Land Warfare: Land 17 - Concepts and Capabilities

1 March 2008

By Tom Muir

While industry interest focuses on the physical aspects of Land 17's replacement artillery requirements, their modus operandi should not go unrecorded.

Through replacement of the Army's ageing 105mm and 155mm towed artillery with highly mobile indirect fire systems, capable of firing a range of advanced munitions, Land 17 will have a major impact on the ADF's indirect fire support capability and thus its fighting power.

This will be achieved through the introduction of a networked, all-weather indirect fire capability at the same time coordinating joint and coalition fires through interfaces with networked surveillance and target acquisition assets.

According to L17 operational concepts, the mission for the indirect fire system is to establish such fire supremacy that threats can neither interfere with friendly operations nor effectively develop their own.

To achieve this the system must complete two essential tasks.

These are to:

* provide protective Indirect Fire to support the close battle; and

* employ Indirect Fire to shape the battlespace.

The close battle
Here the L17 system is required to suppress, neutralise and destroy threat targets in support of the land forces in the close battle on the complex battlefield.

These are tactical engagements that will occur in close proximity to ground forces and often with little warning.

In these cases, the generation of fire supremacy will need to be responsive, accurate and scalable.

Essential to these engagements is the coordination and delivery of Joint and Coalition lethal and non-lethal effects in both time and space against targets that are of immediate concern, and in close proximity, to ground forces.

This type of fire is usually protective in nature and includes Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) and Offensive Air Patrol (OAS) coordinated via the L17 Battle Management System (BMS)-Fires.

The offensive support system supporting the close battle must possess similar mobility and protection as the supported force, and have sufficient range coverage (both maximum and minimum) to obviate the need for redeployment in order to support ground forces.

This will enhance the manoeuvre commander's ability to create tempo.

At peak tempo, destructive fires must not only destroy hardened targets, but with minimal adverse effects on non-targets and supported forces.

Munitions must provide the necessary lethality, as well as the capability to deliver controlled, lethal effects specifically where needed.

Destructive fires will need to be accurate, responsive, and primarily with an autonomous capability (fire & forget) or terminally guided for additional flexibility and accuracy (semi-active laser).

Accurate and responsive are adequate requirements for the balance of conventional munitions in service through the use of add-on course correcting fuses.

In many scenarios, external designation (like lasers) to guide precision munitions - requiring eyes-on-target - is not feasible.

In those situations, autonomous munitions (GPS/INS, MMW, IR, etc) are necessary.

In other scenarios, particularly in close support where close-in effects are needed, externally designated munitions (like SAL) to provide pinpoint effects will be beneficial.

Shaping the battlespace
In shaping the battlespace, the L17 system must be able to destroy point targets such as TUAV ground stations, air defence systems and headquarters, and area targets such as massed forces, individual armoured vehicles and hostile indirect fire units.

This task requires the coordination and delivery of precise and discriminate Joint and Coalition lethal and non-lethal effects that can be generated beyond the immediate battle.

In summary, the aim of L17 is to deliver a networked, enhanced and sustainable digitised field artillery system that can coordinate indirect and joint fires, and deliver indirect fire.

Enhancements required include the introduction of networked command and control systems to support the ADF network centric warfare roadmap.

Defence points out that operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have highlighted the versatility and dependability of indirect fire and claims that it ensures coalition forces can defeat conventional and unconventional threats.

The success of the indirect fire system in these operations is said to be directly attributable to the range of new generation munitions, networked command and control technology and the increased autonomy and enhanced mobility of platforms within the system.

Last September Defence released solicitation documents for the Land 17 Artillery Replacement project.

They comprised of:

* an RFT for the provision of 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzers (SPH) closing 11 Feb 2008 but since extended to 14 April 2008;

* an ITR for the supply of Lightweight 155mm Towed Howitzers (LW155) closing 14 Nov 2007;

* an ITR for the supply of the AFATDS Joint Fires C2 system closing 14 Nov 2007; and

* an ITR for the supply of a Forward Observer system closing 4 Feb 2008.

Our observations on each of these requirements and their state of play at the time of writing follow.

Self-Propelled Howitzers (SPH)
The RFT for the 155mm SPH was due to close in mid-February but this was subsequently extended to 14 April.

Included was the proviso for separate contracts for the acquisition and support of the SPH capability, to meet the following requirements:

* supply of 18, 24 or 30 SPH systems to achieve an in-service date of June 2011, with an option for the Commonwealth to purchase up to six additional systems within five years following final acceptance under the acquisition contract; and

* provision of an initial seven years support of the SPH capability with options for additional periods of support for the life of the equipment.

