Military Equipment

AoA and MDT Armor

2009-03-04T07:02:00.000-08:00

Personal Ballistic Armor, Aircraft Armor Kits and Armored Vehicles

Armour of America (AoA) and MDT Armor provide customized armor solutions for military, law enforcement and paramilitary organizations. Our products include military and civilian armored vehicles, fixed and rotary wing aircraft armor, ballistic shields, leg armor, plates, and vests.

Having been in the armor business for over 25 years, we know what it takes to get the job done right and on time. AoA and MDT are certified small businesses with domestic and international customers.

PERSONAL BALLISTIC PROTECTION

AoA provides personal ballistic protection in the form of vests, plates, Leguard© leg armor, Armour Float™ ballistic flotation vests, ballistic shields, blankets and helmets. Our products are customizable to meet specific tactical requirements.

AoA utilizes state-of-the-art lightweight materials to provide protection up to NIJ level III, IV and above. Innovative products such as the Armour Float ballistic flotation vest and the Leguard leg armor shows that AoA is on the cutting edge of tactical team needs.

CUSTOM FIXED AND ROTARY-WING AIRCRAFT ARMOR KITS

AoA also produces custom armor kits for most fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Our armor design team can measure the aircraft, taking note of special nuances; generate a certified drawing package; manufacture and deliver the kit; and assist in the installation. This level of service makes AoA a truly turnkey supplier.

Our armor kits are lightweight and have the capability of countering military Armor Piercing (AP) rifle and sub-machine gun fire. AoA designs each of our aircraft armor kits to cover the maximum area with the least amount of panels. This design concept allows for the minimum number of joints with the maximum amount of ballistic integrity.
TACTICAL LIGHTWEIGHT ARMORED VEHICLES

MDT Armor is a leader in providing state-of-the-art lightweight armored vehicles, ranging from light tactical vehicles to passenger vehicles. With years of battlefield experience, our vehicles have provided life-saving protection for their passengers. MDT’s product line includes armored commercial vehicles, armored trucks, armored buses and armored military vehicles. Our vehicles are currently seeing action in countries such as Israel, Iraq, India, Indonesia and Nigeria.

MDT has up-armored such vehicles as the Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser, Chevrolet Suburban, Ford E350 and F550, GMC Savana / Chevrolet Express and the Mercedes Sprinter. MDT uses state-of-the-art materials such as Ultra High Hardness (UHH) ballistic steel; composite materials such as kevlar and polyethylene; ceramics; and ballistic glass. These materials make our vehicles rugged as well as lightweight. MDT's product line has been tested and approved by organizations including the Israeli Defense Force.

Live-Fire Tank Gunnery

2009-03-04T06:58:00.000-08:00

American Apex Corporation (AAC) specializes in live-fire gunnery training systems for main battle tanks. Leading the way with the Advanced Inbore Marksmanship Training Enhancement System for Tanks (AIMTEST), AAC has set the standard in live-fire gunnery training device innovation and design for more than a decade.

AIMTEST TANK-GUN TRAINING SYSTEM

The caliber .50 AIMTEST is manufactured by AAC to provide high-quality gunnery training that any organization can afford. AIMTEST is now available for all NATO-standard 105mm or 120mm main tank guns. AAC has also developed systems to fit 73mm to 115mm main guns, and a semi-automatic device to work with auto-loading main guns (such as the Stryker MGS, the T-72 / T-80 and other large-caliber systems).

AIMTEST duplicates the ballistics of several types of 105mm and 120mm caliber standard tank ammunition, through the substitution of more readily available caliber .50 ammunition types. The trajectory of caliber .50 Saboted Light Armor Penetrator-Tracer (SLAP-T) M962 ammunition is an excellent match to 2,000m, sufficient to exercise the tank crew with standard half-scale or full-scale targets. 1,500m capability can be achieved with caliber .50 M17 or M20 ammunition.

AIMTEST GUNNERY TRAINING ADVANTAGES

AIMTEST enhances training standards for the entire crew: all duties performed during normal operational use of the tank are required while using AIMTEST. The main gun electrical firing circuit and manual firing circuit activate the firing mechanism of AIMTEST, and all main gun safeties are operational.

The AIMTEST allows for firing on ranges where the range safety fan is limited. Depending on the type of caliber .50 ammunition, the range safety fan for the sub-caliber only requires a maximum of 6,700m. Additionally, the noise of firing is reduced to small-arms level because of the 'muffling' effect of the main gun tube, Consequently, the crew is subjected to very low sound-pressure levels, allowing them to concentrate on improving target-engagement techniques.

