Future weapons/equipment and their impact on the structure of infantry units
This is a discussion on Future weapons/equipment and their impact on the structure of infantry units within the Army & Security Forces forum, part of the Global Defense & Military category; Originally Posted by ST Press Release
Singapore, 8 June 2009 - ST Engineering today announced that its electronics arm, ST ...
Singapore, 8 June 2009 - ST Engineering today announced that its electronics arm, ST Electronics, has been awarded a contract to provide the Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The project which is worth over S$100m will commence immediately and is expected to be completed by 2012...
The ACMS is a 3rd Generation Networked Warrior system fully equipped with advanced C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence) and network capabilities. The ACMS is a joint development effort that started in 1998 among the Defence Science and Technology Agency, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and ST Electronics with the support of Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics) in the area of weapon sub-system. It features innovations from ST Electronics and ST Kinetics. For this contract, ST Kinetics is a subcontractor to ST Electronics...
Let me just begin by saying that I'm not a fan of some aspects of the SAF's Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) due to size and weight issues. I'm for the idea of enhancing the situational awareness, especially in urban warfare - I'm just not a fan of the current form factor and the need for separate batteries for each device.
However, the ST Electronics press release indicates that it is going into production (after the earlier trials) and I should share the news and enclose some basic links on the ACMS.
In a seven-man section, the two team leaders and section commander will be equipped with the ACMS. The components of the ACMS are:
Personal Radio. The radio enables soldiers to share information, in the form of data and voice, with other soldiers. It has a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) that helps the soldier's command headquarters to track his location and that of friendly forces.
Communication Keypad. This portable keypad, designed for easy data input, also has hotkey buttons such "On-Contact" and "Call-For-Medic" to enable quick updates of the team's status to the command headquarters, and request assistance from nearby forces at the push of a button.
Portable Computer. The brain of the ACMS, the portable computer processes data collected by sensors, GPS, other ACMSs and user input to provide real-time information updates on the battlefield.
Head-mounted display (HMD). The HMD can switch its displays from a digital map to satellite images of the terrain to videos captured by the various sensors. Through the HMD, soldiers can see locations of targets and friendly forces which are plotted on the digital map.
Weapon Interactor. The section commander will also have an additional camera attached to his SAR 21, so that he can capture and send back images to the command headquarters through the quick buttons on the handguard. The sensor also allows him to survey and fire around corners without exposing himself.
In addition to the ACMS, soldiers are equipped with remote sensors such as a surveillance ball, a remote-control surveillance car and a key-hole sensor.
A Networked Force
With the ACMS and remote sensors, soldiers can track the positions of friendly and hostile forces, effectively engage their targets and concentrate efforts at critical locations. Such information sharing allows the soldiers to navigate accurately through the terrain and avoid known danger areas.
By feeding images back to the command headquarters, soldiers are not only fighters, but also sensors on the ground. They enable commanders to deploy firepower effectively at hostile locations and enhance battlefield coordination. Section commanders are also empowered to call for fire support and for the command headquarters to utilise higher command resources such as artillery, air assets and sensors, to enhance the lethality and situation awareness of their units.
With the integrated information flow, the seven-man section in the battlefield can now tap into the wider resources of the battalion. This significantly increases the lethality, situational awareness and survivability of the individual soldier.
h/t to weasel1962 for posting it elsewhere first.
Last edited by OPSSG; June 10th, 2009 at 09:21 PM.
Let me just begin by saying that I'm not a fan of some aspects of the SAF's Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) due to size and weight issues.
I can see the advantage of giving every rifleman a radio as shouted commands CANNOT be heard amidst gunfire. So that's a definite plus.
But can anyone elaborate on how such a comms net would be set up?
For example during my time it was very rudimentary.
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So in the case of every squaddie having a radio, what net would they be on? Is it their own section's net?
Are there any armies that already issue radios to every single riflemen?
As for all the other stuff like keypad, helmet mounted sight, personal computer etc I don't know what to make of them. Probably useful when you are not fighting. When you are fighting, those things will be a fcuking nuisance.
Will these head-mounted display, keypad and other situational awareness gadgets, actually enhance or degrade situational awareness?
I can see the advantage of giving every rifleman a radio as shouted commands CANNOT be heard amidst gunfire. So that's a definite plus.
1. The 'radio' enables non-voice communications - i.e. via the sending of text messages (like SMS on a handphone - with more short cut keys). I'm not willing to further elaborate on the features, some of which are explained in the video below:
But can anyone elaborate on how such a comms net would be set up?
