Fire Support System

Abstract

This project develops Joint and Marine Corps unique improvements to artillery fire support technology that supports the artillery triad of fires and fire support equipment. These initiatives include but are not limited to the following: the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS), munitions development & testing (to include rocket munitions), as well as testing and development of the Family of Artillery Munitions (FAM), Common Laser Ranger Finder (CLRF) integrated capability, and the Modeled Meteorological Information Manager (MMIM). EFSS is an all-weather, ground based indirect fire system designed to support the vertical assault element of the Ship-To-Objective Maneuver (STOM) force. The EFSS is defined as a Launcher, Mobility Platform (prime mover), Ammunition, Ammunition Supply Vehicle, and Technical Fire Direction and Control equipment necessary for orienting weapons to an azimuth of fire. EFSS supports irregular warfare and distributed operations. The decrease of $2.889M from FY15 to FY16 is due to the Precision Extended Range Munition (PERM) round which is currently in the final stages of development and the funds required for development are beginning to ramp down. FAM is used to develop and mature artillery munitions for the Marine Corps triad of fire. The CLRF is a lightweight, eye-safe target laser rangefinder capable of being carried and employed by a single Marine. CLRF Integrated Capability (CLRF IC) is a replacement to the existing CLRF Suite of Equipment. CLRF IC provides the observer the ability to perform target detection, recognition, identification, and location determination in a suite of systems. The Modeled Meteorological Information Manager (MMIM) is the primary artillery meteorological capability at the artillery battalion and regiment providing the ability to create, receive, manage, and transmit near real time gridded meteorological information supporting artillery and target acquisition systems significantly enhancing the accuracy of meteorological information. The Fire Support Mod Line is a set of Marine Corps efforts to address critical operational and logistics deficiencies in existing, fielded fire support/weapons systems and equipment. The line provides technical refresh and development of target acquisition, artillery survey, meteorological systems, weapon systems, and fire direction control. Funding is used to ensure Clinger Cohen Act (CCA) and Information Assurance (IA) requirements are met, execution of product improvements/modifications, and upgrades to system hardware and software for the Ground Counter Fire Sensor (GCFS), Marine Artillery Survey Set (MASS), Meteorological Station Group (MSG), Global Positioning System Survey (GPS-S) and the Improved Position Azimuth Determining System (IPADS), Lightweight Target Designator (LTD), the Joint Terminal Attack Controller-Laser Target Designator (JTAC-LTD), and the CLRF as well as for upgrades, engineering change proposals, and modifications for guided munitions and fire control systems. Funding is also used for upgrades, engineering change proposals (ECPs) and modifications for guided munitions and fire control systems which falls within Fire Support Systems for the Marine Corps. Family of Internally Transportable Vehicles (FITV): The Family of Internally Transportable Vehicles (FITV) consists of two variants of tactical ground vehicles for use by the Ground Combat Element (GCE) of a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF). The ITV Light Strike Variant (LSV) is outfitted primarily with a heavy machine gun or grenade launcher and transports four Marines plus 2000 lbs of cargo. The ITV Prime Mover (PM) is used to support the Expeditionary Fire Support System (EFSS), towing the 120MM Mortar and Ammo Trailer, while transporting two Marines. Both the LSV and PM are internally transportable inside the MV-22 and CH-53 aircraft. Conventional Ground Ammunition: The project identifies and develops Insensitive Munitions (IM) Technologies to address IM shortfalls in new Marine Corps development or improvements to legacy Conventional Ground Ammunition to meet OSD mandated IM compliance requirements. These IM Technology investments directly support the development of the bi-annual Marine Corps Insensitive Munitions Strategic Plan (IMSP) to address the identified IM technology needs of the Marine Corps.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2016
Source ID
3098_0206623M_7_1319_PB_2016

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Munitions and Ordnance Engineering
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Space

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