Both range safety fan limitations and reduced noise levels are critical issues in many countries, due to the restrictions upon military-force training close to populated areas..

AIMTEST possesses all the characteristics sought after in military acquisition today and bridges the training gap between simulators and main gun live-firing with tank practice ammunition.

Deploying AIMTEST permits armored forces to maintain operational readiness in areas where standard ammunition cannot be fired. In this age of cost-conscious armed forces, AIMTEST is the right tool at the right time.

AIMTEST COMPATIBILITY CHART

AIMTEST types:
73mm – BMP-1, BMD-1
76mm – Scorpion, Cougar
90mm – AMX-13, Ikv-91, M47, Panhard-90, LAV-90, Dragoon, Pandur, SIBMAS, URUTU, ENGESSA EE-9, ERC-90, VBC-90, Ratel 90 FSV
100mm – T55
105mm – Leo 1 - A5, M60, AMX 30, Steyr, Type 80, OF-40, Type-74, K1, Px-68, Centurion, M48A5, Stingray, AMX-30RC, Centauro, Rooikat
115mm – T62
120mm – Leo 2 – A6, Arjun, Ariete, Type 90, Challenger 1 and 2, Chieftan, M1A1 / M1A2 / SEP
125mm – T-64, T-72, T-80, T-84, T-85, M-84, T-90, Type -85, Al Khalid, PT-91

We also provide a Gunnery Training System (GTS) for LAV-25s, Bradleys (M2s / M3s), CRV-(T)s, Desert Warriors, VEC scout cars and Mk38 naval guns.

GTS TRAINING DEVICE

The GTS training device allows ATK 25mm (Bushmaster) or other medium-caliber weapon users to use sub-caliber weapons for live-fire gunnery training. It consists of a weapon mount that replaces the medium-caliber barrel, an integration system, and – currently – two firing solenoids.

One solenoid is used for the M2HB .50 caliber Browning machine-gun mounted as part of the GTS; the other fires the GPMG 7.62mm machine-gun. The GTS is adaptable to a 7.62mm mount for firing on ranges with severe live-fire constraints, and allows the crew to train on full or scaled targets at combat ranges at a fraction of the cost of medium-caliber ammunition. The crew trains using the vehicle's existing fire-control system and sights.

A simple, rugged device, the GTS is inexpensive to purchase, operate and maintain. The complete cost of a GTS sub-caliber training device is quickly recovered by significant savings in expenditure on main gun training ammunition, and a reduction in main gun wear.

The GTS is compatible with the M242 (25mm) cannon, L21 (30mm) cannon, and all medium-caliber armored fighting vehicle turrets.

GTS SPECIFICATIONS

The GTS's specifications are:
Maximum effective range: 2,000m with M962 SLAP-T; 1,500m with M20 API-T or M17 trace
Length: 112cm
Width: 8.8cm without ammo stowage box; 27cm with ammo stowage box
Height: 17.6cm
Weight: 37.5kg

COA Wargaming

2009-03-04T06:46:00.000-08:00

Being able to formulate a plan, visualise its possible outcomes and rework ideas is vital to achieving successful outcomes in the battlefield. This planning – under the umbrella term of wargaming – forms much of the training given to the soldiers in the today's British Army.

One method of this is course of action (COA) wargaming where risks and issues are identified to help form a plan that can then be subjected to systematic analysis. This training can mean the difference between life and death when put into practice, but it is still largely met with confusion and the technology that supports it is fundamentally underused.

COA wargaming: misunderstood and misapplied

Military adviser for NSC, a software systems provider and consultancy, Graham Longley-Brown who served full-time for 16 years and now continues to work in the Territorial Army, says although the advantages are clear, knowledge about this form of decision support technique varies widely.

"Although COA wargaming has been mandated since the 1990s it remains misunderstood and therefore frequently misapplied. Because of that people seldom realise the massive benefits it can deliver and often discard it," he says.

COA wargaming is designed to be carried out during the plan refinement stage of any battle preparation, under significant time pressure and should take into account friendly and enemy forces, terrain considerations and consequences to civilians. The red cell will play to win – testing the blue cell's defence or attack strategy to the limit, exposing all possible risks.

By playing out specific elements of an operation the blue cell will learn to formulate, react and counteract to the red enemy cell's strategy, which should only become apparent as the game unfolds. One British Army officer undertaking training at the Major level told army-technology.com on the sidelines of their course: "COA wargaming does work, but only when it is understood and time and education pressures can be overcome. I have seen it done horrendously before but I have also seen it used very effectively for operations in Iraq, especially when we have been doing very complex manoeuvres."

