| Military Technology Essay - Battlefield
of the Information Age
1989
Introduction
Of all the areas of our society the
military has been in the forefront of advancement of technology.
This has been primarily due to the need to outsmart and out-gun
the enemy of the time. To hold the critical advantage on the battlefield
one must hold the technological advantage, one can not go without
the other. This battlefield is on the ground, in the air, at sea
and now also in space.
The industrial revolution brought about competition
like there had never been in human development. This was the most
prevalent in the face of World War Two. Due to this massive conflict
man came to create and advance technology farther than it had ever
been pushed before. All in the effort to defeat their enemies of
the time, whoever they happened to be.
Or-though technological advantage has not always
paved the way to ultimate victory on the battlefield it has definitely
allowed for success in some form. If this advantage did not exist
the enemy’s victory would surely have been much more rapidly forth
coming. In the last 50 years the face of warfare has changed little
with regards to the face of technology. These same sorts of concepts
are still being used, and thus similar tactics are still being employed.
The interesting thing is that the technology has changed vastly
on the lower levels, where it effects the individual soldier, where
it makes them more effective and gives them greater chance of survival.
Tanks are getting faster and their armour tougher.
The soldier on the ground has the ability to draw down laser-guided
bombs from an advanced fighter-bomber. Ammunition is becoming deadlier
every day with different methods of doing damage depending on the
target. Body armour gets stronger and lighter and small arms, though
based on the same technology of over 50 years ago now have accessories
to make them more effective, night sights, laser aiming models and
advanced ammunition just to name a few. Even so this area along,
of small arms is entering into a new arena of Advanced combat weapons
which is the next stage of the development and is to be the center
of personal armaments in the next century.
I propose to look at some of the technology involved
in modern warfare and to take different areas of that battlefield
to demonstrate the various applications of this technology. This
will include aside from weaponry also training devices, communications,
and visionary aids amongst others. We will see examples of how these
different elements can be all brought together such as in the 21st
Century Land Warrior concept to make the modern solider all the
more tactically formidable while also more capable of surviving
both the environment and the combat.
All the same the modern soldier on the ground still
has to wade through the same mud and endure the same cold and watch
for the enemy as the soldier of old once did. The soldier of today
simply has improved senses, more accurate and effective weapons
and a more extensive array of communications to do the same job.
Now let us take a look at what this technology is and how it effects
the battlefield of today and the possibilities of tomorrow.
Top ^
Small Arms
For the man of the Infantry, the ground pounder,
the grunt there is little more important than his rifle. The rifle
itself is critical to his role whether it be on foot conventionally,
as part of a special force, as a mechanised infantryman operating
from an Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) or any other means. It
is not only the rifle that he uses but also the accessories which
accompany that weapon which enhance it and improve it which have
also become very important. Devices such as Laser Aiming Modules
(LAM) and laser sights, night sights for night fighting, weapon
additions such as under-barrel grenade launchers are just some examples.
Some small arms of recent times have been developed
for the Advanced Combat Rifle (ACR) program that is geared to help
field a weapon of the 2000’s for the infantryman. The Colt ACR fires
a duplex round which contains a second projectile intended to increase
the chances of a hit out to around 300 metres. This kind of development
demonstrates that, although the rifle still does essentially the
same thing it has always done, it has become more effective towards
the kind of war that is being waged, more accurate, and lighter.
Steyr ACR
The Steyr ACR from Austria fires Synthetic Cased
Flechettes (SCF) which are small darts capable of penetrating a
modern kevlar helmet or body armour with ease. The rifle uses a
transparent plastic magazine so the soldier can see how many rounds
are left at a glance. The body of the weapon is made from polycarbonate
material, which makes it both lighter and stronger than conventional
materials.
G11
The German made G11 uses case-less ammunition which
has its projectile encased in a block of propellant which is vaporised
at the time of firing. This has the tactical advantage of no brass
casings being ejected, no need for the mechanics of ejection and
thus less concern for foreign materials entering the weapon, which
could cause malfunctions. The lack of a casing also means that the
round is inherently smaller and more ammunition can be stored in
the magazine, in this case 45 or 50 rather than the typical thirty.
Magazines are also pre-fabricated, and discarded when used, which
also means less cause for environmental malfunction. The weapon
itself has an integral scope for improved accuracy and is ergonomically
designed making for easy use and natural shooting ability. Due to
complex manufacture and more so, the unconventional ammunition this
weapon was abandoned.
Bushman
A little known machine-pistol from the United Kingdom
called the Bushman uses electronics to set the rate of fire of the
weapon. Rate of Fire (ROF) can be set anywhere between 1 and 1400
rounds per minute. This can be set easily by the user depending
on what is required.
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21st Century Land Warrior
The 21st Century Land Warrior (21CLW) is the name
given to the concept of new future military development for the
man on the ground. This has been a study and progressive objective
for the past decade, been the focus of many western military forces.
