Weapon System Trainer to Save Taxpayer’s Dollars

By Airman 1st Class Armando A. Schwier-Morales, 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

The first official KC-135 Stratotanker Boom Operator Weapon System Trainer (BOWST) in Air Mobility Command (AMC), slated to save the Air Force millions annually, opened during a ceremony Jan. 9 here.

Training boom operators to perform in-flight refueling requires a tanker and a receiver. An eight-hour tanker sortie cost more than $49,000 without factoring in the receiver costs. The BOWST can train boom operators for approximately $600 an hour.

“The BOWST came about because the Air Force wants to drive down the cost of training and get out of the air and on the ground to save money,” said David Kramer, the CEA Systems site manager.

McConnell Air Force Base, an AMC base, fosters a culture of excellence, develops the next generation of leaders, sets and achieves goals and provides in-flight refueling anytime anywhere.

“The KC-135 BOWST we are receiving today will play a vital role in helping train our aircrews to meet our global air refueling mission,” said Col. Ricky Rupp, the 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander. “The BOWST represents our continued commitment to using precious resources in order to enhance training while simultaneously cutting costs.”

The BOWST system enables instructors to test students in a wide variety of scenarios while receiving real-time information on the student’s progress, in a safe environment.

“What it allows us to do is recreate training actions for boom operators without spending money on fuel, maintenance or flying hours,” said Mike Adams, a CEA Systems boom operator instructor. “It also allows us to focus on various student qualification requirements, emergency procedures and other predeployment actions.”

McConnell AFB’s BOWST is the first of 10 to be installed at other KC-135 locations Air Force wide. Standing together Lt. Col. William Stowe, the 344th Air Refueling Squadron commander, and Airman 1st Class Joshua Garrett, 350th ARS boom operator, cut the ribbon opening the BOWST for training and savings.

“Cutting the ribbon was amazing,” Garrett said, “It was a great feeling to be part of it. Making the (BOWST) first contact was nothing new, but getting to do it in this system was unbelievable. They made it look very realistic.”

This article first appeared on AF.mil.

Army Announces Greatest Inventions

By David McNally, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM)

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., Sept. 12, 2011 — Army officials announced the winners of its greatest inventions competition Aug. 23. Earlier this summer a panel of combat veteran Soldiers reviewed and voted for the most innovative advances in Army technology.

“The contributions made by these teams promise to improve the well being of Soldiers and the Army’s capability to contribute to quality of life and our national security,” said Maj. Gen. Nick Justice, U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command commanding general. “I would like to expressly thank you for submitting your Army Greatest Inventions nomination packages which continue to make the Army Greatest Inventions program a success.”

The winners, in alphabetical order:

40mm Infrared Illuminant Cartridge, M992: Soldiers now have capabilities to engage the enemy far more effectively during nighttime operations. The Army’s new infrared illuminating cartridges/projectiles produce infrared light that is invisible to the naked eye, but is clearly visible through night vision devices that U.S. Soldiers use in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Source: Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center)

5.56mm M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round: Since June, the Program Executive Office for Ammunition at Picatinny Arsenal has fielded about 30 million new 5.56mm M855A1 Enhanced Performance Rounds in Afghanistan. The bullet has been redesigned and now features a larger steel penetrator on its tip. A notable feature of the EPR is that its bullet features a copper core. (Source: Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center)

Green Eyes – Escalation of Force Kit Integration with the CROWS System: The system emits a wide band of green light that temporarily disrupts a person’s vision so that driving a vehicle or aiming a weapon becomes difficult if not impossible. One application would be to warn civilians away from checkpoints and other areas where their safety is at risk. At closer distances, the lasers provide an immediate, non-lethal capability to deter aggressive actions. (Source: Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center)

Husky Mark III, 2G 2-Seat Prototype: This landmine detection vehicle is blast survivable, overpass capable and field reparable. Officials said the second generation 2-seat prototype is a natural evolution of the larger MK III Husky. The Husky Mark III/2G 2-Seat Prototype responds to the immediate warfighter need to mitigate the risks of task overload on the Husky operator, increases the Route Clearance Package’s ability to find and neutralize improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, and provides direct fire capability for the lead vehicle of the RCP.