The application of scientific and mathematical models can then be applied to conduct operational analysis and force ratio risk levels can be worked out using a 'combat calculator'. This ratio represents the probability that the outcome will be successful. It is generally accepted that a ratio of 3:1 should be achieved before going ahead with the strategy – this represents about a 70% chance of success.

Traditionally the training has been carried out using maps and labels but constructive simulation is also now being adopted in training bases throughout the UK and most notably at the staff college in Shrivenham. This not only allows the players to conceptualise their actions but also forms a useful recording from which further training and revised plans can be formed.

NSC director of business development Graham McIntyre says that capturing the battle space in a simulated environment can teach people to consider the varying outcomes from many angles, and allows instructors to see whether students have taken the tactical aspects of their teaching on board.

"These tools are Windows-based. We make a detailed model of an area that the customer has an interest in and using the tools together cansimulate a battlefield up to brigade level," McIntrye says. "Elements of this capability are used in predeployment training before soldiers go to Iraq or Afghanistan.

"The most important thing is to have checks and balances to make sure these synthetic tools deliver effective training."

Wider adoption, reducing confusion

At theatre-level NSC has developed a system called the 'joint operations command and staff training system' supporting the UK joint services command and staff college. For brigade to company level, its CONTACT range of tools is also used by the British Army. In addition, it has developed the UK's first major in-service training system using commercial games technology Op JCOVE.

"There is a huge investment in commercial games technology that has produced some very good three-dimensional synthetic environments. If you can use that technology to do real training then you should and that's where we come in. That is the coreof thevirtual environment technology but we have worked with the customer and created the scenarios to produce effective training," says McIntrye. Similar technology is used around the world and in particular in the US where the army has developed its own systems, which are then distributed to other Nato forces.

As well as playing out possible outcomes, visualising an operation can also help determine other factors such as the number of units needed and the amount of ammunition they will need with them.

He says COA wargaming is not a 'black art' but when used properly can prove to be one of the most powerful techniques in the whole decision-making process. A second army officer taking part in the Major training course agrees. "It really is useful because you can talk about a plan but when it is put into reality it does not work how it should at all."

For the aims and purpose of COA wargaming to be clear, the difference between this form of training and a mission rehearsal need to be fully understood.

COA wargaming is used during the forming of a plan and play is open to change through reaction and counteraction by all players. After operational analysis it will help determine a final strategy.

This technique should be based around the worst case scenario of what the enemy may achieve while a mission rehearsal is a practice of manoeuvres based on what is considered to be the most likely moves by the enemy.

Developing military judgement to make fast decisions when under pressure is crucial to the progression of individual officers and ultimately the success of army endeavours. COA wargaming offers the chance for these decision-making skills to be practised and improved. An earlier resistance to the technology that can work alongside manual mapping of the scenario is now being overcome but for it to become widely adopted a realisation of the advantages it can bring will need to be more widely realised.

Heavily Protected Armoured

2009-03-04T06:41:00.000-08:00

The new Aravis family of multipurpose heavily protected armoured vehicles has been developed by Nexter Systems, which first revealed the vehicle at the Eurosatory show in Paris in June 2008. The vehicle is being marketed for export and will be available for delivery from 2009.

Nexter developed the Aravis as the most protected vehicle in its category, the current generation of protected carriers in service no longer being capable of defeating the increasing threats from improvised explosive devices (IEDs), mines and high power kinetic projectiles.
"The new Aravis family of multipurpose heavily protected armoured vehicles has been developed by Nexter Systems."

Nexter Systems is part of the Nexter Group which was created in 2006 and is fully owned by Giat Industries. Nexter Systems specialises in battle management systems, armour, artillery and infantry systems and has development and manufacturing facilities at Satory, Bourges and Roanne.

Survivability
Nexter refers to the Aravis 4-4-4-4 protection in reference to the STANAG (Nato standardisation agreement), level 4 protection standards for ballistic, mine, artillery burst and improvised explosive device protection. Nexter has patented its Safepro armour technology that is used in the Aravis vehicle. The vehicle configuration includes mine blast absorption modules and anti fragmentation windows.

For ballistic protection and artillery burst protection, the Aravis features the Safepro crew citadel with spall liner and modular appliqué armour, which provides ballistic protection exceeding STANAG 4569 level 4.