The idea also branches out into all other areas of the battlefield
to standardise, digitise and maximise the effectiveness of a force.
It serves to conquer one of the biggest problems of the modern military,
that of non-universal equipment.
Equipment is produced by all manner of company
and specialists. As such these individual items are often not compatible
even if it is the intention. This makes for difficult use and coordination
on the battlefield. The 21st Century Land Warrior embraces the best
technology available today and presents it in a user-friendly fashion
which makes the soldier preform better and easier than before. Essential
tools that currently are further afield or otherwise more difficult
to acquire will be close at hand. Several subsystems make up the
overall 21CLW dealing with the weapons system, body armour and communications.
The backpack contains a computer system, which powers
and controls electronic components including digital communications
and Global Positioning System (GPS) which provides navigation down
to the square metre almost anywhere on the planet surface.
At present the standard infantryman of a given rifle
unit must be able to use several weapons at the lowest level such
as a rifle, grenade launcher and light machinegun. Dedicated optics
for night fighting and surveillance are often specialist instruments
that are difficult to access. The weapon developed for the new system
is called the Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) and encompasses
all these roles, thus the soldier only learn a single weapon.
Thermal and Infrared sights are compact enough to
be a standard feature of the weapon system rather than, as they
are now, a separate entity. All elements will exceed performances
of current weapons. Sight systems enable a soldier to operate in
any weather or any conditions day or night. Laser target designation
can be initiated by the rifleman, calling in artillery fire or Laser
Guided Bombs (LGB) from aircraft onto a target.
Currently a specialised device is required for this;
the OICW enables this task with the standard issue weapons system.
The Weapon Subsystem also includes a laser rangefinder/digital compass
(LRF/DC) which enables optimum use of ballistic and explosive ordnance
and the best possible information for calling in fire support. The
digital Compass enables effective navigation and coordination when
linked to the Global Positioning System (GPS). It also enables effective
tracking of targets.
The Thermal Weapons Sight (TWS) enables the soldier
to see ‘through’ hard cover by way of sensing heat rather than physical
structure. Also the video system and sight allow for the rifle to
be put around a corner to ‘see’ what is there with minimal exposure
to the firer. This is all in aid of battlefield awareness and firing
the weapon while not at the shoulder would be questionable.
The importance of target identification
can not be underrated and on-board Identify Friend or Foe (IFF)
will mean a soldier can rapidly identify any target on the battlefield
thanks to rapidly updated mission intelligence via the digital network.
With an integrated computer, video and radio on-board the soldier
can preform more effective reconnaissance than ever before. Still
images and real-time digital imaging can be relayed to the highest
command levels. Based on such information the soldier can receive
relevant instant orders. Battlefield performance is thus enhanced.
The entire system of this project is
optimised for the lowest possible detection from enemy forces. Critical
mission briefs and files, including updated maps and intelligence
are sent via secure burst transmission digital battlefield communications
network. Such information is rapidly available to the troops on
the ground with much improved logistic coordination and satellite
utilisation. Data is displayed on the soldiers Heads Up Display
(HUD) were it is convenient it as possible. Target verification,
mobility orders, abort mission, instant changes to standing orders
and any other manner of order can be sent directly to the man on
the ground.
Digital communications arrays mean
that any level of command can be contacted in an instant. The helmet
also provides essential protection from harmful lasers. The uniform
gives traditional ballistic protection, as well as Nuclear Biological
Chemical (NBC) environment protection and provides an environmental
conditioning system to keep the soldier comfortable as possible.
The soldier can manipulate data and
work his electronic equipment via a handset. Only a rather outdated
386 processor is required to run the Generation I system. Current
models use more powerful technology that brings forth faster and
more efficiency of data-processing for the battlefield. In order
to increase the survival of personnel on the ground a soldiers vital
signs are monitored remotely so that medics can prioritise medical
conditions and determine stresses, the effects of the environment
and treat injuries in the best way possible.
The US Army Rangers are extensively
testing the 21st CLW. Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom are
also developing and working towards their own systems for the soldier
beyond the year 2000.
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Aircraft Ordnance
As air-power has developed so has the
armaments that give these aircraft their firepower. Missile systems
give a mixture of effects and ranges depending on the needs of the
mission. From close range sidewinders to long range cruise missiles
that can travel several thousand kilometres, and laser guided bombs
(LGB) that can be targeted from the air or by ground forces. There
are, as there always has been since their inception in warfare aircraft
for different tactical and strategic roles.
Examples include the A-10 Warthog Anti-tank
warplane and the Stealth fighters and bombers. Missiles have many
different capacities depending on the requirements of the operation,
the type of environment and conditions expected and the suspected
countermeasures that could be used by an enemy force. As such systems
have been developed different threats have needed to be countered
and improvements made over time, particularly as they have been
used in real combat situations.
AIM-54 Phoenix
This missile is designed to attack
other aircraft at very long ranges. It uses radar as a means of
tracking the target as opposed to locking on via heat as many short-ranged
missiles do. This particular missile has a range of 150 kilometres
and carries a 60-kilogram warhead. US Navy F-14 Tomcats can be armed
with up to six of these missiles. They are also the fastest available
radar guided missile in the world.
