ATTACK

HELICOPTERS
BORDER
PROTECTION
+ SPECIAL
OPERATIONS
supplement

MODERNISING
THE MORTAR
apr/may 2016. Issue 02.
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2 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
 APRIL/ MAY 2016

www.armadainternational.com

14
LAND warfare
Over
the Top
Mortars have been around
for a long time, but they
continue to make a vital
contribution to land warfare,
Stephen W. Miller explains.

08
TURING
Talking at the Same Time
Thomas Withington discusses some
of the pressing debates regarding
Mobile Ad Hoc Networking, and
how such communications may be
improved in the future.
20
LAND warfare
Break for the Border
Peter Donaldson highlights
a selection of the optronics
available to help enhance border
security and protection.
26
SEA POWER
32
AIR POWER
Full Steam Ahead! THE GREAT ESCAPE
The market and demand for Fast Thomas Withington examines
Attack Craft is in rude health, some of the latest developments
particularly in the Asia-Pacific, in the Combat Search and Rescue
Trevor Hollingsbee explains. domain.

36
AIR POWER
Decision Time
Australia is approaching a
moment of reckoning regarding
its attack helicopter fleet.
Andrew Drwiega investigates.
44
future technology
DRONE DANGERS
Andrew Drwiega examines
some of the technologies being
employed to develop weapons
capable of downing UAVs.
50
Programme Focus
The Need for Speed
The United States Army is
overhauling the way it conducts
vertical lift. Stephen W. Miller
assesses the options.
Armada
SUPPLEMENT
Special Forces
SUPPLEMENT
Armada’s ever-popular Special
Forces Supplement returns with
Andrew White at the helm, taking us
through the latest developments in
this shadowy domain.

armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 3


ON THE COVER:
The 81mm mortar is
generally found at battalion
level. Mortar technology is
examined in Stephen
W. Miller’s Over the Top
article in this issue © USMC
Volume 40 , Issue No. 2, April/May 2016
Published bi-monthly by Media Transasia Ltd.
Copyright 2012 by Media Transasia Ltd.
Publishing Office: Media Transasia Ltd., 1603,
16/F, Island Place Tower, 510 King’s Road, Hong Kong
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4 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
AR-MODULAR 7 Invisio COVER 2
ARMY 25 ILA BERLIN 43
ASELSAN 11 ITEC 7
AUVSI COVER 3 KONGSBERG 29
COPENHAGEN SENSOR NEXTER 19
TECHNOLOGY 25 OSHKOSH COVER 4
DATRON COVER 2 ROSOBORONEXPORT 31
EPIQ 5 SOFEX 17
EURONAVAL 49 SUBSCRIPTION 13
EUROSATORY COVER 3 UDT 11
FLIR 23 ZUHAIR AIRSHOW 39
FNSS 17
Entries highlighted with Red Numbers are
GENERAL ATOMICS COVER 4 found in Special Operations Supplement
IDEAS PAKISTAN 41
INDEX TO MANUFACTURERS
Companies mentioned in this issue. Where there are multiple references to a company in an
articles, only the first occurrence and subsequent photographs are listed below:
A General Dynamics Land Systems 16
AgustaWestland 33, 51 GD Mission Systems 35 P
Airbus 48, 16 General Electric 30, 40 Parrot 45
Airbus Helicopter 33, 36, 52 Patria 17, 18
AM General 17 H Piasecki Aircraft 56
AMV 54 Hanjin Heavy Industry 30 Peugeot P4 12
Arnold Defence 42 Harris 9 Plassan 25
Hudong – Zong –Hua 27 Polaris Defence 19, 20
B Hyundai Wia 30 Pratriarch Partner 42
BAE Systems 14, 38, 18 Propmech 29
BAE Systems Bofors 28 I PureTech Systems 21, 24
Bell-Boeing 16, 33, 51, IAI 20, 25, 26, 46 PT Citia 28
Israel Military Industries 18
Bell Helicopter 33, 38, PT Lundin 28
Boeing 17, 34, 38 , 50 PT Pal 28
Brighter 44, 48, J PT Palindo 28
BRN Technique 10 Jankel 21
R
C K Rada 47, 49
Caterpillar 27 Karachi Shipyard 28 Raduga 30
KBP 19
Chess Dynamics 48 Rafael 27, 29
China North Industry 28 Kurganmashzavod 18 Raytheon 18, 19, 40
China Shipbuilding Offshore 28 Renault Trucks 15, 16
Copenhegen Sensor Technology 24 L
Controp 20, 21, 22, 44 L-3 Wescam 42 S
LIG Nex1 30 Saab 15
D Lockheed Martin 33, 52, 16 Saab Bofos Dynamics 18
Denel 28 Lung Teh Shipbuilder 28, 29, 30 Sagem 34
Dillon Aero 42 Selex ES 47
Dockyard and Engineering 26 M Sig Sauer 22, 23
DSG Technology 15 MAN 28 Sikorsky 16, 33, 51
MBDA 29 ST Marine 29
E MD Helicopter 38, 42
Enterprise Control Systems 44, 48 MESIT Defence 10, 12 T
Elbit 16, 17, 21, 25 Mil 51, 13 Tactical Missiles Corp 30
Epiq Solutions 25 Mistral 17 TDA 16
Motovilikha Plant Corp 18 Thales 12, 16, 30
F MTU 27, 30 TrellisWare 8, 9, 10, 12,
FINMECCANICA 22, 33, 47 Toyota Land Cruiser 23
N
FLIR 24
FN Herstal 42, 22, 23 Nexter 16, 34, 16 U
FNSS 18 NH Industries 33 Ukrspecexport 18
Ford Ranger 23 Northrop Grumman 46
V
G Volgograd Tractor Plant 18
Garden Reach Building 28 O Volvo 26
GAO - TS 15, 16, 20, 21 Orbital ATK 18, 30,
OTO Melara 29
General Dynamics 21 ,29, 33, 40
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armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 5
Editorial
A Question of Priorities
O
n 23 June, voters in the United
Kingdom, and UK citizens
abroad, will vote in a refer-
endum to decide whether the
country remains part of the
European Union (EU). This is arguably the most
important constitutional question for the UK
since a similar referendum was held by the Brit-
ish government on continued membership of
the European Economic Community (EEC), the
ancestor organisation of today’s EU, on 5 June
1975. The UK had entered the EEC in 1973.
Campaigning has begun in the UK with
two sides: one favouring the UK’s continuing
EU membership, and the other pushing for
a ‘Brexit’, Great Britain’s exit from the multi-
lateral grouping. The leaders of the UK’s three
main parties, Prime Minister David Cameron
of the centre-right Conservatives, Jeremy Cor-
byn of the centre-left Labour Party and Nicola
Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party all
support the UK’s continuing EU membership.
However, on Saturday 26 February, Mr. Corbyn
and Ms. Sturgeon joined thousands of protes-
tors in London opposed to the UK renewing its
independent nuclear deterrent when the Royal
Navy’s existing fleet of four ‘Vanguard’ class
nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines
reach the end of their service lives next decade.
The timing of the protest, and Mr. Corbyn
and Ms. Sturgeon’s attendance, was puzzling.
While both have made no secret of their opposi-
tion to the UK remaining as one of the world’s
6 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
five official nuclear powers (alongside France,
the People’s Republic of China, Russia and the
United States), the protest came just one week
after Mr. Cameron secured a number of agree-
ments from the EU which he will use as cam-
AD
paigning tools for the UK to remain a member.
The decision to attend the protest was a sur-
prise given that it took place during the first
week of campaigning for the UK to remain an
EU member; a policy which both Mr. Corbyn
and Ms. Sturgeon have endorsed.
Despite their opposition to the UK’s own-
ership of nuclear weapons, Mr. Corbyn and Ms.
Sturgeon ignore some fundamental facts. The
world has known how to make nuclear weapons
since the United States perfected them during
the Second World War, showing their destruc-
tive effects in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Au-
gust 1945. The horrors visited on these two cities
showed to the world the destructive power of
these weapons. The destructive power of these
weapons meant that a war involving them be-
came too horrific for the major Cold War partic-
ipants. This helped to preserve peace in Europe
as much as the emergence of the EU. The UK
disavowing its nuclear deterrent will not make
the country immune from nuclear attack, but
arguably nuclear attack can only be deterred by
other nuclear weapons. Ultimately, these weap-
ons are like house insurance: you hope that you
will never need it to repair the roof, but the day
the roof looks unsafe, you will be glad that you Thomas Withington,
purchased coverage. Editor
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TURING
Talking at
the Same Time
MANET or Mobile Ad Hoc Networking is the glue that holds tactical military
communications together. It has revolutionised the radio domain since its introduction, and
holds further promise as the technology develops in the future.
Thomas Withington
T
o most people, the word Manet
is more usually associated with
Édouard Manet, the French artist
who lived between 1832 and 1883,
and was pivotal in the transition
from the realism school to impressionism. In
the military domain, he shares his name with
an acronym which has been similarly revo-
lutionary, transforming the way that troops
communicate on the battlefield.
In the military context, MANET essen-
tially refers to a wireless communications
network which is able to configure itself as a
formation of deployed forces, and accom-
panying air and sea platforms, move around
8 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
the battlefield and support these troops.
Civilian cell phone networks operate wire-
lessly, but they are dependent on fixed trans-
mitters, often atop of buildings or high eleva-
tions, which receive the transmissions from
a cell phone and transmit these to another
tower until they reach their intended des-
tination. As cell phones provide full duplex
communications (people can talk and listen
at the same time as they would in a normal
conversation) cell phone networks handle
transmission and reception of communica-
tions between phones simultaneously.
MANET tactical communications
networks differ in that the Ultra High
TrellisWare is involved
in pushing forward
research and development
vis-à-vis MANET tactical
communications, rolling
innovations to this end
onto existing products
© TrellisWare
Frequency (300 Megahertz/MHz to 1.5
Gigahertz/GHz) Wideband Software
Defined Radios (SDRs) which comprise
these networks not only enable the recep-
tion and transmission of voice, data and
imagery traffic, much like a civilian cell
phone, but also act in a similar fashion to
a cell phone tower as a ‘router’. The router
helps to carry radio traffic to and from its
intended destination. For example, an SDR
in a vehicle may perform a voice transmis-
sion back to a headquarters several miles
away. Transmissions leave the vehicle’s
radio, find the nearest SDR in the network,
and ‘skip’ from this radio to another radio

