Page 51 - Military Technology 12/2018

Special Forces Feature MT 12/2018 · 49

Systems integrators understood to be considering bids for the con- first time during live training serials included the Universal Communications
tract include Advanced Computer Learning Company; Barbaricum; Platform Tactical Deployable Unit (TDU), designed to create increased lev-
Crisis Response Company; DigitalCM; EKS Group; Engineering Support els of communications interoperability between participating partner na-
Personnel; F3EA; Far Ridgeline Engagements; Innovative Reasoning; ITA tion forces; and emerging VTOL UAS technology, to support operations in
International; K2 Solutions; Legion Systems; Lukos-VATC JV III; Metris contested and congested urban environments.
Global; MILVETS Systems Technology; MPB Training and Consulting; The TDU allows multiple special operations units to network very dif-
Obsidian Solutions Group; Patriot Defense Group; Phronesis Global ferent tactical communications nodes across a single area of operation.
Training Solutions; SA Technical Services; and Team TigerSwan. This can include HF; mobile ad hoc network (MANET); satellite commu-
“The SOF RAPTOR IV contract will provide training support to nications; and cellular networks, explained Lockheed Martin’s business
USSOCOM forces and other SOF-like government agency units in support development manager for advanced product solutions, James Quinn.
of training for counter-terrorism, counter narco-terrorism, counter prolif- Displaying the ruggedised TDU case to MT ahead of the RIMPAC exer-
eration and unconventional warfare missions,” an official statement read. cise, Mr Quinn explained how the device allowed small units to communi-
“SOF training is unique and requires rapid Realistic Military Training cate across multiple radio types and frequency ranges. In a mock-up form,
(RMT) solutions that challenge and develop our nation’s most elite SOF the TDU featured radios from several manufacturers, including Thales,
warfighters. This requires a flexible contract vehicle capable of executing Motorola and Harris.
complex Full Mission Profile exercises and rapid technology insertions Speaking to MT post-exercise, Lockheed Martin officials explained how
[with the] requirement to conduct training, mission planning, preview and lessons learned from RIMPAC had helped to support development of a
rehearsal, using a mix of live, virtual and constructive simulation applica- smaller, TDU variant destined to equip US SOF by the end of the year. The
tions,” an official spokesperson added. TDU is currently at Technology Readiness Level 9, it was added.
Specifically, this will include the integration of hostile physical surveil- Additionally, RIMPAC full mission profiles provided Lockheed Martin
lance threats, as well as ‘white cell’ teams to simulate the integration of and the University of Hawaii the opportunity to evaluate the STALKER
additional government agencies into exercise play and, finally, an ability to Extended Endurance (XE) UAS, following its unveiling at the SOF Industry
network partner nation forces into training cycles. Conference (SOFIC) in Tampa, FL on 22 May. Developed by Lockheed
Martin’s Skunk Works, the system has been designed to provide tacti-
Technology Injections cal units with extended range and the ability to carry 5lbs in payload at
‘covert’ altitudes above 700ft, Maggie Macfarlane, head of strategy and
Sources associated with USSOCOM explained to MT that the require- customer requirements, advanced development programmes at the com-
ment to retain tactical overmatch over near-peer and high-capability ad- pany, confirmed to MT. It can operate from rooftops in urban areas as well
versaries also demands the integration of novel technology types which as maritime vessels to support naval special operations, she explained.
can assist small teams in successfully executing their missions. One of the Remaining in technology support, a further evolving requirement in the
most innovative solutions currently being considered involves Transcranial simulation and training domain, in addition to RAPTOR IV, is the next-
Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS), which can be used to support repeated generation Soldier Tracking Systems (STS). A USSOCOM spokesperson
training drills associated with close-quarter battle and battlefield medicine, explained how the requirement remained, “intentionally broad to support
for example. the challenging SOF and SOF-like missions,” although they admitted more
Developed by Halo Sport, TDCS technology has been incorporated primitive variants were already in service with USSOCOM components.
into a headset (similar in size to communications headsets), which can Capable of monitoring the locations of troops while in a training environ-
be worn for approximately 20 minutes ahead of training serials in order to ment, particularly suitable for military operations in urban terrain (MOUT),
direct controlled electrical currents into the motor cortex of an operator’s any STS offering must also be capable of sending and receiving alerts in
brain, to enhance ‘hyper-learning’ capabilities. Yet to be deployed in any emergency situations.
significant numbers across USSOCOM or the wider international com- “The Vice Chief of Staff, Army directed US Army Special Operations
munity, TDCS technology has already been employed by several Special Command to implement soldier position monitoring during individual land
Forces Groups within US Army SOCOM, as well as Naval Special Warfare navigation training,” USSOCOM officials explained to MT. This directive
Command’s Development Group. was issued in 2011, after the unfortunate death of a soldier during a Special
Halo Sport’s Jerry Paris, Senior Director for Government Business, de- Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) land navigation training event.
scribed to MT how the company works with the USAF Research Laboratory “Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO
and the Defense Innovation Unit. Mr Paris claimed utility of the Halo Sport STRI) was tasked to field a materiel solution that provided persistent soldier
headset would increase training performance levels by up to 13 per cent. tracking that met SOF training requirements. In 2012 STS was fielded to
Similar technology uplifts were also demonstrated at the SOF com- SOF training organisations requiring this solution. Over the last five years
ponent of the biennial RIMPAC exercise in Hawaii, US, during July and STS has provided persistent solider monitoring for individual SOF training,”
August. Participating force elements from US Army SOCOM; Japanese the officials added. The next-generation STS, according to RAPTOR IV
Special Boarding Unit; South Korean Naval Special Warfare Flotilla; and documentation viewed by MT, will comprise a series of networked devices
other entities from India, Indonesia, Peru and the Philippines, conducted a worn by individual operators providing real-time geo-locations. “STS must
series of full mission profile training serials with supporting technology pro- be capable of providing geo-fence alerts; no motion alerts; and an emer-
vided by companies such as Lockheed Martin. Technologies trialled for the gency/panic button that creates an alarm at the Tactical Operation Center”
officials clarified. Additional demand from the SOF community includes the
ability of the STS soldier-worn device (SWD) to communicate multiple pri-
ority levels in visual and audible signals and to also include soldier-initiated
US SOF are benefiting alerts. Additionally, SWDs must demonstrate tracking reliability levels up
from Halo Sport headsets to 95% accuracy, alongside the ability to create historic movement trails
which can be worn 20 minutes for after-action reviews.
ahead of training serials to “[Next-generation] STS will have the ability to increase the amount of
enable hyper-learning by soldiers being tracked during a land navigation exercise if required, with
stimulation of the brain’s soldier worn devices also capable of operating continuously for a minimum
motor cortex. of 60 hours on a single charge,” officials concluded, referring to the fact
(Photo: Halo Sport) that the all-up weight of an STS unit is targeted to be under a pound.
With a rapidly evolving COE, SOF units around the world are required to
be capable of transitioning seamlessly between very different operational
scenarios and environments. Only a careful blend of developed doctrine,
concepts of operation, tactics, techniques and procedures; as well as
technology insertions and efficient training practices, will ensure this ob-
jective can be met in the future.

Andrew White, a senior defence reporter with a British Army background, having
completed multiple tours of duty in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan, is a regular
contributor to MT.