GBU-15
This Laser Guided Bomb can be used
on a variety of fighter, fighter bomber aircraft and tracks its
target by either TV or Infrared (IR is used primarily at night or
in bad weather). Due to the fact TV is used no electronic locking
of the target is necessary as the pilot sees the image and can apply
any corrections during flight via a joystick. The controlling aircraft
has a data-link pod which sends this correction data to the bomb.
The GBU-15 uses a 2000-pound bomb and has a range of 80 kilometres.
GBU-27
This is an example of a Laser Guided
Bomb (LGB) and is specifically designed to be used with the F-117
Stealth Fighter. It is supplied with a BLU-109 2000-pound bomb as
armament, which holds 550 pounds of high explosive. A delayed action
tail fuse allows the bomb to penetrate six feet of reinforced concrete
before detonation. In association with the specialist F-117 aircraft
the GBU-27 can hit a square metre target from an attitude of 25,000
feet.
Hellfire II
The Hellfire II is the latest in the
Hellfire range of air to surface missiles, as seen on the Apache
gunship helicopter. It uses a Semi-active Laser (SAL) for guidance
to the target homing in on the laser reflection when the target
is ‘painted’. The Hellfire II is extremely resistant to modern electro-optical
countermeasures. For whatever reason that a target lock might be
broken in flight the missile is able to reacquire the target. This
is particularly of value when firing through low cloud cover. Reactive
armour on tanks protects the tank by being destroyed by an incoming
missile and leaving the hull armour untouched. A duel warhead on
missiles such as the Hellfire II and AGM-114L are able to deal with
this form of protection by eliminating the reactive armour then
carrying on through the hull armour of the armoured vehicle. This
missile is capable of destroying any known tank.
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Anti-tank Warfare
Ever since the Tank first was encountered
on the modern battlefield there have been methods of dealing with
them. Wether it has been to destroy, or is often the case, render
them inoperable there have been many. With modern technology the
methods have become more varied and have had to compete hand in
hand with more advanced armour, detection and counter devices. As
with any other industry or technology the military has always been
a place of competition. There has always been the concept of the
better armour or detection versus the new improved weapon or counter-measure.
TOW
The TOW family of anti-tank missiles
from the United States are the most effective in the world. The
unfortunate point is that they are not man-portable. TOW stands
for Tube Launched Optically Tracking Wire Guided which sort of goes
some of the way in explaining how it works. The TOW system has been
around since the Vietnam war and has had several upgrades since
then including ITOW (Improved TOW) and TOW II. Each has an improved
armour penetration capacity due to improved warhead and gradual
improvement in effective range. The TOW II has improved digital
guidance over previous models and better propulsion to improve range
by almost a kilometre.
The operator uses an optical sight
to track the target as it moves. An infra-red sensor is used to
track the missile and correction data is sent to the missile via
the wire which is connected from the launcher to the missile. The
operator must track the target until impact. This is the way most
Anti-tank Guided Missile Weapons (ATGW) work. There are two aspects
to consider. One is the wire can be entangled in trees and such
like and the crew of the launcher can be disturbed during firing
which may lead them to miss their target. The Israelis have developed
a laser targeting system that negates the need for a wire. This
means that physical objects which could entangle the wire such as
a trees are no longer a problem. This type of technology will no
doubt pave the way for this form of warfare. The typical effective
range of a TOW missile is around 3 kilometres. They can also be
mounted on vehicles or helicopters.
BILL
The Swedish Bofors Infantry Light and
Lethal anti-tank missile is different to most weapons of the ATGW
type in that it works in the "top attack mode". Here it moves to
the target about 75 cm above the operator’s line of sight. The downward
pointing warhead fires when the missile is above the target, thus
attacking the vulnerable top armour of the tank. Where necessary
the warhead can be set to detonate directly to the front as is conventional.
On identifying a target the operator fires the missile and keeps
the cross-hair on the target. Common to many ATGW systems this method
is called Semi-Automatic Command Line-of-Sight (SACLOS). A signal
processing allows more than one BILL unit to be used in close proximity
without being confused. That is, one launcher can only track its
own missile. A Thermal Sight (TS) enables complete all-weather operation.
The BILL 2 has a two stage warhead to deal with advanced armour
threats which will destroy most of the armour with the first warhead
and carry on to destroy what remains and the rest of the tank internals
with the second warhead.
Milan
Two men and a third carrying additional
ammunition move the Milan (otherwise known as the Euro Missile)
around the battlefield. This weapon is used extensively by European
countries such as France and Great Britain. A MIRA thermal imaging
sight allows for all weather night firing. Targets can be detected
out to 3000 metres and engaged at about half that range. Extensive
use was also made of this weapon by Coalition forces during the
Gulf War.
