Warrior Systems

Abstract

This Program Element (PE) provides for the development, rapid prototyping, testing, and integration of specialized equipment in the areas of automation, communication, radio, weapon, soldier protection and survival, visual augmentation, lasers and sensors, munition and military information support operations (MISO) systems. Warrior Systems specialized equipment will permit small, highly trained forces to conduct required operations across the entire spectrum of conflict. Special Operation Forces (SOF) must infiltrate by land, sea, and air to conduct unconventional warfare, direct action, or deep reconnaissance operations in denied areas against insurgent units, terrorists, or highly sophisticated threat forces. The requirement to operate in denied areas controlled by a sophisticated threat mandates that SOF systems remain technologically superior to threat forces to ensure mission success. The efforts within this PE improve SOF warfighting capabilities by continuing efforts to develop smaller, lighter, more efficient and more robust capabilities. The SOF mission mandates that SOF systems remain technologically superior to any threat to provide a maximum degree of survivability while, generally, being conducted in harsh environments for unspecified periods and in locations requiring small unit autonomy. Communications efforts will maintain a command, control, and communications (C3) link between SOF Commanders and SOF Teams, and provide interoperability with all Services, various agencies of the U.S. Government, Air Traffic Control, commercial agencies and allied foreign forces. Efforts relating to soldier protection and survival requirements will improve survivability and mobility of SOF while conducting varied missions. Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) efforts rely on cutting edge detection sensors, both passive and active, paired with kinetic and non-kinetic defeat systems to allow SOF Operators to conduct SOF missions in denied and hostile environments worldwide. Specialized visual augmentation, lasers and sensors will permit small, highly trained forces to conduct required operations across the entire spectrum of conflict. Munition efforts include advanced engineering, operational system development, and qualification efforts related to SOF-peculiar munitions and equipment. Maritime Precision Engagement Munition (MPE-M) and Ground Organic Precision Strike System (GOPSS) develop a SOF organic strike mission package to surgically strike an agile and mobile enemy, protect our forces, and minimize collateral damage. The MISO efforts convey selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of foreign governments, organizations, groups, and individuals. These technologies will be pursued via rapid prototyping efforts when appropriate. Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 funding totals include $5.796 million appropriated for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO). FY 2022 funding totals include $78.592 million Base with $0.000 million Direct War and $5.195 million for Enduring costs in the Base Budget. FY 2023 Overseas Operations Costs funding accounted for in the Base Budget include: •Combat or direct combat support expenses that discontinue once combat operations end at major contingency locations ($0.000 million). •In-theater and in-CONUS expenses that remain after combat operations cease and have been previously funded in OCO ($4.128 million). MISO: This project funds the development, test, and integration of systems to conduct the seven phase MISO process (planning, targeting audience analysis, series development, product development and design, approval, production/distribution/dissemination, and measures of effectiveness) in support of combatant commanders. MISO efforts convey selected information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of foreign governments, organizations, groups, and individuals. Weapons Systems: This project provides for next generation system development and Pre-Planned Product Improvements (P3I), testing, and integration of specialized weapon systems and weapon accessories to meet the unique requirements of SOF. Efforts include muzzle brakes and suppressors, and P3I for assault, sniper, and crew served weapons leveraging the latest technological advances to achieve overmatch capability against emerging threats. Soldier Protection and Survival Systems: This project funds the development, testing, integration, rapid prototyping and evaluation of specialized equipment to meet the unique soldier protection and survival requirements of SOF, to include, but not limited to: individual survival equipment; hearing protection; clothing systems; load bearing equipment; Multi-Mission Electronic Countermeasures (MM-ECM) formerly Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RC-IED) systems; Counter Unmanned Systems (aerial, ground and maritime); and personal safety equipment to improve the mobility of SOF, while conducting varied missions. These missions are generally conducted in harsh and hostile environments, for unspecified periods and in locations requiring small unit autonomy. The total cost of the C-UAS Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $30.234 million (FY 2023 – FY2027), including Research Development Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) and procurement of prototype units. The C-UAS effort is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP). Body Armor and Associated Equipment: This project provides specialized equipment with ballistic protection to meet the unique soldier protection and survival requirements of SOF. Specialized ballistic equipment improves survivability and load bearing equipment impacting the mobility of SOF while conducting varied missions. This project enhances the SOF Personal Equipment Advanced Requirements program by providing for the research, development, and testing of body armor plates, soft armor, helmets, eye protection, and other personal protective equipment to meet current ballistic threats that exist on the battlefield. Visual Augmentation, Lasers and Sensor Systems: This project provides for the development, testing, and integration of specialized visual augmentation, laser and sensor systems equipment to meet the unique requirements of SOF and facilitate future Hyper-Enabled Operator capabilities. Programs in this area include binocular/monocular devices; next generation laser designation and geo-location systems; weapon aiming lasers, scopes and accessories; and training and simulation systems. Communications Equipment and Electronics Systems: This project provides for communication systems to meet emergent requirements to support SOF. The SOF units require communications equipment that improves