supply India’s armed forces with advanced capabilities.

source CAIR

February 26, 2012 By Anantha Krishnan M - Express News Service

Bangalore: In tune with Indian Army's massive modernisation plans, defence scientists have gone one step ahead to give birth to a tech-solider as a system. Wrapped in sensors and sporting a combat suit stitched from NBC-clothing (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical), this solider from a la Star War zone is currently undergoing 'skill tests' at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) lab in Bangalore.

Sources tell Express that the project-X (not yet named), took birth 18 months back at CAIR. “We are sure that in future there will be a requirement from the Army for similar systems when the modernisation plans embrace the foot solider. By then, we will be ready with a system that is tested in-house, proven and fit for the field trials,” sources said.

For the project, the scientists have designed and developed indigenous wearable computers that can be leveraged to process, display, store and disseminate information received from the sensors. Necessary command and control (C2) applications that would be needed for collaboration between members of the combat team are also ready. These applications provide capabilities of locating self on a map using location based services, red-force and blue-force tracking, streaming video from head mounted and robot mounted cameras. Additionally, the CAIR has also identified power packs with suitable form factors.

“In modern combat, there are increasing demands being placed on the human soldiers along various dimensions. For example, in terms of perception, they are expected to be able to operate at night, in dense foliage and in densely built-up urban areas, where human vision may prove to be inadequate and direction of attack may not be perceptible,” say sources.

In terms of coordination, groups of individuals need to carry out complex coordinated tasks, even in the face of uncertainties and hostilities. In terms of logistics, the soldiers are expected to survive and sustain operations for prolonged durations. These demands can be met only by augmenting human capabilities with technology insertions.

For increasing perceptual capabilities, a number of imaging sensors like night vision sensors, infrared sensors, thermal and through-the-wall imaging sensors are provided to the gen-next solider. “Acoustic and vibration sensors can be harnessed to address sensing of direction of fire. This enables the soldier to become a cybernetic entity with extra-human sensing capabilities. The soldier as a system with one such sensors will be be able to receive the incoming data, store, process, display and disseminate it,” say sources.

Wearable computers along with ad-hoc networking capability are thus a critical necessity. The peer-to-peer networking capability allows the individuals to share sensory inputs, information about own and sensed enemy elements, tasks and plans. “This allows collaboration and coordination between individuals, effectively creating a cybernetic super-organism out of the team,” sources said.

The 'Soldier.ver2' is armed with a modular personal weapon which has thermal sight and greater aiming sight, when compared to some modern spit-fire units. With laser-pointers, nano-target correction modes and radio controls, the CAIR scientists are marching ahead in confidence rubbing shoulders with the mean man-machine. For they know, tomorrow is different.

MOSCOW, February 17 (RIA Novosti)

Russia will complete the first prototype of the new Armata main battle tank by 2013 and begin production and deliveries to the Russian Armed Forces in 2015, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and the CEO of tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod Oleg Sienko told Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the Lenta.ru news portal reported.

Uralvagonzavod and the military are testing the main components of the new tank. No other details were reported. Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry has signed a contract worth six billion rubles with Uralvagonzavod to upgrade 170 T-72 main battle tanks, to be carried out at a specially prepared facility in Omsk, Lenta.ru said.

“The Russian armed forces will have a new main tank with fundamentally new characteristics, fully automated loading and separate crew compartment by 2015,” Lieutenant-General Yuri Kovalenko, former First Deputy Head of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Automotive Armor Directorate said last April.

Kovalenko said work from other projects, including Object 195 and Black Eagle, will be incorporated in Armata's design.

Le NH90 Caïman a été présenté hier au général Bertrand Ract Madoux, chef d’état-major de l’Armée de Terre.

Photo DL/Fabrice HÉBRARD

07/02/2012 par Thomas ZIMMERMANN - ledauphine.com

Le 22 décembre dernier, le NH90 Caïman pointait le bout de ses pales à Chabeuil, au Groupement aéromobilité de la section technique de l’Armée de Terre (Gamstat).

Depuis sa livraison en terres drômoises, l’hélicoptère est actuellement en cours d’évaluation technico-opérationnelle.

Hier, le nouvel appareil de manœuvre de l’Armée de Terre a été présenté au général d’Armée Bertrand Ract Madoux, chef d’état-major de l’Armée de Terre (Cemat).