Both contracts will be entered into, in response to a single tender, hence only tenders that address both the acquisition and support requirements specified in the RFT will be considered.

Tenix Defence has confirmed what was long suspected - that it and Bofors would not be offering the wheeled FH-77 BW Archer SPH.

Our understanding is that the decision was based on what was seen as a less-than-even chance of success in winning the SPH element of the Land 17 artillery replacement project.

A Tenix spokesman is reported as saying that despite Archer being an outstanding product, the company did not believe it could achieve the Commonwealth's preferred solution against the stated requirements.

And Rheinmetall, which was to have primed an upgraded version of the other wheeled SPH, the Denel G6 (aka RWG 52 as seen on the front cover), advised Defence that it had decided not to participate in the tender.

Rumours vary as to the reasons for the withdrawal with some suggesting that engineering development of the G6 to match the Land 17 requirement was seen as impractical, whereas others suggest that difficulties lay more in the business relationship between Rheinmetall and Denel Land Systems.

With both wheeled SPH systems no longer in contention for this requirement, and-at the time of writing-some doubt as to whether KMW will go ahead in offering its much favoured PzH 2000 tracked SPH, there is a possibility that the SPH element of Land 17 may be faced with only one contender, the Samsung Techwin AS-9.

This being the case it could also face a hostile National Security Committee of Cabinet at second pass, that might demand a major revision of the artillery replacement project, possibly including scrapping expensive self-propelled artillery systems in favour of an all lightweight towed 155mm howitzer fleet.

So, although there is still some uncertainty as to KMW's intentions, the outcome of last September's RFT, for the supply of the SPH capability, is currently a run-off between the two tracked heavyweights, the Samsung Techwin AS-9, and the Krauss Maffei Wegmann (KMW) PzH 2000.

The former is teamed with Raytheon Australia and the latter with BAE Systems Australia.

Lightweight 155mm towed howitzer
The aim of this ITR was to determine the marketplace for an air-deployable Lightweight 155mm towed howitzer (LW155), tactically deployable by air and land to support ADF forces.

The LW155 capability would provide support to the close battle and employ indirect fire to shape the battlespace and would thus form part of an Indirect Fire Support System (IFSS).

Industry's interest was sought in the provision of the LW155 capability, comprising a minimum of 18 (and up to 35) lightweight howitzers, with exact quantities to be determined in the subsequent RFT.

In an obvious if unspoken reference to the availability of the BAE Systems M777, in service with the US Army, the USMC and Canadian Forces, the ITR made clear the Commonwealth's preference for a non-developmental item with some development only expected for external interfaces with nominated GFE elements.

The LW155 requires a fire control system (FCS) as an integral part of the capability and requires integration with the specified C2 system, AFATDS, and also the portable fuse setter supplied as GFE.

An essential requirement that the complete platform must weigh less than 5040kg, effectively eliminated the STK Pegasus leaving the BAE Systems M777A2 as the only contender.

Defence must decide whether to acquire this system through a commercial arrangement with BAE Systems or through a Foreign Military Sales case with the last seen as the preferred course as it may offer the opportunity for early delivery of systems.

As pointed out in a previous article (Land 17 RFT Delayed, ADM August 2007) six hundred M777s are on order for the US Army, 95 for the US Marine Corps and 12 for the Canadian Army.

Canada is now seeking to acquire another 34 new lightweight towed 155mm howitzers, with the requirement written around the in-service M777A1 however the new artillery pieces will not be ordered until after the current Afghan deployment with deliveries not required until after 2012.

AFATDS Joint Fires C2 system
The purpose of this ITR was to determine the marketplace for the supply of the latest Windows XP version of the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS), together with the technical resources for its integration into the Land 17 LW155 and SPH platforms and the broader ADF NCW.

The requirement also includes software development services for Australian customisation and training, and through life support arrangements.

AFATDS is an integrated fire support command and control (C2) system that processes fire missions and other related information to coordinate and optimise the use of all fire support assets, including mortars, field artillery, anti-air missiles, attack helicopters, air support and naval gunfire.

The current indicative quantity is for up to 88 AFATDS workstations and their components with actual quantities to be advised later.

Respondents were asked to demonstrate their proposed solution at their corporate headquarters.

What is intriguing is that the Commonwealth has elected to be the prime system integrator (PSI) but has requested respondents to provide technical integration resources to aid it and prospective L17 corporate partners with the very complex and extensive integration of AFATDS to:

* the SPH and LW155 platform Fire Control Systems;

* the Forward Observer System;

* the Theatre Battle Management Core System and Naval Surface Fire & Support;

* ADF sensors such as Weapon Locating Radars and TUAVs; and

* ADF customisation of AFATDS.