in the network, and so on, until the trans-
missions reach their intended destination;
a process which occurs at the speed of light,
1080 million kilometres-per-hour (671 mil-
lion miles-per-hour).
Mobile Ad Hoc Networking has some
key attractions for military communica-
tions in terms of logistics, manoeuvrabil-
ity and survivability. Firstly, as the radios
build and maintain the network there is
no need to move large numbers of fixed
transmitters into theatre to established a
fixed network in a similar fashion to cell
phone communications; this reduces time
to establish the network, and the accompa-
nying cost in terms of financial and human
capital. Secondly, a fixed network will only
maintain integrity as long as all of the users
operate within range of the fixed trans-
mitters; MANET has the advantage that,
because its accompanying radios are also
its routers, it moves with the forces who
are using the network. In land manoeuvres
this is especially important where speed
and drive play a vital role in manoeuvring
into a position of advantage regarding one’s
adversary. Thirdly, the fact that the MANET
radios also act as routers, means that there
is no single point of failure for the com-
munications network: a vehicle carrying a
radio may be incapacitated or destroyed by
hostile action, but this will not mean that
the entire network ceases to operate.
A related benefit concerns traffic vol-
ume. In terms of radio engineering, SDRs
can typically handle large quantities of
voice, data and imagery traffic, in the order
of several hundred kilobits-per-second
(kbps) compared to High Frequency (HF:
three to 30MHz) which may only carry tens
of kilobits-per-second, but this attribute
comes with a cost: SDRs are limited by a
line-of-sight range. Across flat terrain,
at zero altitude, this is typically a range
of around 4.7 kilometres (2.9 miles) for a
person standing on the ground holding the
radio. If the radio waves do not hit another
radio within that distance, they will contin-
ue moving in a straight line (although rising
in altitude relative to the Earth’s curved
surface, eventually moving into space). HF
radios have the advantage that they can of-
fer intercontinental ranges as they ‘bounce’
their transmissions off the ionosphere;
a layer of the atmosphere typically at an
TURING
Mobile Ad Hoc Networking
continues to play an
important role in ensuring
that militaries remain
mobile; a particularly
important consideration
in high-tempo manoeuvre
warfare © Harris
Hindu Kush, the ‘urban canyons’ of cities
such as Fallujah or Tikrit in Iraq posed simi-
lar problems for military communications,
as buildings, floors and concrete walls
could act as obstacles to communications,
hence the importance of MANET to provide
a means by which radio transmissions
could skip from one radio to another.
The Rub
Certainly, MANET has brought great
altitude of 60km (37 miles) to 1000km (620 benefits to land forces communications,
miles). Yet these ranges come at the cost particularly during manoeuvres, but
of bandwidth, and HF communications it remains a work in progress, and the
often lack the ability to carry the data- and consensus in the tactical communica-
imagery-heavy communications of their tions community following recent US-led
SDR counterparts (see above). Ultimately, operations in Afghanistan and Iraq is that
HF gives you range, but higher frequencies there is room for improvement. “MANET
in the UHF spectrum give you bandwidth. has existed for over ten years, but militar-
How does this affect MANET? For ground ies are having problems using it. remarks
troops UHF and other high frequencies are Haidong Wang, director of product man-
preferable as they allow high bandwidth agement at US networking radio special-
communications, while enabling troops ists TrellisWare Technologies. He explains
and vehicles to use radios which do not re- that, “most existing MANET capabilities
quire especially large antennae, preserving have limitations such as scalability. How
the ability of troops and vehicles to move in does the network perform as the network
a relatively unhindered fashion. changes from a static environment (i.e.
Nevertheless, battles are not always when troops or formations are stationary)
performed on flat expanses of land. As such, to a moving environment (when those
terrain can impede SDR communications same units are advancing to contact with
by simply ‘getting in the way’ of radio trans- the enemy)?” Other challenges, Mr. Wang
missions. The ability of MANET communi- notes, includes a MANET network’s ability
cations to skip across several radios which to host new nodes (the technical terms for
act as routers to reach their intended recipi- the transceivers which also act as routers
ent allow communications to avoid natural along with behaving as radios) as they en-
obstacles like mountains. If a mountain is ter the network. Each of these nodes con-
between two radios trying to communicate, sumes some radio bandwidth to maintain
then the radio’s transmissions skip from connectivity in a network. UHF uses a por-
one router to another around the mountain tion of the electromagnetic spectrum from
until they reach their destination. Such a 30MHz to 1.5 Gigahertz. This may sound
capability was particularly important dur- like a lot, but spectrum is a finite resource.
ing US-led combat operations in Afghani- Today’s battlefield has more than its fair
stan from 2001 where that country’s rugged share of users who demand radio spectrum
topography would have otherwise impeded to operate, from troops, to Unmanned
tactical communications. Away from the Aerial Vehicles, inhabited military aircraft,
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 9
TURING
radars and satellite communications. This
is not to mention civilian users such as the
emergency services, paramilitary forces,
civilians with cell phones and satellite tele-
vision providers, for example. The Afghan
and Iraqi theatres have illustrated that to-
day’s and tomorrow’s conflicts may well be
performed in theatres where, to an extent,
civilian ‘life goes on’ regardless of military
activity. Therefore, adversely disrupting
civilian communications via military
bandwidth demands may not be condu-
cive to prevailing in the all-important
‘battle for hearts and minds’ so integral to
counter-insurgency operations.
Given the finite nature of the spectrum,
military users may want to occupy all the
available space, but may in reality only be
free to use a portion of it, due to the consid-
erations outlined above. Armies deploying
into theatre have to think about, “how many
nodes can you accommodate on each mega-
hertz?” asks Mr. Wang. Such considerations
mean that MANET lacking scalability
require “very complex planning,” he contin-
ues. Moreover, each theatre may have sever-
10 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
are typically extremely complex in their
MESIT Defence is heavily involved composition. “Methods used in contem-
in research to further-develop porary MANET networks are usually
MANET techniques which may very complex which is why it is extremely
benefit existing products such as difficult to verify them in conditions of
the company’s RF-40 Thoroughbred
real deployment.” Such networks can have
radio © Thomas Withington
an “infinite number of possible layouts,”
composing different environmental or
topographical conditions to traffic usage
or network size. Therefore, as Mr. Sohajek
al small MANET networks used by continues, accurately replicating the ‘real
each formation of troops and “these world conditions’ in which a MANET may
need to be stitched together into a be deployed is nigh-on impossible.
very large network. Once you have
300 people, all of whom want to use The Remedy
the network, how will you deal with Nevertheless, the software world comes to
this? A single radio channel can be the aid of MANET developers. “Verifica-
narrowed in terms of the number of tion against simulated models is increas-
hertz it uses, but how much do you ingly used because the verification of a
want to narrow the channel, as this network ‘in action’ is practically impos-
can degrade performance?” sible,” Mr. Sohajek observes. Yet, as well
Mr. Wang’s observations chime as offering the developer a potentially
with those of Ondrej Sohajek, chief greatly-expanded range of scenarios
technology officer of Czech Repub- against which they can test their MANET
lic tactical radio experts MESIT architecture, it also potentially reduces de-
Defence (formally DICOM): “The velopment and testing costs, compared to
number of network users is one having to evaluate every possible scenario
of the most sensitive parameters. with an actual army formation.
There is a myth that the more As Mr. Wang explains above, the chal-
network users, the better the MANET lenges faced by MANET networks are clear
performance. This comes primarily from and present. How can they be overcome?
a logical assumption that particular “The answer is to ensure that your net-
network nodes in dense networks work work is scalable,” he argues. TrellisWare’s
more efficiently for each other’s advantage approach employs a concept which the
re-broadcasting the data and that there company calls the Barrage Relay Network
are more communication paths available (BRN). Mr. Wang says that the BRN ap-
and higher redundancy, plus the increased proach gets the nodes discussed above to
stability of the network and longer com- collaborate with one another. Currently,
munication ranges as a result.” The truth MANET radios ascertain which path, via
is that another rebroadcast is nothing else skips is best to move radio traffic from A
than usage (blocking) of the same com- to B across several nodes. Mr. Wang states
munication channel for a specific time and that this approach is analogous to the
shared transmission capacity is adequately game of ‘Telephone’ in which one person
reduced. Mr. Sohajek continues that, as far has a phrase which they say to another,
as the capabilities of MANET communica- who then says it to another until it reaches
tions are concerned, “It is important to the end of the line and the recipient and
remember a few dogmas, like the defini- originator of the phrase compare their two
tiveness of frequency spectrum, physical phrases to see how they have changed in
properties of radio signal propagation and the transmission. The BRN technique is
the consequences of the fact that we are equivalent to the person telling everyone
working with a shared media; radio chan- in the game of their phrase simultaneously.
nels with finite capacity.” Mr. Wang continues that the firm is already
Development is another challenge in using this approach for its tactical radios
realising MANET techniques and systems. such as the TW-400 Cub, TW-225 CheetahNet
Mr. Sohajek states that deployed MANETs Mini radio, TW-600 Ocelot and TW-850
TURING
Thales’ AN/PRC-154
handheld radio is in
extensive use with the
United States armed forces.
The company is heavily
involved in the pan-
European ESSOR waveform
initiative © Thales
TSM Ghost and their
accompanying TSM
waveforms (see below).
Like TrellisWare,
waveforms are at the
core of how Thales ad-
dresses the challenges
posed in ensuring
workable, robust MA-
NET networks. For the
uninitiated a waveform
is essentially a software
algorithm which tasks
a soldier’s radio to
behave in a particular
fashion to communicate
in a particular way. It
can be thought of as
similar to a civilian smartphone software
application or ‘app’. An app essentially tells
a cell phone to behave in a particular way
to achieve a particular task. For example, a
satellite navigation programme tells the
phone to listen for satellite transmissions
from a Global Positioning System satellite
to enable the user to find their location or
their direction. Waveforms are being used
to address some of the challenges which Mr.
Wang discusses above, such as the quantity
of nodes which can be accommodated on a
single network.
This challenge is being addressed by the
European Secure Software-Defined Radio
(ESSOR) initiative. Several European coun-
tries principally Finland, France, Italy, Po-
land, Spain and Sweden are involved in the
ESSOR initiative which is under the auspic-
es of the OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de
Coopération en Matière d’Armement/Joint
Organisation for Cooperation in Arma-
ments). Europe-wide organisation which
manages multinational European defence
programmes. ESSOR aims to realise a
suite of HF and VHF waveforms which can
12 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
handle high data rate transmissions, which Radio engineers thus have their work
can also carry simultaneous voice, data and cut out. The demand for MANET in the
future is unlikely to diminish and will only
position information. However, in terms
of meeting the node challenge, ESSOR is increase. However, initiatives such as the
envisaged to be able to accommodate up to ESSOR waveform discussed above, plus
150 nodes on a specific network, according so-called ‘Cognitive Radio’ techniques
to a written statement provided to Armada which, put simply, employ software that
by Thales. This statement continued that automatically configures a radio to change
development of the ESSOR waveform its behaviour to ensure its optimum
has now been completed, and testing has performance. For example, the radio may
commenced, with interoperability evalua- detect that a particular segment of the
tions between different radios completed spectrum is heavily congested and thus
towards the end of 2015. It is envisaged that move its transmissions to another part of
ESSOR could be rolled out across the radios the spectrum to ensure that data trans-
of the participating nations from circa 2020. mission and reception is not adversely
The ability to provide wideband com- affected. Cognitive Radio could help to
munications across mobile ad hoc networks address some of the challenges which MA-
is also at the heart of the WF40 wideband NET techniques face today. Lessons from
networking V/UHF waveform developed recent combat operations will be digested
by MESIT Defence. The WF40 can handle and incorporated into future tactical radio
data rates of several hundred kilobits-per- hardware and software. MANET may
second, typically supporting transmissions have changed battlefield communications
which can skip between seven routers to beyond recognition, but it is still far from
reach their recipient. becoming a panacea. It has revolutionised
Managing a large number of nodes on the battlefield, but like most revolutions it
a network, and knitting these networks has so far failed to create a utopia.
together, is a challenge which Thales
recognises. The company
continues that ensuring the full
connectivity of soldiers on the
battlefield not only via their
radios, but also increasingly
via their all-important battle
management systems which
give cartographic information,
situational awareness, and
timely information and orders,
so intrinsic to prevailing against
one’s adversary. “Transforma-
tion cannot be achieved through
dedicated bubbles with a lim-
ited number of users. MANET
waveforms (must) be designed
to insure tactical radio network
deployment with a large num-
ber of users and applications.”
Although MANET tactical
communications have
revolutionised the battlefield, there
is room for improvement to ensure
the next generation of MANET radios
is even more capable © US DoD
Land WARFARE

The M224 LWCMS is a 60mm

system that is carried by its four
person crew. It is organic to US
Army light infantry and Marine
Corps companies providing
responsive high explosive,
illumination and smoke in
support of small unit manoeuvre
and defence © US DoD

Over the Top

Mortars are a class of artillery. They differ from guns which have a low, flat trajectory best suited for
engaging targets by direct fire and howitzers which typically engage targets not seen from the gun
position with an arching trajectory.

Stephen W. Miller

T
he mortar fires a projectile
at a high angle allowing it to
hit targets behind hills, in
narrow streets, and inside
ravines and trenches; the
latter capability made it especially useful
in First World War trench warfare. It can be
a very simple system: just drop the round
down the tube and fire as quickly as the
soldier can drop the rounds (20 rounds per
minute; one every three seconds is easily
possible). Plus, this system is portable, a
light mortar can weigh under 23 kilograms/
kgs (50 pounds/lbs) and even a heavy towed
mortar is but 150kgs (330 lbs) ready to fire
which compare favourably to even the BAE
Systems M777 155mm lightweight howitzer
at 4200kgs (9300lbs). Yet it can reach out
to 3.5 kilometres/km (2.1 miles) for light
mortars or up to ten kilometres (6.2 miles)
for the latest heavy weapons.
The mortar started out primarily as a
siege weapon that could fire over the walls
of fortifications to destroy the guns and
structures behind them. Since their reintro-
duction in the First World War, the British
Stokes Mortar saw widespread use during
the Second World War, where it took on an
important, though often overlooked role
in many theatres. In fact, Wehrmacht (Nazi
Germany’s combined armed forces) doctrine
saw mortars as the primary indirect fire
support for the infantry as ‘tube’ artillery
would be reserved for the schwerpunkt or
‘main attack’. Here it established itself as the
small unit ‘hip packet’ artillery; a role which
it generally continues to play today.
Modern mortars fall into three catego-
ries: light mortars (generally 60mm) used
at platoon and company level, medium
mortars (81mm for Western or 82mm
for Russian/Chinese weapons) used at
company or battalion level, and 120mm
mortars at battalion level and used in direct
fire support units. Regarding dismounted
infantry, the tendency is to have the 81mm
at battalion level whereas mechanized units
usually have the 120mm mortar mounted on
a vehicle. Today’s mortars are lighter, have
longer range, greater accuracy and more le-
thality than those fielded just fifteen years
ago. This is the result of the introduction
of new metal and composites in the mortar
tubes and base plates, automation and
digitization of fire control, and advances
in fuses and ammunition. These improve-
ments have enhanced the mortar’s capabili-

14 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016


ties to fill its direct support roles despite the
changing dynamics of ground combat with
extended frontage, more diverse operations
and asymmetrical warfare. In fact, a strong
case can be made that these conditions
increase the importance and contribution
of the mortar to the tactical commander.
Light Mortars
Which weapon is most suited for employ-
ment as organic to a particular unit level
is influenced by two primary factors; first
how does it fit within the mission respon-
sibilities of that unit level? In particular,
does it match the area of interest and of
action responsible to it? Second, is it com-
patible with the units’ ability to deploy the
system; i.e. can they move it and support
it? Though there are advantages to having
a weapon with a longer range, if it requires
too many soldiers to carry or additional
equipment, it might not be practical. The
difficulties of moving the piece and pro-
viding sufficient ammunition can negate
the value of the additional range. A bal-
ance needs to be struck. A general consen-
sus among armies is that the 60mm mortar
is the best choice for the light infantry
company. The US Army FM7-90 Tactical
Employment of Mortars manual stresses:
“The value of the 60mm mortar … is its im-
mediate responsiveness to the company
commander’s orders and the speed at
which it can be brought into action.”
The US Army and Marine Corps
employ the M224 LWCMS (Lightweight
Company Mortar System) with an effective
engagement range from 70 metres/m (229
feet/ft) to 3489m (12627ft). The minimum
range is as important as the maximum as
it indicates how close in front of friendly
troops the weapon is capable of placing
fires. This can be critical in overcoming
High mobility is one
of the key tactical
advantages of US
Army Stryker units.
Having an immediately
responsive indirect fire
capability is critical
to maintaining that
manoeuvre advantage
© US Army
an assault that is threatening to overrun a
position or blasting out an enemy deter-
mined to hug friendly positions so as to
avoid opposing artillery fires. The M224
and even the 20-percent lighter M224A1 are
supplied by General Dynamics Ordnance
and Tactical Systems (GDOTS). This
weapons family fires High Explosive (HE),
Smoke (both white and red phosphorus),
Illumination (visible and infrared) and
Practice projectiles. Saab meanwhile of-
fers a Multi-Purpose Anti-Personnel Anti-
Materiel round (M1061 MAPAM) which can
be used with the M224/A1 and is able to be
used more closely to blue forces due to its
more controlled fragmentation pattern
and the ability to penetrate a roof or even
light armour and detonate inside.
Away from the US, the Hirtenberger
M6 Mortar is a 60mm lightweight infantry
weapon. In addition to the Österreichisches
Bundesheer (Austrian Army) it was adopted
by the British Army and Royal Marines as
the M6-895 with a maximum rage of 3800m
The US Army
adopted the Elbit
Soltam smoothbore
120mm mortar
which is designated
M120 in the ground
bipod version.
It is employed
at battalion level
© US Army
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 15
Land WARFARE
(12467ft). The British fielding reversed an
earlier plan that would have eliminated
the light mortar in favour of the hand-
held grenade launcher. However, combat
experience during the UK’s intervention
in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2013
highlighted the benefits of the light mortar
causing the substitution to be rethought.
The tripod mounted Automatic Grenade
Launcher (AGL) is also sometimes seen as
a substitute for the light mortar. However,
the flight characteristics of the AGL are
closer to the arching fires of a howitzer.
This makes it difficult to reach reverse
slopes with the AGL. Moreover, they do not
have the diversity of other mission rounds
such as illumination and smoke.
An aspect of the 60mm mortar is that,
though most accurate and long range fires
are performed using the bipod and TE
(Traversing and Elevation) mechanism, it can
also be handheld and visually aimed for quick
engagements. Leveraging this technique,
DSG Technology/Mortars has introduced the
iMortar, an ultra-lightweight 60mm mortar
designed for small unit use. At 5.5kgs (twelve
pounds) and 900mm (36 inches/in) in length
with integrated aiming, it is well-suited to the
small team which is also reflected in its short
1.2km (0.7 mile) range.
Medium Mortars
The 81mm calibre (actually 81.4mm) is most
common in Western armies while the 82mm
is found in Russian and Chinese weap-
ons. Although common in Russian units
Land WARFARE
during the Second World War, the 82mm
has been replaced by the 120mm in most
Russian Army units. The exception was the
use of the 2B9 Vasilek, an automatic 82mm
gun-mortar on a wheeled carriage fielded
in 1970 and used during the Soviet Union’s
intervention in Afghanistan between 1979
and 1989. It is still in use by Russian air-
borne forces. Unlike conventional mortars,
it fires in either a single shot or automatic
mode using four-round clips to a range of
4270m (14009ft) with high explosive, smoke,
illumination and anti-armour rounds. The
Chinese People’s Liberation Army uses the
Type 67, a modernization of the Soviet PM-
41 mortar first fielded in 1941. This mortar
was widely used in the Vietnam War.
The US has applied technology to
improve its 81mm mortars with the latest
being the M252. At 42.3kg (93 lbs) it is found
at the battalion level in army light infantry
and is used by the US Marine Corps. The
81mm mortar was also used in the M125
a BAE Systems M113 Armoured Person-
nel Carrier modified to carry and fire the
mortar through a roof hatch. It is also used
in the Marine Corps’ General Dynamics
Land Systems’ (GDLS) LAV-M Mortar and
carried for dismounted support with the
GDLS M1129 Stryker mortar carrier. The
M252 has a range of 5608m (18398ft) firing
the full range of 81mm ammunition.
The Mo-81mm LLR (Léger Long Ren-
forcé/Reinforced, Light, Long) from Thales
is used by the French and Irish armies and
is offered with a 1.1m (3.7ft) short barrel
(Léger Cour) and (Léger long) and with a
1.5m (4.9ft) barrel. It has a standard range
of 3100m (10170ft) but special extended
range ammunition extends this to 5600m
16 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
capability for the vertical assault element. The
(18372.7ft). Elsewhere in France, Nexter is
in the business of supplying mortar am-
munition via its Mecar subsidiary which
produces a range of mortar rounds, such as
the 155mm MPM (Metric Precision Muni-
tion) which has a maximum range of 40km
(24 miles), while the company has also
developed a version of its VBCI (Véhicule
Blindé de Combat d’Infanterie/Armoured
Infantry Combat Vehicle) in use by the
French Army as a 120mm mortar carrier,
although no sales of this version of the
vehicle have yet been performed.
All 81mm mortar rounds are fin-sta-
bilized with the most prevalent being the
high explosive round. The introductions
of multi-option fuses for high explosive
allow the gun crew to easily select the
detonation of the projectile just prior to
firing. Such fuses like the M734 can be set
to detonate on impact, delayed (allowing it
to penetrate a roof or bunker) or proximity
(exploding above the ground which spreads
the explosive shrapnel in a wide area from
above the target). Illumination projectiles
carry flare that burns at 525,000
candle power suspended from
a parachute. The time fuse is
set by the crew so that the case
separates over the target ignit-
ing the illuminate which then
burns for 50-60 seconds. The
illuminate composition can be
configured to provide either
visible or infrared light. Smoke
projectiles are filled with a
composition of red phosphorus
pellets that are ignited to burn
providing a dense obscuring
smoke. White phosphorus is
Towed 120mm heavy mortars have been
adopted by the US Marines to provide a
helicopter transportable indirect fire
EFSS uses a TDA 120mm rifled mortar with a
Growler light prime mover © USMC
another mortar projectile that produces
smoke and does so instantaneously while
defeating both visual and thermal imaging.
It burns fiercely and can cause burn casual-
ties, but due to its instantaneous effect it is
ideal for marking targets.
Heavy Mortars
The 120mm mortar has for over the last 20
years begun to prevail as the calibre of choice
in heavy mortars. In some units the heavy
mortar is used as an artillery weapon. This is
the case with the US Marines’ Expeditionary
Fire Support System (EFSS) from GDOTS
which equips battalions in the Marine Artil-
lery with this 120mm rifled mortar, derived
from TDA Armament’s Mo 120 RT. The EFSS
is used to support the vertical assault ele-
ment as it is designed specifically to be car-
ried inside Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
heavylift helicopters and Bell-Boeing CV/
MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotors. The EFSS M327
mortar is towed by a specially-designed
lightweight prime mover and can be set up in
four minutes and fire up to four rounds-per-
minute out to eight kilometres (4.9 miles).
The US Army has also moved to the
120mm mortar via its smoothbore M120
Elbit’s SPEAR reduces the recoil
forces of mortar firing sufficiently to
allow the weapon to be mounted and
accurately fired from a light tactical
vehicle. The system has already been
employed by US Special Forces on
pick-up trucks in Afghanistan © Elbit
 Land WARFARE