Top ^
Anti-Aircraft
Systems
There are two primarily different methods
of dealing with the threat of aircraft regardless of their type
and role. One is the use of cannon, essentially a rather large machinegun,
and secondly the missile. Or though at first thought it may seem
that the first method is rather primitive and the second is advanced,
on the modern battlefield both utilise advanced tracking systems
to deal with equally advanced targets. Also both methods have their
advantages and disadvantages depending on their deployment and the
kind of warfare that is being waged. Cannon systems are cheaper
to run and train with. On the other hand missile systems are more
effective at longer ranges and inflict more definite damage to the
target on impact.
Vulcan
Unfortunately this is one area of warfare,
where surprisingly the Americans fall behind. Their primary Self-propelled
Anti-Aircraft Gun (SPAAG) is the M163 Vulcan which consists of a
20mm six barrel Minigun Cannon as armament. Mounted on a tank chassis
for mobility the Vulcan is supplied with a US Navy Mk20 lead-computer
sight which allows for computer assisted lead on a target. That
is the sight can judge distance, direction and speed of the target
to allow for a hit. EMTECH radar is used to track the range of a
target. Electrical systems allow for automatic movement of the gun
as it engages a target. As would be expected a manual system is
present in cause this system fails. The major let down of this system
is its lack of potential range, only around 1500 metres. The twin
barrelled 40mm Bofors M247 Sgt York program to replace the Vulcan
in the 1980’s was a complete failure.
Rapier
The Rapier is a mobile anti-aircraft
missile system, which uses several different means of technology
to ensure a hit against any low-flying air targets. Eight missiles
are ready to use on the launcher that can rotate 360 degrees to
engage a target at any side. With its Blindfire tracking radar
and Dagger surveillance radar the Rapier is able to engage modern
supersonic jet aircraft at low attitudes. It is light enough to
be air-transported, which is an essential part of any modern combat
force. Blindfire is fully automatic and gives Rapier all-weather
operation capacity.
To deal with modern countermeasures
the system uses advanced frequency management. The system can process
up to 75 possible threats a second. In the British military there
are two air defence batteries of the Royal Artillery and three air
defence squadrons in the Royal Air Force. In 1996 this weapon was
also deployed to the Falklands Islands as part of the garrison there.
The surveillance radar detects and acquires a target at over 15
kilometres away and with a missile command-linking system is able
to engage multiple targets at one time. A Cossor Mark 12 Identify
Friend or Foe (IFF) unit determines whether or not the target is
valid by scanning it for a code thus preforming the critical job
of threat assessment. The launcher then automatically aligns itself
with the target. The missile is launched and is tracked by passive
(can not be detected) infra-red and active radar.
Reaction to the presence of a target
is around five seconds and actual engagement of the target takes
around 3 seconds. Static air defence Rapier Platform A helmet pointing
system is available which the operator wears and replaces the active
radar, which could be detected by the enemy.
The optical tracker and launcher platform
move as the operator moves his head. It is particularly useful when
the unit is taken by surprise. As the missile moves to its target
in excess of Mach 2.5 correctional data is sent via a transmitter
from the on-board computer to the missile. The operator continues
to track the target via optical sight. A TV camera tracking system
also tracks the missile by following its signature. The missile
itself can be stored without maintenance for up to 15 years. It
uses a High Explosive Fragmentation warhead that is designed to
detonate inside the target aircraft. The guidance section in behind
the warhead contains the electronics pack, which receives correction
data during flight.
FM-12 Stinger
The Stinger is a well regarded and
publicly known air defence missile system which has been adopted
by many nations, including several ‘knock off versions. As with
any good military hardware on the modern battlefield the Stinger
is adaptable being capable of being used on helicopters, mounted
on armoured vehicles, by a single operator on the ground or as static
defence. It is fully man portable meaning it can be used by infantry
units and special forces teams without difficulty. This means its
localised use by low level tactical units as well as Battalion,
Regimental or Divisional assets. The system includes several parts;
a launch tube containing the missile, which is discarded when the
missile has been used, an IFF unit that is attached to the operators
belt when an individual uses the weapon, and a grip stock handset
which has the trigger mechanism. The Stinger uses a passive infra-red
tracking method. One upgrade of the system has been the reprogrammable
microprocessor (RPM) allows the Stinger to engage and destroy more
sophisticated air threats. It is interesting to note that the first
active use (in real combat) of the Stinger was not by American personnel
but by a member of the British Special Air Service (SAS) during
the Falklands war.
SA-16
This is a recent Russian made man-portable
Surface to Air Missile (SAM) system. The SA-16 (or "Gimlet" as it
is code named by NATO forces) is an advancement on the earlier SA-7.
This weapon is a much improved system over the SA-7 with a better
seeker system using a two-colour method both IR and UV in order
to decrease the effects of flares which are used by target aircraft
to distract an incoming missile. The missile has a maximum altitude
of 3500 metres.
