25 Sep 19. Leonardo DRS have displays and subject-matter experts available for interviews to discuss the company’s range of defensive protection, weapon, and EO/IR systems that will be available for combat vehicles and dismounted troops at AUSA.
If you are interested in an interview with one or more of our experts for AUSA show coverage, please contact Mike Mount at mmount@drs.com or at 571-393-4740.
Interview Topics:
Mission Equipment Package (Turret) for IM-SHORAD Stryker Vehicle (Full-size display at AUSA)
Under the Army’s IM-SHORAD program, Leonardo DRS has provided a number of mission equipment package (MEP) turret weapon systems to GDLS.
The turret systems are built in conjunction with trusted and proven Leonardo DRS partner Moog.
The MEP, when integrated on the Stryker A1 platform, will provide maneuver Brigade Combat Teams with a full “detect-identify-track-defeat” capability required to defeat UAS, rotary-wing and fixed-wing threats.
The system integrates mature technologies from industry teammates and partners, including Moog’s Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP), Raytheon’s Stinger missiles and Rada’s Multi-mission Hemispheric Radar. The IM-SHORAD solution provides both hard and soft kill capabilities to the warfighter while minimizing impacts on the mobility of the Stryker.
The unique RIwP turret supports multiple weapon configurations to give tactical commanders flexibility in various combat scenarios. The Leonardo DRS solution has the mobility, firepower and soldier protection required to fight forward at the lowest tactical levels. When fielded, this IM-SHORAD capability will provide tactical level commands the precision ground-to-ground and ground-to-air lethality necessary to fight and win across a multi-domain battlefield.
Vehicle Protection System (VPS)
The Vehicle Protection Systems is a new ground-breaking defensive technology for smaller combat vehicles that automatically detects and neutralize incoming threat projectiles before they reach a target. The system is 40% lighter than the previous systems, with enhanced power management and is just as effective in protecting a vehicle as the original TROPHY system.
Leonardo DRS and Rafael are qualifying the lighter-weight and equally-effective VPS in live-fire tests with U.S. military officials observing. The tests have shown that TROPHY VPS has the ability to protect vehicles against the full range of direct fire, anti-armor rocket and missile threats.
Additional VPS Protection Capabilities
Built into the Trophy VPS are protection technologies that add further layers of security for the vehicle and crew and are provided by Leonardo DRS.
Hostile Fire Detection – A combination of threat signature data, assessing EO/IR sensors and programed algorithms, the technology gives users the ability to quickly identify the location of hostile fire and conduct a counterattack to reduce the threats on the vehicle.
Target Detection – The Leonardo DRS technology that gives the ability to detect enemy weapons prior to a hostile fire event can be incorporated into Trophy VPS. With advanced radars and processors targets are identified through the weapon bore or optical sites. The technology can sense a host of hostile weapons hidden in complex urban landscapes to open fields.
Laser-Based Anti-Missile Protection for Aircraft
Aircraft-based defensive protection systems developed to counter exponentially growing heat-seeking anti-aircraft missile threats can also be effective on new platforms like the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle. A combination of electro-optical and laser-based systems being tested are showing a great deal of promise for improving survivability for vehicle crews when threatened by these missiles.
As the U.S. military develops the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle fleet in the coming years it will require anti-heat-seeking missile technology. While the vehicle platforms will become increasingly sophisticated, older and improved missile technology will still be a threat. These laser-based high-tech tools are available now to upgrade the current fleets as well as to incorporate these new protection technologies into future platforms.
Advanced Electro-Optical Sensors
The modernization of U.S. military ground forces has called for giving troops the most state-of-the-art vehicle-based EO/IR technologies available that can see long distances and through the most difficult environmental conditions. Leonardo DRS has long been a leader in developing and fielding a range of advanced infrared and electro-optical technology for the U.S. military.
Network Computing/Situational Awareness
The Mounted Family of Computers Systems II (MFoCS II) is the vehicle-based computer hardware that supports the Army’s Joint Battle Command – Platform (JBC-P) and features critical system capability upgrades, cybersecurity improvements, and multi-touch displays. In addition, there are significant performance enhancements of the platform computing server used for tactical situational awareness and global “Blue Force Tracking” and In-Transit Visibility logistics tracking.
26 Sep 19. Clarion Events’ Defence and Security division has been selected by the Global Special Operations Forces Foundation (GSF) to coordinate and deliver its European based event from October 2020.
