Flatvision Industry News

A special-ops soldier carries a slew of gadgets into battle. There’s the GPS unit to pinpoint his squad’s location, and a laptop for pulling up blueprints of terrorist compounds or infrared readings of buildings scoped out by robotic surveillance drones. With a radio and its five-pound battery, it’s too much gear. But in a couple years, troops could lighten their load with a rugged, flexible, wrist-mounted display that’s in development by the U.S. Army and HP Labs.

The solar-powered, bendable computer screen will allow for instant data and radio transmission, all in a half-pound unit, says David Morton, the program manager for flexible electronics at the Army Research Laboratory. The display’s thin layer of transistors sends electric signals to an e-ink screen, which converts those signals into grayscale images, similar to the way the Amazon Kindle does. Unlike the Kindle, the two-by-three-inch display can bend to fit around the user’s wrist because HP stamps the electronics and optical components onto pliable plastic. The process eliminates the need for the fragile glass backing used in the Kindle and other displays, says Carl Taussig, the director of information surfaces at HP. “You can strike these things with a mallet, and they just keep on working.”

While the Army works on a color screen, troops will test the black-and-white device and provide feedback for the final version, which should be ready for military use by 2011.

(See article at: http://www.popsci.com)

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A new hybrid microvehicle called the hopping rotochute, designed specifically to operate within small interior spaces will shortly join the US Army’s fleet of robots.

The hopping rotochute will be capable of travelling deep into obstacle-ridden areas such as caves and destroyed buildings to capture video intelligence.

The rotochute is a self-righting robot, being developed for the US Army Research Lab by robotics engineers at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, that is capable of robustly interfacing with ground surfaces. It can even hover.

Robotics engineer Mark Costello said that the project attains significance because present-day military robots, which run on small tank-style tracks, cannot cope with irregular surfaces and obstacles such as rubble or boulders.

“They usually have trouble and get stuck with even low obstacles and walls a couple of feet high,” he said.

The Rotochute traverses an area by intermittently powering a small coaxial rotor system that allows the device to hop over obstacles in different forms, while still conserving battery power.

The self-righting vehicle uses an internal mass that rotates around the perimeter of the body to tilt the vehicle’s main body in the desired direction before a given launch, and rotates to the nominal position once on the ground.

(See article: http://www.army-technology.com)

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Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is presenting the JUMPER System – missiles launched from a vertical launcher pack to precisely strike targets at ranges of up to 50 Km at the 3rd Army & Defense Conference & Exhibition at Latrun, Israel.

The JUMPER system contains eight canistered missiles and one integrated command and a control unit that are arranged in a launcher pack. Overall dimensions are: 1.4X1.4X2m.

The system requires no operating crew and no special launching platform. Pinpoint accuracy and short time of flight make the JUMPER a perfect solution for the autonomous fire support to the Ground Forces. The missile is 1800 mm long, has a diameter of 150 mm, and weighs 63 kg. The missile is equipped with a GPS/INS and 4 steering fins at its tail. In addition, the missile can home to a laser designation.

Thus, a significant effect is achieved against a variety of target types, especially in urban operations where collateral damage is a major concern. The missile is armed with several possible warheads for fire missions that require prompt and accurate response.

The JUMPER system provides the maneuvering force commander with autonomous, immediate, and precise fire – regardless of weather and visibility conditions.

Major General (Ret.) Eyal Ben-Reuven – Deputy, Northern Command, during the 2nd Lebanon War, said: “The JUMPER’s unique mode of operation is very relevant to the asymmetric warfare characteristics of the complex battlefield under which the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) and other modern armies have to operate. The system, using the autonomous vertical launcher pack, enables to invest 90% of the budget in the effect rather than in platforms and personnel”.

With the development of the JUMPER system, IAI leverages its capabilities in the areas of missiles and C4 systems, integrated into a unique, precise and operational effective package to best serve the ground forces.

(See article: http://www.asd-network.com)

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Today, the Defence Industries Council (DIC) has published two major reports setting out the vital nature of the defence industry for the United Kingdom in terms of security, jobs and engineering excellence. Brian Sims reports.

One of the reports, produced by Oxford Economics, reviews the crucial economic contribution made by the sector to national life while the second – published by the DIC itself and entitled ‘Securing Britain’s Future and Prosperity’ – examines the support given to the UK’s Armed Forces by the defence industry.

The DIC’s basic aim is not only to highlight the role that the defence and security sector fulfils for the UK, but also to emphasise the need to ensure its ongoing success.

The DIC consists of a number of defence industrialists and representatives of defence Trade Associations who provide advice to central Government on defence issues by way of the National Defence Industries Council, which is jointly chaired by the Secretary of State for Defence and the DIC itself.

Concern over the general public’s attitude

At the present time, the defence sector is concerned that the public no longer associates the country’s ability to defend itself with the capability to produce the equipment for our Armed Forces to fulfil this role. There is a risk that such an attitude overlooks the country’s manufacturing, engineering and service excellence, and how it’s harnessed to equip and support the Armed Forces.

