The US Army's Kraken system includes various sensors and actuators, all integrated into a single comprehensive command system.
"An unsafe forward operating base cost the lives of two soldiers." This was one of the headlines of the British Army news on January 29, 2013, in which it was a joint investigation into the death of two British soldiers killed on 4 May 2012 by enemy mortar fire at the Ouellette base in the northern region of Helmand province. Base protection remains a key issue and recent combat missions have contributed significantly to its development
Active sensors and actuators are increasingly being integrated into the defense systems of forward bases, designed to reduce the consequences of possible attacks and are mainly based on passive systems, which, apparently, also include conventional passive means of protection. In addition, in order to reduce the number of personnel involved in the defense of bases and reduce the risk to soldiers on duty, remotely controlled actuators are increasingly entering the scene.
The US Army deployed the first Kraken system, officially described as Combat Outpost Surveillance and Force Protection, in early 2013 at the Pashmul South base. All components fit in an ISU90 container weighing less than a ton, which is easily transported on a helicopter suspension.
The Kraken system includes a control center, which integrates all sensors used for conducting circular surveillance. Long-range surveillance is provided by the Ground Master X-band radar from IAI Elta, while the Flir STS-1400 operating in the Ka-band conducts surveillance at short ranges, since it can detect a person at a distance of 1 km and crawling at a distance of 200 meters. Various systems are used to localize attacking sources of fire, including the AN / PRS-9A intrusion detection system from L-3 Communications, consisting of seismic and magnetic sensors, and an acoustic localization system with five sensors.
Optical observation is provided by a set of optoelectronic sensors. The two TacFlir 380HD digital stabilized systems are mounted on a 9-meter mast, and they include medium and short wave thermal imaging cameras with two fields of view, a high-resolution color camera and a laser rangefinder. Thus, this kit is capable of providing a control point with the coordinates of targets, although 9 more thermal imaging cameras can be installed along the perimeter of the base.
For the initial deployment, Precision Remotes supplied two Trap 250 remotely controlled weapon stations (RWMs) armed with 7.62mm M240B machine guns. However, in the Spiral 2 phase, the army switched to the more powerful Trap 360, which provides full 360 ° all-angle coverage, higher vertical guidance angles and higher speed. Power is supplied by a 5 kW generator with integrated energy management, which allows other energy sources, wind or solar, to be used, although a battery is available as a backup solution. The entire system is installed in less than 20 minutes by four soldiers and can be serviced by a single operator, although the Kraken command post has two workstations, one for viewing video data and one for the rest of the sensors. The software is based on Flir's CommandSpace Adaptive C2 architecture; the rights to it were purchased by the Ministry of Defense, which they called JFPASS (Joint Force Protection Advanced Security System).
Integration of input signals from different sensors has become imperative to provide maximum protection for the front-line base. Pictured is Flir's solution for the US Army's Kraken system.
Another example: Italy
Another example of an integrated solution is the decision taken by the Italian army and deployed in Afghanistan in early 2013. The Sistema Integrato di Force Protection (SIFP) integrated defense system was developed under contract with Selex ES and is currently installed at Bala Baluk forward base in western Afghanistan, where it has proven itself optimally against direct fire. The heart of the system is the control module, in which a dispatcher and four operators monitor the situation around the base thanks to data and images received from the system's sensor set, which includes radars and optoelectronic devices. All images and maps are georeferenced using Selex ES software that prioritizes threats. The main screen allows real-time monitoring of the situation, while each operator processes his own specific piece of information, monitors the recorded data and maintains the system. The second module houses the control systems for single sensors and an additional operator serving them.
SIFP long-range surveillance is provided by the Selex ES Lyra 10 X-band radar, which can detect a person at a distance of 10 km and a wheeled vehicle at a distance of 16 km. The main optoelectronic detection system is a stabilized Janus multisensor system with a cooled thermal imager with two fields of view, a CCD camera with continuous optical and digital zoom and a laser rangefinder with a range of 20 km, which is more than enough for a detection range of the entire system of almost 12 km. Up to 8 electronic units can be connected to the laptop of the command post, each of which is connected to three acoustic sensors and one meteorological sensor. The SIFP system includes the PilarW shot detection sensor, developed by the French company Metravib; it can identify a source of direct fire with a caliber of 5, 45 to 30 mm. This newest version is specially designed for the protection of advanced bases, its control unit can be connected to up to 20 sensors at the same time. The software allows you to prioritize threats, the accuracy is ± 2 ° in azimuth, ± 5 ° in elevation and 10% in range.
In order to reduce the number of personnel and risks in SIFP, Oto Melara Hitrole Light towers were adopted as executive elements, of which eight were purchased. Several additional systems are to be deployed shortly to improve the efficiency of SIFP. Among them are two TRP-2 mobile robots developed by Oto Melara and armed with a Beretta ARX-160 assault rifle and a 40-mm single-shot grenade launcher; they will be used to patrol the base perimeter, along with an airship from Israel's RT LTA Systems. The Skystar 300 airship has a diameter of 7, 7 meters, a volume of 100 m3, a flight duration of 72 hours and a maximum payload of 35 kg. This small airship is already in use by Canada in Afghanistan, while the US Army uses the smaller Skystar 180 airship deployed from a vehicle to protect the command post. In the fall of 2013, before the delivery of the system, Italian soldiers underwent training in Italy. A SIFP system with typical components is installed at the command center in Rome for training, while a second SIFP system is installed in Herat to protect the headquarters of RC-West HQ, which has a large number of Italian soldiers.
The latest version of the Metravib Pilarhas is integrated into the Italian SIPF system and is currently in operation in Afghanistan.
The control center of the SIPF system of the Italian army, developed by the Selex ES company, which includes a radar, optoelectronic and acoustic sensors. She is currently part of the defense complex of forward base Bala Balouk.
European Defense Agency
We have mentioned only two programs for the integrated defense of forward bases, but the list of programs in this area is not limited to them. Given the rapid growth of such initiatives in 2009, the European Defense Agency launched the Future Interoperability of Camp Protection Systems (FICAPS) program, which aims to enable the exchange of information in real time between camp protection systems of different countries using unified equipment with automatic configuration, as well as to ensure the possibility of multinational operation of national systems thanks to multilingual human-machine interfaces. The project is being implemented and funded by Germany and France, and contracted by Rheinmetall Defense and Thales, which have conducted field demonstrations of the system, including remote control of the camp protection system with another protection system, as well as remote control of sensors and actuators. In January 2013, Germany and France agreed on general principles of interaction, which will lead to the development of advanced systems with the involvement of other countries and the establishment of an international standard in the field of protecting their troops.
Airships RT Skystar 300 (pictured) are in Afghanistan in service with a number of countries, such as Canada, the United States and soon Italy
Using its experience in the field of creating a DBMS, Rafael has developed the Sentry Tech base and border protection system.
Remotely controlled combat modules
As we can see, remotely controlled combat modules (DUBM) are becoming a common tool for protecting forward bases. There are two more examples of the use of modules for different applications, these are modules from Kongsberg and Rafael. The Norwegian company offers its CWS (Containerized Weapon Station) computer weapons station. It is a complete solution, enclosed in a Tricon Type 1 container, which includes a 110V / 15A multi-fuel generator with backup battery and energy management system, an electromechanical lift and a Kongsberg Crows combat module. During operation, the top cover opens, a rigid chain-driven lift raises the Crows to a height of 4.6 meters, providing an optimal field of view. For long-range shooting, the Javelin rocket can also be installed. The CWS can be controlled by an operator from a distance of one kilometer and, upon a signal, can be deployed to other sensors, for example, a surveillance radar.
The Israeli company Rafael has developed the Sentry Tech system. It consists of several Samson Mini combat modules installed on stationary or mobile towers and integrated with detection sensors. Firing structures can be installed in a line to protect the border, or along the perimeter to protect the base. A removable overhead guard provides protection from the elements while maintaining ease of maintenance and reloading. All systems are remotely controlled from the control center, the operator is able to guarantee positive target identification due to the optoelectronic system before engaging a target for engagement.
It includes a daytime CCD camera with a field of view from 33.4 ° to 2.9 ° with a recognition range of 2.5 km and an uncooled thermal imager with a 6.3 ° field of view and a recognition range of one km. The Samson Mini can be fitted with a 7, 62 or 12, 7 mm machine gun, the module is equipped with a remote cocking device and has a maximum declination angle of 20 °. Sentry Tech is in service with several buyers, some have been using it for about five years.
The Turkish company Yuksel Savunma Sistemleri has developed a stationary combat module Nobetci (Sentry), also known as RoboGuard. It is designed to replace soldiers on towers, this scheme reduces risks and frees some people from guard duty, correspondingly increasing the percentage of personnel ready for combat operations. Since the system is stationary, the azimuth angles are limited to 350 °, and the vertical angles range from + 55 ° to -20 °. Roboguard is armed with two types of weapons and both caliber 7, 62 mm: one PKMS machine gun (Kalashnikov machine gun modernized easel), and the second AK-47 machine gun. The set of sensors includes a daytime TV camera with a x12 magnification lens and a thermal imager; images from these devices are processed and displayed simultaneously. The system is equipped with motion detection and target tracking. Control is wired as standard, although a wireless solution is available as an option. The module weighs 85 kg without weapons and ammunition.
Torrey Pines Logic's Beam 100 family of laser pulse systems can identify any type of optical system
Optics laser identification systems
Numerous CCD cameras, thermal imagers, imaging devices, radars, etc. are used to protect forward bases. Another category of sensors used in this area are laser pulse systems, which make it possible to identify with significant accuracy any optical device that is used for observation from outside the base. One of the most active companies in this area is Torrey Pines Logic, California, which started in 2008 with systems for vehicles and fixed installations, but has now developed a range of portable binocular devices, promising in 2014 to further reduce their weight, size, energy consumption and cost.
The Beam 100 family includes three systems: Beam 100, 110 and 120 with weights of 8, 4 kg, 12, 2 kg and 14 kg respectively. They are based on the principle of reflection in the opposite direction (retroreflection), in accordance with which the system can perfectly determine the reflection of its own short and eye-safe laser pulses, due to the presence of an optical device inside its scanning sector.
All three systems guarantee continuous scanning in 360 ° azimuth and -30 ° / + 90 ° elevation and provide GPS coordinates for all targets within 1000 meters, which can then be displayed on a digital map. Typically, human-machine interfaces (HMI) are implemented using laptops and android operating systems and are stored in the system itself. The Beam 110 and 120 provide full video coverage not available on the Beam 100. Systems are typically tripod-mounted, optional sensors such as thermal imagers can be added to them, while LAN and WAN interfaces allow these devices to be integrated into operational control systems.
A similar system is offered by the French company Cilas. Its SLD 500 laser detector is also tripod mountable and has a maximum range of 2000 meters. It can be broken down into five main subsystems: an optoelectronic sensor, a panoramic head, basic control equipment, a power supply unit, and a battery unit. The sensor head and its actuator, which provide azimuth angles of ± 180 ° and vertical angles of -30 ° / + 45 °, have a total weight of 29 kg, and the entire system weighs 120 kg with tripod and power supply.
The phrase Hesco Bastion has become a kind of household name in the field of passive base protection. The company is constantly improving its products, especially with the aim of improving their deployment.
For several years Defensell has been manufacturing systems only from geotextiles, they are much lighter than other systems. Currently, the company has developed a gabion-type system (a structure in the form of a box filled with stones or pebbles from a galvanized metal mesh on a frame, designed to protect the river bed from erosion, for the installation of regulatory and bank protection structures), known under the designation Mac
Passive protection
Passive defense remains a key element of base defense. Numerous companies make gabions that make it easy to build a defensive perimeter, as well as protective cover in the event of a mortar or missile attack. In the latter case, the simplest way is to use an existing structure, for example a container, and protect it from the sides and top with gabions filled with soil.
At DSEI 2013, Defensell presented its Mac products for the first time, a full range of welded wire mesh gabions lined with the company's well-known geotextiles. Previously, Defensell was known for its lightweight solutions made only from geotextiles. However, the company later appreciated the niche for textile solutions, as well as the niche for gabions, and in this regard, teamed up with the Italian company Maccaferri to develop a new product featuring an improved fabric material with high UV resistance, which also has high strength characteristics. The Mac is available in 10 different sizes, from the smallest MAC 2 (61 x 61 x 122 cm) to the largest MAC 7 (221 x 213 x 277.4 cm). Defensell is looking for a starter customer for its new product.
Dutch research laboratory TNO has developed a grid capable of stopping RPGs. It can be used not only to protect vehicles, but also the territories of bases and control points.
The armored watchtower (bottom) is bullet-proof, however, to protect against RPGs, nets originally intended for vehicles can be installed, such as the mesh created by Ruag and Geobrugg (above)
Hesco, whose Bastion product has become a kind of trademark in the gabion industry, introduced a new design in 2012 that features a pin in the corner rings to open a single cell and refill the gabion. To reduce deployment time, Hesco has developed two systems, each tailored to fit the size of the gabion. For smaller gabions up to a meter in height, the system was named Cart. It consists of a metal skid pulled by a 4x4 machine, from which pre-connected blocks 1 meter high, 1.08 meter wide and 88 meters long are distributed. Ready-to-fill gabions are placed in a vertical position. This system was released in 2013, it added operational flexibility to the Hesco family, in which it joined the Raid (Rapid In-theater Deployment) system. The Raid Rapid Deployment System with two-meter gabions has been in production for six years. In this case, the gabions are hauled out of the ISO container by a truck using a tug. Raid 7, Raid 10 and Raid 12 are available in heights of 2, 21 meters or 2, 14 meters, widths from 1, 06 to 2, 13 meters and lengths from 224 to 333 meters, although when two locking pins are removed, the blocks disintegrate in length into five elements.
Since the beginning of 2012, the so-called Highly Redeployable Security Fence (HRSF) has appeared on the market, designed to provide perimeter protection even without filling with ballast material. The front side is made of anti-climb mesh, while the stability is provided by bulk bags that are filled with available materials and which are inserted from the back, where the mesh is much lower. HRSF comes in three sizes, with the same width and length, respectively 1, 3 meters and 3, 9 meters and heights of 2, 4, 3, 1 and 3, 6 meters; the reverse side is much lower, making it easy to insert bulk bags. With a mass of one ton, the HRSF fence is able to stop a car weighing 7.5 tons, moving at a speed of almost 50 km / h.
Passive security systems are not only designed to defend against ground threats. In order to reduce the risks from RPGs fired along ballistic trajectories, or from other types of attacking threats that can be launched at relatively small angles, the Dutch TNO laboratory has proposed using networks originally designed to protect vehicles from RPGs. The net is mounted on tall vertical poles and protects the infrastructure while providing good visibility outside the base. The net is made of high-strength fibers, has a low cost and low weight. Mesh systems are also available for protecting watchtowers. Geobrugg has shown a similar solution to enhance tower protection. Other metal nets used on vehicles are also suitable for similar applications. Sometimes the presence of people on the towers is vital, as they conduct direct observation of the area surrounding the base.