Protection against mines is provided by the Safepro crew citadel, V-shaped anti-mine plate, mineblast absorption modules, and energy absorption seats and gives mine protection exceeding STANAG 4569 Level 4A/4B

The Aravis vehicle has been successfully tested to withstand 'heavy IED attack', with the detonation of 50kg TNT at a distance of 5m, which might become the Nato STANAG level 4 protection against improvised explosive devices. The IED-protection features built into the Aravis are anti-blast and anti-fragmentation side walls and anti-blast doors. The doors withstood the 50kg TNT blast trials without malfunction.

Aravis construction
The Aravis is based on an off-the-shelf Unimog U5000 chassis. The vehicle is air conditioned and provides a usable volume of 9.5m² for up to eight equipped troops, including 8m³ of fully protected space for up to six fully equipped troops. The Aravis can be delivered as a multipurpose vehicle, a battlefield command post and as an ambulance variant.

Command and control
The vehicle can be fitted with the battle management system to the customer's specification – for example the SIR (system d'information régimentaire) used by the French Army, the Nexter Finders C2, Nexter SIT-V1 or the General Dynamics Bowman. The crew has 360° direct and video field of view.

Aravis weapons
The Aravis is can be armed with remotely controlled weapon systems, which allow troops to complete missions inside the protection of the vehicle rather than being partly exposed to hostile fire while manning a turret.

At the Eurosatory show in 2008 the vehicle was displayed with a Selex 12.7mm machine gun mount.
"The Aravis vehicle has been successfully tested to withstand heavy IED attack."

Nexter has completed development of the ARX 20 land remote control weapon station which can be fitted to any armoured personnel carrier of size 4×4 upwards. The weapons operator stays under full armour protection and uses a joystick control and video screen to operate the weapon.

The ARX 20 is compact, lightweight (270kg), and particularly designed for urban warfare operations. The 20mm M621 cannon is the main armament and has a traverse of 360°, elevation to 60° and a range up to 2km.

The system is fitted with a gyro-stabilised mount for on-the-move capability and two day cameras and a night camera for day and night operation. Optional fits include smoke obscurant dischargers and a 7.62mm machine gun with standard ammunition stowage of 100 rounds. To counter sniper attacks, the ARX 20 can be integrated with the Pilar small-arms and sniper location system supplied by the company 0.1dB-Metravib based in France.

Engine
The vehicle is powered by a Mercedes-Benz OM 924, 218hp, four-cylinder diesel engine with an automatic shift gear box.

Performance
The vehicle can carry up to eight people and has been ergonomically designed for crew comfort, with a large internal volume, low noise and vibration levels and air-conditioning. The four-wheel drive gives a high standard of cross country and urban manoeuvring capability. The vehicle can ford water up to a depth of 1m without preparation. Obstacle clearance includes steps up to 50cm, ramps up to 50% and side slopes to 30%.

The drive can be configured to 4×2 operation for high efficiency on-road driving, with speeds up to 100km/h and an unrefuelled range of 750km.

The vehicle uses Michelin 365/80R 20 152 K tyres with run-flat devices and a central tyre inflation system.

Strategic transport
The Aravis vehicle is transportable by road and rail and is air transportable by C130, A400M and C17 aircraft.

Helicopter Demonstrator

2009-03-04T06:37:00.000-08:00

The Boeing unmanned Little Bird (ULB) demonstrator is a modification of the MD 530F single-turbine helicopter, designed for both manned and unmanned flight. The ULB can be remotely operated or programmed for autonomous operations in any of its three operational modes: dual pilot, single pilot or unmanned flight operations. The high payload capacity allows missions to include long-endurance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions using heavy, high-capability sensors.

Boeing's unmanned Little Bird (ULB) helicopter demonstrator successfully completed its first flight in September 2004 and the first autonomous take-off and landing was carried out in October 2004. During this phase of testing an on-board test pilot monitored the helicopter's performance but did not actively fly the aircraft. The first truly unmanned flight was completed in July 2006.

The business operations centres responsible for development of the Little Bird include Boeing Rotorcraft Unmanned Systems based in Mesa, Arizona, Boeing Advanced Systems, the Boeing Company in St Louis, and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, St Louis.

The unmanned Little Bird demonstrator aircraft has safely conducted more than 500 hours of UAV technology flight testing since its first flight in September 2004. The demonstrator has supported the definition and qualification of US Army manned and unmanned aircraft operations. The ULB demonstrator won the American Helicopter Society's AHS 2005 Grover E Bell award for the best advancement in rotorcraft research for that year.

The unmanned variant being internationally marketed by Boeing is based on the A/MH-6M aircraft. The A/MH-6 helicopters which are used by the US Army Special Forces are based on the MD 500 series.

