CCDC’S ROAD MAP TO MODERNIZING THE ARMY: SOLDIER LETHALITY
serve as a replacement for the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, provides a lightweight cased and telescoped cartridge with greater lethality than the current, fielded squad automatic weapons and at a much lighter weight than the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. Te 6.8 mm bullet, designed in-house, provides greater lethality and range than the Army’s current 5.56 mm bullets. Tis technology was transitioned to the Project Manager (PM) for Soldier Lethality (formerly the Project Manager for Soldier Weapons) within the Program Executive Office for Soldier in fiscal year 2019.
Te Armaments Center will continue to design follow-on bullet types in direct support of Soldier operations in its Next Generation Family of Ammunition project, which has multiple technology transitions through fiscal year 2023.
Te Squad Combat Optic Performance Enhancement science and technology project is the Armaments Center’s solu- tion for a next-generation primary optic and fire control, similar in capability to a targeting system on a combat vehicle but at a fraction of the size. Te system consists of a direct-view optic with an augmented reality overlay, a steerable laser range finder, a daylight and thermal digital weapons camera, and a controller designed to reduce aim error and increase probabil- ity of hit. Te Armaments Center will use data collected from various Soldier touch points to inf luence follow-on designs with industry. Tis technology is slated to transfer to PM Soldier Lethality in mid- fiscal year 2020.
ROBOTICS AND AI FOR SOLDIER PROTECTION The Soldier Center’s Protection and Survivability Directorate is developing directed energy protective ensembles, head-borne integration platforms and
110 Army AL&T Magazine Winter 2020
PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER
The Next Generation Squad Weapon Science and Technology prototype consolidates both ammunition and weapons, as well as a power and data rail for integration of next- generation fire-control systems. The overall system was designed to show what was in the realm of possible to replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and is much lighter and more lethal. (Photo by Daniel Cler, CCDC Armaments Center)
concealment. Together, these will enable Soldiers to operate and dominate in any climate or location by remaining unde- tected from enemy eyes and sensors, and provide protection from battle- field threats if engaged. Directed energy, which is microwave energy, is an emerg- ing battlefield threat that may be used for anti-access and area denial. Head-borne integration will bring together the protec- tion, sensors and information displays that Soldiers need for multidomain oper- ations into a helmet-based system that will reduce weight and complexity while enabling enhanced lethality.
At the dismounted squad level, CCDC Soldier Center is looking at robotics and autonomous systems to increase situa- tional awareness during combat operations. Small unmanned aerial systems, such as the Soldier Borne Sensor or Short Range Reconnaissance platforms, will provide dismounted squads and platoons remote reconnaissance for improved standoff protection and improved situational understanding of the environment.
KEEPING IT VIRTUAL Early synthetic prototyping uses virtual modeling and simulation to test best ideas and concepts from Soldiers and industry for rapid capability development and force modernization. Early synthetic prototyp- ing uses a government-owned software platform: a virtual sandbox developed by the Systems Simulation, Software and Integration Directorate’s Army Game Studio, within CCDC’s Aviation and Missile Center, that leverages modular commercial game technology; Army- owned assets, such as 3D models, sounds and sound effects; and other features to create and test concepts in a virtual oper- ational environment and thereby produce data-driven capability requirements.
Early synthetic prototyping experi- ments allow Soldiers to virtually conduct mission rehearsals using future equip- ment, doctrine and force structure in a simulated future operational environment against a future enemy. During a squad (up to future company) exercise, Soldiers control simulated systems and use the
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176
