19.03.2015 .i24news.tv

Skystar 180 est un système de surveillance unique au monde qui fonctionne depuis la terre

L'armée américaine vient d'approuver l'achat d'aérostats après les avoir listé comme produit de défense - un processus long et difficile aux USA - a annoncé la société israélienne fabricante RT, cette semaine.

Le ballon de surveillance Skystar 180 a passé avec succès les tests de l'armée US (connus sous le nom d'AEWE), qui sont effectués une fois par an, pour agréé de nouvelles technologies de défense.

Ce système a été fréquemment utilisé par l'armée israélienne sur Gaza pendant l'opération Bordure protectrice l'été dernier. Il comprend notamment une charge de multi-capteurs miniatures fabriqués pas une autre société israélienne, CONTROP.

Le programme AEWE, qui se tient annuellement à Fort Benning, en Géorgie, est utilisé par l'armée américaine pour encourager les sociétés du monde entier à soumettre des dispositifs et des produits prêts à la production pour approbation.

"La sélection et l'approbation de SkyStar 180 par l'armée américaine est une preuve de qualité du système et de ses capacités technologiques de haut niveau", a déclaré le PDG de RT, Rami Shmueli.

"Nos systèmes d'aérostats - uniques au monde - sont les seuls à pouvoir fournir une surveillance aérienne à longue distance qui peut fonctionner jusqu'à 1.000 mètres d'altitude".

SkyStar 180 est un petit ballon mobile conçu pour la "surveillance tactique" pouvant aller de la sécurité publique, policière ou militaire. Il peut transporter des charges électro-optiques allant jusqu'à 20 KG et un relais de communication tout en restant attaché à terre.

L'aérostat offre, par ailleurs, une couverture de surveillance pouvant aller jusqu’à 72 heures et n'a besoin que de deux personnes pour entretenir et exploiter le système.

L'année dernière, RT a commencé à fournir en aérostats la police israélienne, qui les utilise pour aider à contrer les émeutes palestiniennes à Jérusalem-est.

Mar 18, 2015 defense-aerospace.com

 (Source: US Department of Defense; issued Mar 16, 2015)

Pentagon Contract Announcement

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a $132,660,931 modification (P00022) to contract W58RGZ-13-C-0109 to acquire 19 Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft, 19 SATCOM Air Data Terminals, one lot of initial spares, and one lot of ground support equipment .

Fiscal 2014 other procurement (Army) funds in the amount of $132,660,931 were obligated at the time of the award. Estimated completion date is May 31, 2017. Work will be performed in Poway, California.

Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

March 12, 2015: Strategy Page

The U.S. Army is sending the latest version of its electronic troop location and communications system, JBC-P (Joint-Battle Command Platform) to troops to use during training and special exercises to specifically test the new features of JBC-P. This new version was eagerly awaited by troops who had used earlier models. The most welcome improvement was much faster (almost instantaneous) updates of information. The satellite signals are now encrypted and work no matter the weather, temperature of distance. While every vehicle is equipped with one of these devices, Individual troops on the ground now have a smartphone type device that allows them to chat and quickly shows on the display the location of nearby JBC-P users and has a zoom capability similar to Google Earth. Troops can quickly update enemy locations, bombs or otherwise dangerous areas. These smartphones are typically worn on the forearm for easy use in combat. The purpose of all these improvements is to enable troops arriving (by land or air) in an area where contact with the enemy is expected to immediately go into action knowing where everyone (on foot or in vehicles) is and where they are moving to.

These location devices and their subsequent improvements have changed the way American troops fight. The location devices allow brigade, battalion and company commanders to see, in real time where there troops are and what they are doing. The latest JBC-P version gives squad and platoon level operations instant awareness of their situation whenever there is a clash with the enemy or a patrol or raiding party looking for the enemy. This makes a big difference in the effectiveness of the operation, reduces friendly casualties as well as accidental injuries to nearby civilians.

There have been regular upgrades in these devices since first introduced as Blue Force Tracker (BFT) in 2003. In early 2013 the previous upgraded device, JCR (Joint Capabilities Release), was sent to Afghanistan for use in combat. JCR is part of an effort to link everyone in a combat brigade electronically while in the combat zone and, most importantly, while in combat. The new JCR version equipped individual troops as well as vehicles. Commanders could use a handheld device or laptop to view BFT locations. The commanders app could also be used to take data from troops about enemy locations or where minefields or other obstacles are and post it, so that everyone else with JCR equipment can see and share it. JCR also included better encryption and improved reliability.

