CAN YOU HEAR ME?


Translation can be achieved by voice over microphone or pre-recorded messages. All aid the warfighter in providing a means to communicate before an escalation of force is required, depending on the scenario, to effectively counter personnel encroaching within a specific area or situ- ation. “Te AHD is a tool the commander can use to apply combat power more efficiently—using force only when neces- sary,” said Col. Russell Hoff, PM CCS.


DOD and the Army have procured AHDs to fulfill the approved requirements for units within the military police, Army watercraft, psychological operations and transportation communities. Exten- sive platform integration efforts ensured that installation kits were engineered for


each specific vehicle and vessel in order to mount the AHD. Tese Army communi- ties were eager to fill their communication gaps, but other priorities across the Army reduced the available funds. However, in fiscal year 2022, Congress reprioritized $20 million for the AHD program, allow- ing the Army to procure an additional 500 systems.


THE BENEFIT Te Army’s strategy is to “pure fleet” all Army units that were previously fielded the AN/TIC-43 variant AHD with the latest version of the AHD, the AN/ TIC-44 (V)1, using the additional 500 systems. Pure fleeting permits standard- ization across all Army forces, providing a consistent system for training, and


reducing the sustainment burden. By limiting the spares to those required for one system configuration, it reduces the cost required for inventory management in sustainment. In addition, it mitigates the risk of what could be an eventual issue of diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages. Accordingly, pure fleet- ing eliminates having to incur the cost of executing a design change or procure- ment and conducting an effort to update AN/TIC-43s to a new configuration in the future.


Te newer variant is of smaller form and provides improved access to the MP3 player and system controls. Tis allows the operator greater standoff from the system itself, a necessary capability as the speaker could become a target. “Regard- less of the operation, if it involves people, clear communication is paramount to safely accomplishing goals,” said Donald Gerspach, the acting central action offi- cer at the Army Nonlethal Scalable Effects Center. “With the AHD, in either form, the user can be assured their communica- tions are being heard.”


Te Army’s strategy will allow for turn- ing in the older AN/TIC-43 systems to an Army depot to undergo a complete tech inspection, be repackaged, and be made available to the other services and other government agencies that have expressed an interest in receiving them. A cost benefit of $16 million will be realized for DOD and the other government agencies. Additionally, the Army will realize demili- tarization cost savings by making the older systems available for use.


AGENCY REQUESTS, PROPOSED USAGE


The 2023 agency requests and proposed usage for the Acoustic Hailing Device. The U.S. Army will realize demilitarization cost savings by making the older systems available for use. (Graphic courtesy of PM CCS)


Te coordination for this broad approach has been facilitated by the Joint Interme- diate Force Capabilities Office (JIFCO) in its role as the executive agent for DOD. JIFCO is tasked, via a joint process, to identify requirements and coordinate the


80 Army AL&T Magazine Summer 2023


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