ADF WEAPONS PROJECTS - The voice of the guns
Army is starting to consider its indirect fire support needs for the 21st century, and especially at the future of its 105mm and 155mm artillery.
Indirect fire support is essential for land force operations, providing both force protection and the umbrella under which offensive operations are conducted. The essential elements of indirect fire support are the ability to locate targets and accurately deliver sufficient weight of munitions to give the desired effect without causing any harm to friendly forces. To achieve this the fire support delivery system (most often a gun) must have effective communications with its observers and other sensors, and accurate knowledge of its position relative to other forces, its targets and relevant topographical features.
The ADF is currently working on several projects to upgrade or replace various elements of its indirect fire support capability. Project Land 58 is concerned with extending the life-of-type of the AN/TPQ 36 weapon locating radar (WLR), Project Land 135 covers the acquisition of a light armoured mortar systems (LAMS) while Projects Land 17 and 18 involve providing the capability currently given by Army's 105m and 155mm howitzers when their life-of-type expires in 2010.
The WLR plays a significant role in the location of targets for indirect fire support and is the primary equipment used by 131 Locating Battery to identify the position of hostile artillery, mortars and rocket launchers. In addition to its utility in high intensity conflict this capability is of particular use in peacekeeping operations where there is a threat to civilian populations or deployed forces from mortars and rockets. Rapid and accurate location data can be used to enforce cease-fire agreements and form the basis of a forceful response if necessary.
It has been estimated that a complete overhaul of the AN/TPQ 36 system will cost one-fifth the amount of a new system of the same model, while research has indicated that the available alternative systems are either less capable or more expensive than a refurbished system. Extending the equipment's life-of-type by 10 to 15 years will also obviate the need for any major changes to current doctrine, force structures, training and logistic support, thereby further enhancing the cost-effectiveness of the exercise. The AN/TPQ 36 is a proven piece of equipment that has demonstrated its ability to sustain battle damage and still function.
The life-of-type extension involves the physical refurbishment of the system's shelter and radar antennae, and updating the system's software to the latest version. The AN/TPQ 36 was originally manufactured by Hughes but industry consolidation now sees the system under the Raytheon banner. Given that it is uneconomic to set up to conduct the upgrade in Australia for seven systems the work will be carried out at various locations in the US. For reasons of efficiency, it is possible the refurbishment of the Australian WLRs will form part of a larger manufacture or reconditioning batch such as the soon to be completed Dutch program being carried out by Raytheon in the US.
The WLR's life-of-type expires in 2005 and the year-of-decision (YOD) for Land 58 is currently scheduled for 2003/04. However, options have been developed to carry out the upgrade earlier if funds are made available. Capability documentation will be presented to various Defence committees either later this year or early 2002. It is currently planned that the refurbished equipment would be in-service in 2005.
The light armoured mortar system is a White Paper initiative to increase the mobile firepower of the Army. There are several military off the shelf (MOTS) options, either currently available or in development, that can be based on wheeled and tracked hulls already in service with the ADF. No decisions have been made yet as to whether the LAMS should be based on ASLAV or M113 chassis, a combination of both or potentially a future combat vehicle platform.
The 120mm mortars that are in current production envisaged for the LAMS can fire a range of ammunition types and provide a variety of target effects to the battlefield. Some mortar variants also have a direct fire capability. The mobility, firepower and protection inherent in these systems will provide the Army with a versatile offensive support platform. It is desired that the selected systems will include target acquisition, command and control and logistic support to complete the system's capability.
A firepower paper is being produced by the combined efforts of AHQ, DGLD and CATDC staff and will provide definitive guidance for the LAMS and 105/155mm artillery acquisitions. It is expected that this paper will be completed around September this year.
Effects-based methodology will be used to identify the solution for the Army's LAMS requirement. This approach is taken to minimise the chances of duplication amongst various capabilities and is, essentially, a process of working backwards from the effect that is desired on the battlefield, to the munitions that can produce that effect to the delivery systems capable of applying those munitions where needed.
Another benefit claimed for effects-based methodology is that it helps avoid a platform replacement mindset and ensures that all options created by advances in technology are considered.
Likely contenders for Land 135 include BAE Systems through their Royal Ordnance/DDGM/DELCO operation and its 120mm armoured mortar system, Thompson DASA Armaments (TDA) and Swedish firm Hagglunds among others.
The YOD for Land 135 is currently listed as 2004/05, with 2006 listed as the in-service date. The budget for the project will be in excess of $50 million.
The replacement of Army's long-range indirect fire support capability will see a move to more mobile and self-contained delivery systems. The 105mm and 155mm howitzers that currently provide this capability are reliant on external assets for their mobility, communications and survey capabilities; a situation that can impose severe limitations on all three functions and reduce the equipment's effectiveness under battlefield conditions.
According to an unclassified DGLD briefing document, "The delivery systems should be highly mobile, autonomous, and able to provide a degree of protection for the detachment. They will complement current and future ADF surveillance, target acquisition and digitisation capabilities."
It is likely that projects Land 17 and 18 will ultimately be merged to become phases of one single project. While the projects are currently described as replacements for the 105mm Hamel Light Gun, 105mm M2A2 and 155mm M198 Medium Howitzer, a platform replacement approach will not be taken. The optimum solution will be identified using the same effects-based methodology and priorities developed for the LAMS procurement. The effects required will drive the decision on what system or systems will be acquired.
The effects based approach notwithstanding, the procurement of a number of highly mobile self-propelled 155mm guns of one sort or another is the most likely outcome for the project. This is because the minimum practical size for "smart" projectiles capable of delivering tailored effects at long range such as the US developed Extended Range Guided Munition (ERGM) or Diehl's Sensor fused Munition for Artillery (SMArt155) is 155mm, while the need for mobility and autonomy dictates a self-propelled system.
Contenders to supply the sophisticated 155mm rounds likely to be required include Raytheon if the ERGM is eventually manufactured in 155mm, Deihl, GIAT, Singapore Technologies Engineering and Royal Ordnance from amongst a host of potential suppliers. So far as the delivery system is concerned manufacturers such as GIAT, Royal Ordnance, TDA and United Defense would form the core of "usual suspects," but once again from a wide range of potential international suppliers.
To assist in maintaining an up-to-date
Potential Australian industry involvement (AII) in the various fire support projects includes the manufacture of shell casings and propellants, the updating of fire control software, the provision of optical sighting and communications devices and general maintenance. The sophisticated nature of "smart" 155mm projectiles and the limited number of these expensive rounds that would be used in practice would seem to preclude their local manufacture. However, the local manufacture and filling of conventional high explosive projectiles might be a possibility depending on the numbers required and the priority accorded to local manufacture. The ADI facilities at Benalla and Mulwala are currently responsible for the manufacture of shells and propellants for Army's 105mm Hamel guns.
The success of these indirect fire support initiatives will largely depend on the effectiveness of the integrated project team (IPT) approach used to progress them. Initially, the gunners (the indirect fire and target acquisition specialists) will be required to co-operate with the armoured corps whose expertise in platform mobility is an essential part of the equation. In turn, they will both need to co-ordinate their efforts with Defence's knowledge staff to facilitate the all-important command and control aspects of the project. Regardless of which solutions are eventually procured their effectiveness on the battlefield will ultimately be in large part a product of the command and control systems.
Another vital link in the IPT is that between the DMO and industry who, once the other experts have determined the capability requirement, must work efficiently to deliver it into service on time. A land force has much in common with a pedestrian in a hailstorm; both are overly exposed to hostile elements without an effective umbrella.
By Daniel Cotterill, Canberra