Close Combat Capabilities ENG DEV

Abstract

Project 016 Close Combat Capabilities, covers three programs: Next Generation Advanced Bomb Suit (NGABS), Explosive Ordnance Disposal Render Safe (EOD RS) and Enhanced Robotics Payload - Render Safe (ERP-RS). NGABS directly contributes to Soldier lethality and ground force commander freedom of maneuver by providing next generation sensor and optics in the cutting-edge Heads-Up-Display (HUD) while integrating the Government's latest investments in protective material for the modular, scalable NGABS bomb suit development. NGABS will increase the Warfighter survivability and mobility by optimizing Soldier protection for EOD personnel, while effectively managing all life cycle aspects of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Warfighter lethality is increased through bomb suit weight reduction utilizing extensive investments in protective material research and development. The result is material solutions that are lighter and are pieced together in a manner which increases Soldier mobility and longevity. EOD Soldier situational awareness and exposure to ballistic threats is enhanced through the NGABS HUD which allows the Soldier increased visibility under various obscurants and low/no-light situations. Funds were transferred from APE 0604808016 to APE 0604808CS3 to clearly define the functions that are being completed with the NGABS funding line. Enhanced Robotics Payload - Render Safe (ERP-RS) will enable EOD teams to access, render safe, and dispose of explosive ordnances (EO) while removing Soldiers from the direct effects of explosive blast and fragmentation. ERP-RS consists of three modules that will mount on existing Host Unmanned Ground Vehicles (HUGVs) in EOD units: (1) Highly Dexterous Manipulation System that has increased lift capacity and dexterity over current manipulators, using dual arm manipulation, will contribute to access, render safe, and disposal of sensitive EO, (2) a Multi-Shot Disruptor Module that provides remote selectable and precise disruption of surface laid or suspended EO, and (3) a Precision Aim module to provide accurate disruption of surface laid or suspended EO with the Multi-Shot Disrupter Module. These ERP-RS capabilities will provide a level of access, render safe, and disposal of EO that would currently require a Soldier to expose themselves to explosive hazards. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Render Safe (EOD RS) provides for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and demonstration of capabilities needed for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to Render Safe (RS) US and foreign ordnance and improvised explosive devices, enabling ground force commanders to retain freedom of maneuver and secure lines of communications in multi-domain operations (MDO). Technical refresh of capabilities ensures Army 2030 formations maintain overmatch capability. EOD RS-SKO equips EOD teams with low light visual augmentation system, electronic countermeasures, subsurface explosive and hazard detection, dismounted X-ray imager, X-ray generator, trace explosive, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN), and drug detection, unmanned aerial system, power management, gamma and neutron search and detection, and render safe initiation. This project will continue to support cross-service initiatives to increase commonality among information reporting and control systems. Funds were transferred from APE 0604808016 to APE 0604808CS2 in FY 2023.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2024
• Source ID: 016_0604808A_5_2040_PB_2024

Tags

Readers

• Munitions and Ordnance Engineering
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• AI & ML
• AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
• AI & ML - DoD AI Strategy
• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs
• Microelectronics