Presque un retour aux sources pour Bertrand Ract Madoux, qui a été chef de corps du 1 er régiment de Spahis de Valence de 1995 à 1997 ! Il a d’ailleurs dit sa « joie de retrouver la Drôme où j’ai sévi il y a quelques années. J’en garde un souvenir éblouissant. »

Avant de : « Saluer l’extraordinaire carrière de l’hélicoptère Puma qui va prendre une retraite bien méritée », et de mettre en avant : « Les capacités accrues dans différents domaines du Caïman », le patron de l’Armée de Terre a réceptionné le premier NH90 de l’Armée de Terre.

Manœuvrabilité, agilité, résistance….

Après “l’évaluation drômoise”, le Caïman sera employé au sein de la composante aéromobilité et mis en œuvre par l’Aviation légère de l’Armée de Terre (ALAT). L’appareil reprendra alors les missions dévolues aux hélicoptères de manœuvre type Puma et Cougar.

Il assurera ainsi l’héliportage tactique de combattants ou de matériel et de ravitaillement ; les évacuations sanitaires ; le soutien de civils lors d’opérations d’urgence et de crise. Le NH90 sera également engagé lors d’opérations de recherche, de sauvetage et de parachutage.

La technologie déployée sur cet hélicoptère de nouvelle génération va permettre une grande liberté d’action au commandement et une permanence “tout temps” sur le terrain. Sa manœuvrabilité, son agilité, sa résistance, sa capacité de pénétration et son autoprotection vont faire de cet hélicoptère un appareil incontournable de l’aérocombat.

Précisons enfin que l’objectif de l’état-major de l’Armée de Terre est d’être en mesure de pouvoir projeter un premier module Caïman en début d’année 2014. À ce jour, plus de 500 NH90 ont été commandés dans 14 pays. Une centaine a déjà été vendue.

22.12.2011 par P. CHAPLEAU Lignes de Défense

L'armée de terre perçoit officiellement, aujourd'hui, son premier Caïman. NH Industries va livrer le premier des hélicoptères 133 commandés ou dont la commande est prévue. L'appareil rejoindra Valence et le GAMSTAT. Le Groupement Aéromobilité de la Section Technique de l'Armée de Terre expérimente les nouveaux matériels et tous les types d'aéronefs.

Un second Caïman sera livré dans les prochaines semaines et il sera affecté à l'école de l'ALAT au Luc. Encore plus tard, la première unité à mettre en service l'appareil sera le 1er régiment d'hélicoptères de combat (1er RHC) de Phalsbourg.

photo US DoD

Dec 19, 2011 ASDNews Source : Sentient Vision Systems

Automated Target Detection Solution on board the AAI Shadow 200 UAV Systems

Melbourne, Australia - 19 December 2011 - Under the Defence Capability Plan Joint Project (JP) 129 Phase 2, the Australian Army is acquiring two complete Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) systems.

Sentient announced today that its automated target detection solution - Kestrel Land MTI - will actively support the TUAV systems in their surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition missions.

Operated by the 20 Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Regiment, Kestrel Land MTI will assist Australian forces in analysing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) imagery from the AAI Shadow 200. The software processes the imagery in real time, automatically detecting small, moving targets such as dismounts and vehicles within the TUAV sensors' field of view.

The Army TUAV Capability Implementation Team, which is bringing the Shadow 200 into service, sees in Kestrel Land MTI a significant ISR capability enhancement.

The Shadow will be the Army's "eyes in the sky". Equipped with cutting-edge payload technology including advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors the Shadow will transmit real-time, full motion video (FMV) to the Ground Control Station (GCS) and remote video viewing devices. Kestrel will analyse the video footage and provide a real-time cue to operators on moving objects within the field of view.

This capability will enable the Army to effectively detect and respond to enemy targets, and thus protect Australian forces.

The Army has purchased three Kestrel Land MTI licenses for 20 STA Regiment, which will be deployed with the Shadow in Afghanistan early next year.

Sentient has been working closely with 20 STA Regiment and AAI over the past years and has successfully demonstrated Kestrel's automated target detection capability with the Shadow.

"Sentient's Kestrel Land MTI software has been in operation with Australian forces in Afghanistan now for over two years. It is that in-theatre experience in a variety of operational conditions that proved critical for the Australian Army." said Simon Olsen, Sales and Marketing Manager at Sentient.