The kit allows for the platform to be transported with air assets in a roll-on-roll-off configuration, increasing the readiness level and, at the same time, decreasing the logistical footprint and costs of maintaining the equipment in the theater of operations. (Source: Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center)

Jackal Explosive Hazard Pre-Detonation System: The Jackal is an IED defeat system designed to remove the threat of IEDs against Soldiers, tactical vehicle platforms and overall mission success. In 2010, the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center developed and fielded Jackal to Soldiers throughout Iraq to help counter roadside bombs. In particular, Jackal neutralizes the lethal IED threats putting Soldiers at risk during route clearance and convoy related missions.

Jackal functions to keep Soldiers outside the IEDs area of lethality and increase the survivability of vehicle platforms. Unlike its predecessors, the Jackal is designed to be modular and adaptable to new and emerging IED devices. Therefore, the Jackal provides significant capability to the Soldier and their mission and, more importantly, saves lives. (Source: Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center)

M240L 7.62mm Lightweight Medium Machine Gun: The new machine gun reduces the weight of the existing M240B without compromising reliability. “The titanium M240L represents a leap in weapons technology inspired by Soldier feedback. The lessons learned from this program will undoubtedly benefit future weapons systems that will maintain our continued advantage on the battlefield,” said Col. Douglas Tamilio, Project Manager Soldier Weapons for PEO Soldier. (Source: Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center)

mCare Project: mCare, short for mobile care, is a cell phone based bi-directional messaging system developed by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center. mCare was developed by modifying commercial off-the-shelf technologies to meet the unique needs of the Army Medical Department. Secure, HIPAA-compliant messaging system was needed to operate on wounded warriors’ existing mobile devices, in a manner uniquely distinct from text messaging or email.

This allows members of the care team to connect with Warriors-in-Transition throughout their outpatient recovery process through a device they already own and are familiar using — their personal cell phone. (Source: U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command)

Mortar Fire Control System – Dismounted: The MFCS-D reduces time to fire first round from eight minutes during the day and 12 minutes at night to less than two minutes for both day and night. The kit consists of ruggedized computers, battery power supplies, displays, navigation and pointing hardware, and associated mounting hardware.

The system enhances the responsiveness of the M120A1 120mm Towed Mortar System, enabling digital coordination of multiple systems and fire support network and significantly reducing time required to emplace, fire and displace the weapon. (Source: Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center)

RG-31 Robot Deployment System: The need for a low-cost and lightweight solution in transporting and deploying route clearance robots in combat brought on the development of the TARDEC RG-31. The system enables Soldiers to comfortably transport, deploy and operate road clearance robots from the protected area inside the vehicle.

The RDS kit allows for route clearance units to use the full range of robotics capabilities without having to physically unload and deploy the equipment out the back of the vehicle by hand, exposing them to enemy threats. The system will have a positive impact on how Soldiers transport, deploy, and engage roadside threats in combat for years to come, officials said. (Source: Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center)

Soldier Wearable Integrated Power Equipment System: The Soldier Wearable Integrated Power Equipment System, or SWIPES, utilizes the MOLLE vest and integrates force protection electronics and communications equipment with an advanced battery power source. The use of BA-8180/U and BA-8140/U Zinc-air batteries for direct power of equipment allows for extended mission times without the burden of power source swaps or power source charging due to their high energy density.

This combination can extend operating times of communication systems and surveillance equipment for search and rescue operations. The SWIPES allows for individual tailoring by the Warfighter and is designed to accept new applications as they become available. (Source: Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center)

2010 Soldier Greatest Inventions Award Winners

Ironman Pack’ Ammunition Pack System for Small Dismounted Teams: Staff Sgt. Vincent Winkowski and fellow members of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment of the Iowa National Guard originally rigged their own prototype design for this high-capacity ammunition carriage system enables a machine gunner to carry and fire up to 500 rounds of linked ammunition from a rucksack-like carrier.

Culvert Denial Process: Cpl. Eric DeHart, 428th Engineer Company, designed and built a culvert-denial system to stop the placement of roadside bombs in culverts. The device looks like a screen across the opening and allows water and debris to pass through but doesn’t leave enough space for improvised explosive devices.