For example during my time it was very rudimentary.
2. I am not comfortable discussing anything relating to signals and comms net on a forum due to security concerns.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chino
Are there any armies that already issue radios to every single riflemen?
3. Even with ACMS it's only the group leaders that have an extra load to carry - so it is not everyone in the section.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chino
As for all the other stuff like keypad, helmet mounted sight, personal computer etc I don't know what to make of them. Probably useful when you are not fighting. When you are fighting, those things will be a fcuking nuisance.
Will these head-mounted display, keypad and other situational awareness gadgets, actually enhance or degrade situational awareness?
4. An ACMS user can just flip up the head-mounted display when it is not in use. The head-mounted display enables the ACMS user to see maps / air photos and other sensor inputs (which includes the Surveillance Ball and other UAV inputs).
5. Having a keypad is no different from having a handphone (it should not distract you). Further, the section commander's SAR-21 has a TV camera to enable him to see round corners without exposing his body.
What the Singapore army needs with the ACMS is the HULC exoskeleton so that our soldiers do not feel like they are over loaded. And if there is a thunderstorm, the ACMS solider can become a great lightning conductor.
To simplify logistics, we need 'D" batteries for the hip torsion devices, and the shoulder, elbow and back actuators will use the DC 9-volt batteries and 2 x PRC-77 batteries for the reminder of the exoskeleton's systems - on top of the 4 other types of batteries for the ACMS (which would also include a laptop battery or two ).
Last edited by OPSSG; June 10th, 2009 at 11:17 AM.
Seems to be a very interesting system. Personally I feel if well implemented it will greatly increase the performances of the combined arms team. The video shows how the group leaders are the communication nodes and are able to take over part of the "scout" tasks I envisioned. He carries seemingly a laser ranger and a digital compass to geolocate the position with help from his GPS.
The ability to call speedily and accurately heavy firepower at such a low level is a huge step forward. And this ability should be greatly enhanced by the increased knowledge where your men, supporting assets and your enemies are. This too allows to greatly increase the sensors capability and narrow the sensor-shooter link.
For the backs of the infantry I hope that some load can be shifted away by "outsourcing" a good deal of the firepower. Even if I'm not too optimistic about that
________________
"The first criterioun in war remains decisive action. Everyone, from the highest commander down to the youngest soldier, must constantly be aware that inaction and neglect incriminate him more severely than any error in the choice of means.
Seems to be a very interesting system. Personally I feel if well implemented it will greatly increase the performances of the combined arms team.
Very much a dial 1800-call-a-bomb system. With ACMS, the individual section operating in a Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) environment can call upon greater support resources of the SAF combined arms team. These combined arms resources include air strike (F-15SG, F-16Ds & Apaches), indirect fire support (76mm naval gun fire, 120mm mortar, 155mm artillery & HIMARS), even company direct fire weapons and our own counter sniper support to dominate all roof tops and exposed areas.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Firn
The video shows how the group leaders are the communication nodes and are able to take over part of the "scout" tasks I envisioned. He carries seemingly a laser ranger and a digital compass to geolocate the position with help from his GPS.
Geo-location is important for blue force tracking. With ACMS, every section can send information (even pictures) up to higher HQ (or other sections pinned down by enemy fire - to enable these sections to collaboratively ID hidden enemy shooters), if necessary.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Firn
The ability to call speedily and accurately heavy firepower at such a low level is a huge step forward. And this ability should be greatly enhanced by the increased knowledge where your men, supporting assets and your enemies are. This too allows to greatly increase the sensors capability and narrow the sensor-shooter link.
SAF's UAVs will provide real time ISAR that will enable a persistent ability to observe - aiding the ACMS equipped section as they conduct MOUT. ACMS can also be configured to receive information from a ST manufactured 40mm SPARCS camera (Soldier Parachute Aerial Reconnaissance Camera System) aka 40mm Spy Grenade or other relevant sensors.
Last edited by OPSSG; June 10th, 2009 at 09:07 PM.
Singapore's new urban warfare training facility and ACMS acquisition represents a commitment to improve the SAF's infantry training syllabus, with a particular focus on combined arms in MOUT operations. The ACMS investment also restores an emphasis on the infantry's role in high intensity conflict, with an understanding of the informational/intelligence needs of a conscript based infantry section.
If you are interested, there is a SAF urban warfare video with trial versions of the ACMS (based on PDAs). This old video focuses on the sensors used for urban warfare.
