On-Target Efforts
More Capable On-Board Gun Systems
are in SOF Aviation Programs of Record.
by Marty Kauchak
The offensive and defensive prowess of SOF aircraft will be increased through the budget outyears by a number of gun system modernization programs. New and upgraded weapons with the possibility of more lethal and diverse ammunition will provide SOF aircrews with increased operational flexibility and better chances for mission survivability.
BUILDING CV-22S’ DEFENSES
In December 2007, USSOCOM awarded BAE Systems a contract to develop an all-quadrant, interim defensive weapon system (IDWS) for the CV-22 Osprey. The contract announced in January 2008 is worth $491,000 and has a potential value of $16.3 million, including options. The contract covers development and testing of the IDWS, but not the purchase of a production system.
The government customer’s requirement for IDWS “is to develop a mission-configurable, crew-served night vision device-compatible defensive weapon with an adjustable rate of fire, located in the cabin area,” said James Darcy, V-22 Osprey public affairs officer (acting). “The weapons system must be able to provide suppressive fire against troops and light armored vehicles with its maximum sustained rate of fire. It also must provide the maximum allowable coverage in all quadrants at the maximum range of the weapon,” he added. The IDWS is a bridge to a separate, longer- term plan to provide the CV- and MV-22 with a more fully integrated and refined, defensive solution in the form of a joint defensive weapon system.
The IDWS is based on BAE Systems’ Remote Guardian System (RGS), which was designed specifically for the V-22. “It was already being designed to meet SOCOM’s stated need for a weapon that provides 360 degrees of suppressive fire throughout the aircraft’s flight envelope,” remarked Dave Adamiak, Remote Guardian System business development manager. BAE Systems Electronics and Integrated Solutions delivered the first unit for test and evaluation in January. “Our objective has always been to be ready to support flight testing by spring/summer 2008, so that we could have a deployable system by fall 2008,” pointed out Adamiak.
The RGS supporting the V-22 Osprey program’s IDWS initiative uses a 7.62 mm NATO mini-gun mounted on a turret to deliver the 360-degree firing capability. An undated announcement on the Dillon Aero website stated, “The Remote Guardian is a defensive weapon system that utilizes the Dillon M134D.” The M134D is a six-barreled, electrically driven machine gun that fires at a fixed rate of 3,000 shots per minute. A Dillon Aero company document provided to SOTECH stated the M134’s gun system life is 1,500,000 rounds, which represents a quantum leap forward in the ability of gatling gun systems to conduct long periods of continuous fire without threat of damage to the weapon. Dillon Aero provided technical and other materiel support for the IDWS gun trials to SOTECH and other airborne system testing during May, said Alan Neugebauer, Dillon Aero marketing director and spokesperson.
The IDWS gun, turret and the system’s infrared sensor pod will be mounted on the aircraft’s belly and are fully retractable into the aircraft’s cargo hook wells to reduce drag. The sensor will occupy the forward cargo hook well and the weapon turret will be stored in the aft cargo hook well. Adamiak explained the IDWS’ remote control capability. “The system is controlled by a handheld controller and fixed display. An intuitive point-and shoot system remains on target during aircraft maneuvering.”
BAE Systems declined to reveal its other industry partners for this IDWS contract.
A second, separate contract award was expected to be announced in May for the purchase of a number of other IDWS kits for both CVand MV-22s, noted Darcy, who is also director, Command Communication, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division.
The second CV-22 defensive weapons program builds upon the lessons learned from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263’s (VMM- 263) September 2007–April 2008 deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom—the MV-22 program’s initial combat deployment. The VMM-263 Ospreys deployed to OIF with a ramp mounted weapon system (RMWS), which features an off-the-shelf M240D (7.62 mm) machine gun modified for aircraft use. The gun is produced by FN Manufacturing of Columbia, S.C.
“In the case of the V-22, the weapon’s flight configuration includes mounting on the left- or right side of the Osprey’s rear ramp,” pointed out Bill McCartney, project engineer, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. The M240D’s ground employment configuration allows the weapon to protrude even further from the ramp to support troop onload and offload.
AFSOC plans to install the RMWS on its CV-22s. “Yes, we plan on installing the ramp gun,” confirmed Air Force 1st Lieutenant Amy Cooper, chief, operations, AFSOC Public Affairs. She added, “Our aircraft have been modified and we are in process of receiving kits and guns. We will start training with the ramp gun in the near future, but have not actually fitted a gun to one of our aircraft yet.”
Funding is in place to field the initial 30 of 50 RMWS kits for CV-22. The modification to the ramp substructure is part of the aircraft’s level activity needs.
SLIMMED-DOWN GATLING GUN
Dillon Aero, in addition to its partnering efforts for CV-22 IDWS, gun for other recent weapon gatling gun for SOCOM and other use of titanium weapon system the M134D-T reduction (12-to-15 compared to provides some altitudes and weight is critical. gun system is power) for situ- Dave Adamiak craft’s production, and installation of the gun is an O-le (completed by the squadron itself) depending on mission C is a long-time provider of the M134D gu SOF aircraft. The company’s most recen enhancement, the M134D-T, is a titanium g for weight critical applications—tailored f rotary aircraft’s missions in Afghanistan challenging theaters of operation. The u nium and other efficiencies in the weap and mounting hardware have provided th model with a 20-percent weight reductio pounds (5.4-to-6.8 kilograms) per gun) co its steel sibling. This weight reduction pro relief for helo crews operating at higher al under hot conditions where aircraft weigh To provide on-board redundancy, the M-134 series mini-gu operated from DC battery power (instead of AC aircrafations when aircraft power is not available but the mini-gun system is required.
Dillon Aero continues to buy M134 series ammunition from multiple international vendors.
The company was unable to disclose the number of its D and D-T units delivered to USSOCOM to date and scheduled for delivery.
INCREASING AC-130US LETHALITY
AFSOC is adding MK 44 30 mm Bushmaster cannons on the remainder of the AC-130U fleet. The single-barrel Bushmasters are replacing the single, venerable 25 mm GAU-12/U Gatling gun and single L60 40 mm Bofors cannon on each aircraft. The U-variants are retaining their one 105 mm cannon during the upgrade. Neither SOCOM nor its industry partners volunteered to provide a detailed modification and fielding plan for the fleet-wide upgrade.
The new Bushmaster cannon protrudes from each aircraft’s port (left) side, increases weapons stand-off range, improves first-shot accuracy, and delivers other capabilities that will vastly increase the AC130- U’s survivability. The Bushmaster’s rate of fire is 100-to-200 rounds per minute. By comparison, the legacy 40 mm cannon has a rate of fire of up to 100 shots per minute. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products’ 25 mm Gatling gun, installed as a suppression weapon, has a rate of fire of up to 1,800 shots per minute. The 270-pound, five-barrel Gatling gun is supported by target practice, high explosive incendiary and armor piercing incendiary ammunition, according to the company.
USSOCOM’s fiscal year (FY) 2009 Budget Estimates (Procurement, Defense Wide (P, DW)), dated February 2008, contains funding for the installation of the 30 mm cannons on all 13 AC-130Us under a broad “C-130 modification” program. The AC-130U 30 mm sub-element is funded at $39.391 million during FY07-11. The program’s financial plan contained in the USSOCOM budget document provides delivery and installation “placeholders”—noting the kits will be purchased in FY08 and 09 with installation spanning the FY08-10 time frame. The project’s major cost is 13 installation kits worth $21.2 million.
“ATK has provided 15 MK44 cannons to Boeing for integration onto the Boeing TGM [Trainable Gun Mount],” Brian Grace, spokesperson, ATK, told SOTECH. “ATK’s MK44 has met all its system specification requirements and is currently in aircraft qualification testing being conducted by Boeing and the Air Force using PGU-13 [/B] ammunition produced by both ATK and General Dynamics Ordnance and Technical Systems,” added Grace. The PGU-13/B is a high explosive incendiary round that provides fragmentation and incendiary effects for use against personnel, trucks, ammunition depots and similar targets.
While the SOF community continues to eye upgrading the AC-130H fleet with .30 mm cannons, there was no funding in President Bush’s FY09 budget request for this effort.
USSOCOM and industry reps also declined to address the status of other AC-130 ordnance developments including the standoff precision guided munitions (SOPGM) advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD). USSOCOM’s FY 2009 Budget Estimates (Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense Wide (RDT&E, DW)) document, dated February 2008, provides an updated project funding justification for the SOPGM demonstration.
The objective of the SOPGM ACTD is to evaluate the military utility of adding a precision-guided munitions capability to SOF aircraft. The SOPGM is based on a modified Army Viper Strike Munition. Viper Strike is a gliding munition capable of stand-off precision attack using GPS-aided navigation and a semi-active laser seeker. It is intended for operations that require a flexible angle of inclination (steep or shallow), particularly in mountainous terrain or built-up areas where strict rules of engagement are in force. Its small size and precision provide for low collateral damage in urban environments. Northrop Grumman announced in August 2005 that it won a sole-source contract to develop SOPGM on AC-130s.
The February RDT&E, DW document reports $8.2 million in FY07 funds were allocated for the demonstration. Following the successful FY07 validation of the SOPGM initial proof-of-concept (IPOC) system in various test scenarios, AFSOC received the system for extended user evaluation (EUE). “AFSOC employed the SOPGM IPOC system in conjunction with training and other flight operations to refine tactics and collect data and operational experience to support an interim military user assessment (MUA),” stated the RDT&E, DW document. “AFSOC will use the results of the flight demonstration and EUE operations to complete an interim MUA to support decisions on proceeding in to Phase 2 and strategies for transitioning to a combat-capable SOPGM system,” concluded the document.
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems continues to provide the PGU-43B (training), -44B (high explosive) and -45B (high explosive with high fragmentation) for the AC-130 fleet’s 105 mm systems. ♦
BUILDING CV-22S’ DEFENSES
In December 2007, USSOCOM awarded BAE Systems a contract to develop an all-quadrant, interim defensive weapon system (IDWS) for the CV-22 Osprey. The contract announced in January 2008 is worth $491,000 and has a potential value of $16.3 million, including options. The contract covers development and testing of the IDWS, but not the purchase of a production system.
The government customer’s requirement for IDWS “is to develop a mission-configurable, crew-served night vision device-compatible defensive weapon with an adjustable rate of fire, located in the cabin area,” said James Darcy, V-22 Osprey public affairs officer (acting). “The weapons system must be able to provide suppressive fire against troops and light armored vehicles with its maximum sustained rate of fire. It also must provide the maximum allowable coverage in all quadrants at the maximum range of the weapon,” he added. The IDWS is a bridge to a separate, longer- term plan to provide the CV- and MV-22 with a more fully integrated and refined, defensive solution in the form of a joint defensive weapon system.
The IDWS is based on BAE Systems’ Remote Guardian System (RGS), which was designed specifically for the V-22. “It was already being designed to meet SOCOM’s stated need for a weapon that provides 360 degrees of suppressive fire throughout the aircraft’s flight envelope,” remarked Dave Adamiak, Remote Guardian System business development manager. BAE Systems Electronics and Integrated Solutions delivered the first unit for test and evaluation in January. “Our objective has always been to be ready to support flight testing by spring/summer 2008, so that we could have a deployable system by fall 2008,” pointed out Adamiak.
The RGS supporting the V-22 Osprey program’s IDWS initiative uses a 7.62 mm NATO mini-gun mounted on a turret to deliver the 360-degree firing capability. An undated announcement on the Dillon Aero website stated, “The Remote Guardian is a defensive weapon system that utilizes the Dillon M134D.” The M134D is a six-barreled, electrically driven machine gun that fires at a fixed rate of 3,000 shots per minute. A Dillon Aero company document provided to SOTECH stated the M134’s gun system life is 1,500,000 rounds, which represents a quantum leap forward in the ability of gatling gun systems to conduct long periods of continuous fire without threat of damage to the weapon. Dillon Aero provided technical and other materiel support for the IDWS gun trials to SOTECH and other airborne system testing during May, said Alan Neugebauer, Dillon Aero marketing director and spokesperson.
The IDWS gun, turret and the system’s infrared sensor pod will be mounted on the aircraft’s belly and are fully retractable into the aircraft’s cargo hook wells to reduce drag. The sensor will occupy the forward cargo hook well and the weapon turret will be stored in the aft cargo hook well. Adamiak explained the IDWS’ remote control capability. “The system is controlled by a handheld controller and fixed display. An intuitive point-and shoot system remains on target during aircraft maneuvering.”
BAE Systems declined to reveal its other industry partners for this IDWS contract.
A second, separate contract award was expected to be announced in May for the purchase of a number of other IDWS kits for both CVand MV-22s, noted Darcy, who is also director, Command Communication, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division.
The second CV-22 defensive weapons program builds upon the lessons learned from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263’s (VMM- 263) September 2007–April 2008 deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom—the MV-22 program’s initial combat deployment. The VMM-263 Ospreys deployed to OIF with a ramp mounted weapon system (RMWS), which features an off-the-shelf M240D (7.62 mm) machine gun modified for aircraft use. The gun is produced by FN Manufacturing of Columbia, S.C.
“In the case of the V-22, the weapon’s flight configuration includes mounting on the left- or right side of the Osprey’s rear ramp,” pointed out Bill McCartney, project engineer, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. The M240D’s ground employment configuration allows the weapon to protrude even further from the ramp to support troop onload and offload.
AFSOC plans to install the RMWS on its CV-22s. “Yes, we plan on installing the ramp gun,” confirmed Air Force 1st Lieutenant Amy Cooper, chief, operations, AFSOC Public Affairs. She added, “Our aircraft have been modified and we are in process of receiving kits and guns. We will start training with the ramp gun in the near future, but have not actually fitted a gun to one of our aircraft yet.”
Funding is in place to field the initial 30 of 50 RMWS kits for CV-22. The modification to the ramp substructure is part of the aircraft’s level activity needs.
SLIMMED-DOWN GATLING GUN
Dillon Aero, in addition to its partnering efforts for CV-22 IDWS, gun for other recent weapon gatling gun for SOCOM and other use of titanium weapon system the M134D-T reduction (12-to-15 compared to provides some altitudes and weight is critical. gun system is power) for situ- Dave Adamiak craft’s production, and installation of the gun is an O-le (completed by the squadron itself) depending on mission C is a long-time provider of the M134D gu SOF aircraft. The company’s most recen enhancement, the M134D-T, is a titanium g for weight critical applications—tailored f rotary aircraft’s missions in Afghanistan challenging theaters of operation. The u nium and other efficiencies in the weap and mounting hardware have provided th model with a 20-percent weight reductio pounds (5.4-to-6.8 kilograms) per gun) co its steel sibling. This weight reduction pro relief for helo crews operating at higher al under hot conditions where aircraft weigh To provide on-board redundancy, the M-134 series mini-gu operated from DC battery power (instead of AC aircrafations when aircraft power is not available but the mini-gun system is required.
Dillon Aero continues to buy M134 series ammunition from multiple international vendors.
The company was unable to disclose the number of its D and D-T units delivered to USSOCOM to date and scheduled for delivery.
INCREASING AC-130US LETHALITY
AFSOC is adding MK 44 30 mm Bushmaster cannons on the remainder of the AC-130U fleet. The single-barrel Bushmasters are replacing the single, venerable 25 mm GAU-12/U Gatling gun and single L60 40 mm Bofors cannon on each aircraft. The U-variants are retaining their one 105 mm cannon during the upgrade. Neither SOCOM nor its industry partners volunteered to provide a detailed modification and fielding plan for the fleet-wide upgrade.
The new Bushmaster cannon protrudes from each aircraft’s port (left) side, increases weapons stand-off range, improves first-shot accuracy, and delivers other capabilities that will vastly increase the AC130- U’s survivability. The Bushmaster’s rate of fire is 100-to-200 rounds per minute. By comparison, the legacy 40 mm cannon has a rate of fire of up to 100 shots per minute. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products’ 25 mm Gatling gun, installed as a suppression weapon, has a rate of fire of up to 1,800 shots per minute. The 270-pound, five-barrel Gatling gun is supported by target practice, high explosive incendiary and armor piercing incendiary ammunition, according to the company.
USSOCOM’s fiscal year (FY) 2009 Budget Estimates (Procurement, Defense Wide (P, DW)), dated February 2008, contains funding for the installation of the 30 mm cannons on all 13 AC-130Us under a broad “C-130 modification” program. The AC-130U 30 mm sub-element is funded at $39.391 million during FY07-11. The program’s financial plan contained in the USSOCOM budget document provides delivery and installation “placeholders”—noting the kits will be purchased in FY08 and 09 with installation spanning the FY08-10 time frame. The project’s major cost is 13 installation kits worth $21.2 million.
“ATK has provided 15 MK44 cannons to Boeing for integration onto the Boeing TGM [Trainable Gun Mount],” Brian Grace, spokesperson, ATK, told SOTECH. “ATK’s MK44 has met all its system specification requirements and is currently in aircraft qualification testing being conducted by Boeing and the Air Force using PGU-13 [/B] ammunition produced by both ATK and General Dynamics Ordnance and Technical Systems,” added Grace. The PGU-13/B is a high explosive incendiary round that provides fragmentation and incendiary effects for use against personnel, trucks, ammunition depots and similar targets.
While the SOF community continues to eye upgrading the AC-130H fleet with .30 mm cannons, there was no funding in President Bush’s FY09 budget request for this effort.
USSOCOM and industry reps also declined to address the status of other AC-130 ordnance developments including the standoff precision guided munitions (SOPGM) advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD). USSOCOM’s FY 2009 Budget Estimates (Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense Wide (RDT&E, DW)) document, dated February 2008, provides an updated project funding justification for the SOPGM demonstration.
The objective of the SOPGM ACTD is to evaluate the military utility of adding a precision-guided munitions capability to SOF aircraft. The SOPGM is based on a modified Army Viper Strike Munition. Viper Strike is a gliding munition capable of stand-off precision attack using GPS-aided navigation and a semi-active laser seeker. It is intended for operations that require a flexible angle of inclination (steep or shallow), particularly in mountainous terrain or built-up areas where strict rules of engagement are in force. Its small size and precision provide for low collateral damage in urban environments. Northrop Grumman announced in August 2005 that it won a sole-source contract to develop SOPGM on AC-130s.
The February RDT&E, DW document reports $8.2 million in FY07 funds were allocated for the demonstration. Following the successful FY07 validation of the SOPGM initial proof-of-concept (IPOC) system in various test scenarios, AFSOC received the system for extended user evaluation (EUE). “AFSOC employed the SOPGM IPOC system in conjunction with training and other flight operations to refine tactics and collect data and operational experience to support an interim military user assessment (MUA),” stated the RDT&E, DW document. “AFSOC will use the results of the flight demonstration and EUE operations to complete an interim MUA to support decisions on proceeding in to Phase 2 and strategies for transitioning to a combat-capable SOPGM system,” concluded the document.
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems continues to provide the PGU-43B (training), -44B (high explosive) and -45B (high explosive with high fragmentation) for the AC-130 fleet’s 105 mm systems. ♦