The Army’s Greatest Inventions awards are truly Soldiers’ Choice Awards, Justice wrote in an announcement to the Army’s research, development and engineering workforce.

“All of the nominated inventions demonstrate significant contributions to the warfighter,” he said.

A panel of noncommissioned officers with recent combat experience as well as hands-on, practical experience, in addition to a panel of TRADOC field grade officers judged the nominations.

Awards will be presented by Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, Army Materiel Command commanding general, during the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting Oct. 10-12 in Washington, D.C.

Peering Through the Sniper’s Scope

By Carla Voorhees

This blog was shared by the Weapons Systems Technology Information Analysis Center (WSTIAC).

“One shot, one kill” is a phrase that has gained significant notoriety in pop culture when referring to a sniper’s lethality and impact. Without question, today’s U.S. military snipers are elite force multipliers. Often referred to as the “tip of the spear,” snipers provide real-time reconnaissance to the combatant commanders and have the ability to take direct action, if called upon.

To ensure they remain elite force multipliers, all snipers receive specialized training in marksmanship, camouflage, evasion, and target range estimation. Upon successful completion of their training, they receive a distinct high-precision rifle. A sniper’s rifle is much more than a weapon; it’s often the only lifeline they have back to a safer environment. But who is in charge with making sure a sniper’s tools and weapons continue to evolve and improve over time?

The Product Manager Individual Weapons (PM-IW), a component of Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, is responsible for the research and development of current and future rifles, carbines, pistols, shotguns, grenade launchers, small arms ammunition, and related target acquisition/fire control products. Within PM-IW, a special unit works to address all of the unique needs of the sniper team.

In support of this special sniper-focused unit, the WSTIAC is providing subject matter expertise helping to find new ways to make snipers more effective. WSTIAC has compiled an integrated team of subject matter experts and former U.S. snipers to conduct extensive analysis and to collect direct user feedback on the weapons systems most used by U.S. snipers. By leveraging this approach, WSTIAC has helped PM-IW field new weapons systems, some of which are able to extend the lethality of our snipers from 800 to 1,200 meters with the new XM2010 Sniper Rifle. Specifically, WSTIAC developed a New Equipment Training package for the XM2010 system, which presents the user with the proper information on how to operate, maintain, and use the rifle and its optical components. Fielding of the new system began in March, and preliminary user response collected by WSTIAC indicates both increased usability and performance.

This close working relationship with PM-IW and WSTIAC is another clear example of how the IACs work closely with government program managers to enhance the warfighter’s ability.

WSTIAC is one of ten IACs established by DOD and managed by DTIC. WSTIAC is a Center of Excellence responsible for acquiring, archiving, analyzing, synthesizing, and disseminating scientific and technical information related to conventional weapons, their development, production, fielding and maintenance.

From Garbage to Gas: Today’s Military Goes Green

This blog post was shared by the Weapons Systems Technology Information Analysis Center.

These days, most people like going to the gas station as much as going to the dentist. With the cost of gas slowly creeping upwards, consumers are starting to feel the pinch at the pump.

Now imagine filling up a military vehicle that weighs nearly 10 times your average family car with a much larger fuel tank. Many of these vehicles are currently in Afghanistan with our deployed forces, where fuel is even harder to come by.

The U.S. military uses fuel not only for its vehicles, but also for power generation at forward operating bases. Transporting fuel through the rugged, mountainous country adds enormous security, cost, and logistical considerations. However, just as your car and house require energy to sustain your way of life, our forces cannot carry out their vital mission without fuel for vehicles and power for facilities.

As such, they are necessities. Since our forces literally cannot live without these resources, they have made significant efforts to use them more efficiently, and are actively seeking alternatives that reduce dependence on petroleum.

Another major consideration of forward locations is what to do with all the trash they generate. Typically, it is either buried or shipped out – both of which can be expensive and take resources away from other aspects of the mission. Fortunately, there may be a way to get rid of much of this waste while partially solving this energy problem. How? Engineers working with the Advanced Materials, Manufacturing, and Testing Information Analysis Center (AMMTIAC) have been developing technologies that can manufacture fuel and energy from waste and other renewable products, such as garbage and organic wastes (known as biomass).