IMHO, nothing very unique about ACMS in concept, as compared to the Land Warrior being developed for the US Army. Popular Mechanics has a 2007 article on why US soldiers don't like it. BTW, I quite amused, there's even a Malaysian defence blog with comments on the ACMS.
Last edited by OPSSG; June 11th, 2009 at 04:07 AM.
________________
"The first criterioun in war remains decisive action. Everyone, from the highest commander down to the youngest soldier, must constantly be aware that inaction and neglect incriminate him more severely than any error in the choice of means.
The video is worthwhile to watch even if even it has a slight "happy end" touch, with everything seemingly fitting too well into the narrative. I hope that the perception of the Land Warrior really underwent such a positive turn. Anyway it is well made and comes up with very interesting points, with a lot of thought and talk by soldiers of all ranks. It fits also well into my assumptions, even if I was surprised just how highly they rated the ability to "solve" navigation. Perhaps it is due to the urban maze, difficult environment and the pressure of war.
From the Army Times:
Quote:
Instead, he pulled down a tiny helmet-mounted display screen and gazed into a satellite image of the battlefield terrain. Tidwell tapped into the computerized ensemble that quickly showed him the exact distance to the grove of palm trees where the enemy was holed up: 819 meters away on an azimuth of 186 degrees.
The mortar section leader then grabbed his 60mm mortar in the hand-held mode, sighted in on the target, and “started dropping HE rounds.”
“I got three rounds out of the tube and on their position before they had time to react to it,” Tidwell said of the high explosives.
This was no small feat — Tidwell was shooting in direct lay mode, a quick suppression style of mortar fire using range estimation that’s less effective on targets beyond 500 meters.
“It would have taken me six to seven rounds to get on target,” he said. “I shot 17 rounds in two and a half minutes. It blew up their vehicle.” Tidwell said three insurgents were reported killed.
Here we see some of the great advantages of the system. He gets thanks to the system, possibly helped by a digital chemlight set by a fellow soldier at once a accurate firing solution and a bird's eye view of the location and the position of his mates. This greatly increases the effect of the fire.
Quote:
Eliminating confusion
B Company leaders came to depend on this feature on time-sensitive target missions that involved sending small units by helicopter to capture individuals identified as enemy leaders.
Landing by helicopter at night in unfamiliar terrain, 4-9 soldiers said they were able to move without hesitation because the target house’s location had been marked on everyone’s Land Warrior system.
“Every time we hit the ground, there was no waiting to get your bearings. We just took off running toward the objective,” Tidwell said. “We were hitting houses literally before these guys could wake up and get their guns.”
Few things can slow a mission’s momentum like last-minute confusion over which house in a darkened compound is the target building, said Capt. Johann Hindert, first platoon leader in B Company.
He said that without Land Warrior, “You might knock [down] three different doors before you get to the right one.”
Here we see how it can speed every thing up and reduce the collateral damage of searches in a COIN environment. As surprise is the only real advantage of the attacking force this increase in speed and operational tempo should be an immense advantage. See also
Quote:
Sergeants and officers in 4-9 — as well as Army Land Warrior program officials — have told the Army’s senior leadership that Land Warrior is ready for the battlefield; that it gives units a clearer view of their tactical environment and empowers them to move with more certainty than ever before.
“They are going to be faster, more lethal and more agile,” said B Company commander Capt. Jack Moore. “The Army would be foolish to lose this system.”
Between July and August, B Company captured 36 high-value targets identified on Multi-National Division North, Tidwell said.
“We were always able to catch them with their pants down because, as soon as we got on the ground, it was 45 seconds to the objective,” he said. “It’s almost too easy. It’s almost like cheating.”
This is the type of lesson that can’t be simulated or recreated in training, Land Warrior program officials maintain.
“They have taken the system into areas we never thought we would go,” said Lt. Col. Ken Sweat, TraDoc Capabilities manager for Land Warrior out of Fort Benning, Ga., talking about 4-9’s deployment with the system. “The value out of this is incredible.”
Thoughts:
I really liked the Clausewitzian summary by one of the platoon? leaders that by taking care of much of the science of war the Land Warrior allows to concentrate on the art of it.
The Land Warrior should be the core unit in which other technologies and systems plug in. Take for example the wearable sniper detection system or geo-locating assets. Both allow to fix the enemy on the digital map for everybody to see and to engage and allows for a very easy and accurate transfer of data by an SMS even in region where the connection is bad. Add an request and it will get engaged by heavier assets in no time.
All in all I feel that such systems are a way to transmit nonverbal signals and gestures over radio. Something like pointing "there" over your guys a lot of corners away.
