STAR 21 Strategic Technologies for the Army of the Twenty-First Century (1992) / Chapter Skim
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2 System Applications of Advanced Technologies
2 System Applications of Advanced Technologies
Pages 42-102
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From page 42... ...
Five functions with high impact on the Army's capability to conduct ground warfare were selected for review here: · winning the information war (C3I/RISTA) , · integrated support for the soldier, · combat power and mobility, 42
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From page 43... ...
These focal values are affordability, reliability, deployability, Focal Values Functional Areas with High Advanced System Concepts Apply to All Areas Impact on the Army's Mission with High Technology Payoff Affordability Reliability Deployability Robot Vehicles (Air or Winning the ~ Ground) forC31/RISTA I nformation War ~ Electronic Systems Architecture Integrated Support for the Soldier Joint Operability \ / Brilliant Munitions for ~ A/ Combat Power Attacking Ground Targets Vulnerability ~ ~ and Mobility ~ Lightweightindirect-Fire Weapons Casualty Reduction Support System Cost Reduction Air and Ballistic Missile Defense Combat Services Support > Integrated Theater Air/Missile Defense > Simulation Systems for R&D, Analysis, and Training FIGURE 2-1 The STAR focal values apply across functional areas; within functional areas are advanced system concepts selected for their hightechnology payoff.
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From page 44... ...
The component functions of the system include gathering information, evaluating and presenting this information, providing support for making command decisions based on the presentation, and distributing command decisions to implementing units. The Special Technologies Systems Panel envisioned a system of similar functions and capabilities under the heading of RISTA.
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From page 45... ...
forces in the Persian Gulf war illustrates this point. The STAR Committee expects that information superiority will continue to be a key factor in future Army operations.
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From page 46... ...
Significant progress is expected in sensors, computing and data storage, software algorithms, and communications techniques. Significant cost reductions should occur because of broad commercial development and application of the basic technologies.
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From page 47... ...
The sensor segment of C3I/RISTA includes the various sensors that perform reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition functions. The integrated C3I/RISTA systems of the future will include optical, infrared, radar, acoustic, and radio intercept receivers.
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From page 48... ...
Opportunities to achieve an IFFN capability by technical means alone should be pursued. As an example, if the sensors and sensor data-processing technologies forecast for "brilliant" weapons and munitions make automatic target recognition possible, these advances will not only enhance the economic effectiveness of the systems but will also contribute to solving the IFFN problem.
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From page 49... ...
Unmanned air and ground systems are emerging as effective means of achieving one or both of these approaches to sensor placement. Robot Vehicles for C3I/RISTA Much of the C3I/RISTA information of the future Army will be obtained by satellites and high-flying aircraft using sensors that report to upper echelons, which are often located at the rear of deployed forces.
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From page 51... ...
The several STAR panels concerned
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From page 52... ...
Other technologies are related to UAV payload, such as advanced solid state components, imaging sensors, parallel processor computer architectures, ultra-high-reliability components, signature control, and data links with high bandwidth and low probability of intercept. Two areas in which significant progress has been made, and undoubtedly will continue, are robotics and artificial intelligence.
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From page 53... ...
Effective yet low-cost systems for Army communications to and within remote contingency operations could be based on this commercial technology, if the mission does not involve an adversary with sophisticated signal intelligence capability. The communications segment as envisioned by the STAR panels would use radio and optical links to connect elements of the C3I/ RISTA system in a robust network.
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From page 54... ...
On the other hand, in many C3I/RISTA applications, the rapid stream of sensor data must be encrypted and transmitted to high-capacity computers located elsewhere. Microelectronics particularly terahertz devices- were singled out by the STAR panels as the heart of future ultra-fast computers.
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From page 55... ...
It not only performs the battle management function but also manages combat support and battlefield logistics, so that fighting forces operate in the best possible environment and are fully sustained. Another function of this segment is to manage the use of the electromagnetic spectrum, so that communications and sensors are not jammed and do not interfere with one another.
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From page 56... ...
The raw capacity of computer hardware to process data has increased at a tremendous rate. The STAR Electronics and Sensors Technology Forecast predicts an order-of-magnitude increase in computer processing power during the decade to 2000 (Figure 2-7~.
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From page 57... ...
One area of software development that does appear promising is the creation of a battlefield control language to translate command decisions into detailed directives to field units. The battle control language of the future will enable Army personnel to move data, extract information, compare courses of action, and make highly informed decisions, all without concern for computation details.
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From page 58... ...
Deception and Misinformation As the Persian Gulf war demonstrated, both the denial of information to the enemy and the supply of misinformation can greatly affect
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From page 59... ...
Space-Based Systems Space-based systems will be extremely important to future Army operations. They will serve as enduring and nonintrusive platforms for a wide variety of sensors, for use prior to and during combat operations.
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From page 60... ...
As a result, the Army has begun a tactical satellite initiative. Two STAR panels (Electronics Systems and Special Technologies Systems)
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From page 61... ...