Kestrel is currently supporting the Australian Army on board the ScanEagle which will remain in service in Afghanistan during the transition-in of the Shadow.

8 Sep 2011 By PIERRE TRAN DefenseNews

PARIS - The Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) has ordered a further 200 small armored vehicles from Panhard, boosting a previous contract for 933 units, the procurement office said in Sept. 8 statement.

"The Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) ordered from Panhard General Defense Sept. 6, 2011, 200 PVP for the Army," the procurement office said.

The PVP is the Petit Véhicule Protegé, an armored four-wheel-drive vehicle that can be fitted with a 7.62mm machine gun on a remote-operated turret.

The new batch of vehicles will be delivered in 2012. The last of the 933 units ordered in 2004 will be produced in December of this year, the DGA said.

No financial details were available.

The PVP has been deployed in Lebanon and Afghanistan.

Production of the PVP at two Panhard sites has so far generated 1 million hours of work, the DGA said.

A huge Mastiff armoured vehicle overshadows a young Afghan boy, on his way to fetch water from the village well, in the Shahzad region of Helmand province - [Picture: Staff Sergeant Mark Jones, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

23 Aug 11 UK MoD - A Military Operations news article

A group of soldiers whose task it is to clear routes in Helmand province of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) recently emerged from their Mastiff armoured vehicle unscathed when a device exploded underneath it.

31 Armoured Engineer Squadron (31 AES), 32 Engineer Regiment, normally based in Hohne in northern Germany, are currently part of the Task Force Helmand Engineer Group.

They are the leading route proving and clearance squadron and their job is to travel across the UK's area of operations in their Mastiff armoured vehicles to make sure routes are safe from IEDs and bombs.

On one of their many patrols recently, the team were clearing one of the main routes through Helmand when their vehicle struck an IED. Sapper Gareth Addy said immediately they knew what it was:

"There was a massive explosion that seriously rocked the vehicle. It was the biggest I've ever experienced. Immediately afterwards it went very quiet and then you start to realise what's happened and worry if everyone is OK."

The team quickly began their drills to assess the situation and check whether there were any injuries. Despite the size of the bomb and the force of the blast, none of the people in the Mastiff were hurt.

The vehicle sustained some damage, but, thanks to the armour and design of the Mastiff, it was only minor, and after a further assessment by the team of the route, the patrol continued with their journey.

Sapper Gareth Addy, 31 Armoured Engineer Squadron, ready to go out on patrol in his team's Mastiff vehicle - [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Sapper Addy, aged 31 from Bridlington, who is a Mastiff driver and gunner, said it was only when they returned to Camp Bastion some hours later they realised how lucky they had been:

"The vehicles we use really do work and everyone now knows that, should the worst happen, they will do a good job of protecting us. In a strange way, that incident increased everyone's morale and confidence for the remainder of the tour."

The Mastiff is a heavily armoured, 6x6 wheel-drive protected patrol vehicle which carries eight people, plus two crew. It is used in Afghanistan to transport troops and protect large convoys as well as directly engaging the Taliban with its advanced weapons systems.

Although heavily armoured, these wheeled patrol vehicles have a less intimidating profile than tracked vehicles and give commanders on the ground in Afghanistan more options to deal with the threats they are facing.

Part of the Mastiff's resilience towards mine explosions comes from the fact that its hull is V-shaped, as opposed to flat, which pushes the force of any explosion outwards.

During Operation HERRICK 14, the engineers from 31 AES have played an important part in enabling both troops and locals to move more freely from one area to another and with greater confidence in their security.

31 AES is part of the Task Force Helmand Engineer Group, made up of Royal Engineers from both 32 Engineer Regiment based in Hohne, Germany, and 24 Commando Engineer Regiment based in Barnstaple, North Devon.

June 02, 2011 by Shiv Aroor  LIVEFIST – Source DRDO

March 10, 2011 SHEPARD GROUP

Commercial vehicle climate control specialist, Webasto, has been chosen by mechanical engineering firm JCB to supply engine and interior heating systems on machines forming part of JCB's largest order from the British Army for more than 25 years. ALC, a joint venture between Amey plc and Babcock International Group plc, which is the service provider to the Ministry of Defence for plant and mechanical handling equipment for the British Army, awarded the contract for 138 4CX backhoe loaders and 98 436eHT wheel loading shovels, each complete with modifications such as Nato green livery, personal weapons storage inside the cab, convoy lighting and increased wading capacity.