This all is part of an effort that began in 2003 to perfect the “battlefield Internet”. All of this goes back to the American 1990s era Force XXI Battle Command Brigade-and-Below (FBCB2) project. Back in 2003, parts of FBCB2 (mainly BFT) were quickly issued to the troops for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. BFT is a GPS/satellite telephone device that was suddenly in thousands of combat vehicles. Anyone with a laptop, satellite data receiver, the right software, and access codes could then see where everyone was (via a map showing blips for each BFT user). The spectacular success of BFT got the attention of generals everywhere.

Over the next five years the U.S. Army built new versions of the BFT. Because this hasty (all the stuff was still in development) experiment was a huge success, the United States proceeded to add more of this capability and then produced and distributed 50,000 additional BFT devices by 2008.

There were some problems, however. The biggest hassle was the delay (often up to five minutes) between getting updated data from the satellite. Another big problem was that stationary icons, placed on BFT user screens to indicate enemy troops or dangers (like minefields or roadside bombs), didn't get updated accurately or in a timely fashion. Once the troops begin to encounter a lot of roadside bombs that don't exist (although BFT showed them), they began to lose faith in the system. Fixing this wasn’t easy, and several different solutions were tried before a stable solution was found.

The army eventually fixed the major complaints and in 2011 BFT2 was sent to the troops. This version has a ten second (or less) delay between satellite updates. New software cleared away inaccurate icons indicating where the enemy is or may be. The BTF2 network allowed users to send more information to each other, including attachments. This enabled BFT2 to be used in automated command and control systems that work more effectively because they can pass more information, more quickly, between the headquarters and the troops.

Currently, the army and marines have over 130,000 BFT tracking devices (plus thousands of laptops, special vehicle mounted computers and tablet type computers commanders on foot, all equipped to display BFT data for commanders). Since 2011 the army has found that that the BFT2 upgrade was over 40 times faster than the original BFT and transmitted data 30 times faster. This allowed BFT2 users to send each other pictures and documents. But while BFT2 took a long time to perfect, the army upgraded other aspects of FBCB2 as well and this led to JCR.

BFT and the battlefield Internet was not the first time radical technology sneaked up on the military. Portable radio, first widely used during World War II, radically changed how commanders operated, especially at the tactical level. But the current revolution is different in that the signals can easily be encrypted and carry visual, as well as speech, data. Thus commanders at all levels can eliminate face-to-face meetings, and just video conference, or talk freely about plans. But even Instant Messaging has become a powerful tool because many times a few short text messages are all that is needed to solve problems.

Finally, the Internet provided, for the military, many new ideas on how to efficiently handle information. The Internet has been militarized much faster than anyone expected. That has led to the military adopting new database and visualization tools as well. In a single decade the way commanders run their units and battles has changed more than it has in the past half century.

Mar 11, 2015 ASDNews Source : US Army

In preparation of Network Integration Evaluation, or NIE, 15.2, Fort Bliss, Texas, transforms into the epicenter for one-of-a-kind vehicles equipped with the most technologically advanced Army network systems.

Engineers, technicians and Soldiers are beginning to immerse the Integration Motor Pool, or IMP, to integrate systems onto the vehicles that will be used during NIE. During spring, NIE 15.2 will be executed and Soldiers, from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, will begin testing the systems.

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Mar 9, 2015 ASDNews Source : Kelly Ann DeWitt, AMRDEC Public Affairs - US Army

Three Army technologies were in play at the recently conducted Army Expeditionary Warfighter Experiment, or AEWE, on Fort Benning, Georgia.

"AEWE is (Training and Doctrine Command, or TRADOC) live, prototype experimentation campaign," said Harry J. Lubin, chief of the experimentation branch, Maneuver Center of Excellence. This year, 66 industry and military technologies participated in AEWE.

U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center, also known as AMRDEC, technologies participating in spiral "J" included the TowerHawk weapons system, Containerized Weapons System, and the Maneuver Aviation Fires Integrated Application, also known as MAFIA.