Mortar derived from the Elbit Systems’ back. An accompanying trailer carries ready and direct fires. The Patria/BAE Systems
Soltam K-6. It has a range of 7200m (23622m) ammunition. Elbit Systems’ SPEAR uses AMOS (Advanced Mortar System) is used
but like all heavy mortars the 150kg (330 lb) a special soft recoil system allowing the by the Maavoimat (Finnish Army). Its dual
firing weight dictates that it either be towed mortar to be mounted in the bed of a light 120mm mortar in a 360-degree traversing
or mounted on a vehicle. The US Army vehicle like the AM General HMMWV (High turret can fire 16 rounds-per-minute. By
mounts the M121 (vehicle version) on its Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) integrating a Global Positioning System
M1064 (M113-based) mortar carrier and on or even a modified pick-up truck. They (GPS) geolocation and inertial navigation
the M1129 Stryker. The Soltam Cardom used have already secured a contract to provide fire control system the AMOS can move
on the M1129 takes target acquisition data SPEAR to the Royal Thai Army. Steve into a position, fire a 14-round salvo and
and translates it to traverse and elevation Rust of Mistral indicated to Armada that then displace in under 30 seconds. It also
angles which are automatically sent to the “US Special Forces using Elbit soft recoil allows Multiple Rounds Simultaneous
gun to prepare for firing. The Cardom can mortars in Afghanistan found they offered Impact fire as one AMOS can fire up to 16
come into action in under 30 seconds and a ideal solution for providing immediately rounds so that all hit the target at the same
has a burst rate of 16 rounds-per-minute responsive fires not previously possible for time. The system automatically adjusts
(rpm) and a four rpm sustained rate of fire. light truck mounted forces.” the firing angle of each round so that they
Providing mobility to the 120mm mortar For armoured forces the development all hit simultaneously. Patria’s NEMO is
has been a focus of many efforts over the and fielding of turreted 120mm mortars essentially a single barrel version based
years and continues today. The approach and gun/mortars is gaining attention. the AMOS. Jukka Tiainen, Patria’s techni-
taken is determined by the end user force; is Rather than firing through a roof hatch cal manager for weapon systems sug-
it a light or armoured force? For light forces from a platform with the round dropped gested, “the major advantages of the Nemo
one solution is offered by Boeing—a version down the tube, these mortars are mounted unmanned turreted mortars are that they
of its Phantom Badge. This lightweight in a mantel and loaded from the breach. have the same mobility as units they are
combat support vehicle has been config- Some recent systems are automatically supporting while providing continuous
ured with a 120mm mortar mounted in the loaded and can engage with both indirect protection to the crew. Plus, the combina-
new FNSS Armada Apr-May 16.pdf 1 3/16/16 12:01 PM

CM

MY

CY

CMY

armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 17

Land WARFARE
tion of auto-loading and automated firing
allows one NEMO to deliver fires equiva-
lent to a full battery of traditional guns.”
The Polish Armament Group unveiling
in late 2014 of its RAK-120 turreted mortar on
the Rosomak (the Polish-built eight-wheel
drive Patria Armoured Modular Vehicle)
suggests that other armies have recognized
the benefits and broader tactical applica-
tions of the turreted approach. One of these
is their direct fire capability which permits
their use in an assault support role. Turreted
mortars can engage bunkers, buildings and
fortifications to 1500m (4921ft) range with
high accuracy. The Russian semi-automatic
loading rifled 2S9 Nona-S 120mm howitzer/
mortar system (on the Volgograd Tractor
Plant BMD amphibious airborne infantry
fighting vehicle) and 2S23 120mm self-pro-
pelled howitzer/mortar (on an eight-wheel
drive Arzamas BTR-80 chassis) fill a similar
role. The Russian Motovilikha Plants Cor-
poration latest fielding in the Nona family is
the 2S31 Vena, an automated self-propelled
mortar with a longer barrel mounted on
the Kurganmashzavod BMP-3 amphibious
infantry fighting vehicle. In addition to
conventional rounds it also fires the Gran
laser-guided bomb against point targets at
a range of 13km (eight miles). Mortar carrier
variants of the BTR-3 eight-wheel drive ar-
moured personnel carrier are available from
Ukraine’s Ukrspecexport state armaments
export company which has supplied the
BTR-3M2 mortar carrier to the Royal Thai
Army as of 2013.
18 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
The AMOS is a turret-mounted
120mm mortar with twin tubes
that are automatically loaded
and trained. As a result a single
AMOS can deliver the equivalent
rounds on target as a full battery of
conventional mortars © Patria
Turkey’s FNSS has
developed a 120mm mortar
mounted on the company’s
ACV-19 tracked armoured
combat vehicle. Known as
the SPM-120, this platform
incorporates a 120mm
mortar mounted on a
turntable positioned in the
rear of the vehicle which
fires through a hatch in the
roof. The ACV-19 chassis itself is a variant
of the firm’s ACV-15 design which is already
in service with the armies of Malaysia, the
Philippines and the United Arab Emirates.
The ACV-19, however, has a longer hull,
and a suspension which allows it to carry
greater payloads than the ACV-15, while
retaining a spare parts commonality level
of 80 percent. The SPM-120 is known to be
in service with two nations, although these
have not been named.
Precision Projectiles
One benefit of the 120mm mortar round is
its greater explosive power. The 81mm pro-
jectile carries around four kilograms (nine
pounds) of explosive while the 120mm
carries 13kgs (29 lbs). Another benefit is
that it is more easily adapted to advanced
ammunition types including ‘cargo’ sub-
munition and precision guided projectiles.
This is not to suggest that 81mm guided
projectiles are not possible;
in fact BAE Systems and
GDOTS have both demon-
strated the 81mm RCGM
(Roll Controlled Guided
Mortar). It modifies the ex-
isting British mortar bomb
with GPS guidance, canard
FNSS’ ACV-19 is a self-propelled
tracked mortar with the 120mm
weapon being fired through a hatch
in the vehicles’ roof. © FNSS
controls, and an M734A1 multi-option fuse.
So adapted, the round can impact within
five metres (16ft) of its designated target. It
can be fired from the existing L16 or M253
mortars. It provides target coverage with
two rounds that with conventional en-
gagement techniques would require ten.
It is this increased fire efficiency that
drives the interest in PGMs (Precision
Guided Munitions). Considering that, for
example, the M1129 Stryker Mortar carrier
carries 60 rounds (which also include
smoke and illumination), using PGMs
allows ten-fold increase in engagements
from on board stowage. The US Marine
Corps Precision Extended Range Mor-
tar programme or PERM is being led by
Raytheon in collaboration with Israel
Military Industries. It uses a GPS-guided
120mm projectile which in 2014 test firings
achieved ten-metre (32.8ft) accuracy. An
added benefit is that the canards used
to steer the projectile allow an extended
range of up to 16km (8.6 miles). Orbital ATK
has developed a similar GPS-guided pro-
jectile kit known as the XM395. It is based
on its 155mm artillery guided projectile.
Both the PERM and XM395 can be used by
rifled or smoothbore mortars.
Saab’s Bofors Dynamics division has
taken another PGM path seeking a direct
hit with its STRIX 120mm terminally-
guided mortar projectile. The head has an
infrared imaging sensor that detects and
locks on to the heat signature of a target
and then guides itself onto it. It is consid-
ered an anti-armoured vehicle round in
that by attacking the thinner roof of the
targeted vehicle it is likely to penetrate
and disable or destroy it. The system of-
fers a unique organic capability to engage
 Land WARFARE

responsive and accurate. Where previ-

armoured forces assembling to attack even
when hidden by terrain. STRIX has been in
service with the Swedish and Swiss armies
since the late 1990s. The GRAN is another
120mm thermal guided mortar round from
KBP in Russia but its seeker homes in on
the radiated signal from a laser designa-
tor usually operated by a ground observer.
Raytheon was awarded a contract
to deliver its Precision Extended
Range Mortar for the US Marines’
120mm mortars. It provides an
increased range of up to 16km as
well as first round accuracy with
a circular error probable better
than ten metres © Raytheon
It has a range of 1500m (4921ft) to nine
kilometres.
Evolving Capabilities
The combination of highly accurate posi-
tion determination of both targets and
firing mortars with digital computing of
firing solutions has made them even more
ously adjusting firing on to a target might
require three shots before ‘firing for effect’,
this adjustment process can be reduced to
one round or even eliminated entirely. The
closed loop system that links the forward
observer to the gun and automatically
computes and applies the firing solution
further refines this process. Adding auto-
matic loading permits single and dispersed
weapons to match the target effect that
previously required six or more guns fir-
ing in battery. The addition of precision
guided projectiles and the turreted mortar
allow the mortar to undertake point target
and direct fire support missions for the
small unit. Together these advances are
altering the way that mortars are being
used and expanding the roles that they
are playing in combat. The technical and
performance improvements have been
demonstrated; it is now up to the soldiers
to evolve their tactics and employment to
capitalize on what these can offer.

Major supplier
of the more
advanced
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developer of
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armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 19
land warfare

Cheek-by-jowl, the
Mexican border town of
Tijuana in the state of Baja
California on the right
nestles close-up against
the US city of San Diego,
California © US Army

Break for
the Border
Border control has never been a more sensitive issue in peacetime than it now is in Europe and the
United States. In Europe, sympathy for people escaping civil war in Syria and state failures in Africa mix
with fears of political violence and social disruption, adding to the already-present stress of economic
austerity.

Peter Donaldson

W
hile technology will not
solve the problems driv-
ing refugees to seek a bet-
ter life, it can provide ways “The competition is fierce, and some of the
to channel them towards
official crossing points by sealing off leak-
ier areas, and helping to identify those who than choosing the most advanced systems
might pose real threats. Optronics are key
elements of integrated multi-sensor sys-
tems, providing the automatic detection,
identification and classification of targets
and minimising false alarms; the last of
which significantly alleviates overload on
security personnel, Controp marketing
and sales vice-president Johnny Carni
points out. He also noted a distinct divide
developing in the market between the
low-end and high-end in terms of sensor
performance and overall capability. “The
market is flooded with (optronics) compa-
nies, however not all offer the same level of
technology. In fact, only a few companies
offer truly high-end technology,” he said.
users choose to settle on less-advanced
technologies for various reasons rather
that can truly solve the problem.”
Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI)
Tamam division’s director of optronics
research and development Naveh Bahat,
within the company’s systems, missiles
and space group, concurred, adding that
some resort to “very, very cheap” cameras
bought on Ebay or from Amazon, for ex-
ample, buying them in large numbers and
not worrying too much if some of them
fail. He contrasts this with “real bor-
ders” monitored with high-performance
cameras, some covering short ranges of
around half a kilometre (0.3 miles), others
with much longer ranges, all connected
to image analysis, target recognition and
tracking and database systems and soft-
ware. The high-end systems extend into
multiple light wavelengths with visible
and short-, medium- and long-wave in-
frared cameras, uncooled for short ranges
and cooled for longer ranges, providing
opportunities for image fusion, where im-
ages from different sources, or produced
by different systems are combined so as
to create as detailed an image as possible.
Mr. Bahat emphasised that this need not
mean fusing or overlaying the images.
Instead, fusion would extract the best
information from each wavelength to
improve tracking performance and vision
at longer ranges and in bad weather.

20 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016


Long-Range
Mr. Bahat stressed the importance of
stabilisation for long-range cameras,
adding that this should be one of the first
decisions to make in specifying a border
security system. Eric Olson, vice-president
for marketing at PureTech Systems, in
Arizona, United States, reports an uptick
in the need for very long-range detection
in border and coastal surveillance applica-
tions. “Part of that increase seems to stem
from understanding that these long-range
detection capabilities are now achiev-
able at an affordable price point.” He also
mentioned growing interest in the use of
airborne and ground mobile platforms
including vehicles, UAVs (Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles) and aerostats to assist
border surveillance. The company is most
active in the border surveillance markets
of the Middle East and North America,
and announced in October 2015 that it had
completed the initial field deployment of
the Remote Video Surveillance System
This fence constitutes
much of the US-
Mexico border in
Arizona, illustrating
why sophisticated
networked sensor
systems with automatic
target detection
and recognition are
generating so much
interest © US Army
National Guard
An Israeli officer briefs
“Simple movements, such as centring a
Air Force General
Craig McKinley, the
chief of the National
Guard Bureau, from
an observation post
overlooking the Gaza
Strip near the Israeli
city of Sderot © US DoD
(RVSS) upgrade for the US Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) agency. PureTech
provides the software for full motion
video, target detection, sensor control and
the geospatial user interface as a member
of the General Dynamics team that won
the RVSS upgrade contract. The RVSS con-
sists of towers mounted in proximity to the
US-Mexican frontier to improve border
surveillance there.
Arie Chernobrov, general manager of
Elbit Systems’ security systems division,
emphasised that most of the requirements
the company bids for involve the integra-
tion of multiple technologies including
radar-based automatic detection systems,
unattended ground sensors, video motion
detector content analysis and verifica-
tion systems using imaging sensors. Most
customers want detection ranges of at
least ten kilometres (6.2 miles) for targets,
he said. Growing detection ranges bring
several challenges that are unique to
surveillance applications, Mr. Olson said,
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 21
land warfare
citing image instability, environmental
interference and the small number of
pixels represented by a target. “This chal-
lenge is met with increased computing
power, software-based stabilisation, more
advanced background modelling and
expanded feature extraction, to more ac-
curately identify the target of interest.”
Another challenge is camera barrelling,
which is the ability to keep the camera’s
centre pixel on the target while zooming
in over several kilometres. “A camera with
poor barrelling can have a target centred
at zero percent zoom, but completely lose
sight of that ‘centred’ target as the zoom
level increases,” he said. “In addition to
more precise mechanical design, video
analytics software can be used to compen-
sate.” Straightforward at short distances,
camera control tasks also become harder
as range increases, Mr. Olson told Armada.
target of interest, slewing to a location or
enabling an automatic camera follow at
distances of several kilometres become
increasing complex as the camera’s pan,
tilt and zoom must be controllable in very
fine increments.”
Controp emphasises that border
surveillance requires optronics that
enable target classification for quick
decision-making, arguing that automat-
ing classification improves the quality of
decisions made and reduces the number
of people needed. Furthermore, the use
of long-range cameras on towers places
even greater demands on stabilisation as
The RVSS upgrade accepted by the
US CBP features video analytics
and geospatial command and
control developed by PureTech
Systems as part of General
Dynamics’ solution and includes
this advanced graphical user
interface © PureTech Systems
land warfare
towers move in the wind and can shift as
parts expand and contract with changes
in temperature. The company also notes
a growing demand for vehicle-mounted
optronics. This, said Mr. Carni, brings a
need for short, medium and long-range
capabilities and multiple sensors on the
same platform. At short ranges, a cooled
infrared camera is not essential, as an un-
cooled sensor might suffice. For medium
ranges, maximum focal lengths of 250
or 450mm might be enough, while longer
ranges need lenses of 720 or 1200mm. It
is important for suppliers to provide a
range of systems and capabilities to serve
a variety of requirements, some of which
result from conditions specific to the
border terrain in question, he said. “While
detection is usually achieved using a radar,
identification and recognition are done
by optronics. These missions require the
highest quality of picture, which can only
be attained by an excellent thermal camera
with stabilisation.” The company has
recently introduced a new system known
as 3D-GUARD, which it describes as an
advanced three-dimensional video motion
detection system. Each 3D-GUARD system
is composed of two stationary cameras
with fixed fields-of-view and a detection
range of up to one kilometre.
Designed to protect strategic facilities
and perimeters as well as borders, it is a
day and night capable system that detects
moving targets and intruders automatical-
ly and generates alerts. Providing precise
22 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
Controp’s 3D-GUARD system is
based on stereoscopic camera
pairs installed on poles or
towers, and controlled by a
central C2 system. The cameras
are stationary with fixed fields
of view and provide stereoscopic
capabilities that reduce
nuisance alarms © Controp
Controp’s TORNADO is a passive lightweight
high-speed 360 degree scanning system for
automatic intruder detection and tracking
up to a range of four kilometres for human
targets © Controp
information on target location, size and
movement, the 3D-GUARD acts as reliable
‘virtual fence’ and can be installed on poles
or towers, Mr. Carni said, and operates as
a fast deployment system or as a stand-
alone managed from a central command
and control system. “The capabilities
of this new ‘staring’ system drastically
reduce the nuisance of false alarms that
are typical of other video analytic systems,”
Mr. Carni added.
For long-range automatic detection
of movement Controp has developed and
recently introduced the TORNADO, which
it describes as a passive lightweight fast
scanning infrared camera that provides a
360 degree panoramic image. TORNADO
uses a Medium Wave Infrared (MWIR)
camera and provides panoramic coverage
from ground level up to 18 degrees above
the horizon, enabling it to detect airborne
threats, in particular UAVs. “TORNADO
uses unique software algorithms, which
automatically detect and track any mov-
ing target. It can detect very small targets
hundreds of metres away and large targets
even tens of kilometres away.” Finally,
Controp’s SPEED-LR is a highly-sophisti-
cated, long-range, wide-area, passive, real
time, stabilized intruder detection system,
which automatically detects motion in a
wide panoramic view and can be installed
on towers, poles, tripods and other sup-
ports. Incorporating a long range thermal
imaging camera with a continuous zoom
lens, a colour daylight television cam-
era, eye-safe laser rangefinder and laser
pointer, the SPEED-LR can automatically
detect, recognise, identify and track any
moving target up to tens of kilometres
away, says the company.
Long endurance
Finmeccanica stressed that, in addition to
adequate range and resolution, optronics
for border security must be very reliable
for extended periods of remote operation
with long maintenance intervals. The
company’s land and naval defence
electronics division has developed a new
generation of thermal imaging cameras
designed to operate unattended for up
to 50000 hours. For comparison, says the
company, conventional cooled thermal
imagers typically require a coolant recharge
after 6000 to 9000 operating hours. The
extra operating time comes from new
cooling engines that the company offers
Stabilized so it can be installed on
high towers and poles, Controp’s
SPEED-LR features sensors
including a thermal imager with
a continuous zoom lens, colour
TV, monochrome CCD (Charged
Coupled Device) spotter, eye-safe
laser rangefinder and pointer
© Controp
 There’s a line in
the Sand.
See Beyond It.
Assessing potential threats before they reach
your border requires vision, flexibility, and
connectivity. FLIR’s Commercially-Developed and
Military-Qualified solutions offer fixed, mobile, and
dismounted rapidly deployable assets. Standalone
or networked, FLIR will help you keep watch.

