The 720th Special Tactics Group (STG) is in the process of selecting contractors for award of a joint terminal attack control (JTAC)/small unmanned aerial systems (SUAS) program management contract for the period of one basic year plus four one-year options.

The mission of the 720th STG is to train, organize and equip special tactics forces for rapid worldwide employment in support of the full range of special operations missions. The force is required to rapidly deploy in support of joint operations in all physical environments, night and day, to provide the combatant commanders the ability to project air and ground forces to any region of the world in support of our national objectives.

Traditionally, special tactics squadrons have organically supported their joint terminal attack controller and small unmanned aerial system program managers. In order to meet growing demand, the number of special tactics (ST) JTACs has doubled, and the program requirements for JTAC and SUAS have exponentially increased. In order to meet current worldwide requirements and, in an attempt to maintain at least the current dwell rate, ST must deploy all of its JTACs, including JTAC and SUAS program managers. This means that while units are deployed, JTAC and SUAS training greatly decreases impacting training of future operators.

The use of contractors will provide necessary assistance in managing programs and producing combat mission-ready JTAC and SUAS operators, instructors and evaluators. Overall, the 720th Special Tactics Group requires contracted JTAC and SUAS program managers to support AFSOC program management, training and production of JTACs and SUAS operators.

Current required unmanned baseline systems are the Raven B and the BATMAV. Required baseline systems will change as procurement cycles mature and old systems are retired.

Keep Those SINCGARS Talking

ITT Corp. recently announced that its Communications Systems has been awarded the next major Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) contract by the U.S. Army’s Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM).

The SINCGARS Baseline Systems, System Enhancement and Logistics Support procurement is for approximately 58,000 additional radio systems for other service requirements and to outfit the Army’s growing number of brigade combat teams and tactical vehicles over the next several years. The Army’s solicitation not only required full compliance with current SINCGARS requirements but also a modernization path to enhanced technical capabilities such as improved security and networking in a best value approach. ITT’s solution was fully compliant to all requirements and offered the best value choice with a modernized SINCGARS in a competitive selection.

“ITT is proud of the trust placed in us by the Army to continue delivering the world’s most successful and reliable tactical radio and capability enhancements to meet modernization and evolving mission needs,” said Ken Peterman, president, ITT Communications Systems. To best meet Army needs, ITT teamed with Thales Communications Inc. of Clarksburg, Md., to offer an enhanced version of the SINCGARS radio system, the 1523G system. This teaming joins ITT’s long and successful record of SINCGARS capability improvements and lean production with Thales’ software-defined radio design and manufacturing expertise gained through multiple Joint Tactical Radio System and USSOCOM programs. Together, the team offered bestin- class radio design, performance and manufacturing in the Army’s best value competition.

Global Battlestaff and Program Support

USSOCOM has issued a draft request for proposals for its Global Battlestaff and Program Support requirement that seeks to find a contractor to support a wide range of efforts under USSOCOM and all of its component commands, as well as the theater special operations commands supporting each of the geographic combatant commanders.

The objective of the contract action is to acquire global SOF-unique nonpersonal services and expertise to provide intellectual capital to assist with day-to-day business operations. In addition, the contractor is expected to provide subject matter expertise in areas of, but not limited to: time-sensitive planning; interagency support; intelligence operations; military planning, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance program analysis; biometrics, socio-cultural analysis, geospatial analysis, signals intelligence and human terrain initiatives with ISR support; administrative support; public affairs; training; accounting; budgeting; joint support, budget and resource management activities; readiness planning and reporting; personnel and manpower accountability and reporting; acquisition and life cycle program management; procurement support; engineering support including research, development, science, technology and systems engineering; graphics support and other business for USSOCOM.

Possible specific task areas could include: readiness planning and reporting; lessons learned; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high yield explosive; strategic planning process; requirements generation and documentation support; studies and analyses; position and concept papers; reports; strategic communications; intelligence and information operations; television/broadband network support; general media support; human intelligence and collection management support; civil affairs and psychological operations; mission planning; training and mission rehearsal support; exercise planning support; USSOCOM mentor program support; cultural and language training support; intelligence and operational planning support; deployed special operations forces support; signature reduction and other theater operational support; acquisition and logistics management support; business operations/financial management support; administrative support; facilities management; and accounting system, budget formulation and resource management/manpower support.

Precision Sniper Rifle

After-action reports from SOF in overseas contingency operations indicate snipers are frequently required to accurately engage personnel at ranges beyond the capability of present systems. SOF operators face enemies that exploit manmade construction to mask their offensive movement, and are often dug-in and barricaded among buildings, basements, tunnels, masonry, timber and rubble, reducing the effectiveness of present ammunition. As a result, USSOCOM has issued draft information that establishes the performance specification requirements of USSOCOM’s precision sniper rifle (PSR).