TowerHawk is a transportable, modular remote weapon system. Soldiers can employ it as an integrated capability of the Combat Outpost's Force Protection network or as a stand-alone capability, said Stephen W. Stillwell, Jr. project engineer, Engagement and Effects Tech Area, Mission Systems Focus Area, Aviation Applied Technology Directorate, Aviation Development Directorate. In either configuration, TowerHawk provides surveillance, enhanced perimeter defense, and an extended range of precise lethal response.

TowerHawk combines a modular remote weapon system consisting of a highly accurate .338 Lapua Magnum semi-auto rifle equipped with a 10 or 35 round magazine, day and night optics, and a laser rangefinder/pointer, an electro-optical/infrared sensor ball.

The operator controls the system remotely using secure fiber optic communications between the weapon and the ground station enabling the system to engage man-sized targets at ranges more than 1,200 meters with a reduction in civilian casualties or collateral damage, Stillwell said.

The Containerized Weapons System, or CWS, was designed to provide enhanced lethality and bolster force protection. This "weapons system in a box" concept combines a rapidly deployable Container Express, also known as CONEX, with the Commonly Remotely Operated Weapons Station M153 system, with various levels of firepower ranging from .50 caliber to the Javelin.

CWS works to augment or replace existing guard towers, said John Dillon, a mechanical engineer with the Weapons Development Directive, Platform Integration group. CWS provides a scalable, standalone force protection or threat suppression asset. This technology has been completed and qualified through testing and demonstration and is deployed in numerous locations under the management of Program Executive Office Missiles and Space, Program Management-Close Combat Weapons Systems.

MAFIA is a collaborative software application that allows field artillery and infantry small unit leaders to create precise, category one coordinates for accurate, timely, and predictable fires support, said Michael V. Murray, government lead and training coordinator, Battlefield Operations Software Suite team, Software Engineering Directorate.

The application provides full motion video from various Small Unmanned Aerial Systems, also known as SUAS, directly to the squad level, and supports cursor on target commands. The application is fully government owned, and is hardware agnostic, allowing for future hardware migration.

Lubin said the AEWE used the technologies in three cases: a live-fire exercise and two force-on-force events with Soldiers and Marines integrating the participating technologies into each mission.

The Army Test and Evaluation Center will analyze the results of the experiments and publish a final report, followed by an "experiment to action plan" to help TRADOC discover and develop "technologies of merit," Lubin said. That plan enables TRADOC organizations and the Army's Science and Technology community to place evolving technologies into the hands of deploying Soldiers earlier and more often, he said.

The three technologies performed well, said Lubin, who was especially complimentary of MAFIA, in its third year of experimentation at AEWE.

"We have over the last few years established a really great working relationship with AMRDEC. They have been linked to everything we do," said Lubin, crediting the MAFIA team's constant contact with the Maneuver Center of Excellence. "That constant contact enables this integrated development over time. We see that partnership continuing to grow over time."

Initial feedback from the participants of AEWE was also positive on the CWS and TowerHawks systems, he said. Both provide the sought-after expeditionary aspect for further development. "With their expeditionary emphasis, we can certainly see some utility for both," Lubin said.

"This was a great opportunity to hear about strategic challenges facing the Army's continuing transition as an agile, networked, expeditionary fighting force," said AMRDEC Director James Lackey, who attended a visitor's day March 3. "The overall focus at AEWE on building a networked infrastructure was a key takeaway for me. This reinforces the importance of how all of our AMRDEC systems interface along networks. It's all about linking various levels of command and control to sensors and shooters and pushing warfighting control to the lowest practical unit."

"AMRDEC's products of MAFIA, Containerized Weapon System and TowerHawk demonstrate networked sensor to shooter warfghting value for the expeditionary fight," Lackey said. "In my talks with the Soldiers at AEWE, they provided overall complimentary opinions of these specific capabilities. Through forums like AEWE, AMRDEC retains a tuned ear to the valuable, operational voice of the user. Their inputs drive our overall purpose and direction."

Mar 9, 2015 ASDNews Source : US Army

The Army cyber mission force, or CMF, has grown "exponentially since September 2013 with 25 of 41 (planned) teams at initial operating capability," Lt. Gen. Edward C. Cardon told lawmakers, March 4. "We are on track to have all 41 CMF teams established and operating by the end of fiscal year 2016. However, they will not all be fully operationally capable until FY17," he said. CMF teams are allocated to combatant commanders, where they provide defensive and offensive cyber capabilities.