2S6 Tunguska
Previous systems in air defence tended
towards either cannon or missile concepts. Here the Russians have
shared the two ideas into the single unit. As such the Tunguska
preforms the roles of both typical surface to air missile systems
and the highly successful ZSU 23-4, the Soviet quad barrelled 23mm
cannon SPAAG. This relatively new vehicle is armed with SA-19 missiles
of which there are two in the launch ready stage and several more
are carried.
The missile is a two stage affair with
a High Explosive (HE) war head using a proximity fused warhead,
meaning that the missile explodes when it within a certain distance
of the target.
A IFF unit which is compatible with
all Russian aircraft and allows for rapid threat assessment is present.
Target acquisition is fast at about 6 - 8 seconds and is automatic.
The tracking radar has a range of up to 20 kilometres while the
fire control radar has a range of around 15 kilometres. This gives
the crew some time to react to the appearance of a target if they
are not surprised at close range. The tracking radar can be retracted
while not in use and also to reduce the target area of the vehicle
not to mention the radar itself. Optical tracking is also available
when severe weather is a factor, or the enemy is using effective
Electronic Counter Measures (ECM). This system is roof-mounted.
Part of the most modern versions of this vehicle is also Electronic
Counter Counter Measures which act against target ECM to allow for
a decent target acquisition and engagement by electronic surveillance
means.
Full NBC protection is provided as
well as an internal intercom which allows the crew to talk with
each other effectively over the noise of operation.
A twin 30mm cannon system uses the
ballistic approach and the high rate of automatic fire for close
range interception is provided at 5000 rpm out to a maximum range
of 5000 metres. True effective range is deemed to be about half
that. As with all these types of systems they can be fired on the
move with which computer technology assists but it is far more effective
to fire from the stability of a static position. The Tunguska has
hydro-pneumatic suspension that can be locked out to further stabilise
the vehicle for firing. A similar conceptual system is being trialed
by the American military, which consists of a 25mm Gatling gun cannon,
and a Stinger missile launching rack. This unit is mounted on the
Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle chassis and is called Blazer.
Top ^
Multiple Launch Rocket
Systems
The Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
is not a new concept (dating back to World War Two) but for the
thought of modern warfare perhaps it is only recently been perfected.
As opposed to conventional artillery which is difficult to move
unless self-propelled, and use shells the MLRS systems are highly
mobile mounted on vehicles armed with racks of rockets. The Gulf
war saw devastating application of these mobile rocket artillery
units when deployed against Iraqi positions. The Iraqis who survived
such attacks referred to the effects of these attacks as "Steel
Rain".
MLRS
This American system is used primarily
by its native country and by the British in the hands of the Royal
Artillery. Other countries also use the MLRS such as Germany who
produce the AT2 Anti-tank submunition for the system, which is currently
used by Germany and British forces. This rocket spreads 336 anti-tank
mines over a 1000 x 400-metre area. The individual mine arms after
twenty seconds of being laid and can also be set to self-destruct
after a given period to render them harmless to friendly forces.
The standard 227mm M77 rocket contains
644 bomblets, which can penetrate 100mm of armour (enough to destroy
most armoured vehicles). Standard M77 rockets have a range of 30
kilometres while a newer Extended Range (ER) rocket brings that
range out to a 45 kilometres. A practice round with less range allows
crews to train at less expense and without lethal concern. MLRS
firing a standard M26 warhead The US is developing a new warhead
called SADARM (Sense and Destroy Armour) which contains 6 anti-tank
missiles which will seek out a single target each, which is designed
to penetrate the top armour of the tank, the top armour being much
weaker.
An over-pressure system protects the
cabin from both NBC dangers and the fumes produced by the launcher
when it is fired. Light-weight aluminium armour will only protect
the crew from small arms and shell splinters but in any case the
unit will not be hanging around for long to prevent enemy fire from
coming in on their position after firing their rockets which generate
a great deal of smoke. As such it is usual practice to fire all
12 rockets at once using the ‘shoot and scoot’ policy rather than
individually firings. This also has the added advantage of having
a greater area effect on the target.
These radar systems are designed to
locate both friendly and hostile artillery. They are in use with
the American military in association with MLRS batteries. The US
Marines use the AN/TPQ-36 which as a range of around thirty kilometres.
It establishes the location of enemy positions by tracking incoming
fire. This is so accurate as to be able to detect a single .50 calibre
round from a heavy machinegun. Many targets can be tracked at one
instant. The MLRS launcher can then lock on to the target and rapidly
eliminate it. The AN/TPQ-37 in use by the US Army has a range twice
that of the Marine radar. As such Army units are often deployed
with the Marines in actual combat situations. Target data can of
course be forwarded to allied forces in the field rapidly. The AN/TPQ-36
An artillery round called DPICM (Dual
Purpose Improved Conventional Munition) allows an artillery piece
to have a similar effect as the MLRS system, though not over as
large an area. Each shell contains eight "tuna cans" (named this
because of their shape) which are like thick disks. A small charge
fires these disks from the shell when it is over the target. Each
of these disks contains a shaped charge capable of destroying armoured
vehicles. Attached to each disk is a length of ribbon attached to
a swivel with an offset, which means the disk charge will be directed
at the ground target the right way up. MLRS have a greater area
effect and you need many more artillery guns to get the same effect
but a MLRS is but a single target to eliminate.