A/MH-6X

The A/MH-6X is an optionally manned or unmanned aircraft which is a hybrid of the ULB demonstrator and the A/MH-6M mission-enhanced Little Bird which is used by US Army Special Operations Command. The A/MH-6X completed its first flight in September 2006.

The payload capacity of the A/MH-6X is 1,543kg, nearly 50% greater than that of the ULB demonstrator.

The glass cockpit of the A/MH-6X includes advanced avionics systems such as multi-sensor data fusion, digital mapping, high bandwidth signal processing, data storage, digital radio and Ku band (11.0GHz to 14.5GHz) communications.

Little Bird missions

For the US Army, the missions of the manned / unmanned A/MH-6X Little Bird could include surveillance, as a wideband communications node, resupply of troops in battlefield forward positions, the extraction of stranded soldiers in the battlefield and the rescue of downed pilots.

Helicopter design

The unmanned Little Bird helicopter air vehicle is based on the combat-proven MD 530F light helicopter which was first flown in 1982.

The helicopter is fitted with an articulated five-bladed main rotor of diameter 8.33m. The retention pins are removed to fold the blades for storage.

Mission payloads

The ULB helicopter can be fitted with a range of surveillance, communications and weapons to fulfil different mission requirements. The payload capacity is 1,090kg.

The flight tests of the ULB helicopter have been carried out with payloads of an L-3 Wescam MX-15 electro-optical and infrared sensor together with an L-3 Communications tactical common datalink (TCDL).

Weapons

The ULB helicopter can be armed with 2.75in rockets, the Viper Strike stand-off precision-guided munition (SOPGM) supplied by Northrop Grumman and a 12.7mm GAU-19 Gatling gun.

The Viper Strike SOPGM is a gliding munition for stand-off precision attack which uses GPS-aided navigation and a semi-active laser seeker. It is intended for operations that require a flexible (steep or shallow) angle of inclination, particularly in mountainous terrain or urban areas. The munition's small size and precision provide low collateral damage in cluttered urban environments.

ULB guidance system

Boeing developed the ground control station and the air vehicle's guidance and navigation systems. The air vehicle uses a conventional automatic take-off and landing procedure.

Engine

The 485kW Rolls-Royce 250-C30 turboshaft engine is mounted on an incline in the rear section of the fuselage.

military equipment

2009-03-04T06:22:00.000-08:00

The Department's financial managers deserve praise. For more than three years, they have worked with the personnel in the Property & Equipment (P&E) Policy Office in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and in the acquisition community

to establish the initial value of every item of military equipment in the Department of Defense (DoD) inventory. Approximately 1,100 individual weapon system programs were assessed for a computed net book value of about $300 billion.

To its credit, the DoD financial management community assisted in developing the policy guidance (business rules) and processes that were used to complete the valuations for the military equipment programs. DoD financial managers also helped to ensure the accuracy of the specific program information needed to complete the valuations.

Establishing the initial values is the first of many significant objectives laid out by the Department as it implements Military Equipment Valuation (MEV), an initiative to value, capitalize, depreciate, properly account for, and report military equipment on financial statements. MEV was created in response to Statement of Federal Financial Accounting Standard (SFFAS) No. 23, "Eliminating the Category National Defense Property, Plant and Equipment," and it makes good business sense.

Prior to SFFAS No. 23, military equipment simply was expensed when it was acquired. Now, knowing the value of each item of military equipment gives senior decision makers the information they need to make better, more timely investment decisions on behalf of our warfighters. Additionally, MEV moves the Department closer to its goal of obtaining a clean audit opinion for military equipment on DoD financial statements. While not an end in itself, an unqualified audit opinion demonstrates to the Congress and U.S. taxpayers that the Department is a good steward of the resources entrusted to it, and enhances confidence in DoD business operations.

Establishing the Military Equipment Baseline

Building on the success of the initial valuations, efforts now are under way to establish the military equipment baseline for year-end financial reporting in fiscal year 2006. As part of this effort, the Department must update information that was used to complete the initial valuations, including program data (such as budgeted cost and useful life), asset status (that is, additions, transfers, and disposals), and program expenditures. Completion of these actions will bring the military equipment program information current as of September 30, 2006.

Updates to Program Data

Representatives of the P&E Policy Office have been working closely with DoD component acquisition personnel to identify changes needed in the program data. P&E Policy Office personnel are responsible for ensuring that this updated information, which likely will include changes to program funding and updated linkages to the accounting system, is considered as the military equipment baseline is developed.