The current system mission of the PSR Increment 1 is to enable USSOCOM snipers to use one or more shots to interdict enemy personnel, positions and non-technical vehicles mounted with crew served weapons out to 1,500 meters (1,640 yards) or further, and to defeat Level 3 body armor out to 750 meters (820 yards) or further. The PSR program is an evolutionary acquisition program that plans for incremental developments (formerly called spiral developments). The PSR program is a USSOCOM-sponsored program, which supports Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations forces, and seeks coordination and participation with potential PSR users of the other joint services, U.S. agencies, and coalition partners.

The PSR system will replace the legacy sniper weapons to include the M24, MK13 and M40A3 in the SOF inventory for precision engagements against personnel and material targets. The current family of sniper weapon systems includes a medium weapon capable of precision anti-personnel fire out to 1,200 meters. These systems provide SOF with the 70 percent solution to the HSR requirement. The PSR first increment extends the anti-personnel precision fire capability out to 1,500 meters. The final increment of PSR will meet the anti-material capability either through enhanced munitions, an additional weapon, or a variant of the Increment 1 weapon.

The projected performance parameters of the PSR provide additional stand-off distance to increase survivability during counter-sniper engagements. The PSR addresses the operational shortcomings of currently fielded sniper weapons while enhancing operational effectiveness and sniper survivability. The PSR provides the SOF sniper greater capabilities and stand-off distances, ensuring over match against enemy counter-sniper capability. The PSR with sound suppressor and day/night optics allows SOF snipers to effectively engage enemy snipers, as well as crew served and indirect fire weapons, virtually undetected in any light condition. The PSR involves developing and exploring additional ammunition in order to fulfill the suite of anti-personnel rounds required by SOF (individual protection, armor piercing, subsonic and dim tracer). The PSR will also explore technology to incrementally develop alternative ammunition and weapon systems to achieve its objective requirements.

The PSR is one subsystem of the entire SOF operator-in-the-loop sniper system. The PSR subsystem is composed of the basic rifle, a day optical scope, and various accessories. In its Type 1 form, it fires objective ammunition but can also be adapted as a platform for earlier, established varieties of ammunition.

Some criteria of the PSR include:

• The PSR, prior to production and fielding, must be compatible with the Integrated Night Observation Device (INOD III) and with the Miniature Day Night Sight-Sniper (MDNS-S);
• The PSR must be available in either modular calibers or traditionally assembled rifle caliber variants;
• The PSR should exhibit system integration with other sniper subsystems, such as spotter system ensembles;
• The PSR shall accommodate the needs of (1) cost-effective training of future snipers, and (2) sniper units that cannot afford or train to the level of the objective ammunition by use of caliber modularity, caliber variants or other means;
• The PSR modular architecture shall allow follow-on improvements, incremental developments, and adaptations to broader-based U.S. and allied sniper communities, providing a common platform for various high-performance calibers;
• There should be no proprietary interfaces that would inhibit open architecture, or there shall, at minimum, be contractual terms for the government, through consideration, to acquire any proprietary interface control documents and achieve open architecture;
• The PSR and ammunition shall not exhibit any performance characteristics that are unsafe to operators;
• The PSR shall enhance operator survivability and force protection using emergency sights or other means for close-in self-defense, signature reduction, subdued or camouflage coloring, antireflective devices and other operator survivability features; and
• The PSR shall share ergonomic commonality and the highest degree of parts commonality possible.
  

Gyros for Remote Weapon Stations

KVH Industries Inc. announced that it has received a new $2.5 million order for its precision fiber-optic gyros (FOGs) for use in remote stabilized weapon stations (RWS) from a major defense contractor. Shipment of KVH FOGs for this order is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

“Remote weapon stations are playing a critical role in substantially improving crew safety and weapon accuracy in combat operations overseas. We are very proud that KVH’s fiber-optic gyros remain the sensors of choice for the leading RWS manufacturers supporting U.S. and allied military forces,” said Jay Napoli, KVH’s vice president of FOG and OEM sales. “Our affordable DSP-3100 FOG offers the high reliability, superior accuracy, and exceptional vibration, shock and acceleration survivability necessary to ensure optimal RWS performance.”

Remote weapon stations allow gunners to operate, aim and fire the weapon from inside the safety of their vehicles, taking the gunners out of turret positions where they are exposed to hostile fire. KVH’s DSP-3100 FOGs provide precise optical stabilization and weapon recoil control for RWS units while ensuring that the weapon stays on target whether the vehicle is stationary or on the move.

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