Smerch
This MLRS has been in service with
the Russian military since 1988 and uses a launcher firing a total
of twelve 300mm rockets either independently or in a single salvo.
Fire control is preformed by a Vivari Fire Control System which
is housed in a separate command vehicle. This system can operate
either manually or automatically. This single system controls six
Smerch vehicles of a typical battery unit. One or two E-175 computers
calculate ballistic and target data for each mobile launcher. Both
radio and satellite communications systems are present for universal
communication to higher and lower level commands. Rumour has it
that a miniature aerial vehicle, the R-90 has been developed which
can be fired from a Smerch rocket. It could preform battlefield
intelligence gathering by way of a stabilised camera. Using GPS
and having the same range (70 km) as the standard 300mm rocket the
unit commander can gain valuable information for battlefield operations
for up to 30 minutes.
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Remote Piloted Vehicles
Remotely piloted vehicles (RPV), also
used with artillery units, or drones are basically miniature unmanned
aircraft, are used to gather target data which is sent back to the
unit via real-time signal to provide necessary information for fire
missions. Monitors allow the operators to see the target, which
can be many kilometres away and ensure that the target is a) still
there and b) legitimate. Even without this system the on-board Improved
Fire Control System (IFCS) allows target data to be recorded and,
when the vehicle moves this data is automatically updated to cater
for that movement. The MLRS launcher can move to a new location
after being reloaded at predetermined position with Dismounted Ramp
Offload and Pickup System (DROPS) trucks that have extra rockets.
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Battlefield Communication
With all the chaos and goings on and
the continuous logistical difficulties facing any modern military
force there has become an even greater need for solid, secure communications
networks for many different applications. The days of ‘scrambling’
radio messages are gone and it has been replaced by burst transmission
which separates the message out and rapidly sends the elements to
be reassembled at the receiver end. A different frequency is used
to send and to receive making it even more difficult to detect or
to Direction Find (DF) which enables an enemy to determine the location
of the device being used. It is also important to be able to intercept
and ‘jam’ enemy communications. Spot jamming involves jamming a
particular frequency without interfering with any other frequency.
In today’s age it is difficult to do this as there are frequency-hopping
devices which automatically jump from one frequency to another.
In such a case one needs to use a wide band-jamming device.
As there is so many roles in the military
there are many communications packages to satisfy these needs. At
the low end there are man-portable units such as Clansman which
only weight 2kg and have long range out to 50km suitable for Special
Forces operations and long range reconnaissance.
Small units in traditional tactical
roles also use other similar less advanced radios. A rifle section
would use such a radio. A range of around two kilometres is not
a handicap. An example of this type of communications equipment
is the American PRC-68A. High-end communications sets need to be
able to provide telegraphic, data transmission and faxing capacities.
Scimitar is a system which provides Electronic Counter Measures
and there are also different variants for different applications
including pocket sized VHF radio and a vehicle / man-pack unit.
Royal Signals include ground stations
and man-pack systems for troops in remote places to link to the
Satellite Communications (SATCOM) using the Skynet 4D built by Matra
Marconi Space.
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Electronic Warfare
At the core of any modern battlefield
whether it be a covert Special Forces operation, action against
terrorists, intelligence gathering and or any other form of warfare
you need not look far to see the use of electronics. Bore scopes
are used to determine what is on the other side of a room, Electronic
countermeasures pods are used by aircraft to hinder enemy detection
methods. Identify Friend or Foe is used to determine legitimate
targets. Due to the rather complex technical natural of such hardware
involved it is only the intention to go into give general information
to give the reader an idea of what is out there.
Identify Friend or Foe
There has always been the risk of your
forces being hit with your own weapons and this has become more
and more a risk as technology has advanced. Even though this advancement
has made missiles and artillery and the like more accurate it has
also lead to more ordnance being thrown about. All in all if you
don’t know were your people are there is greater and greater risks
involved. No one combatant can know were every single friendly unit
is at any one time. This is particularly true of covert operations.
Technology has allowed us to develop systems which can, by various
means know wether or not a unit is in-fact an enemy and thus a possible
target or a friend or otherwise neutral non-combatant. A Identify
Friend or Foe unit is part a more complex array of technology such
as a missile launcher, modern fighter plane or other such instrument
of war. It is programmed with countless numbers of allied and potential
enemy hardware. Friendly units have transponder codes that can be
detected by the given IFF device. A signal is sent back to the unit
(which maybe not much larger than a cigarette box) to say that the
unit is friendly and should not be engaged. Unfortunately this does
not always work well where several nations are involved in a particular
conflict.