Learn more at flir.com/borders today!

land warfare
with its latest infrared cameras, including
the Horizon.
The company also recently launched
a new family of multi-sensor optronics
systems under the name NERIO, offering
medium-range, long-range and ultra-
long-range performance with respective
detection ranges of ten kilometres, ten
to 25km (15.5 miles) and 25 to 50km (31
miles). They comprise a cooled thermal
imager, colour television camera and
optional laser rangefinder integrated into
a gyro-stabilised pan and tilt head, which
can be mounted on fixed installations
or mobile platforms. The sensor feeds
can be integrated into command and
control systems or processed locally using
Finmeccanica’s VANTAGE or ANTEO
software packages.
spectral bands
Mr. Bahat stressed that the choice of cam-
era for day and night capability is not as
simple as might be expected. For example
it does not always mean a mix of daylight
television and infrared sensors because,
depending on the environment, the latter
can work as well in daylight as they do in
the dark. The choice of infrared wave bands
comes next, which depends heavily on local
24 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
The Distant Sentry is designed
as a flexible border security
system that can be configured
with ground and maritime
radars, optronics, unattended
ground sensors, wireless
communications and hybrid
power systems © Finmeccanica
atmospheric characteristics, he
said. Mid-wave thermal infrared
sensors generally produce
sharper images, but long-wave
cameras are better at penetrat-
ing obscurants and dealing with
scenes containing wide tem-
perature variations. Short Wave
Infrared (SWIR) offers high reso-
lution and natural-looking black
and white images because this
portion of the spectrum involves
reflected light generated by natu-
ral sky-glow, which is present day
and night, or from SWIR illumi-
nators. He commented that most
customers are fairly conservative in the
sensors they prefer. “Most of our customers
choose day, night and maybe SWIR systems
and they focus on image enhancement and
stabilisation.” He added that with SWIR
sensors they want to see them working in
demonstrations. “SWIR is not a commodity
yet, although it has been in the field for
15 years.”
Mr. Bahat pointed to a trend towards
multi-wavelength optronics for border
surveillance applications and his company
already offers an open architecture system
that can include day television, MWIR and
SWIR sensors with integrated laser range-
finder and Global Positioning System
geolocation capabilities in the form of its
Long-Range Reconnaissance and Observa-
tion Solution (LOROS). This encapsulates
these sensors in a highly gyro-stabilised
turret that can be controlled from ground-
based and airborne workstations. Weigh-
ing 85kgs (187lbs) and consuming less than
700 Watts of power, the LOROS features
automatic target tracking, enhanced image
processing and a long-range downlink
for both video imagery and data. “Users
usually base their decision on cost-effec-
tiveness,” Mr. Carni said. “For short-range
missions of up to two kilometres (1.2 miles)
they usually choose an uncooled LWIR
system, which is less costly. For long-range
missions, MWIR would often be the choice.
For poor lighting conditions, SWIR would
be preferred. In colder climates, they will
usually go for cooled LWIR and when rec-
ognition of colour is important they chose
visible light cameras.”
Finmeccanica concurs with that sen-
sor mix, adding that LWIR sensors are also
preferred when there is significant obscu-
ration from smoke or other pollutants to
penetrate. However, the company stresses
that advances it has made in its cooled fo-
cal plane array detectors (an array of light
sensing pixels used to compose a digital
image) over the last decade has improved
their performance in all environments, to
the extent that most of its customers now
select MWIR sensors in large formats. “As
the demands of detection, recognition and
identification ranges have increased, the
choice of camera has moved away from
uncooled systems into full television (640
x 512 pixels) and increasingly high defini-
tion television (1280 x 1024 pixels) sensors,”
the company told Armada. Away from Italy,
Flir Systems is also in the border security
business, providing equipment to this end
in the form of a large family of thermal
optronics. The company’s products are in
high demand worldwide for such tasks, in
addition to their other military and law
enforcement offerings. The company’s
border security equipment provision
includes its HRS Series continuous zoom
cameras, plus the HCR MCT series, Ther-
moVision 2000/3000MS, and PTZ 35x140
MS cameras. Flir Systems is joined in this
regard by Copenhagen Sensor Technology
whose border security products include
the Spectrel PTZI-1000 pan, tilt and zoom
camera. Like its American counterparts,
it has helped fortify a number of installa-
tions over the years with such technologies.
PureTech’s Mr. Olson also reported
demand for visible band cameras for iden-
tification purposes, combined with MWIR
that, he told Armada, “provides for better
target-to-background contrast and more
pixels on target at the desired ranges.” He
also commented on the growing demand
for more esoteric capabilities such as
hyperspectral sensing, which combines

imaging with spectral analysis that can
find spectral signatures of individual
materials. This is increasingly used for
detecting disturbed ground, which might
be a clue to the presence of an insurgent
bomb. Meanwhile, Elbit’s Mr. Chernobrov
stressed that the camera spectral bands
selected are affected by the challenges pre-
sented by local environmental conditions,
pointing out that conditions in mari-
time areas are very different from those
on borders in deserts or high-altitude
mountain regions, and noting that there
are also significant variations in humidity,
for example, within coastal regions. Other
requirements affecting sensor choice
include facial recognition, which requires
visible light or SWIR cameras, and very
long-range detection of military targets
at night, which usually moves operators
towards cooled MWIR cameras with pow-
erful optics, he said.
Several of the companies approached
for this article said that they regard radar
as a complementary technology in these
applications, stressing their ability to
detect targets in heavy fog, which defeats
optronics, and offer systems that include
radar. Furthermore, Mr. Olson said that
PureTech is adding geospatial capabilities
to its cameras to provide what he called “an
extremely robust method for camera-ra-
dar collaboration,” enabling both “simple”
and “intelligent” slew-to-cue capabilities
along with friend-or-foe analysis. Simple
slew-to-cue is the ability to point a camera
at an exact point in latitude, longitude and
elevation. This includes compensation for
the speed of a moving target, so the camera
does not undershoot. “Intelligent slew-to-
land warfare
Industry reports Ruggedized
electro-opcal soluons
a growing need
for multi-sensor
surveillance systems
on a wide variety for Homeland Security
of ground vehicles
as well as static
installations and
aircraft. This is a
Spider C-1 vehicle
from Plasan © Plasan
cue validates the existence and type of the
target using video analytics and then takes
actions based on that assessment,” Mr. Ol-
sen continued. “This could involve invok-
ing an automated camera follow, marking
the target with a covert laser or invoking a
visual or audio deterrent.”
Future trends
Controp’s Mr. Carni pointed to oppos-
ing forces affecting the market’s future
growth, the first being the burgeoning
movement of refugees, on which all agreed,
with a possible market restraint caused
by lower oil prices affecting security and
defence budgets in oil producing countries.
In sensor technology terms, Finmeccanica
emphasised the continued reduction in
camera size, weight and power require-
ments and cost of ownership, which will
make them more accessible to less wealthy
nations. According to Mr. Olson, today’s
rather piecemeal deployments will move
towards collaboration between sensor
suites, both static and mobile, with greater
information sharing enabling faster, more
accurate detections. Mr. Chernobrov said
that Elbit is targeting customers who need
networked multi-sensor, persistent sur-
veillance systems to control long stretches
of border from a single command and con-
trol centre. “There are several countries
already considering this kind of solution,
and in a few years we believe it will become Copenhagen Sensor Technology A/S | Border Protecon
the standard.” Finally, IAI’s Mr. Bahat ac-
knowledged these trends, but with a nod to www.copst.com
the late David Bowie’s take on the ultimate
‘unknowability’ of the future. “I don’t know
where I’m going from here, but I promise it
won’t be boring.”
Scan the QR code to see the product range
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 25
sea power
Full Speed Ahead
Fast Attack Craft (FAC) can represent a cost effective solution, for both coastal and littoral defence
requirements, and less intensive, maritime policing needs . This article gives an analysis of the latest
developments in the FAC domain.
Trevor Hollingsbee
D
emand for FAC is par-
ticularly noticeable in the
Asia-Pacific region, and this
article puts a spotlight on
developments in terms of
procurements and upgrades in this part of
the world. For example, regarding the Ban-
gladesh Navy (BN), recent years have seen
the combat capabilities of the BN’s four
‘Hegu’ class FACs considerably enhanced
by the replacement of their old SY-1 Anti-
Ship Missiles (AShMs) with Chinese Avia-
tion Industry Corporation (CAIC) C-704A
AShMs. Coming into service with the Ban-
gladesh Navy by the end of this year will be
26 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
eight indigenously-built 11.7 metre/m (38
feet/ft) FACs, with the intended roles of
backing sovereignty claims, and enforcing
maritime law. The state-owned Dockyard
and Engineering Works (DEW) Narayan-
gani is building the fully composite craft to
the X12 design under a technology transfer
agreement with Indonesia’s PT Lundin.
The X12 is a derivative of the Swedish Dock-
stavarvet Combat Boat 90 concept. DEW
did not respond to enquiries as to the cost
of the project, which also includes ten full-
cabin versions for the Bangladesh Coast
Guard, but Indonesian media reports have
put the value of the contract at $6 mil-
lion. Armed with three machine guns, the
35-knot (65 kilometres-per-hour) craft will
be powered by Volvo Penta diesel engines
linked to waterjets.
Burma
To the southeast of Bangladesh, the growth
and modernisation of Burma’s navy, over
the past decade, has been dramatic. The
force’s commitments include fishery
protection, anti-piracy and anti-narcotics
operations. Also important is the enforce-
ment of claims to potentially hydrocarbon-
rich areas in the Bay of Bengal. Burma
previously relied mainly upon China for

mese contract, but Mr. David Bogner, Inter-
national Marketing and Customer Service
Manager at IAI Ramta, gave Armada an
The Indonesian Navy’s
update on the Super Dvora Mk.3. “It is an
KRI Todak FAC and the
US Navy amphibious exceptionally versatile platform, capable
assault ship USS Green Bay of over 48 knots (89km/h), it has strong
in company. Indonesia pursuit and interception capabilities for
continues to build up the naval and coast guard roles, but can also
FAC capabilities of its very
land shore parties, and even be beached
large fleet © US Navy
if required.” Mr. Bogner emphasised the
range of options available to operators.
“A typical weapons fit might be a Rafael
Advanced Defence Systems’ Typhoon sta-
bilised cannon, plus smaller weapons, but
we can meet individual customer require-
ments. We respond to users’ preferences
for surveillance and fire control radars.
We offer MTU or Caterpillar engines for
propulsion. The articulating surface drive
option, utilising surface-piercing propel-
lers, both reduces drag, thereby increasing
efficiency, and helps enable shallow water
operations.”
China
As well as being a supplier of such craft,
the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was
a long-term operator of multiple small
FACs of various types. The Chinese have
rationalised the FAC fleet over the past
decade though, and now rely mainly upon
the 224-tonnes, 43m (141ft) ‘Houbei’ class
catamaran, which is intended to pose a
threat of saturation missile attacks to US
Navy carrier battle groups operating in wa-
ters adjacent to the PRC. These 36-knot (67
the supply of naval vessels, but now has a
booming warship construction industry.
Since 2004 some 20 indigenously-built
missile- and gun-armed FAC have been
commissioned, while a new class of fast
motor torpedo boat, reportedly optimised
for anti-submarine warfare, is coming into
service. The Burmese, though, have now
turned to Israel to up their FAC game. In
late 2015, six Super Dvora Mk.3 craft were
ordered from the Ramta division of Israel
Aerospace Industries (IAI). The acquisi-
tion of these vessels is a potent symbol of
Burma’s determination to protect its off-
shore assets at a time when bidding for ex-
ploration rights in the county’s Exclusive
Economic Zone is intensifying. IAI neither
confirm nor deny the existence of the Bur-
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 27
sea power
km/h) craft, powered by twin diesel engines,
linked to four water jets, are armed with
eight CAIC C-803 AShMs as well as a ZEERI
AK-630 close-in weapon system. The type
provides a relatively stable missile platform,
and can operate up to 400 nautical miles/
nm (741 kilometres/km) offshore. More
than 80 such vessels are in service, with
estimates from builders Hudong-Zhong-
hua Shipbuilding putting the cost at up to
$50 million per vessel. There have been a
number of regional media reports, as yet
unconfirmed, that Pakistan plans to build
vessels of this type under licence.
India
The PRC’s erstwhile rival India operates
more than 20 FACs of various types, with
the ‘Car Nicobar’ class now having prime
responsibility for security, and search and
rescue within India’s Exclusive Economic
Zone. These ships have been involved in a
number of kinetic actions against pirates
in recent years. The craft’s main armament
is a Medak CRN91 30mm cannon, backed by
a pair of machine guns, and KB Mashi-
nostroyeniya 9K38 Igla surface-to-air
missiles. A Furono navigation radar and a
Bharat Electronics Limited Link-II tacti-
cal data link are also fitted. These vessels
can reach 36 knots, and the final vessel in
the 14-strong 330-tonne class is currently
under construction at Garden Reach
The Burmese Navy’s Tatmadaw Ya
is the latest version of the very
potent, versatile and well-proven
‘Super Dvora’ class which is set
to give the country’s rapidly
expanding naval capabilities a
further boost © IAI
sea power
The People’s Liberation
Army Navy ‘Houbei’ class
FACs are in service in large
numbers. These craft pose
a potential threat to US
Navy aircraft carrier battle
groups operating in waters
adjacent to China
© US Navy
Shipbuilding and Engineering (GRSE) at
Kolkata. GRSE did not respond to requests
for information on costs and other aspects
of the project.
Indonesia
Expansion of the Indonesian FAC
inventory is in progress, as Jakarta seeks
to enhance surveillance and response
capabilities in its coastal waters. Progres-
sively supplementing existing larger types
of FAC such as the ‘Todak’ class is a planned
fleet, according to deputy defence minister
Lieutenant General Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin,
of at least 40 locally-built ‘KCR-40’ and
‘KCR-60’ class FACs. These new classes,
under construction since 2012, have a main
armament of CAIC/PT Pindad C-705 In-
donesian/Chinese manufactured AShMs;
the ‘KCR-40’ class has two of the missiles
fitted, while the longer ‘KCR- 60’ class
has four. Gun armament for the ‘KCR-40’
class is a 30mm CMS NG-18 cannon, and
two 20mm Denel Vektor cannon, while
the ‘KCR-60’ class features a BAE Systems
Bofors 57mm cannon. Shipyards involved
in the programme include PT PAL, PT
Palindo and PT Citia, with a manufacturer’s
estimated project cost of $10.2 million per
vessel for the 40m (131ft) variant. According
to PT PAL production director Edy Widarto,
prospects for overseas manufacture of the
vessel are also being explored. In terms of
sensors, China North Industries TR-47C
and SR-47AG naval surveillance radars are
carried by the vessels, while triple MAN
28 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
V12 diesels enable a speed of about 30 knots
(55.5km/h). Jakarta last year stated that, de-
spite the prototype having been destroyed
in a fire, the programme to build four 63m
(206.6ft), waterjet-powered ‘X3K Klewang’
class missile-armed stealth trimaran FACs
in Indonesia would continue. Nevertheless,
on 16 February, constructors PT Lundin
announced that only one example will be
completed.
Pakistan
Pakistan operates a range of FACs of vary-
ing antiquity. The PRC, nowadays Pakistan’s
prime supplier of naval vessels, delivered a
new 570-tonne, 63m (207ft) FAC, the Azmat
to Pakistan in 2012. This ship was construct-
ed by the China Shipbuilding and Offshore
Corporation (CSOC). Since then, a further
example has been built in Pakistan by the
Karachi Shipyard and Engineering works
(KSEW) company, in cooperation with
CSOC. The ship has been commissioned,
while in April 2015 the first steel was cut on
a third example at KSEW. A fourth vessel is
planned. Designed primarily for the littoral,
the armament of this 30 knot (56km/h)
FAC consists of eight CAIC C-802 AShMs,
a 23mm cannon and an AK-630 close-in
weapon system. KSEW has quoted a unit
cost of $ 50 million per vessel.
Philippine Navy
The Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas (Phil-
ippine Navy) has a very mixed fleet of
gun-armed FACs, featuring both indige-
nously-built craft and vessels acquired sec-
ond-hand from other nations. The newest
FACs are six Multi-Purpose Assault Craft
(MPAC). These 40-knot (74km/h) assets,
The Philippines Navy
has six MPAC craft
in service, with dual
assault and FAC roles;
some have seen active
service. Three more
are to be built jointly
by Lung Teh and
Propmech © Lung
Teh Shipbuilders