Updates to Asset Status

By October 5, 2006, designated DoD component points of contact (POCs)--that is, program managers, item managers, or other individuals in the logistics chain who have the most reliable information concerning asset quantity--will be primarily responsible for updating the asset status information. These updates will identify changes in asset quantities, by specific asset, through a Web portal.

The asset status update process is no small task, but it's necessary because of the limitations of the component accountability systems. Until these systems are capable of capturing and reporting accurate, real-time asset status information, the Department will have to rely on these data calls.

To make the update process manageable, training for POCs was offered at 12 locations across the country in April and May 2006. Now the training is being offered online through the P&E Policy Office Web site at http.//www.acq.osd.mil/me.

Updates to Program Expenditures

The update of expenditure information will be accomplished through an automated interface to the supporting accounting transactions. As previously noted, during the program data update, program managers were asked to identify the accounting system linkages that relate to their program expenditures. For purposes of the MEV effort, these accounting linkages are referred to as financial account codes (FACs). The FAC is a combination of fields from the accounting line that can be used to associate expenditures with a program.

Data relating to military equipment expenditures is transmitted from each DoD component's accounting system into the Business Enterprise Information System (BEIS). The BEIS data then are transferred to and processed by the Capital Asset Management System-Military Equipment, a DoD enterprise system that well be used to compute the military equipment values that will be reported by the Department.

Validating the Military Equipment Baseline

Establishing the value is only the first part of the process. From there, the financial management, acquisition, and logistics communities must participate in a coordinated process to validate the data used in order to develop the military equipment baseline. This coordinated process supports the action known in the financial community as management assertion.

The outcome of the management assertion process is a formal representation, provided by the DoD component head or component senior financial manager, that the military equipment program values presented in the financial statements are ready for audit. Working closely with the components, the P&E Policy Office has developed a process whereby everyone who has provided direct input to the military equipment valuations will be required to attest that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the information provided is correct.

At the completion of the process--no later than December 31, 2006--the DoD components will be required to assert the following:

* Reported military equipment exists (existence)

* All military equipment that exists is reported (completeness)

* All military equipment is properly valued (valuation)

* The Department owns the military equipment that is reported (rights and obligations)

* The military equipment is reported in accordance with the accounting standards (presentation and disclosure)

Successful completion of the assertion process will assure the Department's senior leaders that the military equipment values reflected on the financial statements are accurate, complete, and ready for audit.

As with the asset update process, training on the assertion process was provided within the Department. This training still is offered online through the P&E Policy Office Web site at http.//www.acq.osd.mil/me.

Timeline for Achieving a Clean Audit Opinion

The Department has developed a milestone-based timeline to achieve a clean audit opinion. This is contained in the Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness (FIAR) Plan, the first edition of which the Department published in December 2005. The FIAR Plan, which has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget and delivered to the congressional Defense committees, is the cornerstone of the Department's efforts to improve its financial management--and MEV is part of that plan. Milestone accomplishments are reviewed monthly by DoD senior leaders, and failure to meet any milestone is brought to the direct attention of the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Some of the key dates and milestones listed in the FIAR Plan for MEV follow:

September 30, 2006--Component Review of Computed Values. Internal auditors will conduct a limited scope validation to assess the work that has been completed and the documentation that has been compiled to support the MEVs.

December 31, 2006--Component Assertion. Based on input from their internal auditors, the senior financial manager of each DoD component will assert to the audit-readiness of the reported values.

March 31, 2007--Contract Awarded to Public Accounting Firm. Based on the assertions, the DoD Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will award a contract to an independent public accounting (IPA) firm to audit the military equipment baseline value.

June 30, 2007--DoD Inspector General Assessment of Audit Readiness. The IPA firm or the DoD OIG will issue an independent assessment regarding whether it appears likely that the component will receive an unqualified audit opinion on the military equipment balance. If so, the audit will be initiated. If not, a report will be prepared that describes what has prevented the conduct of an audit and what needs to be done to remedy those problems.

Improving Financial Management of Military Equipment in the Future

We have achieved many successes to date as we strive to fulfill the promise set forth in the President's Management Agenda "to secure the best performance and high measure of accountability for the American people."

However, we are only in the first phase of the MEV Initiative. In the second phase, the Department will begin using an automated process to maintain and update asset values using transactional data from DoD's receipt, acceptance, and payment systems.

These process improvements make good sense from financial and operational perspectives. The Department wants to take advantage of the data gathered, but knows that better, more discrete data will support better management decisions. In addition, SFFAS No. 6, "Accounting for Property, Plant and Equipment," which provides guidance on the valuation of all equipment (including military equipment), requires more granular valuation than can be supported by current accounting and accountability systems. For example, assets such as aircraft should be valued at their full cost exclusive of spare parts (since spare parts should be reported on a different line on the financial statements). Most systems currently in use cannot document separate valuations for the primary asset and the associated spare parts, the lack of which likely would create valuation issues during the audit.