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Mar 3, 2015 ASDNews Source : General Dynamics

WIN-T Increment 2 helps commanders break away from fixed command posts, allowing them to stay close to their soldiers even in remote and isolated environments.

The U.S. Army is fielding the General Dynamics-built Warfighter Information Network – Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2 to the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division (2/2 SBCT) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. The WIN-T Increment 2 secure communications network backbone is also fielded to 12 infantry Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) and four division headquarters.

"Fielding WIN-T Increment 2 to Army Stryker Brigades closes the communications gap between fast moving SBCTs and 'boots on the ground' soldiers," said Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics Mission Systems. "The highly mobile and operationally simplified Increment 2 allows soldiers to quickly and simultaneously address multiple missions in any environment, across the mission field or between continents."

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February 19, 2015: Strategy Page

The U.S. Army received its first AH-64Es in 2011. Then in 2014 this most recent version of the Apache completed a seven month tour in Afghanistan. There the 24 AH-64Es with an aviation battalion performed better than expected. Each of these AH-64Es flew an average 66 hours a month while there. The readiness rate of the AH-64Es was 87 percent, compared to the army standard of 80 percent. One of the surprising new capabilities of the AH-64E was its ability to fly about 29 percent (at 288 kilometers an hour) faster that the D model. That translated into moving about one kilometer per minute faster and this cost the experienced Taliban commanders a lot of casualties. That was because these guys knew from experience how long it took a D model to arrive after the Taliban ambushed NATO forces. Suddenly the E model was showing up earlier and catching the Taliban exposed to attack rather than safely away or under cover. The AH-64E also had new electronics that enabled it to work more closely with UAVs, as in getting the video feeds directly and basically using the UAVs more effectively as scouts to spot targets. The Taliban weren’t expecting that either. NATO troops supported by the AH-64Es also noted the new capabilities and quickly began exploiting them when they knew they were getting air support from Es instead of Ds. These speed and commo capabilities were built into the AH-64E based on past experience and testing and training exercises gave pilots and ground commanders hints that these changes could be very useful. Battlefield experience confirmed that and led to new tactics for the E crews and the troops supported that no one had foreseen.

Testing of these new capabilities began in 2011 when the army began receiving the first of 51 "low rate initial production” AH-64s. This came three years after the first flight. These aircraft were then called the AH-64D Block III Apache helicopter gunship. It was decided in 2012 that the Block III improvements were so numerous and dramatic that it made more sense to go to a simpler and more descriptive AH-64E designation. The D model also had a name; Longbow (as it was optimized to kill tanks). The E model was called Guardian (because it was optimized for supporting infantry).

This goes back to the AH-64A, which was the initial model and entered service in 1986. The last AH-64A was taken out of service in 2012 for upgrade to the AH-64D standard. The AH-64B was an upgrade proposed for the early 1990s, but was cancelled, as was a similar “C” model upgrade. Some of these cancelled improvements were in great demand. Thus the “B” and “C” model upgrades were incorporated in the AH-64D Block I (1997). The AH-64D Longbow (because of the radar mast, making it possible to see ground targets and flying obstacles in all weather) models began appearing in 2002.

By the end of the decade 634 army AH-64Ds will be upgraded to the new AH-64E standard. The first AH-64Es entered service in 2012 and were heavily used to reveal any design or manufacturing flaws. These were fixed before mass production and conversion began in late 2013.

AH-64Es have more powerful and fuel efficient engines, as well as much improved electronics. AH-64Es also have Internet- like capabilities enabling these gunships to quickly exchange images, video, and so on with other aircraft and ground troops. Each AH-64E can also control several UAVs and launch missiles at targets spotted by these UAVs. The AH-64E radar has longer range and onboard computers are much more powerful than earlier ones. The electronics are easier to upgrade and maintain. The combination of improved fire control and Internet capabilities greatly increases the combat effectiveness of the AH-64.

The 10 ton AH-64E carries a pilot and a weapons officer, as well as up to 16 Hellfire missiles (plus the 30mm automatic cannon). Sorties average three hours. The AH-64 can operate at night and has a top speed of about 300 kilometers an hour.

In addition to the U.S. Army, the AH-64E the UAE (United Arab Emirates) bought 60. Neighboring Saudi Arabia ordered 70, as well as upgrades for its existing twelve AH-64s to the “E” standard. Many more of the existing 1,100 AH-64s (American and foreign) may be upgraded as well.

