Posted on 05/19/2004 4:32:48 PM PDT by Cannoneer No. 4
Mike Riley spent part of his day Monday leading soldiers and civilians through the streets of Baghdad — without leaving Fort Knox.
Riley, director of new products and business for Raydon Corp., demonstrated the latest in combat training technology with the Raydon Virtual Convoy Trainer, one of the more popular vendor exhibits at the 2004 Armor Conference. More than 130 vendors attended the conference to showcase new technology for the armor force. Exhibits ranged anywhere from the latest in weaponry to enhanced vehicle armor to waterproof socks.
The virtual trainer is one example of new training techniques by the military. Riley said the system is brand new and won't be fielded by the military until this summer, when it will be put into use at mobilization stations for troops to practice before they're deployed.
Although it looks like a high-quality video game, the technology is no joke. The visual database, which features several virtual training sites including the Zussman Urban Combat Training Center at Fort Knox and the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., takes months to complete.
The simulators also feature an exact replica of Baghdad so soldiers can practice missions similar to those in Operation Iraqi Freedom on a screen before they have to engage in combat in real life.
"They can do dangerous things without the danger," Riley said. "They can die here and not really die. They make mistakes and learn from them."
The database is so complete that it shows soldiers actual locations of buildings and street intersections.
"If there's a five-story building on a certain spot in Baghdad, there's a five-story building in that exact spot here," he said, pointing to the computer screen.
Other exhibits also showcased state-of-the-art technology. The latest, from Microvision Inc., is the Nomad Helmet-Mounted Display, currently being used by the Stryker Brigade in Iraq.
The display allows soldiers to view both the terrain in front of them and has thermal imaging and situational awareness maps at the touch of a button. A small screen mounted on the helmet and lowered into an operator's line of vision keep soldiers' heads up and hands-free, while they examine tactical information.
"You can be looking out at the horizon and still maintain situational awareness," Microvision market segment manager Bruce Westcoat said.
The 2-year-old system can be used during the day and at night, without being detected with night vision.
Westcoat said the display was receiving good reviews from the Stryker Brigade, where each vehicle currently has one system in use by the tactical commander. Eventually, Westcoat hopes there will be multiple systems in one vehicle and that all brigades will have access to the technology.
While high-tech exhibits kept the attention of many, some attendees were more excited about the armor force vehicles on display.
Seven-year-old Michael Prather Jr. mounted a M1A2 SEP tank, a modernized version of the M1 Abrams tank, with his father, Staff Sgt. Michael Prather, who is stationed at Fort Knox.
Michael Jr. said climbing inside the tank was fun and his favorite exhibit. He and his dad have been to the conference before, and he always looks forward to exploring the vehicles.
"It's small," he said, after exiting the tank. "There's lots of stuff in there. And it's kind of crowded."
But Michael Jr. wasn't the only one having fun. Prather, a tanker, also enjoys getting to see the modernized vehicles.
"A lot of times we don't get to use a lot of the new technology because we do a lot of support missions," Prather said. "This is pretty fun because we get to see the latest updates and what's out there."
Erica Walsh can be reached at 769-1200, Ext. 238, or e-mail her at erica@mail.the-ne.com.
Guardian = NICE!
The other manufacturers don't have Evan Bayh, Marty Meehan and Teddy Kennedy working for them.
Well of course and really, let's not stand in the way of Teddy,Marty, Evan and donations to the DNC, huh? The M1117 looks and acts like a winner .You and the gang and I all know the Mummer is a damn truck, Unfortunately, it has been forced to do beyond its job. As I stated in another post , the problem has not been tha twe don't have alternatives, we've simply had them stopped and obstructed , and now , they are political footballs lobbed by the same jackasses who stopped them.
Gee , wonder how many of these things are still in the Balkans?
Bump!
The Armor Conference. Used to be synchronized with the Kentucky Derby so that you could make both events on one trip. I guess wartime requirements have forced a change. The highlights were always the Garden Party at the CG's quarters and the Regimental Muster at the Brick Mess. Don Ariel, co-founder of Raydon knows a thing or two about tank gunnery and makes great gunnery training devices. But, convoy training is best done in a live enviornment using laser-based engagment skills devices in lieu of live ammunition. Several vendors of this technology are also present at the conference.
I recall seeing at the 93 conference a vehicle mounted ration heating device. It was modeled on the British cooker that has been fitted to their armoured vehicles for years. Great for heating rations, brewing tea, cocoa, coffee, soup. 11 years on, and I bet that the Armor confernce is still exhibiting the ration heating device as a future enhancement. Our acquistion system is great for creating careers, but not too good at delivering what soldiers need now.
Maybe I've been a grunt for too long already, but of the items on that list, the only one I get excited about is the waterproof socks...
The Nomad sight is really nice. If mounted in an M1A2SEP, it would allow me to be up on my 50 CAL without having to keep going into the turret to reference the FBCB2.
Can't use the AH-64 set-up. The Apache uses a closed cockpit where infared sensors track the helmet. It would be difficult to use this system in a tank/AFV. A different system is under R&D, but since the idea is to fight more 'buttoned up' we would not need it. A slew-to-cue system where a scout finds targest and hands them to the tank or an intelligent targeting system (targets anything not sending IFF as friendly and lets the gunner select his target) may be better. There are several other systems like a VR gunnery station or flatscreen tough panels. The list is actually open ended now and "Star Trekish" ideas are actually being researched and developed into usefull items.
Could you add me to the treadhead ping list, thanks.
But they are really cool socks! I got a pair free. They work well. So does the new Polarmax undershirts.
There was a lot of gear the soldiers actually asked for and got on display. Even the Tomohawk has been re-introduced. Heavier than the old "Sentry Silencer" and has a rounded blade with a double pick on the back.
New K-pots with better protection, shape (no sliding forward when you hit the ground and look up), and room to put the headsets on.
Class III-A CVC body Armor.
New rifles.
New SAW configurations.
M82 Improved Barret 50 CAL
Active Defense Systems (shoots down ATGMs and RPGs)
Improved Armor concepts
M1 Loader's and TC gun shields using transparent armor.
40mm auto-cannon for the M2/M3 Bradley.
120mm cannister rounds (6in wide buckshot with 500 1/4 inch tungston balls)
GEN(R) Starry was there (helped develope the M1 Abrams). I had a great, and long, conversation with him. Nice guy.
So I had fun and got paid...is that so wrong? Course, still put my two cents into what we wanted changed. Saw the MGS, definatly do not like it at all. The TC can't see over the gun to his left even when he is standing up out of the turret! And several dozen other problems.
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123007756
My EOD troops with their Barrett..........:o)
Stay Safe !
Transparent armor? Coooool. What's it made of? Sorry about all the questions, I just think this is some great stuff! How long until this gear is actually fielded?
We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!
Good to hear it ... thanks for the update.
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