Key Systems for Soldier Support The systems panels envisioned the following advanced systems concepts as important to providing integrated support for the individual soldier (Figure 2-8~. · Combat systems include the soldier's personal weapon, nonlethal antipersonnel weapons, and antisensor weapons.
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From page 62... ...
· Robot helper systems include electronically controlled mechanical systems, such as an exoskeleton worn by the soldier, a "mechanical mastiff," or a "robot mule," and specialized robots for specific tasks or RISTA operations. Training is another large area in which technology will improve the systems that support the individual soldier.
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From page 63... ...
By contrast, the STAR Committee and the STAR panels view integrated support for the soldier as more broadly applicable to soldiers with a variety of missions and not tied to a particular equipment architecture. Rather, this systems approach allows for trade-offs among options viewed as modular components or subsystems of the configurable "support system" for a given soldier with a particular mission or task to perform.
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From page 64... ...
The system can also include a cooperative IFFN system, which will pass individual soldier identity and location to the C3I/RISTA network, and from there to other field and command elements. Sensory Enhancement In the face of CTBW threats, an essential factor in sustaining the effectiveness of combat troops in the battle area is highly dependable advance warning of the presence of a CTBW agent.
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From page 65... ...
Among the wide range of foreseeable technological opportunities, this report will briefly review personal computers for the soldier, body armor and protective clothing, battlefield medicine, countermeasures to CTBW, and rations. Personal Computers Improved computer memory technologies will allow the individual soldier to carry an enormous quantity of information in a small package.
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From page 66... ...
Pores for heat and water vapor transfer must exclude the CTBW agents, perhaps with special chemical catalysts or enzymes embedded as "pore guards." Blast-attenuating biocomposites are already in prototype evaluation. Biotechnology will be able to produce both natural and artificial materials, such as composites and customized polymers with specifiable physical, chemical, and electrical properties.
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From page 67... ...
Combined with highly effective antiaircraft threats, these conditions will make airborne medical evacuation far more difficult, if possible at all. The STAR panels forecast that new equipment technologies and pharmaceuticals will aid in resuscitation and trauma treatment on the battlefield.
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From page 68... ...
The three discussed below are detection and identification of the CTBW agent, medical prophylaxis and therapy, and decontamination. Detection and identification of the CTBW agents being used can be difficult, especially in the case of biological agents.
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From page 69... ...
The requirements for medical prophylaxis and treatment of CTBW agents differ somewhat from those for detection and identification in that sometimes a common approach can be used against a class of agents that operate by a similar mechanism. Nerve agents are an example of such a class.
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From page 70... ...
will become possible by coupling rapid identification of the agent at field hospitals with rapid antibody production systems that automate the sequencing of nucleic acids or proteins and synthesize appropriate antibodies. For some applications, biotechnology will be combined with other advanced technologies.
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From page 71... ...
Robot Helper Systems As an aid for the individual soldier, the STAR Special Technologies and Systems Panel discussed a robot vehicle concept called the robot mule (Figure 2-10~. The Personnel Systems Panel reviewed a functionally similar concept called a mechanical mastiff.
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From page 72... ...
The STAR panels forecast significant progress in robotics and supporting technologies by the private sector. The Army's challenge, here as with other advanced systems concepts, will be to exploit the growing industrial technology base to fulfill it requirements.
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From page 73... ...
The issues are discussed here for their relevance to advanced battlefield mobility and lethality systems concepts. · Battle zone mobility systems include vehicle navigation systems and drive systems; heavy, tracked combat vehicles; light, wheeled combat vehicles; an advanced personnel carrier; individual soldier or small-unit movers; and road-building and bridging systems.
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From page 74... ...
This system will provide a new capability, especially to light forces, for efficient indirect-fire attack, from extended range, on a broad variety of ground targets, including armored vehicles. For armored or hardened targets, brilliant munitions could be fired.
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From page 75... ...
Aircraft, which are relatively fast but expensive, can, realistically, transport only light forces. Conventional displacement ships are relatively inexpensive and can carry heavy forces, but they are much slower.
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From page 76... ...
A special transport issue addressed by the STAR panels was the need for methods to insert and extract Special Operations Forces covertly. By definition, the success of such missions depends on the transport aircraft remaining undetected by the opponent.
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From page 77... ...
Ground Vehicle Drive Systems Advanced technologies for propulsion, drive, and traction not only will improve the performance of ground vehicles but can also lower their observability. The alternators, controls, cables, and motors of electric drives will be somewhat smaller and have less rigid space requirements than the transmissions, gearboxes, shafts, and transfer joints of mechanical drive systems.
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From page 78... ...
For the mission of forward observation and scouting, the future seems to be running against manned helicopters. Coinciding with the likelihood of increased risk from enemy air defenses is the emergence of a less vulnerable, less costly alternative that does not risk
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From page 79... ...
cruise-type missiles, an airborne system offers a line-of-sight advantage over ground-based systems. The more compact, lighterweight sensors, processors, and automatic track-and-recognition systems, coupled with brilliant weapons or directed energy defenses, may enable a helicopter-based air defense station to perform this mission, perhaps as one component integrated with ground-based defenses.