Feb. 27, 2015 By Richard Tomkins (UPI)

The Army will use a special process to demilitarize obsolete 155mm artillery shells that will allow more casings to be reused.

MCALESTER, Okla., - A U.S. Army ammunition plant has developed a new process to make more recovered 155mm shell bodies viable for reuse as artillery training rounds.

The new process changes how the shell's base plate is removed, leaving its threads intact.

The obsolete D563, recovered from a demilitarization process, is then repacked with Insensitive Munition Explosive-101, or IMX-101, instead of TNT and Composition B. The result is the round is less likely to detonate if in a fire, hit by another munition or mishandled during transport, said the McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, which manufactures M1122 high explosive munitions.

"The new 'soft touch' of the manual download line will allow us to use almost all of the downloaded projectiles for M1122 and other programs that reuse those bodies," said Scott Sullivan, M1122 project manager at MCAAP.

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19.02.2015 General Dynamics - army-guide.com

The U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems $49.7 million under an existing contract to upgrade M1A1 Abrams tanks to the M1A2 Systems Enhancement Package (SEP) V2 configuration. General Dynamics Land Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics.

The most technologically advanced digital tank, the M1A2 SEP V2 includes improved color displays, day and night thermal sights, commander remote operated weapon station (CROWS II), a Thermal Management System (TMS) and a tank-infantry phone. The M1A2 SEP V2 maximizes the fighting ability of the tank on today's battlefield while preparing the platform for tomorrow's challenges.

The original multi-year contract was awarded in February 2008, which authorized the upgrade of 435 M1A1 tanks that have been in the Army's inventory for more than 20 years. General Dynamics is continuing the conversion of the tanks in the Army's active component to the M1A2 SEP V2 configuration.

Production will be performed by existing employees in Anniston, Ala.; Tallahassee, Fla.; Sterling Heights, Mich.; Lima, Ohio; and Scranton, Pa., and is expected to be completed by January 2017.

24 février 2015 45eNord.ca (AFP)

Deux blindés de combat Stryker américains participant à des manœuvres de l’Otan en Estonie ont marqué les esprits par leur présence dans un défilé militaire mardi à Narva, tout près de la frontière russe, alors que les relations entre Moscou et les Occidentaux se sont dégradées avec la crise ukrainienne.

Une centaine de soldats de pays de l’Otan, Britanniques, néerlandais, espagnols, lettons et lituaniens ont également défilé dans la neige aux côtés d’environ 1300 militaires estoniens, pour marquer l’anniversaire de l’indépendance de l’Estonie, une ancienne république soviétique désormais membre de l’Union européenne et de l’Otan.

La parade annuelle a pris un relief particulier cette année dans le contexte des craintes suscitées dans les pays baltes par l’engagement dont est accusée la Russie dans le conflit ukrainien.

L’Otan a réagi à ces craintes en envoyant des avions de chasse dans les pays baltes et en y organisant plusieurs exercices militaires.

L’Histoire nous a appris que si nous ne nous défendons pas nous-mêmes, personne d’autre ne le fera, a toutefois déclaré lors du défilé le général Riho Teras, chef d’état-major estonien.

Les habitants venus voir le défilé, dont beaucoup ne parlaient pas estonien, paraissaient cependant faire peu de cas des craintes d’ingérence russe.

La population russophone est fortement majoritaire dans la région de Narva.

La Lituanie voisine a de son côté l’intention de rétablir temporairement le service militaire obligatoire en raison de l’actuel environnement géopolitique, a annoncé mardi la présidente de cet autre État balte, Dalia Grybauskaite.

February 11, 2015: Strategy page

In 2014 there were further advances in sniper detection systems. The latest one (Serenity) incorporates acoustic and heat sensors as well as cameras (actually vidcams that are used in real time) and a RWS (Remote Weapons System) turret that is linked to the sensors and uses special software to quickly locate the source of the fire (rifle, machine-gun, mortar, rocket) and point the vidcams and RWS weapon (usually a 12.7mm machine-gun) at the source of the fire, enabling the human operator to immediately open fire before the enemy (especially a sniper) gets away. The software also captures video and other data for every instance that the system is alerted by what seems to be an attack. This all such events, whether they led to return fire or not, can be studied and analyzed. Serenity was developed by a U.S. Army research organization (AMRDEC) and was able to work with over a decade of similar work in this area.  Part of Serenity, the acoustic detection (called Firefly) is sometimes used separately.