That being the case, the main 20-page report also aims to “reconnect the public with the industry” and “re-engage them in discussing the wider issue of defence”.

Defence costs every UK citizen £11 per week – that’s equivalent to the cost of a quarter of a tank of petrol. However, despite this relatively modest budget – when compared to other Government departments or historical levels of defence spending – what it buys is vital to the country and its interests.

Furthermore, the defence and security sector reaches all corners of the economy and the country as a whole. For example, practically every Parliamentary constituency has some kind of connection with the defence and security industry.

Cutting defence projects on financial grounds

‘Securing Britain’s Future and Prosperity’ asserts that cutting defence projects on financial grounds alone would be counter-productive. Instead, these projects represent “a route out of recession”.

A study by Oxford Economics shows that the defence and security sectors generate more significant benefits to the country (in terms of jobs, returns to the Exchequer, impact on GDP, R&D investment and export potential) than many other sectors. Figures suggest that a £100 million investment in defence leads to a £227 million output.

The DIC also states that defence and security enables the UK’s Government to target economic decisions such that they’ll directly benefit the economy. In turn, this can also lead to an increased return on investment by way of exports.

Speaking about the reports, Mike Turner – current chairman of the Defence Industries Council – explained: “As the frailties of the British economy become more apparent, there has perhaps never been a better opportunity to harness the full potential of our world class defence and security industrial base, and then use it as one of the paths out of recession. In my view, this will not only provide skilled jobs but also promote economic growth, help to balance our economy and enhance our nation’s defence against growing threats whether they be on our own streets or throughout the world.”

Certainly, the current global uncertainty means that the country has to be prepared for all eventualities. “It’s vital that the UK maintains and nurtures a home-grown ability to stand up to all potential threats – be they conventional, nuclear or terrorist,” suggested Turner. “This can only be achieved by a UK-based defence industry that’s responsive to the nation’s needs.”

Benefits to the UK and Armed Forces

Turner stressed: “We are determined to highlight the benefits the industry and its 305,000 employees deliver to the UK and its Armed Forces. Contrary to the prevailing mood in Westminster, we firmly believe that now is the time to consider investing more for our future safety, not less.” One suspects there aren’t many security professionals in the UK who’d disagree with that statement.

“It’s also the time to re-connect the UK defence community with the British public, not just those in uniform but also those from industry who support them at home and on operations overseas,” asserted Turner. “Our aim is to highlight the efforts being made by the hardworking people employed in the defence and security sector and explain how it’s pioneering new, more cost-effective methods for procuring, maintaining and upgrading military equipment for the Armed Forces so that they can protect our country and our global economic interests.”

Here are some interesting facts and figures on the UK defence and security sector, which:

• consists of 9,000 companies of all sizes across the country

• has more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) than France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Norway combined

• boasted a turnover of around £35 billion in 2008

• on average, exports £5 billion of services per year

• supplies 10% of all manufacturing jobs in Britain

• harbours 13 out of The Times’ Top 100 most sought-after graduate employers (2008), more than in IT, legal or retail

• accounts for 5.6% of Government spending (£38 billion), compared to 13% on education (£88 billion), 17.7% on healthcare (£119 billion) and 28% (£189 billion) on social protection

• generates 1.6 new jobs elsewhere in the economy for every new job created in the defence industry

• exports at the rate of four times more per worker than the automotive sector and is 15% more productive than the UK manufacturing average

• delivers better value for money over the life of defence equipment, and ensures that the country retains vital skills with which to support the British Armed Forces in the field

Prioritising the needs of the Armed Forces

In its official press statement issued this morning, the DIC also commented: “The UK operates in coalitions across the globe, but at times also needs to reserve its independence of action. To do so, we need a domestic defence industry that prioritises the needs of the UK Armed Forces and to avoid any supplier country preventing the UK from acting in its interests by withholding equipment.”

The statement continued: “The industry’s ability to supply and support the most advanced and effective equipment capable of standing up to and defeating evolving threats is therefore an essential part of UK military capability.”

(See article: http://www.info4security.com)

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The British Army is currently considering a vehicle known as the Ranger, which could provide soldiers with an as yet unseen level of protection against roadside bomb blasts compared with current vehicles.

British Army leaders have recently come under attack after senior officials suggested that forces operating in Afghanistan do not have sufficiently protected vehicles to guard against improvised explosive devices (IED), by far the most dangerous weapon in the insurgency arsenal.

The new Ranger vehicle, produced by Universal Engineering is valued at £1m and contains a specially built interior capsule, supported from the ceiling to cushion soldiers against bomb blasts.

Alongside the cushioned interior, the vehicle also makes use of tunable armour, which can be changed to precisely match specific threats. The design of the vehicle uses the effective boat-shaped hull, armoured belly plates and a floating floor to protect against IED attack.

The vehicle carries a 6t payload and is available in 6X6 and 8X8 variants. Weapons options include a 30mm cannon and remote weapons stations.

Universal Engineering is currently undertaking validation trials on the vehicle in Dorset, UK.

(See article – http://www.army-technology.com)

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