designed primarily for coastal and riverine
use, can act as both assault craft and FACs,
and can carry 16 troops for landing via a
forward drop-ramp. The MPACs are armed
with three machine guns. Three 15m (49ft)
versions were built by Lung Teh of Taiwan;
the others, constructed by Propmech in the
Philippines, are 17m (56ft) long.
Now, Manila is proceeding with a pro-
gramme to build another three examples,
with $5.7 million allocated for the project.
In late February 2016 the Department of
National Defence
announced that the work on the new
vessels will be shared between Lung Teh
and Propmech. The projected craft will
be optimised for FAC duties, and will
carry a light surface-to-surface missile
system, probably Rafael’s Spike. They will
reportedly also be armed with a remotely-
controlled General Dynamics/US Ord-
nance M2HB Browning 12.7mm machine
gun, and two US Ordnance M60 7.62mm
machine guns.
KONGSBERG
KONGSBERG creates and delivers
high technology solutions for people
that operate under very challenging
conditions – on the oceans, in the
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sea power
Singapore
The latest addition to Sin-
gapore’s littoral combatant
inventory is the ‘Independence’
class, with the first of class
having been launched by local
shipbuilders ST Marine in June
2015. Jointly designed by Kock-
ums (now Saab), and ST Marine,
the 27-knot (50km/h) warship
is larger and more capable than
the ‘Fearless’ class patrol craft
which it replaces. A strong
armament suite
consists of an OTO Melara/Fin-
meccanica 76mm gun, mounted
forward together with a twelve- The Republic of Singapore Navy
cell vertical-launch system for ‘Formidable’ class frigate and
the ships’ MBDA Mica SAM system. There ‘Valour’ class corvettes. The new
are also two side-mounted OTO Melara/ ‘Independence’ class helicopter-
Finmeccanica Hitrole remote-controlled capable FACs will considerably
enhance Singapore’s littoral
machine guns, and a Rafael Typhoon 25mm
surveillance and defence © US Navy
automatic cannon at the stern. Meanwhile,
an aft flight deck can support operations
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 29
sea power
The Republic of Korea Navy’s
‘Yun Youngha’ class FAC is
more heavily armed than its
predecessors, and enhances
Seoul’s littoral and coastal
capabilities. A smaller variant
is planned © Republic of
Korea Armed Forces
by a naval support helicopter, while a stern
well enables the embarkation and launch-
ing of a rigid-hull inflatable boat. A novel
feature of the ship is an integrated bridge
and combat management centre, with the
ships’ sensor package including Thales’ NS-
100 naval surveillance radar. ST Marine did
not respond to requests for information on
the cost of the ‘Independence’ class.
Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankan Navy’s Fast Attack Flotilla
has an FAC order-of-battle which includes
‘Dvora 1’,’Dvora 2’ and ‘Dvora 3’ vessels plus
‘Shaldag’ class designs, and the locally-
developed ‘Series III’ class. The 53-knot
(98.1km/h) ‘Series III’ features a Rafael
Typhoon weapon fitted with an Orbital
ATK Bushmaster 20mm cannon. A Furuno
FR 8250 radar is used for navigation and
propulsion is provided by twin Deutz V16
diesel engines and two Arneson ASD 16
articulating surface drives.
Taiwan
Along with being a supplier of FACs Taiwan
has in recent years bolstered its coastal
and littoral naval fleet with twelve ‘Ching
Chiang’ class vessels, and 30 ‘Kuang Hua’
class FACs, both equipped with AShMs. Tai-
wanese capabilities are now being further
upgraded. At the end of 2014 the Tuo Jiang,
the first of a new class of wave-piercing
catamaran-hulled warships commenced
trials. These 560-tonne 60.4m (198ft) long
craft are being constructed by Lung Teh
Shipbuilders. Lung Teh president Sheldon
Huang told Armada that eleven of the ships
will be built. “They are offshore-capable
gun and missile platforms, twin diesels
linked to waterjets enabling a speed of 45
30 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
knots (83km/h), with a cruising speed of 25
knots (46km/h),” he said. Mr. Huang con-
firmed that the company is aiming to export
the type. “We intend to market these vessels
worldwide,” he said. Official estimate of
the cost of the programme is $843.4 million.
These new FACs are, for their size, very
heavily armed. Their missile fit includes
eight CSIST Hsiung Feng II, and eight Hsi-
ung Feng III AShMs. There is a OTO Melara/
Finmeccanica 76mm general purpose gun,
and a Raytheon Phalanx close-in weapon
system for air defence, as well as two 12.7mm
machine guns, and two triple Mk.32 torpedo
launchers. The advanced hull form of the
‘Ching Chiang’ class should enable fuel ef-
ficiency, seaworthiness and manoeuvrabil-
ity, while the superstructure incorporates
stealth features to reduce vulnerability to
detection, and to missile attack. The ships
are intended primarily for littoral warfare.
However, they can operate at Sea State
Seven (with waves up to nine metres/30ft in
height), have a range of 2000nm (3706km),
and could therefore also engage PRC war-
ships far from Taiwan. The armament and
performance of these latest Taiwanese
warships should therefore pose some chal-
lenges for Beijing’s naval strategists.
Republic of Korea
On the northern coast of the East China Sea,
the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) navy is seeing
a major upgrade of its coastal and littoral
capabilities, phasing in newly-constructed
‘Yoon Youngha’ class FACs. This class carries
Agency for Defence Development/LIG
Nex1 SSM-700K Haesseong AShMs, backed
up by a Hyundai Wia 76mm gun. A total of
18 of the 570-tonne, 46m (151ft) long ‘Yoon
Youngha’ class are planned to be con-
structed by Hanjin Heavy Industries and
STX, and most are now in service. In terms
of sensors, these ships carry an STX Radar
SYS-100K and LIG Nex1 SPS-530K naval
surveillance radar. For their propulsion, a
combined MTU 12V 595 TE90 diesel engine
and General Electric LM500 gas turbine
propulsion systems, linked to water jets,
enables a speed of over 40 knots (74km/h).
Hanjin has given a cost estimate of $38
million per vessel.
Vietnam
Alongside the RoK, the Vietnam People’s
Navy (VPN) is also concerned about
Beijing’s naval machinations. Currently
the navy relies on its Russian-designed
‘Molniya’ class corvettes. Gas turbines give
these 480-tonne, 56m (184ft) long vessels a
top speed of 42 knots (78km/h). Their main
armament is 16 Raduga P-15 Termit or Tac-
tical Missiles Corporation Kh-35U AShMs,
backed up by a Gorky 76mm dual-purpose
gun and two AK-630 close-in-weapon
systems. Four are known to be in service
with the VPN. Two more are currently un-
der construction in Vietnam according to
recent regional reports, with a further four
expected to be constructed under licence
in Vietnam at an undisclosed date.
Summary
Regional territorial disputes, and maritime
crime, demand that Asia-Pacific navies
maintain significant high and low intensity
combat, coastal and littoral water interven-
tion capabilities. It would, therefore, be
surprising if new types of FACs, customised
for single or multiple roles as required, did
not continue to enter service with regional
naval forces in significant numbers.
air power

The United States

armed forces have
progressively honed the
CSAR concept since its
use en masse during the
Vietnam War © USMC

The Great Escape

Although still considered a niche capability, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) is being employed by
a growing number of armed forces worldwide, who recognise the importance that such an asset can
play in getting their personnel out of danger when things go wrong.

Thomas Withington

C
SAR traces its roots back to
the First World War, when the
Royal Navy’s Royal Naval Air
Service (RNAS) introduced
its Armoured Car Section.
Employing Rolls-Royce armoured cars un-
der the leadership of Commander Charles
Samson, the RNAS used these vehicles to
rapidly reach and rescue RNAS aircrew
that had been forced to land in hostile
territory. Becoming the Royal Naval Ar-
moured Car Division, the unit eventually
comprised 20 squadrons and was deployed
both in the Western European and Medi-
terranean/Middle East theatres. The CSAR
concept was refined still further during
the Second World War when both the Royal
Air Force and the Luftwaffe (German Air
Force) operated fast boats to rescue air-
crew who had been downed in the North
Sea and English Channel during dogfights,
and specific CSAR aircraft, often in the
form of flying boats, for a similar mission.
However, it was during the United
States’ involvement in the Vietnam War,
between 1965 and 1975 when CSAR really
came of age. This was thanks in no small
measure to the perfection of the helicop-
ter, in the years immediately following
the Second World War, and its subsequent
employment in warfare, initially by the
French armed forces during the Alge-
rian War of Independence between 1954
and 1962. For CSAR, the helicopter was
revolutionary because, unlike a fixed wing
aircraft, a CSAR helicopter had the ability
to hover directly above, or near, downed
aircrew and then winch them to safety.
That conflict saw dedicated CSAR helicop-
ters, often medium-lift utility rotorcraft,
escorted to a crash site by attack helicop-
ters or fixed wing aircraft, sometimes sup-
ported by tankers, if the mission was of a
long range, and Special Forces commandos
were used for the location and recovery of
the aircrew. The CSAR helicopters would
also be outfitted with medical equipment
to provide treatment as soon as possible if
the aircrew had sustained injuries.
Modern Times
Since the advent of modern CSAR during
the Vietnam War, this capability has been
used successively in major conflicts. Dur-

32 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016


ing the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, which
saw the United States armed forces bat-
tling the Somali National Alliance (SNA)
and Al Qaeda elements between 3 and 4 Oc-
tober that year, CSAR was deployed in the
form of the United States Air Force 24th
Special Tactics Squadron which played a
major role in the rescue of crewmembers
from two US Army Sikorsky UH-60 family
medium-lift utility helicopters shot down
by SNA cadres. This mission was later
made famous by Mark Bowden’s 1999 book,
Black Hawk Down. Two years after the So-
mali operations, the US armed forces were
once again in action, this time over the
Balkans during Operation DENY FLIGHT,
the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
(NATO) initiative to enforce a United
Nations-sponsored No Fly Zone over Bos-
nia-Herzegovina to prevent Bosnian Serb
forces from initially using their aircraft to
attack Bosnian civilians. The mission later
expanded to allow NATO to attack Bosnian
Serb artillery shelling civilians in Sarajevo,
the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina. On 2
June 1995, USAF Captain Scott O’Grady
ejected from his General Dynamics/Lock-
heed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter
landing in enemy territory. After several
days on the run evading Serb forces, he
was rescued by US Marines from the 24th
Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Although the US armed forces have
arguably written the rule book as far as
Italy has recently
deployed NH-90TTH
helicopters to assist
CSAR efforts in Northern
Iraq. The country has
also deployed a similar
capability to Afghanistan
© Italian Army
CSAR is concerned, the interest of other
nations in this capability, both within
and without the NATO area, is growing.
CSAR provides a means, not only to rescue
downed aircrew, but also to rescue other
troops who may be in danger, or who have
been captured, or civilian hostages, as well
as means of infiltrating and exfiltrating
Special Forces to and from their targets.
More information regarding recent de-
velopments in the Special Forces domain
can be found in Andrew White’s Special
Operations Compendium in this issue. Italy
is one country which has picked up the
CSAR baton, announcing in early March
that it would deploy four NH Industries
The USAF’s HH-60G Pave Hawk
CSAR helicopters are due to
be replaced by a new aircraft
which will use the MH-60G
design as its base © US DoD
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 33
air power
NH-90TTH medium-lift helicopters,
reinforced with the same number of Agus-
taWestland/Finmeccanica AH-129A/C/D
Mangusta attack helicopters, to Iraq to
support US-led multinational efforts to
roll back the territorial gains in western
Iraq and eastern Syria made by the Islamic
State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) insurgent
group throughout 2014. These helicopters
will be based in Erbil, in the north of Iraq,
with aircraft being drawn from the Eserci-
to Italiano (Italian Army) 5th and 7th Army
Aviation regiments, with this CSAR force
following a similar composition to that de-
ployed by Italy to Herat in south-western
Afghanistan to provide Combat Search and
Rescue as part of ongoing NATO opera-
tions in the Central Asian country.
Growing CSAR interest and uptake has
been helped in no small measure by the
range of robust and capable medium-lift
utility rotorcraft which are on the market,
such as the NH-90TTH, the AgustaWest-
land/Finmeccanica AW-101 family, the
Sikorsky S-92 and the Airbus Helicopters/
Eurocopter H-225M Super Cougar. Russian
offerings in this regard include the Mil M-17
family while the US Marine Corp’s new Bell
Helicopter UH-1Y Venom and the Bell-Boe-
ing CV/MV-22B Osprey tilt rotors, the latter
of which are also used by the US Air Force,
will no doubt find themselves deployed in
the CSAR role during their careers.
Cougar Town
The H-225M has emerged as a popular CSAR
choice, since the aircraft was first delivered
 air power
to the French armed forces in 2005. France
was the first customer for this aircraft,
which is now in service with both the Armée
de l’Air (French Air Force) and the Aviation
Légère de l’Armée de Terre (French Army
Light Aviation), which both use the aircraft
to support CSAR and Special Forces mis-
sions. To date, the two forces operate circa 14
of the aircraft. Other orders for the H-225M
have since been forthcoming from Brazil,
Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Thai-
land. France performed the first deploy-
ment of the aircraft in the summer of 2006
to assist the evacuation of foreign nationals
from Lebanon during Operation BALISTE
following the commencement of hostilities
between Israel and the Hezbollah Palestin-
ian militia organisation on 12 July 2006.
Since then, these aircraft were deployed
to Afghanistan in December of that year to
support the multinational NATO-led force
fighting Al Qaeda and Taliban elements
operating in the country. Subsequent to this
deployment, these aircraft were upgraded
with the addition of door-mounted Nexter
machine guns and a Sagem Forward-Look-
ing Infrared System (FLIR).
Away from France other H-225Ms, no-
tably those flown by the Royal Malaysian
Air Force (RMAF), have been used for non-
34 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
The USAF’s MC-130P aircraft
are being replaced by the
new MC-130J, one of the
latest iterations of the long-
running C-130 turboprop
freighter family © USAF
combat missions, such as the search for
Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, a Boeing
777-200ER airliner that disappeared on 8
March 2014 and has yet to be found. These
aircraft were deployed once more in June
2015 during the relief effort following the
Sabah earthquake in western Malaysia.
Such operations have no doubt assisted
the appeal of the H-225M, with open
source reports stating in June 2015 that
Kuwait has expressed an interest in this
aircraft, with the possibility of acquiring
up to 24 to equip its air force.
Whiskey-A-Go-Go
The United States remains the world’s
largest user of dedicated CSAR aircraft. In
October 2015, it was reported that the US
had deployed a number of CSAR assets
to Diyarbakir airbase in south-eastern
Turkey to support Operation INHERENT
RESOLVE, the US contribution to the
ongoing anti-ISIS operations in Iraq and
Syria. Assets deployed to this end include
Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk CSAR heli-
copters. These aircraft are operated by the
USAF and also the Republic of Korea Air
Force, which designate the aircraft as the
HH-60P. Other HH-60G variants operated
by the USAF include the MH-60G which is
designed for Special Forces search and res-
cue missions, equipped with an air-to-air
refuelling capability, long-range fuel tanks,
an improved radar relative to other UH-60
family models and a FLIR. The USAF is
now moving ahead with the HH/MH-
60G replacement via the Combat Rescue
Helicopter (CRH) initiative. Launched via
a USAF request for proposals in October
2012, the air force announced its intention
General Dynamics’ AN/PRC-
112G combat survival radio,
in widespread use around
the world, provide a means
by which downed aircrew
can be located © USMC