Global SOF Symposium – Europe is an annual conference and exhibition, currently in its fourth edition, which brings the Special Operations Forces audience together to network and do business.
The GSF is a non-profit organisation that aims to build and grow an international network of military, government, commercial, and educational stakeholders in order to advance SOF capabilities and partnerships to confront global and networked threats. It hosts a series of events, mainly in the United States, but launched its European Symposium in 2016.
The Global SOF Symposium – Europe will next take place in Brussels on 1-3 October 2019, and Clarion will take over the delivery of the event from 2020 onwards. The first Symposium under Clarion management will be held in Warsaw, Poland. It is aimed at bringing together key representatives from the military and government. Previous events held in Madrid, Bucharest, Vilnius averaged 350 attendees from 24 countries.
Meaghan Keeler-Pettigrew from the GSF said: “The successful launch of the European SOF Symposium and the dedicated following that it has already secured, has demonstrated a greater appetite for this event for the future. To be able to grow the event, the Foundation selected Clarion Events as its delivery partner. Clarion’s established reputation within the defence community for executing high quality events will enable us to take this event to the next level.”
Tracy Bebbington, Event Director, Clarion Events said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with such a focused organisation and to enhance our offering to the military audience as we bring the international SOF community together from 2020.”
Organisations or individuals considering participating in the 2020 edition are encouraged to visit the event website, or contact Event Director, Tracy Bebbington via tracy.bebbington@clarionevents.com.
For more information please visit:
- https://gsof.org/
- https://my.gsof.org/upcoming-events
- https://www.globalsofsymposium.org/europe/
23 Sep 19. ComDef 2019, the 48th conference in the Common Defense series, will have the theme, “Partnering for Rapid Change”. Headlined by The Hon. Ellen Lord and featuring Australia, the event is scheduled for the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, DC on October 17th, 2019. The program is now set and most speakers are confirmed. The Trump Administration, as a part of its overall economic and defense strategy has a focus on increasing defense exports. This ComDef will look at the various initiatives ongoing.
REGISTER HERE http://www.ideea.com/comdef19/registration.htm
The goals for the upcoming ComDef 2019 Conference are as follows:-
- What are the new exporting initiatives for defense materiel?
- Will accelerated technology development flow through to exportability?
- Will the whole of government approach be more effective?
- What industrial base changes are coming?
- What changes are coming to the Export Control system?
- What CFIUS adjustments should we expect?
- Where are the low hanging fruit of cooperation and capability?
- Will Exportability be baked into security cooperation?
- Where should friends and allies invest their capability?
- In what technologies and capabilities should governments invest?
- What will be the impact of cancelled programs on arms exports?
- How can industry partner internationally for success?
Invited Speakers
- Matthew S. Borman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Administration (Confirmed)
- Ann Cataldo, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Def. Exports and Cooperation, ASA(ALT) (Confirmed)
- Frank Cevasco, President, Cevasco International (Confirmed)
- Christopher J. Davis, President, Raytheon International Inc (Confirmed)
- Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
- Edward Ferguson, Minister Defence, British Embassy, Washington, DC (Confirmed)
- Frank Finelli, Managing Director, Carlyle Group (Confirmed)
- Heidi Grant, Director DTSA (Confirmed)
- William Greenwalt, Senior Fellow Atlantic Council (Confirmed)
- Roger Grose, Counsellor Defence Materiel, Embassy of Australia, Washington, DC (Confirmed)
- Hiroyuki “Hiro” Hatada, Dir., Aerospace and Def. Div. Min. of Economy, Trade & Industry, Japan (Confirmed)
- Andrew P. Hunter, Director, Def.-Ind’l Initiatives Group and Snr Fellow, Int’l Security Prog., CSIS (Confirmed)
- Gregory M. Kausner, Deputy Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency (Confirmed)
- David Johnston, Defence Export Advocate, Australia (Confirmed)
- The Hon. Ellen M. Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for A&S (Confirmed)
- John Luddy, Vice President, National Security Policy, Aerospace Industries Association (Confirmed)
- Mike Miller, Acting DAS Bur.Pol.Mil.Afrs. DDTC (Confirmed)
- Rear Admiral Francis D. Morley, Director, Navy International Programs Office (Confirmed)
- Vago Muradian, Editor, Defense & Aerospace Report (Confirmed)
- Michael E. O’Hanlon, Ph.D, Senior Fellow, Brookings (Confirmed)
- Alison Petchell, Minister-Counselor Defence Materiel, Embassy of Australia, Washington, DC (Confirmed)
- BG. Se Woo Pyo, Defense Attaché, Embassy of Korea, Washington, DC
- Pieter-Henk Schroor, Def. Cooperation Attaché, Royal Netherlands Embassy, Wash., DC (Confirmed)
- Nazak Nikakhtar, Assistant Secretary of Industry and Analysis, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (Confirmed)
- Jennifer Santos, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy (IndPol) (Confirmed)
- Kelli L. Seybolt, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs (Confirmed)
- Brig. Anoop Shinghal, Military Attaché, Embassy of India, Washington, DC
- Gary Stanley, President, Global Legal Services, P.C. (Confirmed)
- Major General Kathryn Toohey, AM, CSC, Head Force Integration, Australia (Confirmed)
- Michael J. Vaccaro, Director, International Armaments Cooperation, DoD (A&S);
Government and industry representatives from more than 35 countries will be present. Over 30 speakers will provide their insight and perspectives.