________________
"The first criterioun in war remains decisive action. Everyone, from the highest commander down to the youngest soldier, must constantly be aware that inaction and neglect incriminate him more severely than any error in the choice of means.
5. Having a keypad is no different from having a handphone (it should not distract you).
Talking on the handphone while driving is supposed to cause accidents. So I can't see how so much gadgets is gonna help during an intense firefight.
Anyway, I can see the advantages of these Christmas tree gadgets. But let's hope we don't go overboard and end up with our soldiers becoming clumsy robots.
In all the training missions that I can recall, reservists - the bulk of SAF - were tired even without all these fancy gear and body armour. It was often chaotic, and messy and the last hing you want is people trying to access computer equipment.
We are not SWAT.
I would start with a small radio for every man, but beyond that, all the fancy gear, could be information overload.
Like I said, nice before the shooting start. But a nuisance during actual combat. Unlike other countries, we do still have tropical forests where these things are quite useless and make movements difficult as they will snare branches, cannot cross rivers etc. If such a heavily-equipped meets a lightly equipped and highly-agile force in the forest, the outcome is predictably not in out favour.
I wonder what would happen if such a well-equipped person is captured by the enemy? Will they be able to use these gadgets against us? For example by pressing on the keypad, can he lure the rest of the troops into a trap etc?
Talking on the handphone while driving is supposed to cause accidents. So I can't see how so much gadgets is gonna help during an intense firefight.
Anyway, I can see the advantages of these Christmas tree gadgets. But let's hope we don't go overboard and end up with our soldiers becoming clumsy robots.
I think you should read about the experience of the soldier-created mesh-up of the Land Warrior in Iraq. It seems to have been a supreme help in many situation. The video is quite good.
Quote:
In all the training missions that I can recall, reservists - the bulk of SAF - were tired even without all these fancy gear and body armour. It was often chaotic, and messy and the last hing you want is people trying to access computer equipment.
This is the curse of overburdening soldiers with too little physical training. There is no single solution to that, but giving a hard look on what the mission requires is a start. As far as I have understood is that the current Land Warrior weights roughly 3,5 kg for team leaders.
Quote:
We are not SWAT.
I would start with a small radio for every man, but beyond that, all the fancy gear, could be information overload.
Like I said, nice before the shooting start. But a nuisance during actual combat. Unlike other countries, we do still have tropical forests where these things are quite useless and make movements difficult as they will snare branches, cannot cross rivers etc. If such a heavily-equipped meets a lightly equipped and highly-agile force in the forest, the outcome is predictably not in out favour.
Personally I think that a light and agile force can only be achieved if there is a willingness on the side of the officers to take higher risks to lower the overall risk. This means trying to take only the important items, using the vehicles as far as possible as mules, make aggressive use of ruck caches. After what I have seen about the Land Warrior it seems to be among the essentials, at least in the specifc environment.
Quote:
I wonder what would happen if such a well-equipped person is captured by the enemy? Will they be able to use these gadgets against us? For example by pressing on the keypad, can he lure the rest of the troops into a trap etc?
This is actually possibly a problem, although I guess that a specific key is needed to log into the network and that the access can be thus be denied.
________________
"The first criterioun in war remains decisive action. Everyone, from the highest commander down to the youngest soldier, must constantly be aware that inaction and neglect incriminate him more severely than any error in the choice of means.
First of all, I'm not a fan of ACMS in its current format and size. In particular, I would think that the ACMS will be a horror in a river crossing exercise (without the proper prior preparation) - therefore, I don't want to be cast into the role of 'selling' the merits of the ACMS.
However, please consider reading more on the ACMS (Singapore) and the Land Warrior (US) programmes, if we are to have a meaningful discussion on the topic.
For the sake of clarity, let me explain that ACMS has three modular variants:
(i) the Basic Fighting System (supplied to group leaders) focused on fighting capabilities;
(ii) the Full Fighting System (supplied to Section Commanders & above), equipping the Commander and building on the Basic Fighting System, but adding significant C2 capabilities ; and
(iii) the Hand Held System (i.e. a Panasonic Toughbook) which works with the Full Fighting System (a new role for the signal guys). This is carried by a commander’s aide, for use in stationary mission planning tasks, where greater screen size is necessary and a more complex input device can be used.
Across ACMS, there are certain key capabilities common to all configurations for the trials including; GPS navigation, Blue Force Tracking, red force marking, ‘Medic’ Alert, ‘Contact’ Alert, text messaging, reception of video from remote sensors and round corner firing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chino
Talking on the handphone while driving is supposed to cause accidents. So I can't see how so much gadgets is gonna help during an intense firefight.