to procure the legacy aircraft’s replace-
ment. The requirement is being met by
a joint Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin team,
with Sikorsky supplying the aircraft, to be
based on the existing MH-60 design, and
Lockheed Martin providing the heli-
copter’s mission systems. An award was
made to the team by the USAF on 26 June
2014 worth $1.3 billion to cover an initial
delivery of four aircraft, with a subsequent
112 airframes to be procured for $7.9 billion,
with deliveries of all of these aircraft being
envisaged by 2029. The aircraft will be offi-
cially designated as the HH-60W Whiskey
when they enter USAF service.
When performing CSAR and associ-
ated Special Operations missions, in
USAF service, the HH/MH-60G aircraft
are reinforced with the USAF Special
Operations Command’s Lockheed Martin
MC-130J Combat Shadow-II turboprop
freighter, which use the firm’s KC-130J
tanker as its baseline design. In USSO-
COM service, the MC-130J replaces it's
erstwhile MC-130E/P aircraft, with a new
design which has an extensively modified
in-flight refuelling system, a strength-
ened wing to extend the aircraft’s service
life, and a so-called Enhanced Cargo
Handling System, plus new optronics
and provision for enhanced electronic
warfare systems during the aircraft’s
lifetime. The USAF has ordered a total
of 37 MC-130J aircraft. On 28 March it
was reported that Lockheed Martin had
received a contract worth $1.5 billion to
deliver eight MC-130Js for the USAF, plus
five HC-130J planes for the United States
Coast Guard. Like the MC-130J, the HC-
130J is also used by the USAF for the CSAR
mission. Current plans call for the USAF
to procure an eventual total of 78 HC-130J
airframes, following the commencement
of deliveries in November 2012.
Yet CSAR is not all about specialist
aircraft; specialist subsystems form a
vital component to the mission. In March,
Cubic Global Defence was awarded a con-
tract to supply AN/ARS-6(V)12 Personnel
Locator Systems via a United States De-
partment of Defence indefinite-quantity/
indefinite-supply contract expected to
continue until 2020. The AN/ARS-6(V)12
is used to locate downed aircrew and is in
extensive use with NATO and US forces.
Using radio frequency transmission
across the Very and Ultra High Frequency
bands of 118-407 megahertz, the system
provides voice communications with
combat survival radios such as the Gener-
al Dynamics Mission Systems’ AN/PRC-
112G, Elbit Systems’ AN/PRC-434 and Boe-
ing AN/PRQ-7F survival radios. The AN/
ARS-6(V)12 forms a vital part of the CSAR
mission as it allows aircraft carrying the
system to detect downed aircrew, and to
communicate with them across their sur-
vival radios, to ascertain their location
and thus their physical condition. The
AN/ARS-6 family has been in service for
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 35
air power
The USAF has found its CV-22B tilt
rotor aircraft ideal for the CSAR
mission. Other countries which
purchase the aircraft may employ it
for similar missions © USAF
over two decades, and the latest AN/ARS-
6(V)12 version packages the capabilities of
legacy AN/ARS-6 examples into a smaller
and lighter system, while adding the new
capabilities discussed above.
Looking forwards the future, the
increasing ‘democratisation’ of the CSAR
club is interesting. As this article has il-
lustrated, new countries have entered this
domain. Brazil and Malaysia’s acquisition
of a CSAR capability via their respective
H-225M acquisitions discussed above is
instructive in this regard. These countries,
however, are arguably acquiring this capa-
bility as an adjunct to an overall acquisi-
tion of rotorcraft which can support a
range of missions, both for Special Forces
and conventional operations, which also
include CSAR. This maximises the invest-
ment of these countries as they gain a true
multi-role rotorcraft. For now, dedicated
CSAR units are expected to remain the
preserve of a handful of forces such as the
air forces of France, Italy and the United
States. These are countries which desire,
and can afford, to have a dedicated CSAR
force, although these nations also do not
confine their CSAR assets to solely sup-
porting this mission as such aircraft are
versatile and can assist other tasks. CSAR
is undoubtedly here to stay as an indis-
pensable capability, although it is one that
will increasingly be performed by multi-
role airframes as opposed to dedicated
helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
air power

Decision Time
The decision to discard the Airbus Helicopters/Eurocopter EC-665ARH Tiger Armed Reconnaissance
Helicopter gunship announced in the Australian government’s Defence White Paper this February has
left questions about the future of rotary attack in the country’s arsenal.

Andrew Drwiega

36 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016


The ADF’s EC-665ARH helicopter will
not be extended beyond the mid-
2020s, spurning the opportunity of a
Mid-Life Upgrade now being examined
by OCCAR and manufacturer Airbus
Helicopters © Australian Army
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 37
air power
T
he EC-665ARH attack helicop-
ter programme can be seen as
both a success and a partial
failure. The success is that four
nations, Australia, France,
Germany and Spain, eventually fielded a
newly-designed, complex attack helicopter
conceived in Europe. Its drawback has
been a painfully long fielding process
to get all of the versions of the platform
flown by the nations above up to full op-
erational capability, something that one of
the partners, Australia, has now admitted
it is unlikely to achieve to its satisfaction in
the form originally envisaged when it was
selected. It has now declared that its EC-
665ARH usage will be terminated despite
a proposed Mid-Life Update (MLU) which
should come into effect in the mid-2020s.
For a customer to be unwilling to go for-
ward on the MLU, bearing in mind that this
was a helicopter that began to be delivered
to both the French and German customers
in March and April 2005 respectively, and to
the Australians in December 2004, points
to a serious breakdown in manufacturer-
customer understanding and support, or a
failure of procurement rigour, or both. The
fact that the Australian Defence Force (ADF,
which includes the country’s navy, army
and air force) has continually complained
that it has been at the end of ‘a very long
screwdriver’ has not helped.
The 2016 Defence White Paper, issued
by the Australian government on 25
February does not detail the reasons
behind the decision but revealed that it
would “replace the 22 Tiger Armed Recon-
naissance helicopters with a new armed
reconnaissance capability from the mid-
2020s.” Australia has done this before,
with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
eventually rejecting the Kaman SH-2G
Seasprite naval support helicopter order
in 2011. However, that programme did not
advance as far as the Australian Army
EC-665ARH programme.
By no longer having to invest a planned
$1-2 billion into the EC-665ARH MLU,
which was set out in the original capabil-
ity document known as the AIR 87 Phase
3 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter
Capability Assurance Programme, will go
towards a new fleet of light reconnaissance/
attack helicopters, as yet still to be
air power
A USMC AH-1Z attack
helicopter with Marine
Light Attack Helicopter
Squadron 469, taking
part in a close air support
exercise during February
2016 © USMC
identified. In a move of extraordinary
insight considering what was later released,
Bell Helicopter signed an agreement
with BAE Systems during the Singapore
Air Show to, as Lisa Atherton, execu-
tive vice president of military business
for Bell Helicopter explained, “establish
the groundwork … for future customers
of Bell Helicopter military rotorcraft in
Australia.” That now places its AH-1Z Viper
gunship firmly in the frame as a replace-
ment, although the reference to ‘light’ in
the White Paper might also let in other
potential candidates such as Boeing’s AH-6i
Little Bird, MD Helicopters’ MD-530G and
perhaps even another Airbus Helicopter
rotorcraft such as the H-135M or H-145M
which are light, armed military variants of
civil helicopters (the H-135 has already been
selected as the Royal Australian Army and
Royal Australian Navy training helicopter).
Tiger Upgrades
With Australia now almost certainly out
of any major investment in the Tiger
MLU, Airbus Helicopters will still go
ahead with the ambition of upgrading the
EC-665UHT/HAD Tigers owned by France,
Germany and Spain to what has been
38 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
described as the Tiger Mk.3 standard.
The project actually comes under
the purview of the OCCAR (Organisa-
tion Conjointe de Coopération en matière
d’Armement/Joint Armament Material
Cooperation Organisation), an organisa-
tion established by the defence ministers
of France, Germany, Italy and the UK on
12 October 1996 to “provide more effec-
tive and efficient arrangements for the
management of certain existing and future
cooperative armament programmes,” ac-
cording to its mandate.
The programme was placed under
OCCAR supervision when the organisa-
tion was legally activated in 2001.There
were initially three versions of the EC-665
including the two French HAP (Hélicop-
tère d’Appui et Protection/Protection and
Escort Helicopter) and HAC (Hélicoptère
Anti Char/Anti-Tank Helicopter) variants
and the German EC-665UHT (Unterstüt-
zungshubschrauber/Support Helicopter)
version. When Spain joined in 2004 it add-
ed a new version, the HAD (Helicóptero de
Ataque y Destrucción/Attack and Destruc-
tion Helicopter). Australia’s own version
and membership was formalised in 2009.
In July 2015, OCCAR took the lead in
an architecture study of the EC-665 on
behalf of France, Germany and Spain. In
a contract with Airbus Helicopters, it will
be responsible for defining the potential
improvements which would frame the
work required to produce the Tiger Mk.3
specifications.
This through-life management strat-
egy is being applied to the EC-665 family
so that it will remain “at the cutting edge
of attack helicopters in the world over the
next decades.” OCCAR describes the pro-
cess as evolving an MLU roadmap which
will include “promising new features and
improvements” to enhance the current
versions of the attack helicopter, particu-
larly in terms of life cycle costs, planned
maintenance and survivability. It is
developing an initial research framework
founded on the existing perceived require-
ments suggested by all of the EC-665
operators.
It will learn from the lessons gained
from the operational deployment (which
have included French and German deploy-
ments of the aircraft to support North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation- and US-led
combat operations in Afghanistan and
Libya respectively) of the EC-665 by its
air power
operators, and will study technologies
that would take the platform forward in its
capability. The result will then be placed
before the military customers from France,
Germany and Spain to allow them to select
“which combinations of equipment, func-
tions, performances and architectures
should be selected.” Whether there will be
a joint agreement on this will be interest-
ing to note, as will the capacity of Airbus
Helicopters to deliver nation-specific
packages should they be required.
Alternatives
The AH-1Z is already being fielded with the
United States Marine Corps (USMC) and
will be in production until 2021 at current
estimates. As the AH-1Z is already marin-
ised it would be immediately better suited to
naval/littoral deployments than the EC-665
which is not at the same level of marinisa-
tion. Due to its service with the USMC, the
AH-1Z is corrosion resistant and its engines,
General Electric GE T700 turboshafts are
the same as those used by the Sikorsky
MH-60R naval support helicopters which
are currently being introduced into service
with the Royal Australian Navy. It can also
be equipped with folding blades (it now has
four-bladed main and tail rotors) and its
40 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
systems are shielded from electromagnetic
interference.
The AH-1Z’s armament would cer-
tainly provide enough firepower: a General
Dynamics M197 20mm three-barrelled
Gatling cannon with a 750-round maga-
zine, and up to six pylons on the stub wings
to carry guided or unguided rockets, up to
16 laser guided Lockheed Martin AGM-114
Hellfire family Air-to-Surface Missiles
(ASMs) and even wing tip points for a pair
of Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder family air-
to-air missiles.
As part of the US Department of Defense
(US DoD) 2016 budget, Bell Helicopter was
recently awarded an additional $461 million
for the delivery of 16 Lot 13 AH-1Z Vipers and
12 Lot 13 Bell Helicopters UH-1Y Venom light
utility helicopters together with auxiliary
fuel kits. The 2017 US DoD budget proposal
notes an intent to accelerate “the procure-
ment of the final 78 AH-1Z/UH-1Y helicop-
ters.” There will eventually be 189 AH-1Zs in
the US Marine Corps.
In 2017 the US Navy will begin the
procurement of two new missiles. One of
these, the multi-service Lockheed Martin
Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM),
will be included in the AH-1Z’s range of
weaponry. This air-to-surface missile
Boeing’s AH-6i Little Bird would
offer the ADF a mature, complex
smaller aircraft with plenty of
firepower, and the possibility of
an unmanned version potentially
in the future © Andrew Drwiega
has been developed to replace a range of
current ASMs, specifically the Raytheon
BGM-71 and AGM-65 Maverick missiles, as
well as the AGM-114. Two other potential
alternatives for a new Australian ‘armed
reconnaissance capability’ include Boeing’s
AH-6i and MD Helicopters’ MD-530G light
reconnaissance rotorcraft; six of the latter
were recently acquired by Malaysian
Army Aviation.
AH-6i
The AH-6S was primarily developed by
Boeing for the now defunct Armed Aerial
Scout (AAS) programme and was demon-
strated to the US Army for that require-
ment in October 2012. Since the pro-
gramme’s demise, Boeing has positioned it
as the AH-6i (international) for export but
it has been slow to attract orders. The Jor-
danian Army was interested and received
aircraft demonstrations but no firm order
was forthcoming. The first publicly-ac-
knowledged customer is the Saudi Arabian
National Guard (SANG) which has ordered
36 AH-6is, 24 likely to be delivered this year.
The order was announced through the US
DoD contracts bulletin on 29 August 2014.
It stated that Boeing had been awarded the
$234 million Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
air power
contract for the production and delivery
of 24 AH-6I aircraft, initial spares package
and ground support equipment.
The AH-6i is a more complex small
helicopter than it first appears. Mike Burke, capabilities.”
ex-director of attack helicopter business
development at Boeing was often heard
to announce, “When the AH-6i wakes up
in the morning, it thinks it’s an Apache.”
It does have commonalities with the
company’s AH-64E Guardian gunship as
well as with the MH-6M Little Bird used
by the US Army’s 160th Special Operations
Aviation Regiment (SOAR). It has a digital
cockpit, a modern mission computer that
manages the onboard weapons. Its sensor
is the L-3 Wescam MX-15Di optronics sys-
tem with laser rangefinder and designator. Stores Management System which is able to
The 16th SOAR’s MH-6M is fitted with a
central ‘plank’ across the airframe which
allows for a combination of weapon loads,
from AGM-114 ASMs and guided/unguided Aero M-134D-H Mini-Gun, FN Herstal’s
2.75in rockets, through to gun pods.
The Australian Defence White Paper
also made reference to the potential
growth of unmanned systems within the
ADF. Boeing has had an unmanned ver-
sion of the AH/MH-6 Little Bird since an
initial demonstration in 2004. In recent
years this has been demonstrated to the
Republic of Korea Army and in 2014 to the
US Marine Corps at Quantico, Virginia.
42 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
In the reconnaissance role, Boeing states
that its mission profile would include
“over-the-horizon search, re-supply,
communications relay and surveillance
MD-530G
Should the Australian government like the
idea of this smaller attack/reconnaissance
helicopter, but in a more ‘vanilla’ form, they
could take note of MD Helicopters’ recent
announcement of a further order to supply
six MD-530G Scout attack helicopters to
Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence (see above),
with deliveries beginning by the end of the
year and completing by spring 2017.
The MD-530Gs will include a MOOG
support up to four weapons stations which
can integrate a combination of guns and
missiles. These could include the Dillon
Heavy Machine Gun Pod (HMP) which
houses a 12.7 mm FN Herstal M3P machine
gun, an FN Herstal Rocket Machine Gun
Pod (RMP) as well as an Arnold Defence
M260 seven-shot rocket pod. They would be
carried using the MACE Aviation Extended
Range Weapons Wing (ER2W). An optronics
turret, likely to be the L-3 Wescam MX-10
series sensor and laser designator can also
be incorporated onto the MD-530G.
The one that got away:
Boeing’s new AH-64E
Guardian. Will neighbour
Indonesia’s purchase of
this fully mature attack
helicopter cause the ADF
to ‘glance again’ in its
direction?
© Andrew Drwiega
MD Helicopters owner Lynn Tilton
has steered the company away from what
was set to be an ignominious end before
she bought the company through Patri-
arch Partners, an investment enterprise,
in 2005. Her key move has been to gain
a foothold once more in the military
market which she did with FMS sales to
the Afghan Air Force of the MD-530F. Six
were initially sold for training but then
additional orders were placed for armed
variants with the latest fleet size planned
to be around 30 MD-530Fs, most of which
will be armed.
Finally, should the ADF still wish to re-
place the EC-665ARH with a ‘class-for-class’
capability, then there is always the recourse
to the AH-64E which regional friendly rival
Indonesia is buying. Boeing was awarded
a $295 million contract to supply the
Indonesia Army with eight AH-64E Apache
attack helicopters with a completion date
scheduled for 28 February, 2018. They will
also be supplied with nine Lockheed Martin
Modernized Target Acquisition Designa-
tion Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensors and
well as standard AGM-114 missiles.
For the time being at least, Australia’s
decision to put its EC-665ARH machines
out to pasture after such a short time seems
to be provoking more questions than
it answers.
 Defense and Security