Such technologies are capable of processing and converting plastic, paper, food waste, and biomass into usable fuels, which can power electric generators, essential equipment at forward operating locations. By offsetting the petroleum-based fuels used to run them, more is available for vehicles.

AMMTIAC is continuing to research alternative and renewable fuel technologies and provide important technical information on renewable energy to enable our military to carry out their mission more efficiently, safely, and independently from petroleum-based fuels.

The Advanced Materials, Manufacturing and Testing Information Analysis Center (AMMTIAC) is the DOD Center of Excellence responsible for acquiring, archiving, analyzing, synthesizing, and disseminating scientific and technical information related to Advanced Materials, Manufacturing and Testing (AMMT).

Interested in learning more or working with AMMTIAC on an upcoming effort? AMMTIAC can be reached via the IAC website at http://iac.dtic.mil/.

Guesstimates, Fuzzy Logic and Believe it or Not…Better Decision Making

This blog post was shared by the Weapons Systems Technology Information Analysis Center.

Computers make our modern lifestyle possible, processing mountains of data at the speed of light. However, computers rely on something known as binary processing, meaning something either “is” or “is not.”

Complex software code is required to address all possible environments, factors, and considerations in order to develop a solution. Conversely, humans can come up with very good solutions using incomplete data and inexact methods.

For example, when you have an important appointment, you estimate the time it will take to travel to your destination to avoid being late. Without having exact data, you approximate and combine various factors such as distance, weather, traffic, and other intangibles and derive a “fuzzy inference” that allows you to decide when to depart and what route to take. More often than not, your “guesstimate” gets you to your destination on time.

A similar notion can be applied to the weather. If it is pouring outside, it’s clearly “raining”. If it is sunny and clear, it’s clearly “not raining”.

But, what if it’s sunny and there is an occasional intermittent sprinkle? Is it raining or not? The determination is “fuzzy”. The process of using approximate data and analysis to produce answers encompasses the science of fuzzy logic.

In recent years, a whole new field was born using computational methods that resemble the fuzzy human decision process. In fact, fuzzy logic is at work in many of your consumer goods. For instance, camcorders are now “smart” enough to compensate for operator shaking and movement; televisions have automatic color, brightness and acoustic control based on environmental conditions; and modern automobiles measure conditions such as engine speed and distance traveled to let us know when it’s time to change our oil — compared to the linear model of changing it every 3,000 miles.

Fuzzy logic’s reasoning works by using approximate values rather than exact values to derive answers and solve problems. This methodology is extremely useful and important because so many problems we face are complex and contain incomplete, anecdotal or qualitative information.

Facing complex problems like these are no stranger to the Department of Defense (DoD). In fact, the Weapon System Technology Information Analysis Center (WSTIAC) often leverages fuzzy logic to help the DoD improve their decision making process. For example, WSTIAC employs fuzzy logic and an overarching Business Case Analysis (BCA) framework to address a number of challenges related to weapon system technology. The BCA considers quantifiable and non-quantifiable factors to assess alternative courses of action (COA) and derive the optimum COA in order to solve the problem. In the absence of a complete data set, WSTIAC employs fuzzy logic by leveraging a panel of Subject Matter Experts (also referred to as “using Delphi Methods”) and linguistics, structured, and rule-driven Decision Support Maps (DSM). All this is done in conjunction with multi-attribute decision theory to derive optimal outcomes. As shown in the figure below, this method can be employed to address complex problems to high certainty resolution levels using comparatively simple analytical methods.

WSTIAC has effectively employed these methods to address problems facing the DoD community in areas as diverse as determining the viability of the ammunition industrial base, assessing payoffs from individual weapon systems, evaluating alternative weapons development strategies, assessing defense acquisition alternatives, and others.

The Weapon System Technology Information Analysis Center (WSTIAC) is one of ten Information Analysis Centers (IACs) established by DOD and managed by the Defense Technical Information Center. WSTIAC is a Center of Excellence responsible for acquiring, archiving, analyzing, synthesizing, and disseminating scientific and technical information related to conventional and directed energy weapon systems, their development, production, fielding and maintenance.

Interested in learning more or working with WSTIAC on an upcoming effort? We can be reached via the IAC website http://iac.dtic.mil/