Anyway, I can see the advantages of these Christmas tree gadgets. But let's hope we don't go overboard and end up with our soldiers becoming clumsy robots.
I'm sharing with you the declassified version of the trial report (based on early versions of the equipment). While it is true that during the trial phase:
(i) 96% of users found that the Helmet Mounted Displays (HMD) hindered dismounted movement at night;
(ii) 78.3% found this to be the case during daylight and a clear majority found it adversely affected aiming throughout the day; and
(iii) that ACMS had encountered problems dealing with very harsh environments and there had been issues with overheating and systems overload,
please note that a number of options were being looked at, including see through HMD, alternative display location and a recent technology – membrane displays. This ONLY means that over time, when the cost of new technologies comes down, the HMD will be changed.
One of the major findings from the trials is the saving in time ACMS has provided. In trials to measure reaction time to enemy contact while en route, time dropped from 20 minutes to less than 6 minutes.
The current Proposed Equipping Scale for ACMS consists of the section commander and above being equipped with the Full Fighting System, with team leaders and below being given Basic Fighting System with basic functionality. This recommendation again is based on trial data and there was no significant difference between ACMS implementations down to all troopers or just section commanders.
With the introduction of ACMS, with new intelligence information flowing to users almost twice as quickly, down from 13 to 7 minutes. Effective distribution of the information was also found to have improved.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chino
In all the training missions that I can recall, reservists - the bulk of SAF - were tired even without all these fancy gear and body armour. It was often chaotic, and messy and the last hing you want is people trying to access computer equipment.
We are not SWAT.
I would start with a small radio for every man, but beyond that, all the fancy gear, could be information overload.
SWAT is a police function - why bring it up here in a discussion on infantry of the 'future' matters? And how would giving a radio to every trooper help - other than to clutter up the command net (especially since you say you are signal trained)? Chino, please take the trouble to understand the system before making such throw away comments.
As previously stated, ACMS allows the section to call upon fire support systems that aren’t held at the section level to engage specific targets they do not have the capability to engage effectively.
Further, one of the goals of ACMS is to enable the section commander to “see one block away”, via a virtual presence. The ACMS trials have used a Worn Array Sniper Detection Systems and a Round Corner Firing attachment. The latter is integrated on the SAR 21 assault rifle allowing aiming through the weapon’s optical sight via a camera, with the display having multiple positions for viewing. The camera is designed to flip sideways with just one hand action, back to a normal weapon sight configuration. Tracked and wheeled, low cost small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) and Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) have also been trialled with ACMS. The integration of tactical sensors has been factored into the architecture from the start to cope with bandwidth and power consumption considerations, although the major concern in this area has been how to manage costs.
Last edited by OPSSG; June 13th, 2009 at 02:40 AM.
First of all, I'm not a fan of ACMS in its current format and size. In particular, I would think that the ACMS will be a horror in a river crossing exercise (without the proper prior preparation) - therefore, I don't want to be cast into the role of 'selling' the merits of the ACMS.
However, please consider reading more on the ACMS (Singapore) and the Land Warrior (US) programmes, if we are to have a meaningful discussion on the topic.
Thanks for that link.
Having now taken a look at both systems it truly seems that if well implemented they greatly reduce the time for a wide ranges of processes. It does so by taking a lot of science out of the war allowing to focus on the art of it. Staggering the capabilities of the modules should help to keep costs and the radio/traffic clutter down.
All in all there seems to be a huge untapped potential. Tapping it with reliable, endurant hardened and soldier-proof systems is now one of the key challanges.
________________
"The first criterioun in war remains decisive action. Everyone, from the highest commander down to the youngest soldier, must constantly be aware that inaction and neglect incriminate him more severely than any error in the choice of means.
Both are of course very expensive toys, but both have their uses so I expect them to see them, if fielded only in very small numbers. The SDS is clearly a very specialized tool, but would be of excellent use on IFV and for selected sections, especially snipers.
________________
"The first criterioun in war remains decisive action. Everyone, from the highest commander down to the youngest soldier, must constantly be aware that inaction and neglect incriminate him more severely than any error in the choice of means.
To simplify logistics, we need 'D" batteries for the hip torsion devices, and the shoulder, elbow and back actuators will use the DC 9-volt batteries and 2 x PRC-77 batteries for the reminder of the exoskeleton's systems - on top of the 4 other types of batteries for the ACMS (which would also include a laptop battery or two 
).