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FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

Drone
Dangers
Having created a bow wave of enthusiasm and a new industry around Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
(UAVs) of all sizes, there is now a pressing need by governments and the military to be able to bring
them down, or at the very least prevent them from reaching an intended target.

Andrew Drwiega and Thomas Withington

44 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016


A trio of British firms have developed the
Anti-UAV Defence System, better known
as AUDS, capable of taking control of a
UAV and landing it safely © Blighter
I
n late October 2014, strange Uniden-
tified Flying Objects (UFOs) were
reported hovering over several
nuclear power stations in France.
Conspiracy theorists rushed to
tell the world that the UFOs were visitors
from another world, performing an initial
reconnaissance for a massed, alien inva-
sion of Earth. Why these visitors were so
interested in nuclear power stations was
not explained by the theorists, who instead
urged vigilance in case our extraterrestrial
visitors had now taken human form and
were living amongst us.
The truth of the incident was far more
prosaic, but a cause for concern. Between
that month, and the end of November
2014, consumer-purchased UAVs, known
as ‘drones’ in the commercial world,
had been flown over 13 of the 19 nuclear
power plants operational in France by
environmental protestors to highlight
the lack of security against air attack at
these facilities. Defending such installa-
Controp’s Tornado anti-UAV system
provides a detailed 360-degree image of
the surrounding airspace, displaying
UAVs and conventional aircraft, as this
picture of its display illustrates
© Controp
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 45
FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES
tions against attack from the air is a major
concern. In the wake of the 11 September
2001 Al Qaeda attacks on New York and
Washington DC, France rushed to deploy
air defences around its nuclear power
stations, which generate 75 percent of
the country’s electricity, according to
March 2016 figures published by the World
Nuclear Association, an industry group.
Across the Channel, the response of the
United Kingdom to the perceived threat
was to deploy ‘extra police’.
Parrot Fashion
The incident discussed above raises
some serious issues. That environmental
protestors were able to fly their aircraft
over and above the nuclear power stations
undetected and unchallenged, illustrated
that those with more nefarious intentions
maybe able to do the same thing, poten-
tially mounting explosives on the UAV and
crashing it into the reactor hall or another
part of the complex, which could lead
to the dispersal of radioactive material.
Small UAVs could also be used to target
important individuals. This was nowhere
better illustrated than when a Parrot AR
UAV hovered then landed in front of the
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and
defence minister Thomas de Maiziere
during a rally in the eastern German city of
FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES
Dresden on 15 September 2013. While it was
treated as an annoying distraction at the
time, security specialists are alarmed at
the very real threat today that something
similar could carry a remote-controlled
bomb onboard to be detonated in close
proximity to the target.
Away from the homeland security situ-
ation, troops on the battlefield also face
the threat of UAV attack. Small, com-
mercially-available drones, which can be
purchased for a few hundred dollars, but
mounted with explosives, could be used
by insurgents to target squads of soldiers,
individual vehicles, or even command cen-
tres making them a potentially devastat-
ing asymmetric weapon. Similarly, these
drones could be outfitted to carry chemical,
biological or radiological agents to attack
either troops, or civilian targets. To make
matters worse, such flying machines are
often small in physical size making them
a challenge to detect by radar, and to then
engage using surface-to-air missiles, or
46 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
anti-aircraft artillery. Clearly then, there
is a growing need to protect people and in-
stallations from these smaller, sometimes
individually-controlled, UAVs.
Venom
A company usually reputed for its exper-
tise in UAVs, Northrop Grumman, has
developed its own counter-UAV system
called Venom. Demonstrated at the Army
Manoeuvre-Fires Integrated Experiment
(MFIX) held at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on 8
December 2015 the Venom confirmed its
ability to identify and track small UAVs,
even when mobile. The Venom combines
a Lightweight Laser Designator Range-
finder (LLDR) on a universal, stabilised
and gimballed mount. The system re-
ceives slew-to-cue messages which allow
it to identify, hold and track low-flying,
small UAVs. The US Army’s interest in
anti-UAV technologies has increased sig-
nificantly in recent years. For example, in
July and August 2015, the US Department
IAI’s Drone Guard was revealed to
the world in 2015. It employs radars and
optronics to detect a UAV, and
then employs RF jamming to force the
UAV to return to its point of origin or
to crash © IAI
of Defence (DoD) held Exercise BLACK
DART at Point Mugu, California, to which
the US Navy, US Army, US Air Force and
US Marine Corps all sent representatives,
along with several allied nations, and per-
sonnel from industry, to test and evaluate
technologies which could be employed for
the anti-UAV mission.
The DoD has in fact been performing
the BLACK DART exercises since 2002,
although these initiatives, as the exercise
name suggests, were in the ‘black’ until the
DoD revealed their existence in 2014. In
2014, Exercise BLACK DART included live
fire trials against UAVs over a variety of
environments such as land, the littoral and
the open ocean. The exercise also focused
closely on detecting and intercepting small
UAVs. This has gained added interest in the

US and beyond when, in an incident closely
mimicking that involving Dr. Merkel dis-
cussed above, a civilian Quadcopter UAV
crashed into the South Grounds of the
White House in Washington DC in January
2015, sparking the lockdown of the
commander-in-chief’s residence and
prompting questions within the Secret
Service, which guards the US President,
and the wider defence and security com-
munity, how such incidents can be pre-
vented in the future. The use of UAVs for
criminal or violent activity clearly is also
a concern for law enforcement officials
as much as it is for soldiers. This means
that the solutions which are developed to
protect against such threats must not only
able to perform their role, but must be
affordable for police departments which
may not have similar budgets to their
military counterparts.
Falcon Shield
Away from the United States, the inci-
dents in France and Germany discussed
above have prompted significant interest
in Europe’s defence and security estab-
lishment regarding the small UAV threat.
During the 2015 Defence Security Equip-
ment International exhibition in London
there were a number of counter-UAV
systems launched including the Falcon
Shield from Finmeccanica’s Selex ES divi-
sion. It is a modular and scalable system
that combines a radar with an optronics
system to “find, fix, track, identify and
defeat” the perceived threat, according to
the company.
The Falcon Shield adopts an interest-
ing approach. It employs both optronics
and an Electronic Support Measure (ESM).
The optronics and ESM combine their
talents to detect the UAV, with the optron-
ics performing a visual detection, and the
ESM listening for the Radio Frequency
(RF) transmissions that the UAV requires
to fly. For example, in the US, the Federal
Communications Commission, which
manages the electromagnetic spectrum
there, allocates 27 to 49 Megahertz (MHz)
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 47
FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES
within the high end of the High Frequency
(three to 30MHz) and the low end of the
Very High Frequency (VHF) radio spec-
trum of 30-300MHz to be used for civilian
radio-controlled models. Thus the ESM
will be able to detect the UAV’s RF emis-
sions and then geolocate the aircraft, aided
by the optronics and a radar organic to the
Falcon Shield. According to Finmeccanica
the Falcon Shield will then ‘electronically
attack’ the UAV’s RF command link to de-
couple it from its source and land it, rather
than completely breaking the link and
have the aircraft fall out of the sky onto a
random location.
This takes care of two aspects of air
defence against UAVs, firstly employing
the RF link between the aircraft and its
controller as the ‘Achilles Heal’ by which
the interdiction of the aircraft can take
place. Secondly, by taking control of the
UAV and landing it safely, this avoids the
hazard of the aircraft simply falling out
of the sky and posing a danger to those
on the ground. Such attributes could be
Israel is a centre of excellence for
UAV air defence systems, with
RADA having developed a number
of radars which can be used to
detect such threats © RADA
FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES
of particular interest to law enforcement
organizations that may have to tackle
illegal drone use in built-up areas, where
the use of kinetic weaponry may also be
impossible and also too expensive. Ac-
cording to Steve Williams, the capability
manager for Falcon Shield, the range of
interception will reduce correspondingly
with a reduction in size of any potential
UAV threat.
In May 2015, three British compa-
nies announced their own collaborative
Anti-UAV Defence System (AUDS). They
comprised Blighter Surveillance Systems
(a manufacturer of ground surveillance
radars), Chess Dynamics (a producer
48 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
Northrop Grumman’s Venom UAV air defence
system has been demonstrated in live-fire
exercises in the United States. Interest in such
technologies in the US is growing significantly
© Northrop Grumman
of optronic surveillance systems) and
Enterprise Control Systems, a specialist in
jamming technology. The fruits of their la-
bour have produced a counter UAV system
that uses radar for detection, optronics
for tracking and a directional RF jammer
which disrupts the UAV’s flight. The AUDS
can scan in a 180 degree arc. Once identify-
ing a potential threat, its jamming capabil-
ity will break the RF control channel be-
tween the operator and the UAV, allowing
it to be brought down under control. Initial
test results showed that micro-UAVs could
be detected at around one nautical mile/
nm (two kilometres/km), while mini-UAVs
could be seen as far away as 4.3nm (eight
kilometres). Although it can
only disrupt one UAV at a time,
the AUDS can keep tracking
several simultaneously. Gra-
ham Beall, managing director of
Chess Dynamics, told Armada,
“You could run the whole thing
off a 13amp plug.”
Elsewhere in Europe,
Airbus’ defence and space
division has developed its own
anti-UAV system known as the
C-UAV which combines sensor
data with data fusion, signal
analysis and jamming. Accord-
ing to Airbus, the system uses
“operational radars, infrared
cameras and direction finders
from the (company’s) portfo-
lio to identify the (UAV) and
assess its threat potential at
ranges between 2.6-5.3nm (five
to ten kilometres).” The direc-
tion finder will also reveal the
location of the operator, a use-
ful bonus for the authorities.
The system is expected to be
operational from mid-2016.
Israeli Ingenuity
Drone Guard, a system from
Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) subsid-
iary ELTA, was also revealed in 2015. This
uses a combination of three-dimensional
(3D) radars and optronics to detect and
identify a target, then a jamming system
to prevent the UAV from continuing on
its course. The jamming interferes with
the flight of the UAV to the point where it
either automatically returns to its point
of origin or crashes. IAI uses 3D radars
such as the EL/M-2026D, EL/M-2026B
and EL/M-2026BF for short (5.3nm/
ten kilometres), medium (eight nauti-
cal miles/15km) and long (10.7nm/20km)
range detection. The company confirms
that the Drone Guard has been “exten-
 FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

sively and successfully tested against a
variety of different drones and scenarios,
including simultaneous multiple drone
penetrations or attacks.” According to
Nissim Hadas, IAI executive vice presi-
dent and ELTA president, demonstrations
to potential customers are already being
conducted.
Staying in Israel, RADA Electronic
Industries, whose MHR Very Short Range
Air Defence radar has been ordered by the
Israeli Ministry of Defence (MoD) to guard
the country’s southern border, is another
Israeli product capable of detecting UAVs.
The MHR S-Band (2.3-2.5/2.7-3.7GHz)
family comprise Pulse-Doppler, active
electronically scanned array radars which
employ sophisticated beam-forming
capabilities and advanced signal process-
ing. The manufacturer states that the
system can detect “from significant ranges
…commercial Low, Slow and Small aerial
vehicles such as quadcopters.”
Israel is no stranger to the UAV threat.
Although the country is a centre of excel-
lence for UAV design and production,
and its armed forces an avid user of such
platforms, it increasingly faces a threat
from such aircraft by non-state actors. In
2012 and 2013, small UAVs were flown from
Lebanon into Israel to gather Imagery
Intelligence (IMINT), and on both occa-
sions, these were shot down by Israeli Air
Force fighters. Speaking in 2012, Hassan
Nasrallah, the secretary general of the
Hezbollah Palestinian insurgent organi-
zation, stated that Hezbollah had flown a
UAV 21.5nm (40km) into Israeli airspace.
While these previous sorties have em-
ployed small UAVs, allegedly supplied by
Iran, to gather IMINT, the understand-
able fear of the Israeli defence establish-
ment is that such aircraft may be used in
the future to carry explosives, or worse.
Little surprise then that other Israeli
companies are involved in developing
anti-UAV systems. For example, Controp
has devised the Tornado optronics-based
air surveillance system which provides
a 360-degree panoramic image every
two seconds and can operate in a stand-
alone mode or be integrated with other
defensive systems. Controp states that it
can detect anything from conventional
aircraft to small UAVs.
As successive US-led military opera-
tions in Afghanistan, the Balkans and
Iraq have illustrated over the past two
decades, UAVs are a feature of modern
warfare and are here to stay, with their
employment expected to only increase
in the future. However, recent events in
France, Germany, Israel and the United
States underline the dangers posed by
UAVs falling into the hands of criminal
or guerilla elements, in addition to the
threat they pose to soldiers on the battle-
field as an asymmetric weapon. Yet the
minds of defence science and technology
engineers are already turning their
attentions to this threat, and devising
innovative solutions.

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49
Programme FOCUS

The CV/MV-22B entered service

with the US Marine Corps in 2007.
It is the only currently-fielded
aircraft with vertical and short
take-off and landing, and high
speed horizontal flight capabilities
© USMC

The Need for Speed

Helicopters have added a new dimension to the conduct of military operations since their
introduction by the French army and air force during the Algerian War of Independence between
November 1954 and March 1962.

