Page 50 - Military Technology 12/2018

48 · MT 12/2018 Special Forces Feature

French SOF conduct Helicopter Assault Force drills as part of a counter-terrorism
exercise, designed to practice small unit tactics involved in attacking Violent Extremist
Organisations across the contemporary operating environment.
(Photo: French Special Operations Command)

Andrew White
Simulation and Training

for Special Operations Forces

A look at how through pursuing excellence unrelentingly the interna- and interoperability. The exercise, designed to train and assess the in-
tional special operations community continues to upgrade the pro- tegration of Special Operations Ground, Maritime and Air Task Groups
cedures, best practices and technology associated with simulation across a full spectrum of special operations scenarios, also provided SOF
and training. units with the opportunity to trial new technologies designed to assist op-
erators in the COE.
Examples included DroneShield’s DroneSentry counter-UAS (C-UAS),
Some of the most notable updates in recent years have ranged from which was specifically selected by the Danish SOCOM to participate in
the development of specialist training centres to support emerging mis- NH18. According to a company spokesperson, the system supported SOF
sion requirements across the contemporary operating environment (COE), elements operating out of Aalborg Airbase and included “collaboration
through wider accessibility to training with partner nation forces, to the with SOCOM end users.”
integration of specialist equipment into SOF training regimes. Describing how DroneSentry was designed to detect and defeat UAS
On 20 August, Dutch SOF responded to growing operational demands in complex and congested battlespaces, DroneShield’s CEO, Oleg Vornik,
– in relation to counter-terrorism (CT) and urban warfare missions in par- highlighted how the technology had been used to support this “high pro-
ticular – with the launch of an assessment phase to initiate development of file military exercise” at a time when the international SOF community is
a dedicated training centre in Ossendrecht. increasing its emphasis on C-UAS capabilities to protect small units.
The concept – which calls for Dutch SOF units, including the Korps
Commandotroepen (KCT) and the Netherlands Maritime Special Opera- RAPTOR IV
tions Force (NL MARSOF) – to benefit from a multi-range complex in which
small units are able to conduct specialist insertion/extraction training as Also demonstrating its desire to evolve solutions for urgent needs
well as live fire drills in urban environments – follows an increasing focus from the COE is USSOCOM, which on 30 August disclosed further de-
on the capability Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has to execute tails regarding its latest simulation and training requirements. The SOF
hostage rescue and ground assault operations, both at home and abroad. Requirements Analysis, Prototyping, Training, Operations and Rehearsal
The completed training centre is due to be ready for live training by 2020, (RAPTOR) IV programme is due to replace its $167.8 million RAPTOR III
service officials confirmed to MT. predecessor with a seven-year programme, due to be finalised by the end
In similar fashion to other dedicated SOF training centres around of 2019.
the world, the Dutch facility is also likely to support requirements from The RAPTOR Training Services consortium, which includes ATG
across NATO, demanding increased frequencies in multi-lateral training Worldwide and ProActive Technologies, is currently tasked with executing
programmes designed to reflect the multi-national nature of special op- RAPTOR III. The programme is tasked to support USSOCOM training re-
erations currently being experienced across the COE. Operational exam- gimes at a time of “unprecedented growth in unconventional warfare and
ples include coalition operations in Iraq and Syria, where multiple SOF special activities.”
components from NATO and non-NATO entities worked together to train, Specific areas of interest in RAPTOR III have included the development
advise and assist indigenous special mission units, including the Iraqi SOF of a Special Operations Urban Complex to support Naval Special Warfare
Brigades. Command; Civilian Close Air Support Training; Enhanced Role Player
One of the most recent and prominent examples of such collaboration Support and Full Mission Profiles; and rapid technology insertion across
includes Exercise “Night Hawk 18” (NH18), which took place in September multiple training regimes.
and was overseen by the Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC), Describing its requirement for RAPTOR IV to support the full spectrum
which is sponsored by 16 NATO members. of, “special warfare and surgical strike” operations, USSOCOM officials
Organised in collaboration with the Danish SOCOM, NH18 saw described how the concept must be further tailored to support uncon-
SOF elements from Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, the ventional warfare exercises in order to “validate the readiness and capa-
Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland and the US, undertaking training in air, bility of SOF units to conduct complex operations in specified Areas of
land and maritime environments in order to extend levels of cooperation Responsibilities, including CENTCOM and AFRICOM.”