The requirements also include 24 months on-site support at Puckapunyal, 24 months operator and maintenance training, and through life support of the system.

Respondent are asked to provide details as to how they will provide AFATDS and how they will support it throughout its LOT.

Our understanding is that Raytheon Australia is the only contender for the supply of AFATDS and last year, through the Command and Control division of the Raytheon Company, arranged demonstrations of the system in Australia for the RPDE Joint Fires study.

These showed the effectiveness of AFATDS in the coordination of joint fires and led to the adoption of AFATDS as the preferred BMS-F C2 system.

Also needed will be incorporation of the NATO Armaments Ballistic Kernel (NABK) to enable the ADF to request joint fire missions in Coalition operations.

For the same purpose AFATDS needs to incorporate the US DOD Joint Munitions Effects Manual (JMEM).

Respondents were also asked to indicate how they will manage software upgrades for AFATDS including upgrades to NABK and JMEM.

And because AFATDS will communicate using advanced military grade digital, secure CNR and LAN connections, respondents will need to provide detailed design and specification of digital CNR options that are compatible with AFATDS.

BMS Fires Forward Observer
The purpose of this ITR is to determine the marketplace for the supply of BMS-F Forward Observer (FO) hardware and software as well as the provision of technical services (managed by the Commonwealth) for the integration with AFATDS and the SPH and LW155 platform fire control systems.

The quantity of FO systems acquired will be confirmed later however the current indicative quantity will be up to 107 Forward Observer systems - inclusive of all software and hardware.

What is evident is that the requirement seeks an advanced forward observer system that handles the normal aspects of target location and description, and thus the response in terms of number of guns, fuse, charge, projectile etc, the command authority to fire, followed by battle damage assessment.

This may include the simultaneous coordination and execution of multiple fire missions with different fire units.

However the requirement also requires the FO system to be capable of calling in and handling offensive air support (OAS) as well as naval surface gunfire support (NSFS).

The OAS planning and terminal control functions of the FO system shall allow the user to handle close air support requests, including accepting/refusing, briefing of aircrew, and aircraft on station reports.

It must also allow the user to coordinate and terminally control multiple aircraft and be able to receive and display position reports from VMF-enabled aircraft.

The system must also be able to receive and display from AFATDS the various air space control measures such as aircraft flight routes, restricted operating zones and so on.

The NSFS planning and fire mission execution functions of the FO system will enable the user to handle naval gunfire support requests, and to issue corrections to the fall of shot for naval gunfire and to coordinate and terminally control the fire from two or more NSFS ships simultaneously.

The system needs to be able to receive and display on the MRT Display, position reports from VMF-enabled NSFS ships.

FO contenders
Our understanding is that there are two forward observer systems that closely match the L17 FO requirements.

They are the Stauder Technologies StrikeLink(c) target acquisition and handoff system, which appears to have been the model for the FO requirements, and the Rockwell Rosetta system.

According to its developer, Stauder Technologies, StrikeLink is the first and only Combined Arms Targeting System.

StrikeLink's target location, designation and hand-off system (TLDHS) software, has the ability to quickly acquire targets in day, night and near all-weather visibility conditions.

StrikeLink can determine operator location as well as that of their targets, then digitally transmit secure data to multiple supporting arms elements.

StrikeLink supports the CAS mission with AV-8s, F-16s, and F/A-18s, as well as artillery missions with AFATDS and NFCS naval gun fire missions.

Stauder has also developed the Universal Combined Arms Targeting System (UCATS) for use by FOs to digitally direct and control artillery missions.

Primarily interfacing with AFATDS to receive fire coordination data and send calls for fire, UCATS provides a map and image based situational awareness display for quickly planning and coordinating artillery missions.

Interfaces to UCATS include GPS for self-location, laser range finders for highly accurate target location and standard tactical radios.

We understand that Raytheon Australia will be offering the Forward Air Controller and Forward Observer (FAC/FO) system from the Rockwell Collins Rosetta Technologies suite, comprising new lightweight, fully integrated digital hardware and software.

At the heart of the system is a tablet computer that hosts the Rockwell Collins Rosetta Joint Fires (RJF) software package, providing targeting and communications capabilities.

The Rockwell Collins Azimuth Augmentation system, an important part of the FAC/FO package, provides targeting precision by correcting Laser Range Finder (LRF) inaccuracies and enabling the precise delivery of modern GPS-guided weapons.