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From page 80... ...
Second, the tank's direct-fire main armament, which has a soldier in the loop for target acquisition and fire control, provides highly effective and discrete firepower. Third, a high-velocity gun firing kinetic energy projectiles is of unmatched robustness, especially in the presence of elaborate measures to counter missile guidance systems and chemical (i.e., shaped charge)
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From page 81... ...
The operational effectiveness of future tanks will improve through use of command-and-control technologies that link the tank commander with the local C3I/RISTA assets to identify opposing force
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From page 82... ...
A key enabling technology will be a small-volume pulsed power source. With an electric-powered main armament and electric drive, the future tank may well be an all-electric system.
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From page 83... ...
heavy forces, when needed in battle, always prevail. The second prong is to give our initially deployed light forces more capability to defend against enemy heavy armor and the other systems that will be brought to oppose them.
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From page 84... ...
Brilliant Munitions to Attack Ground Targets The STAR Committee selected brilliant munitions as a high-payoff systems concept for several reasons. Perhaps the most important is that brilliant munitions, whether delivered to near-target range by a "dumb" or "smart" vehicle, will be the key to providing air-deployed forces with sufficient lethality to counter an opposing heavy armored force.
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From page 85... ...
In addition to a lightweight system suitable for use by light forces, another direction for advance in indirect-fire technology is in longrange heavy artillery. One potential systems concept would combine hypervelocity propulsion, to achieve range, with onboard terminal guidance for accuracy.
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From page 86... ...
Combat use of microwave weapons is probable, but the use of charged-particle beam weapons within this period is unlikely. Heavy-duty directed energy weapons for vehicle kill against aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft are likely to develop first, if at all, as strategic defense systems.
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From page 87... ...
countermine technology is obviously superior to that threat. Mine Improvements Given the kinds of threats and contingency operations expected in the future, the STAR panels foresee an increasing importance to the Army of air-deployable "smart mines" and remotely emplaced autonomous mine warheads.
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From page 88... ...
Thermal imaging infrared detectors and laser radar for mine detection are other sensor technologies already in development. Sensor fusion techniques to combine data from multiple sensor domains are being explored.
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From page 89... ...
Some enemy air defense networks will be highly integrated, with embedded target management systems that use artificial intelligence technology. Advanced air surveillance systems will combine (i.e., fuse)
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From page 90... ...
. Several of the STAR panels addressed various aspects of both air defense and ballistic missile defense.
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From page 91... ...
· Standoff tactical air-to-surface missiles are fired from fixed wing aircraft at ground targets while the launching aircraft remains outside the reach of short-range defenses located near the missiles' targets. · Manned fixed wing aircraft operate at altitudes from less than 100 m up to 25 km and at speeds up to several hundred meters per second.
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From page 92... ...
theater defense against tactical ballistic missiles. (Courtesy Public Affairs Office, Strategic Defense Initiative Organization.)
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From page 93... ...
Given the importance of success in this task to future Army operations, the STAR Committee suggests that the Army take the lead in what obviously must be an interservice national effort. Defense Architecture and Systems The above line of reasoning shows the importance of a single overall architecture that integrates all of the future air and missile defense systems into a system of systems.
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From page 94... ...
· Advanced composite materials are needed to construct heattolerant, high-speed-flight vehicles that are able to meet the compressed time lines of future intercept systems. · Bistatic radars may be useful in detecting and tracking stealthy air vehicles.
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From page 95... ...
Supporting these hospitals with Army personnel can benefit both the Army and the civilian community. Using Army personnel in civilian trauma centers would maintain a trained capability that would be readily available when needed.
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From page 96... ...
controlling spares distribution in theater. Training Systems Individual soldiers will be no more effective than the training they receive.
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From page 97... ...
Similarly, training simulators such as the Conduct of Fire Trainer (COFT) expand this technology to procedures training for weapons crews and individual soldiers.
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From page 98... ...
FIGURE 2-17 Computer hardware and software provide the technology base for simulation, modeling, and computer-aided instruction of both individual soldiers and units. (Reprinted by permission, from Mark Miller, Integrating Intelligent Tutoring, in Intelligent Instruction by Computer, Taylor & Francis.
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From page 99... ...
The suggestion made above for assigning Army medical personnel to civilian trauma centers will improve their skills in working with local medical personnel while they maintain their own level of proficiency and stay abreast of changes in technology.
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From page 100... ...
policy implementation, while commanders could use it to explore the means of accomplishing major military objectives, all within the response time required of contingency operations. However, the resources for the simulation (detailed terrain data, data bases of friendly force and opposing force order of battle, logistical support, etc.)
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From page 101... ...
Further, the historical preference for younger soldiers (under age 30) was based in part on their superior sensory and physical capabilities; these are the capabilities to which advanced technologies can best be applied to augment individual soldier performance.
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From page 102... ...
102 STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE ARMY OF THE 21ST CENTURY longer periods, so they could acquire more experience. Research on means of providing feedback to workers on their accomplishments and on areas in need of improvement will improve productivity and motivation.
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