December 5, 2024 | International, Naval
This Marine Corps unit now has a ship-killing missile in its toolkit
The new tool gives Marines an offensive strike to clear the way for the Navy.
July 6, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security
La ministre des Armées, Florence Parly, a présenté vendredi la nouvelle « stratégie énergétique de défense » des Armées. Parmi les mesures annoncées figurent notamment le lancement d'un démonstrateur de blindé hybride de modèle Griffon en 2022, ou le développement de la simulation pour les séances d'entraînement dans l'armée de l'Air afin d'économiser du kérosène. Les systèmes d'hébergement de données informatiques vont de plus être revus pour tenter de réutiliser la chaleur des réseaux pour des infrastructures des Armées. Des recherches sur l'hydrogène sont également programmées, notamment pour équiper les piles à combustibles des soldats ou trouver des minidrones propulsés à l'hydrogène. D'ici fin 2021, un logiciel mesurant précisément les consommations énergétiques de toutes les emprises des Armées devrait par ailleurs être disponible.
Les Echos du 3 juillet
December 5, 2024 | International, Naval
The new tool gives Marines an offensive strike to clear the way for the Navy.
December 19, 2018 | International, C4ISR
By: Todd South The Marines are looking to big data analysis and potentially an IBM Watson-like machine or software to help conduct complex wargaming and plan for future battles in an immersive environment. The Corps' Program Manager for Wargaming Capability, Col. Ross Monta, told Marine Corps Times that a recent program announcement seeks to “bring advanced analytics, visualization, models and simulation together to create an environment that enables senior leaders” to make a host of decisions. Those range from capabilities for the future force and ways to test operational plans, develop concepts of operations and help provide information to prioritize resources. The announcement is the service's second round of information gathering in four technology areas that include modeling and simulation, wargame design, data services and visualization. The Marines are reviewing white papers submitted from industry in January, February, March and July. They're aiming to have testing begin as early as October. At the 2017 Modern Day Marine Military Expo, then-Lt. Col. Monta spoke on how the Corps was developing a three- to five-year plan for a wargaming center at Marine Corps Base Quantico that would allow planners to conduct 20 wargames a year, including two large-scale, 250-participant exercises. The simulation they sought at the time would provide, “accurate representation of future operating environments, simulate friendly and enemy capabilities” and perform “rapid, in-depth analysis of game-derived data or insights.” The then-head of Marine Corps Systems Command, Brig. Gen. Joseph Shrader, said that wargaming had to get beyond “moving yellow stickies on a map.” At that time the center was capable of conducting about 11 wargame scenarios a year, Monta said. They were looking at partnering advanced simulation capabilities, such as the one they're seeking in the fbo.gov posting, with flesh and blood experts from the Ellis Group think tank to better see high-order, long-term warfighting needs. The head of training systems command, Col. Walt Yates, told Marine Corps Times that the aim was to have ways of using artificial intelligence to run simulations as many as 1,000 times. With those numbers, planners can learn probabilities of victory, casualty expectations and the logistics required to accomplish the mission. Simulation capabilities would allow commanders to run scenarios against future threats to gauge what equipment and tactics are most needed to succeed. These factors would inform planning for everything from buying the next piece of combat gear to how best to deploy forces, Yates said. The big data analysis is just one of a list of items the Corps has been working in recent years to push their wargaming from squad to Marine Expeditionary Force-level, leveraging advances in computing, data analytics, virtual reality, augmented reality and gaming. Beginning this past year, Marines at each of the Corps 24 infantry battalions began fielding Tactical Decision Kits, a combination of laptop, VR goggles and drones that allow small unit leaders to map battle spaces and then run operations plans in VR to rehearse missions. Earlier this year, MARCORSYSCOM officials sought industry input on pushing weapons simulations for live training, force-on-force shooting past the decades old laser technology still in use today. They want shooting systems that more realistically replicate how bullets and other projectiles move and the types of damage they cause. The system that would be able to simulate all weapons and vehicles typically seen in a battalion, which would include at least: M4/M16; M9 or sidearm, the M27 Infantry Automatic Weapon; hand grenades; rocket propelled grenades; Light Anti-Tank Weapon; 60mm mortars; 81mm mortars; Claymore antipersonnel mine; Mk-19 grenade launcher; Russian machine gun; AK-47 variants; M41 TOW; Javelin missile and the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle. It would also allow for immediate after-action review so that trainers and commanders could see where their Marines were aiming, when and how much they fired to strike a target and what damage their opponents caused. https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2018/12/18/marines-look-for-ibm-watson-like-artificial-intelligence-to-plan-large-scale-wargames
October 2, 2018 | International, Aerospace
Frédéric Lert, Bordeaux - Jane's International Defence Review Turgis et Gaillard Industrie group presented its SEFIAM 1602e, a new electric and optionally manned ammunition loader that could work with the exported Dassault Rafale multirole fighter, at the ADS Show in Bordeaux. Today the French forces largely use the diesel-powered SOVAM ammo loader. However, the SOVAM dates back to the early 1980s and does not fit well with the modern Rafale. When Dassault exports its jet, the SOVAM is not part of the sales package. "There is therefore a real need for modern, simple, and easy-to-use equipment that can be offered to Rafale customers," argued Patrick Gaillard, general manager of Turgis et Gaillard. The SEFIAM 1602e features an electric powertrain and the option of being remote controlled. Two packs of lithium ion batteries develop 36 kW and 10 hours of autonomy. The SEFIAM 1602e can be used in a confined environment, weighs 1,500 kg (3,307 lbs) empty, and can drive up to 20 km/h (12 mph). It can load 1,500 kg and tow a 5-ton trailer. The use of a remote control enables the technician to stay close to the pylon when guiding the loader. "Manoeuvres are faster and safer," Gaillard said. https://www.janes.com/article/83474/a-new-electric-unmanned-ammunition-loader-emerges-for-the-rafale