Electronic Countermeasures
Electronic Countermeasures is the name
given to devices, usually rather large pods attached to the wings
of aircraft, which enable for improved evasion of enemy missile
systems. They can be activated either automatically when a threat
is detected by computer or manually by the pilot or other crewmember.
The computer control is digital and on board the pod itself. The
difficulty with such defensive systems is that they are not universal.
Because of the different threats out there and variation between
warfare scenarios the ECM pod must be programmed on the ground before
it is deployed. Thus the computer will know what sort of threats
it needs to counter in either training or the operational environment.
The jamming techniques that are required to be used are provided
on disk and can be programmed while the pod is actually on the aircraft
in a very short space of time.
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Main Battle Tanks
Tanks have always been the main aggressor
on the modern battlefield with regards to armoured vehicles. As
powerful as they seem they are, even in these times vulnerable to
missile systems, mines and other assorted hazards built either directly
or indirectly for their demise. Tanks are big targets and the crew
must ensure that terrain is used to best advantage ensuring the
least exposure to enemy fire. All the same modern technology has
made this machine a fast, agile and devastating component to any
battle that it enters. Armour is tougher and the crew has sights
to enable day and night operation and firing of weapons.
Digital Fire Control Computers enable
a Main Battle Tank such as the M1 Abrams to fire its 120mm Main
gun on the move. The same computers enable several targets to be
engaged and hit within seconds.
The modern battlefield requires accuracy
and coordination of fire from the infantryman at the front line
to artillery giving fire support and mobile units such as the Multi-Launch
Rocket System (MLRS) as used extensively in the Gulf War. This system
alone can engage targets out to 32 kilometres with a flight time
of 114 seconds.
All modern tanks feature complex Fire
Control Systems (FCS) which allow for fast and accurate target acquisition
and engagement. Firing of a 120mm smoothbore Main Gun; once the
Tank Commander selects a target many micro-processes take place
to ensure a hit. Many elements have to be considered in order for
the round to hit. Unlike some years ago where a simple telescope
akin to the tanks gun is used and several rounds may be required
to be fired before a hit is made, a first round hit is now possible.
If you want to survive it is also often vital on the modern battlefield.
A Muzzle Bore Sight (MBS) is laid on the target by the Gunner. This
simulates the Main Gun being pointed directly at the target in question.
An Aiming Ellipse is placed on the target also. At this time the
Laser Rangefinder sends out a laser to determine precise range to
the target and the on-board computer calculates the correct ballistic
trajectory depending on the round being used. Wind, range, movement
of both the tank and the target, temperature, barrel wear and turret
movement are all considered by the computer and adjustments are
made accordingly for the best possible result. This process moves
the aiming ellipse to physically show the adjustments being done.
The Gunner now moves the aiming ellipse back onto the target, the
Muzzle Bore Sight thus moves to the correct location, and the Gunner
fires the Main Gun. This process takes a matter of seconds.
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Training Devices
The soldier today regardless of what
role they play in combat need to know that, when the day comes they
can effectively and confidently carry out their duties. This means
their comrades under arms are as much likely to survive as they
are. Technology has allowed for the development of many systems
to test and train the soldier in the many facets of warfare. The
infantryman who wants to know for sure if his marksmanship is up
to scratch, and to demonstrate to his target wether or not he was
making use of effective cover or not. The Anti-tank platoon that
needs to know if they can eliminate the enemy armoured vehicle need
not destroy a tank and waste valuable live ammunition to establish
if their skills make the grade. A war-fighter needs to be confident
that when they go to do the job for real they can preform. Or though
the technology to enable realistic training has been expensive it
has also saved a great deal of money. Using the Anti-tank unit as
an example, it is so expensive that each operator of a Milan launcher
is only able to fire one live round per year. Using a system such
as MILES can be immediately seen to save the taxpayer a great deal
of money.
MILES
MILES stands for Multiple Integrated
Laser Engagement System. All weapons on the battlefield can be part
of an exercise using this system. This includes armoured vehicles,
mine systems, artillery, aircraft, mortars and so forth. Eye safe
lasers have enabled this technology to be utilised effectively without
interfering with the users normal routines. A weapon such as a rifle
is fitted with a laser generator that is activated by the firing
of a blank round. Sensors are fitted to every participant, vehicle
or individual. A laser beam is fired in accordance to a weapons
operational capacity and if this beam contacts a given sensor then
the MILES system can indicate the nature of the hit. As in real
warfare, a hit does not also mean a ‘kill’. For example vehicles
are fitted with devices which will send out smoke when damages and
render the vehicle inoperable if ‘destroyed. The individual infantryman
gets a disturbing noise go off in their helmet when they are effectively
‘killed’. They need to remove a key from the laser generator, taking
them out of the battle exercise. This stops the noise.
SAWES
The British system, Small Arms Weapon
Effect Simulator (SAWES) required that the soldier lie on their
back to stop the noise. A similar system is used for armoured vehicles.