Implementing the Process and Policy Changes

The P&E Office already has identified and is in the process of implementing the necessary process and policy changes. These changes will require substantial improvements both to financial systems and to acquisition business processes. These latter changes relate to the way contracts are written, individual items are identified, assets are associated with programs, items are classified, and expenditure information is captured.

A brief explanation of each of the five necessary changes follows.

Changes to Contract Structuring. Contract line items must be structured so that the cost for items that should be capitalized (for example, aircraft) can be easily segregated from the cost of items that should not be capitalized (for example, spare parts). The P&E Office soon will be conducting training on contract restructuring to ensure that those who are responsible for formulating and executing contracts clearly understand the objective of these changes and the related contract writing requirements.

Changes to Item Identification. The Department now requires the use of Item Unique Identifiers (IUIDs) for items that meet established criteria, such as those having a unit cost in excess of $5,000 and requiring serialized item management. This IUID, which associates a unique number with military equipment assets meeting these criteria, will make it easier to track and account for items as they move between programs and reporting organizations.

Changes to the Association of Assets with Programs. To associate assets and related expenditures with individual programs, the Department plans to establish individual Acquisition Program Unique Identifiers (APUIDs). These program identifiers already exist for major acquisition programs. Current plans call for extending this requirement to all acquisition programs, thereby improving the Department's ability to link assets and related expenditures with every acquisition program.

Changes to Item Classification. The Department plans to develop a new Demand Unique Identifier (DUID), which will be used to distinguish how an item will be classified for financial reporting purposes. Given that some contract expenditures should be capitalized as military equipment, some should be reported as operating material and supplies, and some should be expensed, this identifier will provide the visibility to distinguish the appropriate classification and accounting treatment in an automated way.

Changes to Capture of Expenditure Information. The Department is establishing an automated receipt, acceptance, and entitlement tracking system known as Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF). This capability will help the Department in associating expenditure information with programs.

Some of the preceding process changes, such as IUID and WAWF, already are being implemented. Others, such as the APUID and the DUID, should be in place within the next two years.

Once all of these process changes have been fully implemented, which is estimated to take from five to seven years, the Department will have the tools it needs to implement a fully automated military equipment valuation approach.

Your Participation--To the Baseline and Beyond

With excellent teamwork among the DoD financial management and other communities, the Department already has accomplished a great deal. Together, we've completed an initial valuation of all military equipment programs; developed a process for updating and asserting to these values; and mapped out a feasible, long-term plan to refine military equipment values in the future.

Now the P&E Office seeks your help in maintaining strong momentum for this initiative. Your commitment to securing accurate, consistent, and comparable data across programs and components will give decision makers the best possible information to support our warfighters. It also will move the Department forward in its effort to attain a clean audit opinion and thereby secure the trust of the Congress and the American taxpayer in DoD's stewardship over its assets.

Richard K. Sylvester is a member of the Senior Executive Service and Deputy Director, Acquisition Resources and Analysis for Property and Equipment Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics).

The MH-60S Knighthawk

2009-03-04T06:15:00.000-08:00

History

The MH-60S Knighthawk was developed to replace Navy's fleet of CH-46D Sea Knights, SH-3 Sea Kings, and HH-60H Seahawk helicopters. A hybrid prototype, consisting of an Army UH-60L airframe and Navy SH-60F engines and avionics, was produced and tested between 1997 and 1998. In 1999-2000 the Navy conducted additional testing with the prototype (designated YCH-60S) to evaluate its ability to take on an additional role as an airborne mine-countermeasures platform, which would allow the Navy to retire the MH-53E Sea Dragon as well.

The first production Knighthawk flew in January of 2000 and was delivered to the Navy (HC-2) in 2001. Originally designated the CH-60S, the Knighthawk was redesignated the MH-60S in February of 2001. The first production AMCM capable MH-60S was flown in July 2003. Full rate production of the MH-60S was initiated in 2002 with a total production run of 271 planned (of which 66 will be dedicated to the AMCM mission.) The final MH-60S aircraft is expected to be delivered in 2011, by which time it, along with the MH-60R, which is replacing the SH-60B/F series in the ASW role, will be the only two types of helicopters in service with the Navy.