their warfighting capability without degrading their mobility. SOF Communications Equipment and Electronics is a continuing effort to develop smaller, lighter, more efficient and more robust SOF command, control, communications, and computer (C4) capabilities. Tactical Systems Development: This project provides for the development, testing, and integration of specialized automation equipment to meet the unique requirements of SOF. Tactical systems provide forward deployed forces with advanced networking, automated data processing, storage, and display capabilities to support situational awareness, mission planning and execution, and command and control (C2) of forces. Tactical Radio Systems: This project provides for the development of all SOF tactical radio programs. The SOF units require radio communication equipment that improves their warfighting capability without degrading their mobility. The USSOCOM has developed an overall strategy to ensure that Tactical Radio Systems continue to provide SOF with the required capabilities throughout the 21st century. The SOF Tactical Radios provide the critical command, control, and communications link between SOF Commanders and SOF Teams involved in operational missions and training exercises. They also provide interoperability with all Services, various agencies of the U.S. Government, Air Traffic Control, commercial agencies, and allied/coalition forces. Tactical Radios rapidly and seamlessly establish and maintain mobile and fixed C2 communications between infiltrated/operational elements and higher echelon headquarters, allowing SOF to operate with any force combination in multiple environments. The total cost of the Remote, Advise and Assist Virtual Accompany Kit (RAA/VAK) Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $5.451 million (FY 2023 – FY2027), including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The RAA/VAK effort is fully funded across the FYDP. Munitions Advanced Development: This project provides for the advanced engineering, operational system development, and qualification efforts related to SOF-peculiar and Foreign/Non-standard munitions and equipment. Funding supports development of Insensitive Munitions (IM) technology and evaluation, in accordance with the statutory requirement set forth in U.S. Code, Title 10, Chapter 141, Section 2389 (December 2001). Testing is in accordance with the USSOCOM IM Strategic Plan. Funding also supports efforts to develop and improve MPE-M, GOPSS, and Stand-Off Precision Guided Munitions (SOPGM), including the development and integration of various technologies to enhance/modernize the SOPGMs delivered onto SOF and non-SOF platforms. When appropriate, these technologies will be pursued via rapid prototyping to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate residual operational capabilities. Munitions Scalable Effects (MSE) is designated a Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) program which uses a Rapid Prototype effort to assess a capability to deliver different munitions with multiple effects at short range from maritime platforms. MPE-M and GOPSS are designated MTA programs which uses the rapid prototyping pathway and is executing using existing contracts, government agencies, and new contracts competitively selected as appropriate. The total cost of the Ordnance (MPE-M and GOPSS) MTA effort is $48.033 million (FY 2023 – FY2027), including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The Ordnance effort is fully funded across the FYDP. The total cost of the Target Engagements MTA effort is $15.329 million (FY 2023 – FY2027), including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The Target Engagements effort is fully funded across the FYDP. The total cost of the MSE MTA effort is $2.812 million (FY 2023 – FY2027), including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The MSE effort is fully funded across the FYDP.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2023
• Source ID: 1160431BB_7_0400_PB_2023
• Change Summary Explanation: Funding: FY 2021: Net increase of $3.131 million is due to an increase for product development, design, and integration of MPE-M test articles for the Altius-700 warhead payload and product development and integration of GOPSS manpackable loitering munitions (LM) capabilities ($5.169 million); an increase to support the evaluation of Satellite Deployable Node High (SDN) Throughput Satellite constellations and terminals ($2.900 million); an increase for product development of classified MSE against identified adversaries ($1.000 million); an increase to support the implementation of Windows Tactical Assault Kit-Common Operating Picture - MISO enhancements ($0.523 million); an increase for weapons prototype suppression construction ($0.100 million); a decrease to support the evaluation of SDN High Throughput Satellite constellations and terminals and emerging critical command requirements (-$3.500 million); a decrease to support implementation of Windows Tactical Assault Kit-Common Operating Picture enhancements and emerging critical command requirements (-$0.933 million); and a decrease due to a reprogramming of funds to the congressionally mandated Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs (-$2.128 million). FY 2022: Net increase of $46.881 million is due to a Congressional Add for C-UAS ($8.670 million); a Congressional Add for Special Operations Fused Global Data Analytics and Visualization ($8.000 million); a Congressional Add for Software-Defined Radio Waveforms ($10.000 million); a Congressional Add for Various Effects Launcher Capability ($16.000 million); and a Congressional Add for Maritime Scalable Effects Acceleration ($4.211 million). FY 2023: FY 2023 funding increase of $129.133 million reflects the fact that the FY 2022 President’s Budget request did not include out-year funding. FY 2023 funding request was reduced by $1.957 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances.
• Service Agency Name: United States Special Operations Command

Entities

Organizations

• United States Special Operations Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Autonomy
• Biomedical
• Engineered Resilient Systems
• Ground and Sea Platforms
• Human Systems
• Sensors
• Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Artificial Intelligence
• Combat Casualty Care
• Command And Control
• Contingency Operations (Military)
• Control Systems
• Detectors
• Explosive Devices
• Explosives
• Radio Communications
• Radio Equipment
• Software Defined Radio
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Unmanned Systems
• Warfare
• Weapons Effects

Readers

• Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs
• Directed Energy
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics