THINKING INSIDE THE BOX


However, that solution presented a new challenge: Te existing eight-meter data cables were not long enough to provide the operator sufficient distance from the container while still controlling the sys- tem. Te team struggled with this issue, which was resolved two years later. In order to achieve the stand-off without a degradation in signal, CWS needed fiber-optic cable, which also meant that CROWS signals had to be converted from copper to fiber-optic, and achiev- ing that


required the development of


ON THE SCENE Test engineer Jay Crawford of the CCWS Project Office travels in a convoy in September 2013 to the OP at the FOB known as Rocket City, so named because it took so much mortar and rocket indirect fire. Within three days of installing the CWS, a rocket was launched over the OP into the main base. The CWS operator located the rocket’s point of origin and engaged it with the CWS within seconds, stopping incoming fire from that sector for more than a month.


two transceiver boxes, one for the con- tainer end and one for the operator’s end. And development meant testing for safety as well as environmental extremes to make sure the system would perform in all environments and not pose a safety hazard to the Soldier. Tat Standoff Extension Kit was developed by Kongs- berg Protech Systems, which also makes the CROWS. With this new equipment, AMRDEC and RRC finalized the smaller container design.


10-LINER NETS 10 UNITS To get a capability to the field, the requesting unit must submit a require- ment, known at REF as a “10-liner.” For the CWS, the 10-liner required the weapon to be placed on the perimeter and the operator located up to one kilometer away in the operations center, keeping Soldiers operating the weapon at a safe distance. Word of the project began to spread from the CWS demonstrations, at a time when insurgents


in Afghani-


stan were challenging coalition troops with vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, and more 10-liners began to roll in from units in theater. As a result, REF agreed to fund the cost of 10 units.


PRIME LOCATION Test engineer Jay Crawford of the CCWS Project Office checks out a location in Afghanistan in September 2013 that ultimately became a CWS site. Crawford was instrumental in setting up the new system at two sites in theater. He checked the system’s performance under different condi- tions, took delivery of parts, conducted maintenance and trained the Soldiers in the proper use and potential of the CWS.


But there was one more component


needed: the computerized system that would communicate with other sen- sors to send real-time target data to the


124 Army AL&T Magazine October–December 2014


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