Defense Technology International - December 2007 - (Page 24)

DISPATCHES GLOBAL GOING MOBILE C transferred to the Robo-Fox armored vehicle before sending Trobot to a suspect vehicle spotted by Opale. Remote control of Trobot is done through a wireless local area network. After Trobot investigated the vehicle, it was pushed away by a Kodiak armored engineering vehicle (based on a Leopard 2 tank chassis), the only tracked vehicle demonstrated. Integrated technologies Despite airborne reconnaissance, the guard convoys from attack advanced guard was ambushed by enemy combatants who had planted IEDs by the road. The IEDs were triggered NICHOLAS FIORENZA•UNTERLUSS, GERMANY by the high-power electronic microwave onvoys are prime targets for in- guard checked the main supply route system on a TM170 counter-IED demsurgents who can inflict heavy before arrival of the convoy. The ad- onstrator. So in the simulation at least, losses on a force with a simple vanced guard consisted of a mix of they posed no threat to troops. Insurgents’ locations detected by combination of roadside bombs followed mainly wheeled light armored vehicles by attacks on disabled vehicles. Protec- and unmanned vehicles linked together Rheinmetall’s BAA observation and tion can be improved, however, through through Rheinmetall’s FuInfoSys com- reconnaissance equipment on the advanced guard’s Yak escort vehicle were the coordinated use of ground and air mand-and-control system. The unmanned vehicles included transmitted to Kongsberg WS609 technologies that include armored vehicles, robots, sensors and unmanned a Trobot ground demonstrator and weapon stations on the Yak and a Gavial an Opale air-reconnaissance system. command vehicle, both of which ﬁred on aerial vehicles (UAVs). the enemy. The Gavial vehicle also German defense contractor deployed Rosy smoke dispensers Rheinmetall AG presented demfor camouﬂage. onstrations of these technologies Rheinmetall is developing the Gein October at its proving ground in fas Protected Vehicle System with Unterluss, during “Rheinmetall Live its own Nanuk weapon station and 2007,” a force protection simulation active defense system, a mockup of that showcased the company’s capawhich was displayed at the dembilities in a variety of areas, notably onstration. The modular Gefas is convoy protection. being designed as a command and The company displayed technoloescort vehicle, among other roles gies developed to counter the asym(DTI October, p. 18). metric threats faced by German The demonstration also included troops serving in NATO’s Internacounter-rocket, artillery and mortional Security Assistance Force in tar (C-RAM) defense capabilities. Afghanistan. Rheinmetall’s Yak armored vehicle During the force protection simuBut the capabilities are applicable is equipped for convoy protection lation, Opale identified a rocket to any conflict where an industrial with a BAA electro-optical sensor and launcher 1,500 meters (4,921 ft.) military confronts insurgents who op- remote-control weapon station. from a friendly forward operating erate in urban areas among civilians. Advanced reconnaissance technologies, Opale utilizes a twin-engine Diamond base. The rocket launcher was engaged robotic vehicles and remotely operated DA42 aircraft (that can also be piloted), by a Wiesel mortar combat system. Afweapon systems can minimize the expo- equipped with the same sensor package terwards, a battle-damage assessment sure of troops to ambushes and reduce as the German army’s KZO small-tar- was conducted by Opale and the Yak’s get-acquisition UAVs, which would ﬂy BAA observation system. casualties, say Rheinmetall o cials. “Protective Shield,” the Rheinmetall The German deployment in Afghani- overhead. Trobot was controlled by experimental live demonstration held two years ago, stan is in the relatively quiet north, although special forces have operated equipment on board Robo-Fox, a wheeled included a simulation of incoming rounds under U.S. command in the more dan- armored vehicle. But Trobot and Opale being intercepted by the Skyshield sysgerous eastern part of the country. IEDs were manned during the demonstra- tem ﬁring Ahead 35-mm. ammunition. Skyshield requires 18-36 rounds to have killed German soldiers, and their tion because of German restrictions on bases have come under rocket attacks operating unmanned aerial and ground destroy a rocket or shell, according to Rheinmetall’s Oliver Widmer, who vehicles in civilian areas. by insurgents. Opale’s role was to overﬂy the main works on the program. The qualiﬁ ca“The threat facing our troops has in no way diminished since our ﬁrst live dem- supply route before arrival of the ad- tion phase begins next year for entry onstration in 2005,” says Detlef Moog, a vanced guard. In the simulation, it spot- into service with the German army in member of Rheinmetall Defense’s man- ted a suspect vehicle on its second pass 2009. I agement board. “To the contrary, the and transmitted images to a groundTo read posts on convoy protection on DTI’s control system, which prepared a situ- weblog, Ares, including photos and video, dangers are increasing.” “Rheinmetall Live” included demon- ation report that was sent via FuInfoSys go to DTI’s homepage: AviationWeek.com/dti stration of a convoy protection concept. to the advanced guard. and click on ‘Extras for this issue’ under The Trobot driver dismounted and ‘DTI Interactive.’ During the simulation, an advanced RHEINMETALL 24 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL DECEMBER 2007 www.aviationweek.com/dti http://AviationWeek.com/dti http://www.aviationweek.com/dti

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Defense Technology International - December 2007

Defense Technology International - December 2007 Contents Around the World Science Watch Tech Watch BrahMos: Ramjet Ship Killer r-e-s-p-e-c-t Deja Vu Trump Card Dubai Demos Agile Helos Joint Force Online Charge UGVs Creep, Crawl to Victory Sweet Ride Fast, Lethal Ship Defense Networking Stealth: Why Raptors Can't Talk The Net Cutting Edge First Person In Review Insight

Defense Technology International - December 2007

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