Stephen W. Miller

T
he use of helicopters to support
vertical envelopment allows
the insertion of a combat force
without regard for geographic
obstacles and to do so where the
opponent may least expect. This has added
a new option to manoeuvre. Since the
Algerian conflict, advances in helicopter
design and improvements have increased
performance particularly in payload and
lift capacity. However, the top speed and
range of contemporary medium- and
heavy-lift utility helicopters appear to
have approached their upper limits.
For example, the latest F-model of the
Boeing CH-47 Chinook family of heavy-lift
helicopters has a maximum speed of 170
knots (315 kilometres-per-hour) and a mis-
sion range of 199.7 nautical miles/nm (370
kilometres). The CH-47F is followed by the
Russian Mil Mi-35M gunship which has a
maximum speed of 167.3 knots (310km/h)
and a 248.3nm (460km) range. AgustaWest-
land/Finmeccanica’s AW-101 medium-lift
utility helicopter with a maximum speed
of 166.8 knots (309km/h) while the firm’s
AW-139M a new generation twin-turbine
medium-lift utility helicopter has a top
speed of 165.2 knots (306km/h). As demon-
strated by this list of the ‘fastest’ speeds of
just over 161.9 knots (300 km/h) is as fast as
current designs can fly.
Air cruise speed is important as it drives
the ability of an aircraft to ‘turn-around’ on
a mission. The faster a helicopter goes the
sooner it reaches the objective and can then
return to pick-up and deliver additional
troops and supplies. The rapid build-up of
forces on the ground is critical to the success
of a vertical envelopment (see above). Thus
being able to fly more sorties over a period of
time is extremely valuable. Going faster also
adds to aircraft survivability by reducing the
time the aircraft is exposed to observers and
enemy gunners on the ground.
High operational range also is highly
desirable; however, increased range largely
relates to fuel payload. The aircraft’s
primary mission has, in the past, been a de-
termining factor in devoting more payload
to fuel and, therefore, increased range.

50 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016


Medium- and heavy-lift helicopters like
the Mil Mi-26 which has a 431.9nm (800km)
range and Sikorsky’s CH-53E with a
539.4nm (999km) range need such reach to
undertake multiple sorties without refuel-
ling. Meanwhile, refuelling probes fitted
to aircraft such as the CH-53E or US Air
Force special mission Sikorsky MH-60G/U
Blackhawks offer the capability to under-
take long-range, deep insertion missions.
However, range and capable airspeed are
from a practical operational sense closely
linked: Though an aircraft may have the
range to reach a landing zone at hundreds
of nautical miles distance, the length of
the transit and return time would result in
a prolonged build-up time. Aircraft would
be unable to ‘turn’ missions quickly due to
the travel time. So to make best use of long
operational range the aircraft should be
faster once again.
TILT ROTOR
Despite teething problems and criticism
by sceptics, the Bell-Boeing CV/MV-22B
Osprey tilt rotor, which started life in 1981
as the joint Vertical Take-Off/Landing Ex-
perimental (JVX) initiative is altering the
way vertical lift operations are conducted.
First fielded with the US Marine Corps in
2007, and with US Air Force Special Opera-
tions in 2009, it has now been employed
not only in combat (during US-led inter-
ventions in Iraq and Afghanistan), but also
in humanitarian and disaster relief opera-
tions, for example assisting the response
to Typhoon Haiyan which devastated part
of the Philippines in 2013. The Marine
Corps, in particular, saw the MV-22B as an
answer to its problem of needing to launch
its vertical assault from the sea with ships
stationed well beyond the horizon. This
was possible with the Boeing CH-46E
With the V-280 Valor Bell is
taking the lessons learned
from the CV/MV-22B and
incorporating the latest
technology, materials, and
production techniques to
provide a more advance tilt
rotor aircraft © Boeing
Sea Knight heavy-lift helicopter with a
lengthy transit that was unacceptable. It
left the landed forces exposed with limited
numbers and increased the time needed to
build their strength.
The unique characteristics and capabili-
ties of the MV-22B addressed this. It could
still take-off vertically from amphibious
ships but when transitioning to horizontal
flight by rotating the engines downwards
it could fly at 269.9 knots (500km/h). This
was more than double the air speed of the
CH-46E which meant it could reduce the
flight time to the same landing zone by
more than half. Plus, its greater 389.8nm
(722km) combat radius and higher 20000
pounds/lbs (9070 kilograms/kgs) payload
and 15000lbs (6800kgs) of external payload
further enhanced its effectiveness. The
hands-on results and lessons learned with
the MV-22B have stimulated interest and
heightened the promise for next-genera-
tion vertical lift. This should be especially
true considering that the CV/MV-22B was
essentially drawing on 1970s techniques,
materials and design and manufacturing
Sikorsky’s S-97
helicopter employs
two counter-rotating
overhead blades
and an aft pusher
propeller. This has
not only allowed it
to demonstrate high
cruise speeds, but
exceptional side-to-
side and even reverse
flight ©Sikorsky
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 51
Programme FOCUS
processes that have advanced substantially
over the last three decades.
Future Efforts
The aviation industry has been working on
approaches to break the top speed limit on
helicopters as discussed above. The chal-
lenge to increasing speed is partly due to the
very process that makes the helicopter ca-
pable of vertical flight—the overhead rotat-
ing blades. Factors that must be overcome
include the ‘drag’ of the blades and airframe,
retreating blade stall, air flow reversal, and
air compressibility. A technical discussion
of these could require several pages, but the
common connection is that these factors
must be addressed in some way to alter the
dynamics of helicopter flight. In attempting
to do so a number of very different direc-
tions are being taken by designers.
For example, Bell Helicopter has taken
the CV/MV-22B’s proven tilt rotor concept
and adapted it for its V280 Valor tilt rotor
design. As Steve Mathia, director of global
business development for advanced tilt
rotor systems for the firm described, “The
V-280 design and manufacturing takes the
lessons learned and the proven opera-
tional impact from the (CV/MV-22B) and
improves it with advanced design and
build technology.” One of the key improve-
ments he explained is found in the V-280’s
nacelles. With the CV/MV-22B, the entire
nacelle tilts. On the V-280, only the rotors
and gear boxes tilt while the nacelle and
engines remain stationary. This allows
for safe ingress/egress while keeping the
engine housing out of the way and reduc-
Programme FOCUS
ing maintenance requirements. Designed
to provide a multi-mission capability the
V-280 is smaller than the CV/MV-22B. It
will cruise at 280 knots (520km/h), have a
combat range in excess of 500nm (930km),
hover at 6000 feet/ft (1828.2 metres/m) and
fly in temperatures of 32 degrees Celsius
(95 degrees Fahrenheit) with a full combat
load, and exceed the agility of current he-
licopters. Teamed with Lockheed-Martin,
Bell is offering the V-280 as part of the
US Future Vertical Lift Joint Multi-Role
Technology Demonstration (FVL JMR-
TD) programme. The team anticipates the
V-280s first flight in August 2017.
X2
Meanwhile, Sikorsky and Boeing are part-
nered for the FVL JMR-TD programme
to offer the SB-1 Defiant helicopter. The
30000lbs (13636.4kgs) aircraft they propose
52 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016
Airbus Helicopters’
X3 design employed
short wings that
would begin to
provide lift at 80
knots with two
turboprop for
forward speed.
Pilots favourably
commented on the
manoeuvrability of
the aircraft
© Airbus Helicopter
uses Sikorsky’s X2 counter-rotating
coaxial design with a pusher propeller. The
Sikorsky-Boeing approach takes advan-
tage of 2010 X2 Technology Demonstrator
test flights where the 6000lbs (2720kgs)
aircraft achieved a record-breaking 250
knots (463km/h) airspeed. In 2015 Sikorsky
unveiled its S-97 Raider, a prototype for
a light tactical multi-mission helicopter
weighing circa 11400lbs (5000kgs).
Chris Van Buiten, vice president of
Sikorsky’s Innovations division, who leads
the effort stated, “Flying farther and faster
with a rigid coaxial helicopter is certainly
a key performance objective. However,
with the S-97 we expect to show next-
generation rotorcraft can outperform
conventional helicopters in every mission
performance parameter, particularly at
low speed and hover.” The secret behind
the X2 coaxial design is that the counter-
By using an aft pusher
propeller and twin boom tail
stabilizers the S-97 is already
noticeably quieter in flight
than traditional helicopters.
When high speed is not needed
but stealth is ‘declutching’ the
pusher prop makes it nearly
silent © Sikorsky
rotating main rotors provide lift and
forward flight without a tail rotor. Above
150 knots (277.8km/h) thrust is provided
by the pusher prop so that the main rotor
blades do what they do best—provide lift.”
Mr. Van Buiten further predicts that the
S-97 and SB-1 aircraft “will change the way
military aviators fly and fight with heli-
copters.” By the time Sikorsky and Boeing
fly their SB-1 aircraft in 2017 Sikorsky will
have flown three X2 aircraft in less than
ten years, and proven the design’s inherent
ability to be scaled to the size of a Sikorsky
UH-60 Black Hawk family medium-lift
utility helicopter.
Hybrid Designs
Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter)
has taken a hybrid approach for future
helicopters that takes on some of the attri-
butes of conventional aircraft like stubby
wings. These have been successfully dem-
onstrated to significantly improve forward
speed with its X3 technology demonstrator
achieving 255 knots (472 km/h) in flight
testing in 2012 (overtaking the X2 record).
The X3 design combines a top rotor for lift
in hover with short wings mounting turbo-
propellers that provide forward thrust
thus the term hybrid. It has no rear rotor
but rather a horizontal stabilizer support-
ing vertical fin stabilizers on each end. In
forward flight at speeds over 80 knots (148
km/h) the wings begin to provide addition-

al lift and at high speed nearly the entire
lift for the aircraft.
Airbus has not yet revealed its plans
for a new military aircraft using the ap-
proach demonstrated by the X3. However,
a company spokesperson suggested that
many of its current helicopters could in-
corporate these design principles. Since
the X3 drew from a heavily modified
Airbus Helicopters AS-365N3 Dauphin
light utility helicopter airframe this
seems entirely possible. The X3 was dem-
onstrated to the US military but finally
was not considered for the FVL JMR-TD.
Airbus had indicated its intent to focus on
search and rescue and is understood to
be working on an X3-derived aircraft that
could fly in 2019.
RACHEL
Mil suggested in 2009 that it was develop-
ing the Mi-X1 with a more aerodynamic
design and retractable landing gear coupled
with a proprietary Stall Local Elimina-
tion System (SLES). Their claim was that
the Mi-X1 will have a cruise speed of 256.4
knots (475 km/h) and maximum speed of
up to 280.7 knots (520 km/h). In August 2015
Mil displayed a demonstrator of RACHEL
(Russian Advanced Commercial Helicop-
ter) advertised as a high speed helicopter
at the MAKS Air Show in Moscow. The
helicopter is said to be designed to carry up
to 24 passengers or a 2.5 ton payload with
a maximum range of 485.9 knots (900km)
and top speed of 269.9 knots (500 km/h).
Mil stated flight tests would begin that
December with production in 2022. In De-
cember 2015 a highly modified Mi-24K was
publically demonstrated with new curved
tip rotor blades. Their purpose is to reduce
blade drag to improve stability and allow
higher helicopter speeds. Mil anticipates
the experimental aircraft will increase its
maximum speed from 179.8 knots (333km/h)
to 215.9 knots (400 km/h). If it is possible to
refit the curved tip blade to other aircraft
Mil suggests they could see a further 30
percent increase in air speed.
X-Plane
AMV, a small US company, has been devel-
oping its own design for a high speed verti-
cal lift aircraft employing fans positioned
within its short wings. The prototypes
clearly suggest a convergence between the
VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing)
aircraft and a high speed helicopter. AMV
armadainternational.com - april/may 2016 53
Programme FOCUS
The FVL JMR-TD
programme’s objective
is to develop and field
aircraft with significantly
greater performance
and capabilities to fill
mission roles from
reconnaissance and
attack to assault transport
and heavy-lift © Bell
has flown its X-plane concept demonstra-
tor and projects its AMV-211 could archive a
maximum speed of 260.7 knots (483km/h)
and cruise of 217 knots (402km/h) offering
a 593.9nm (1110km) range. Although it sub-
mitted a proposal for the FVL JMR-TD the
design was not selected and the company is
continuing its development.
Vectored Thrust
Another candidate for the requirement
uses Piasecki Aircraft’s proprietary
Vectored Thrust Ducted Propeller (VTDP)
design with the addition of lifting wings.
It has flown as the X-49 Speed Hawk in a
four-bladed, twin-engine, experimental
model utilizing the airframe of a Sikorsky
SH-60F Seahawk naval support helicopter.
The effort was initially funded by the US
Navy and then the US Army to demon-
strate a way to increase the speed of exist-
ing helicopters to 194.3 knots (360km/h).
First flying in 2007 it has achieved speeds
of 145 knots (268 km/h). It was not selected
for the FVL JMR-TD requirement.
Reason Prevails
A number of the world militaries including
several of the US and NATO armed forces
Programme FOCUS

of land warfare, munitions and tactical

face widespread obsolescence of their he-
licopter fleets in the coming decade. Many
currently-fielded aircraft were introduced
in the 1980s and are approaching their 30-
year lifespan. For example, the McDonnell
Douglas/Boeing AH-64 Apache gunship
family was first fielded in 1986 and despite Army initially sought to find at the most
a number of improvements has essentially
the same flight characteristics. The UH-60
family is even older; it was first operated fied several times so that they are now
in 1974. The latest UH-60M has fly-by-wire
systems, common avionics architecture,
and increased power and reliability in its
engine but retains the same speed. The
first target of the FVL JMR-TD will likely
be to replace the UH-60 series, which may
explain the similarities of the programmes’ ‘Ultra’ airframe as a new vertical lift cargo
candidate cabin designs to the former fam- aircraft with a performance equivalent to
ily of rotorcraft.
Thus, military users are inevitably
looking at replacing aircraft. The ques-
tion they are facing is whether to stay
with proven designs, albeit incorporating
The SB-1 is another
FVL JMR-TD
candidate. It scales
up Sikorsky’s S-97
design to meet
the requirements
of a UH-60 series
medium-lift utility
helicopter ©
Sikorsky
digital electronics and avionics, fly-by-
wire, and composite materials, or to
move to designs that offer a new level of
performance. A second factor is the pos-
sibility of developing a common aircraft
that can fill multiple mission roles. The US
three air frames to fulfil all the missions
it envisioned. This idea has been modi-
the Light Scout airframe (2030 introduc-
tion), the Medium-Light airframe, a
Medium-Utility/Medium-Attack airframe
for introduction in by 2028, and a Heavy
Cargo airframe for introduction in 2035.
In addition, the US Army envisages an
fixed-wing turboprop freighter like the
Lockheed Martin C-130J or Airbus A400M,
with introduction planned for 2025. Based
on a US Department of Defence 21 January
briefing by Jose Gonzalez, deputy director
warfare systems, it appears this is chang-
ing again. It is now proposed to categorise
based on the required capabilities rather
than weight. These new categories have
not yet been announced.
Even without the ‘Ultra’ airframe, this
aircraft concept has not only technical
challenges but also could be viewed as
infringing on the mission domain of the
US Air Force; this is an ambitious pro-
gramme and schedule. It is likely from
an operational standpoint that some air-
frame approaches may be preferable over
another in various missions. Already the
‘across the fleet commonality’ focus of the
US Army has begun to shift to subsystems
like cockpits, controls, and avionics. A
major question is also obtaining adequate
funding for such a programme and how
the price tag would impact on other army
modernization efforts.
Flying Forward
Field experience with the CV/MV-22B
is uncovering benefits and new ways to
capitalize on the aircraft’s unique capabili-
ties. The US Special Operations Command
(SOCOM) has already indicated interest
in increasing their initial requirement
for the CV/MV-22B based on these results.
Sufficient experience from the pre-FVL
JMR-TD X3 shows the feasibility of high
speed, enhanced agility and greater flight
range. It is now a question of determining
their viability, scalability and adaptability,
as well as cost, to fit each of the mission
roles. High speed helicopters are clearly on
the horizon; in what forms and how soon
remain unknown.

NEXT ISSUE: JUNE/JULY 2016 to support land forces during their missions. ■ PROGRAMME UPDATE - B-21 BOMBER
PUBLICATION DATE: 1 JUNE
The USAF is to receive its first new bomber for a
ADVERTISING DATE: 16 MAY ■ TANKER/TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT
generation. Armada investigates this initiative.
“No one kicks ass without taker gas” goes the adage.
■ TURING
We examine the in-flight refuelling market. ■ OPERATIONAL FOCUS - KILLING ISIS
Our regular column providing unique insight and
analysis regarding the cyber warfare and defence Efforts against the world‘s most odious insurgent
■ COMBAT PROPULSION
communications domains. group fall under Armada‘s gaze
Military vehicles are little more than dead metal
■ SUBMARINES without their propulsion systems, we examine recent
■ MODERN SOLDIER SUPPLEMENT
The market for new submarines, and upgrades of trends.
We take a detailed look at developments in the
existing boats remains healthy around the world. infantry soldier technology domain.
■ NIGHT VISION
■ TACTICAL MOBILITY Seeing in the dark is indispensable for today's military
An examination of the logistics vehicles which help operations, with technology to this end developing.

54 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016

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Programme FOCUS

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56 armadainternational.com - april/may 2016