Acoustic gunfire (sniper) detectors have been in the field for over a decade, and have gotten better each year. By 2010 over 60,000 sniper detectors had been shipped to American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, where they were increasingly useful and generated a continuous flow of user suggestions for improvements. These were addressed and that resulted in new and improved models appearing every year.

The first sniper detection systems simply provided directional information about where the snipers are. The troops always wanted detectors that were faster and more accurate and after several generations of these systems showing after that first heavy use in 2004 you end up with something like Serenity. A really important improvement was manufacturers tweaking these systems to decrease the number of false alarms. Also important was improved user interface and increased accuracy. There were other reasons for all this progress, including major advances in computing power, sensor quality and software development. By 2010 the latest sniper detectors could provide nearly instant, easy to comprehend and accurate location info on the sniper.

One of the first, and most useful, sniper detection system was Boomerang, which was it was developed in a few months, in response to a 2004 U.S. Department of Defense request for an affordable acoustic sniper detector. Testing delayed it from entering service immediately. Boomerang was mounted on vehicles, was in wide use by 2o06 and cost about $5,000 each. Boomerang was effective enough to get initial orders for over 10,000 units, and lots of use from the troops who had it. There were two major upgrades, prolonging the service life of the system.

British, American, French and Israeli manufacturers have produced most of these systems, which are also sold to police organizations. The systems have varied greatly in capabilities, and price. Some of the first ones cost over $200,000, but prices have been dropping rapidly over the last five years, as the technology matured.

An example of the constant development of new tech was SWATS (Soldier Worn Acoustic Targeting Systems). In 2011 U.S. Army infantry in Afghanistan began receiving SWATS sniper detectors. About 1,500 a month were delivered and there were never enough of them once the usefulness of the system became known. These 183 g (6.4 ounce) devices come in two pieces. One is the sensor, which is worn on the shoulder, while the cell phone size controller, with small LCD display, is worn in front, where it can be quickly glanced at. SWATS calculates (from the sound weapon fired) direction of fire in a tenth of a second. SWATS cost about $2,000 each. SWATS was also be mounted on vehicles, and worked when the vehicle is moving at speeds of 80 kilometers an hour or more.

At the same time German firm Rheinmetall introduced a similar vehicle-mounted acoustic sniper detection system called ASLS (Acoustic Shooter Locating System). The Germans had been working on this for over a decade and were following the American firms that had, because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan taken the lead in this effort.

As the capability and reliability of these devices has improved, the troops came to depend on sniper detectors and these detectors saved hundreds of American lives in Iraq and Afghanistan because with a sniper detector troops could quickly turn on the enemy shooter and deliver accurate fire of their own. This made it difficult, if not impossible, for the sniper to get off a second shot and made the sniper more vulnerable to getting shot. Moreover Arab and Afghan snipers were not always good enough to always get a hit with their first shot and the nervousness created by the knowledge that the American troops would quickly fire where the sniper was because of sniper detectors made it even more likely that the first shot would miss. It got to the point where trying to get off a second shot was suicidal and Taliban and Iraqi snipers were trained to only take a first shot if they were certain of a hit and be ready to immediately duck and move after that first shot.

The new Serenity system is meant for base protection or mounting on vehicles. Parts of the Serenity system were sent to Afghanistan in 2012 for field testing.

11 February 2015 by defenceWeb

US Army Africa is currently hosting an African Land Forces Summit in Senegal - the second engagement of the year with African militaries.

The first was the medical readiness training exercise (Medrete 15-1) in partnership with the Burundian National Defence Force from January 19 to 30.

Last year’s Medrete exercise was held in Lesotho at the Makoanyane Hospital in Maseru in early February.

Medical military personnel from Burundi and the United States took part in the exercise in Bujumbura. The exercise gave US forces the opportunity of training in an “alternatively resources environment, share medical procedures and enhance Burundi’s military healthcare system to deliver effective general surgery and trauma response in support of regional, UN and AU missions” a statement said.

The African Land Forces Summit ended tomorrow and the three day event in Dakar provided a forum for senior land forces leaders from Africa and the US to “solidify relationships, exchange information on topics of mutual interest and encourage co-operation in addressing challenges”.

Major General Darryl A Williams, US Army Africa commanding general, co-hosted the summit on behalf of General Raymond T Odierno, US Army Chief of Staff.