Network with Government and industry leaders from all US Services and Agencies at this premier international event held in Washington.
Confirmed speakers are marked with confirmed after their names.
Co-Moderators: Michael J. Vaccaro, Director, International Armaments Cooperation, DoD (A&S); and Roger Grose, Counsellor Defence Materiel, Embassy of Australia, Washington, DC (Confirmed)
0800-0810 Welcome
0810-0850 Keynote
- The Hon. Ellen M. Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for A&S (Confirmed)
0850-0920 Keynote
- David Johnston, Defence Export Advocate, Australia (Confirmed)
0920-1025 Security Cooperation Update: Enabling Flexibility
- Gregory M. Kausner, Deputy Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency (Confirmed)
- Ann Cataldo, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation, ASA(ALT) (Confirmed)
- Rear Admiral Francis D. Morley, Director, Navy International Programs Office (Confirmed)
- Kelli L. Seybolt, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs (Confirmed)
Moderator: Frank Cevasco, President, Cevasco International (Confirmed)
1025-1035 BREAK
1035-1130 National Defense Strategy, Budget and Emerging Threats
- Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
- Andrew P. Hunter, Director, Def.-Ind’l Initiatives Group and Snr Fellow, Int’l Security Prog., CSIS (Confirmed)
- Michael E. O’Hanlon, Ph.D, Senior Fellow, Brookings (Confirmed)
Moderator: Vago Muradian, Editor, Defense & Aerospace Report (Confirmed)
1130-1200 Towards Integrating Defense Industrial Bases
- William Greenwalt, Senior Fellow Atlantic Council (Confirmed)
1230-1400 Lunch: Making International Partnering Work
- To Be Announced
Introduction:
1420-1520 Partner Perspectives
- Hiroyuki “Hiro” Hatada, Dir., Aerospace and Def. Div. Min. of Economy, Trade & Industry, Japan (Confirmed)
- BG. Se Woo Pyo, Defense Attache, Embassy of Korea, Washington, DC
- Edward Ferguson, Minister Defence, British Embassy, Washington, DC (Confirmed)
- Alison Petchell, Minister-Counselor Defence Materiel, Embassy of Australia, Washington, DC (Confirmed)
- Brig. Anoop Shinghal, Military Attache, Embassy of India, Washington, DC
Moderator: Pieter-Henk Schroor, Def. Cooperation Attaché, Royal Netherlands Embassy, Wash., DC (Confirmed) 1520-1540 Forging an Innovative Defence Ecosystem
- Major General Kathryn Toohey, AM, CSC, Head Force Integration, Australia (Confirmed)
1540-1600 Improving Competitiveness
- Nazak Nikakhtar, Assistant Secretary of Industry and Analysis, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (Confirmed)
1600-1700 Accelerating Industrial Base Resilience
- Jennifer Santos, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy (IndPol) (Confirmed)
- Christopher J. Davis, President, Raytheon International Inc (Confirmed)
- John Luddy, Vice President, National Security Policy, Aerospace Industries Association (Confirmed)
Moderator: Frank Finelli, Managing Director, Carlyle Group (Confirmed)
1700-1800 Export Control Update
- Heidi Grant, Director DTSA (Confirmed)
- Mike Miller, Acting DAS Bur.Pol.Mil.Afrs. DDTC (Confirmed)
- Matthew S. Borman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Administration (Confirmed)
Moderator: Gary Stanley, President, Global Legal Services, P.C. (Confirmed)
1800-1900 Conference Reception
The organizers reserve the right to change the program based on speaker availability and world events