Special Operations (SO) Technology Development/Project S100

Abstract

This project conducts studies and develops laboratory prototypes for applied research and advanced technology development, as well as leverages other organizations' technology projects that may not otherwise be affordable within MFP-11. Small incremental co-investments with DoD, other government agencies, and commercial organizations allows USSOCOM to influence the direction of technology developments, emerging technologies, and capabilities for Special Operations Forces (SOF), with significant economies of investment. This USSOCOM investment strategy is used to link technology opportunities with capability deficiences, capability objectives, technology thrust areas, and technology objectives. Requirements in these areas may be advertised to industry and government research and development agencies via broad area announcements and calls for white papers. Sub-projects include: •Rapid Exploitation of Innovative Technologies (REITS). REITS provides USSOCOM the ability to identify, assess and exploit emerging innovative technologies for SOF capability deficiencies and expedite technology transitions from the laboratory to operational use. These technologies provide new transformational capabilities and immediate operational impacts, while providing a compass for the direction of future SOF procurement. REITS supports both top-down and bottom-up approaches for USSOCOM Components, Theater Special Operations Commands and Special Operations Task Forces to articulate innovative technology recommendations. Requirements are submitted to USSOCOM for review and/or approval. The approval process is through the USSOCOM Quick Reaction Board (QRB). The senior approval authority is the USSOCOM Deputy Commander. Members include USSOCOM's Director of Operations, Director of Requirements, Acquisition Executive, Science Advisor, and Interagency Task Force Director. The tenets of the QRB are to promote speed, evolution, collaboration, and engagement in three technology Capability Areas: 1) Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4); Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR); and Sensors; 2) Mobility; and 3) SOF Warrior Survivability and Medical. An individual Technology Activity can be submitted from every echelon of command through the USSOCOM “HardEdge” portal for initial evaluation and distribution to industry, academia, laboratories or our in-country mobile technology complex to build the solution. The process is detailed in a USSOCOM Directive, “Rapid Technology Support to Special Operations.” C4, ISR, and Sensors Capability Area. Develop technologies that provide SOF with improved situational awareness and communications in all environments. Develop technologies to provide significant improvements to SOF’s capability to accurately detect and track threats or targets. Exploit and demonstrate technologies that provide enhanced sensors and command and control. Develop technologies to provide new and improved capabilities in information operations and psychological operations. Exploit and develop technologies to provide SOF with standoff capabilities for targeting and locating personnel and equipment. Exploit technologies to provide real-time active decision-making capabilities, increased situational awareness, improved multi-spectral sensors, and advanced processing and display capabilities. Exploit technologies that enhance logistics, reduce cost and enhance performance of SOF weapons and munitions. Exploit technologies to provide multipurpose, adaptable weapons applicable to SOF platform and missions Mobility Capability Area. Exploit and develop technologies to improve the performance and survivability, and reduce the detectability of SOF mobility assets. Exploit and develop technologies to provide SOF the capability to conduct ground, air, and sea mobility operations in denied areas. This capability area exploits and develops technologies to enhance logistics support, reduce cost, and improve the performance of SOF mobility platforms. SOF Warrior Survivability and Medical Capability Area. Exploit and develop technologies to increase SOF’s survivability and performance. Exploit technologies to improve the human endurance and sensory performance without interfering with normal sensory functions. Exploit and develop technologies to counter the threat of electro-optical devices, devices that detect human presence and enhance individual operator capabilities. Exploit and develop technologies that center on physiological, psychological, and ergonomic factors affecting the ability of SOF to perform missions. USSOCOM requires unique approaches to combat casualty care, medical equipment, and other life support capabilities, including life support for high altitude parachuting, combat swimming, and other SOF-unique missions. This capability area provides guidelines for the development of selection and conditioning criteria, thermal protection, decompression procedures, combat casualty procedures, and life support systems. This capability area also supports the development and evaluation of biomedical enhancements for the unique requirements of all SOF in the conduct of their diverse missions. The following technology activities are included in this capability area: oCombat Casualty Management Technology Activity: Reviews the emergency medical equipment currently used in the SOF community and compares it to currently available civilian technology, provides field testing of emergency medical equipment in the adverse environmental conditions encountered by SOF, evaluates current tactical combat casualty care doctrine to ensure consideration of the wide variety of tactical scenarios encountered and applies the latest concepts in casualty care to these circumstances, applies lessons learned from recent combat operations to enhance medical capabilities, and develops CD-ROM and internet compatible automated programs to provide the capability to perform medical interviews in multiple foreign languages and support SOF medical personnel information needs while operating in austere locations. oDecompression for SOF Diving Operations Technology Activity: Decreases the decompression obligation in SOF diving operations through the use of surface-interval oxygen breathing, which provides the basis for extended mission profiles, and investigates pre-oxygenation requirements for high-altitude SOF parachute operations and ground operations at extreme altitudes. oExercise-related Injuries Technology Activity: Evaluates the effectiveness of applying sports medicine diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative techniques in management of the traumatic and overuse injuries commonly encountered among SOF. oInhaled Gas Toxicology Technology Activity: Evaluates the feasibility of using pharmacologic intervention to reduce or eliminate the possibility of central nervous system toxicity. oMedical Sustainment Training Techniques Technology Activity: Examines novel ways of providing and documenting medical sustainment training for SOF corpsmen and physicians, provides capabilities to rapidly develop new protocol and equipment instructions, and develops a system for constantly upgrading the expertise of SOF medical personnel by incorporating new research reports and clinical information into a CD-ROM based computer system that can be used by medical personnel in isolated duty circumstances. oThermal Protection Technology Activity: Researches various ensemble clothing and devices that may potentially enhance SOF operator performance. oMission-related Physiology Technology Activity: Develops accurate measures to evaluate SOF mission-related performance, delineates nutritional strategies designed to help personnel apply known nutritional concepts to optimize performance in mission and training scenarios, evaluates potential ergogenic agents as they apply to enhancing mission-related performance, studies the safety and efficacy of various substances to increase performance in sustained operations; studies interfaces of new vision devices with refractive vision enhancements, and studies pharmacologic measures to prevent acute mountain sickness in high altitude SOF air and ground operations. •Tagging, Tracking, and Locating (TTL) Sub-Project: TTL technologies are a key element in the ability of SOF to find, fix, and finish targets in overseas contingency operations (OCO). This sub-project invests in critical science and technology efforts to improve operational capabilities for TTL high value individuals and objects in support of the OCO. •Classified Sub-Project (provided under separate cover). •The following technology activities were added by congress in FY 2010: Flashlight Soldier-to-Soldier Combat ID System: Continue to develop a flashlight soldier-to-soldier combat identification system. USSOCOM STAR-TEC Partnership Program: Establish an ultra-responsive, local resource tied to academia, science and industry to meet unique SOF requirements. •The following technology activities were added by congress in FY 2009: Flashlight Soldier-to-Soldier Combat ID System. Began development of a flashlight soldier-to-soldier combat identification system. Foliage Penetrating Reconnaissance and Surveillance System. Developed and evaluated a multi-sensor foliage penetrating reconnaissance and surveillance system. Extended Lifetime Radioisotope Batteries. Developed power solutions to provide long-lasting, high density power for small autonomous devices. Unified Management Infrastructure System. Developed a network-based remote communication and control platform for monitoring, managing and controlling many different types of net-centric devices and platforms.

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Document Type: Project
Publication Date: Oct 01, 2011
Source ID: S100_1160401BB_2_0400_PB_2011

Special Operations (SO) Technology Development/Project S100

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