The MH-60S is currently in production and in active service with the fleet.
Description

Airframe and general capabilities

The MH-60S Knighthawk is a twin-engined medium lift utility helicopter. It is equipped with a single 4-bladed rotor and a single 4-bladed tail rotor. The basic crew compliment for the MH-60S is four; pilot, co-pilot, crew chief and gunner.

The MH-60S was designed to serve as a replacement for the CH-46D Sea Knight and the SH-3 Sea King in the VERTREP (vertical replenishment) and personnel transport role, the HH-60H in the combat search and rescue (CSAR) role, the MH-53E Sea Dragon in the mine counter measures role. As such, it is literally a hybrid of two distinct airframes.

Externally, the MH-60S is based on the Army UH-60L Blackhawk cargo/transport helicopter. The MH-60S retains the twin cargo compartment doors, one located on each side of the cargo compartment, of the Army helicopter, as well as the enlarged internal cargo area and internal fuel layout. In addition, the Knighthawk retains the extended reverse tricycle landing gear arrangement of the land-based helicopter, the hover IR suppression system for the engines, the high capacity external cargo hook (9,000 pounds), twin gunner?s stations (one mounted on each side of the aircraft, forward of the cargo door), and is ESSS (external stores support system) capable, which will enable the Knighthawk to mount additional fuel tanks or weapon systems. Incorporated into the UH-60L airframe are the SH-60F style doors for the pilot and co-pilot, the navalized variants of the General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft engines, the folding tailplane, the automatic rotor folding mechanism and rotor brake, the 600 pound capacity rescue hoist (mounted on the right-hand side of the aircraft) the hover in-flight refueling system (HIFR) and fuel dumping capability, as well as the heavy duty transmission, drive train and avionics.

In the cargo/ personnel transport role, the MH-60S can accommodate up to 13 passengers (excluding crew) 6 medical litters or two cargo pallets totaling a maximum of 4,000 pounds internally. The Knighthawk can carry up to 9,000 pounds externally via its cargo hook, with a total payload capacity (internal and external) of 10,000 pounds.

For those MH-60S aircraft performing the AMCM mission, the airframe has been strengthened and modifications have been made to allow for the installation of the operating winch for the AN/AQS-20A mine detection sonar.

The MH-60S is the first naval helicopter to be built from the frame up incorporating the MH-60 common "glass cockpit" design which was introduced with the UH-60L. This system replaces most of the analog aircraft instruments with four active matrix liquid crystal color displays and dual programmable operator keysets. In addition, the cockpit is fully NVG compatible, which will enable the aircrew to effectively operate the helicopter in low visibility conditions.

Powerplant

The MH-60S Knighthawk is equipped with two 1,800 shp General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft engines. Internal fuel is stored in two crashworthy fuel tanks and totals 360 gallons. In addition, the Knighthawk can accommodate two additional internal auxiliary fuel tanks, each rated at 200 gallons.

Flight characteristics

The empty weight of the MH-60S is 13,648 pounds, while the maximum take off weight is 23,500 pounds. The external cargo carrying capacity (cargo hook) is 9,000 pounds and the internal cargo capacity is 4,000 pounds. Total lift capacity is 10,000 pounds

The maximum level speed of the MH-60S is 145 knots (167 miles per hour) while the cruising speed is 139 knots (160 miles per hour.)

The maximum range of the MH-60S on internal fuel and at maximum take-off weight is 245 nautical miles (278 statute miles.)

Electronics

The MH-60S is equipped with VHF-FM, UHF-FM, and VHF-AM/FM radios, as well as encrypted IFF recognition system. Other mission electronics include the AN/AAS-44 IR ranging and tracking laser system and the MTS-A multi-spectrum targeting system.

For navigation the Knighthawk relies on the Litton LN-100G dual embedded global positioning system and inertial navigation system.

For self-defense the Knighthawk is equipped with the AN/APR-39(V)1 radar-warning receiver, the AN/ALQ-144(V)6 IR countermeasures set, and the AN/AAR-47(V)2 missile launch detector set.

AMCM capable Knighthawks are equipped with the AN/AQS-20A towed mine identification sonar, the Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS), the 30mm AN/AWS-1 Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System (RAMICS) and the AN/AES-1 airborne laser mine detection system (ALMDS.)

Armament

The MH-60S can be armed with two 7.62mm machine guns (one per pintle mount at the gunner?s stations) and two .50 caliber machine guns (mounted at weapon stations in the crew compartment.) With the ESSS mounted, the MH-60S can accommodate up to 16 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles or four 2.75" rocket pods. The 30mm AN/AWS-1 system can also be mounted on the ESSS station. The MH-60S is also AGM 119 Penguin capable.