ARTICLE

July 2004

Units Heading to Iraq Equipped With Upgraded Technology

by Roxana Tiron

The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is preparing to return to Iraq with a number of new technologies designed for urban fighting.

Among them is an anti-sniper vehicle system that will be operated from a Humvee. It will be ready to deploy in late summer or early fall, according to John Dillon, an Army engineer working on the project.

The Army Aviation and Missile Command has outfitted an older Humvee with an acoustic sensor and a remote weapon station. “These two systems are highly integrated to produce a protective system,” Dillon said.

The original plan, Dillon said, was to equip up-armored Humvees with this anti-sniper kit in the United States, but because all the vehicles are in Iraq, the kit will be shipped there.

Another option, Dillon explained, would be to integrate the acoustic system onto the Stryker light armored vehicle, which already has the remote weapon system. The Stryker brigades have expressed interest in the acoustic sensor, Dillon told National Defense.

“They tested the Strykers with the acoustic sensors and they performed very well,” he said.

At first, only one kit will be sent to Iraq. Its performance in the field will determine the final numbers the troops will receive.

Another technology the 3rd ID will take to Iraq is the long-range advanced scout surveillance system, or LRAS3.

During the initial phase of the war last year, the Army did not have enough time to outfit all tanks with the system, said Maj. Thomas Lippert, from the office of the project manager for night vision and reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition. Several LRAS3 systems were issued to the 3rd ID in Kuwait and then handed over to the 1st Armored Division. The Stryker brigades already have the LRAS3, he said.

The Army changed its delivery schedule to outfit the tanks returning to Iraq, said Lippert. The LRAS3 consists of a second-generation forward-looking infrared with long-range optics, eye-safe laser rangefinder, a day video camera and a global positioning system with attitude determination.

“LRAS3 is a phenomenal thermal FLIR, which allows you to see in fog and sand,” said Lippert. “It is basically a far target locator.” LRAS3 also exports far target location coordinates to the Army’s unit-tracking system, the Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade-and-Below.

Meanwhile, the PM NV/RSTA is working on developing a “change-detection technology,” said Lippert, which allows soldiers to survey an area to determine if any changes occurred from previous surveillance.

The Army also is looking into sensors to detect improvised explosive devices and prevent explosions during convoy operations, as well as prevent bridges from blowing up, a source said.

Soldiers from the 3rd ID are asking for a driver’s vision enhancer on their M1A1 tanks. DVE is on the upgraded Abrams tank the M1A2, as well as the M1A2 SEP. The DVE is a thermal system that allows drivers to see through dust, smoke, haze and darkness.

Staff Sgt. Jared Hamilton, who fought in Iraq with the 3rd ID, said he is not very fond of the M1A2, even though it is more technologically advanced than the M1A1. “It has too much stuff that can break,” he said. Because of the 3rd ID’s busy schedule, it has not had the time to upgrade its M1A1 tanks.

The commander’s independent thermal viewer is a key element of the M1A2 SEP model. However, troops have expressed interest in having the viewer installed in the M1A1, even though the Army has no funds budgeted for the upgrade.

Meanwhile, soldiers are pointing out easy fixes for the battle-tested M1A1 tank. “The external auxiliary power unit needs to be gotten rid off altogether,” said Hamilton. “They were always broken, because of lack of maintenance, plus they take way too much space.”

A bustle-rack extension at the back of the tank would be useful for soldiers to be able to keep more tools and carry them more securely, Hamilton said.

“The enemy is finding out that the rear end of the tank is exposed and vulnerable,” said Hamilton. For that, he suggested that the Army outfit its tanks with bolt-on armor for the back of the tank to protect it from rocket-propelled grenades. The add-on armor “would not affect the mobility of the tank, because the engine of the M1A1 can pull much more that what it pulls now,” he said.

The fire suppression system in the Abrams also needs improvement, said Hamilton. “Now we have three fire extinguishers inside the track and for how much fuel and ammunition this tank holds, something bigger would be better, possibly more fire extinguishing systems,” he suggested.

In his opinion, a clear ballistic shield would be a useful technology to be installed on the tank’s .50 caliber gun and above the hatch so that the commander can leave it open.

United Defense builds the transparent armored gun shield system, or TAGS, which offers protection against small arms.

A company representative said the 1st Armored Cavalry Regiment bought 900 systems to test. The system is built mainly for Humvees and tanks, but there is talk of using the shield on the Stryker as well.

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