Logistics is considered in such exercises as ‘wounded’ soldiers
need to move on to medical posts. Medics need to evacuate wounded
personnel and the old story of "I shot you, you’re dead’ arguments
are eliminated by this very effective technology. Even vehicles
can be treated in this way, in that a hit will take them out of
the battle, or they lose mobility. Then they are brought back into
the action once an engineer unit has repaired them. The laser will
simulate cover according to the given weapon the generator is attached
to, so that a potential target knows wether or not they are using
terrain properly or not. Effectiveness of that hit is also gauged
by the associated computer and will decide the results and impact
of the ‘hit’. At the end of an exercise a scanner can indicate what
sort of damage is done and therefore the effectiveness of the combatants.
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Visional Aids
Something that the past has not so
well afforded us is the ability to counter the effects of night
and even the effects of environmental conditions on the vision of
the fighter. With the aid of night vision in all roles of warfare
the combatant, a pilot, a soldier, a tank crewman, can all counter
the threat of darkness. This comes in so many ways from parachute
flares, illumination ammunition, night vision goggles and thermal
scopes amongst others. Technology must be able to work within the
bounds of the human operator. Sometimes technology can also have
an adverse effect, particularly in the area of vision aids. On a
night exercise or more crucially, a night mission a combatant who
is wearing night vision goggles or is subjected to illumination
rounds will lose their natural night vision. This can take half
an hour to get back again. This is why some night vision goggles
feature only one lens. This way one eye is enhanced while the other
still maintains natures way of seeing in the dark.
Passive Night Vision Goggles (PNG)
and similar binocular type aids work by amplifying available light
such as starlight or moonlight. What you see is a green electronic
image on a phosphor screen rather than a modified image of what
you are looking at (like it would be by say, looking through a telescopic
scope). The image is green because the human eye can identify more
shades of green than any other colour. The problem with such visionary
aids is that, even though they are passive and can not be detected
they are not best operated in bad weather and in fog or the presence
of smoke. Here thermal based devices come into their own. These
devices sense objects, vehicles and personnel by the heat that they
produce. Therefore they are able to ‘penetrate’ cover and structures
which conventional visionary based devices can not do. Every person
and every recently run vehicle on the battlefield produces a certain
amount of heat that can be detected by such devices.
Weighting just under 2 kilograms, the
AN/PVS-4 Individual Weapon Night Sight provides passive night vision
for the operators of small arms and support weapons such as the
M60 General Purpose Machinegun. It uses natural starlight or moonlight.
It provides magnification of x3.6 and can be used to detect targets
out to around 500 metres. A 2.7-volt mercury battery powers the
unit for about a 24-hour period of continuous use. An automatic
brightness control caters for any sudden flashes of light such as
from rifle muzzle flash.
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Conclusion
Even with all this technology there
is always the dangers of prototyping and testing, becoming reliant
on these marvels and the thought that there is always a means to
deal out to this technology no matter how marvellous it seems to
be. Through complexity comes risk of breakdown and there must be
no doubt, particularly in the mind of the user, that the machinery
will continue to operate in the harsh environments that the battlefield
presents us. Regardless of technology the modern combatant must
still know the ancient methods of his or her craft such as navigation
when GPS fails. They will still walk through the same old mud. And
as is often the case, when the engineers are not close by, one still
needs to resort to the trusty entrenching tool to get that fire
pit dug. Methods are still taught to troops that enable them to
cope without technology when it is in short supply. Examples of
such tactics are the use of machineguns used in unison to take down
low flying aircraft.
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Glossary of Terms
21st CLW - 21st Century Land Warrior
ACR - Advanced Combat Rifle
ATGW - Anti-tank Guided (Missile) Weapon
ECM - Electronic Counter Measures
IFF - Identify Friend or Foe
LGB - Laser Guided Bomb
NBC - Nuclear Biological Chemical
MBT - Main Battle Tank
MLRS - Multiple Launch Rocket System
OICW - Objective Individual Combat
Weapon
PNG - Passive Night Vision Goggles
SAM - Surface to Air Missile
SPAAG - Self-propelled Anti-Aircraft
Gun
SPH - Self-propelled Howitzer
TOW - Tube Launched Optically Tracking
Wire Guided
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Bibliography
War Machine ( Issue 1) Orbis
Publishing Ltd
Raids magazine (January 1995)
Collectors Press Limited
Raids magazine (January 1996)
Collectors Press Limited
The Directory of the Worlds Weapons
The Book Company International
Permission for use of the photograph
reproduction of the destroyed SPH given by the owner "Bullethead",
former USMC.
Web sites visited during the course
of research;
http://cust2.iamerica.net/blade/
http://www.defensedaily.com
http://www.army-technology.com
http://people.delphi.com/jtweller/gulfwar.htm
Some pictures have been used from these
sites for research and educational purposes only without permission.
This is not intended to challenge the respective ownership and copyright
of this material.
Feel free to e-mail your comments or
questions by clicking HERE.
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