PART 2: CASE STUDY OF WHY AND HOW NIGERIA SHOULD UNDERTAKE COST EFFECTIVE UPGRADATION OF LEGACY 105MM AND 122MM HOWITZERS ALONG WITH THEIR MOBILE VERSION.

PART 2...........

FOR THE NIGERIAN HOWITZERS BOTH IN UPGRADED TOWED AND SELF PROPELLED VERSION THE MAN PORTABLE ORBITAL TACTICAL UAV AMONG OTHERS IS BEST SUITED TO SERVE AS A DIGITAL FIRE SUPPORT OFFICER ALONE OR IN TANDEM WITH THE TRADITIONAL HUMAN FORWARD OBSERVERS FOR BETTER COMBINED ARMS WARFARE

TACTICAL UAV is an unmanned aerial vehicle small enough to be man-portable. Example ORBITER

FIG 6: ORBITER TACTICAL UAV  FIG 7: HAND HELD GROUND CONTROL STATION (GCS)

 

The Orbiter mini UAV provides field commanders with near-instant "over the hill" reconnaissance capability, and is easily controlled in either Waypoints Navigation or Camera Guidance (UAV slaved to camera) modes. The Orbiter System can be transported, assembled, launched and operated by just two persons after minimal training. The entire Orbiter System fits into one backpack and no additional personnel need to be fielded.

FEATURES

1.  Man-pack/vehicle transportable

2.  Assembled in 10 minutes

3.  Launched by a catapult, bungee or hand

4.  Very low noise signature

5.  Easily controlled from handheld Personal GCS

6.  Automatic parachute + airbag recovery

7.  Day and night operational capability

8.  15 km range

9.  1.5 hour flight endurance

10.  Rapid turn-around

Orbiter's Handheld Personal GCS is a compact unit that can be worn over a protective vest or mounted on a tripod. The Personal Ground Control Station unites a user-friendly software interface with advanced Real-Time Control hardware. Even an inexperienced operator, with minimal training, can successfully control all phases of an Orbiter mission and gather high-quality intelligence in real time. All of the acquired data (video & telemetry) is recorded by a built in DVR for up to 12 flight hours.

Payload: Day Operations

>  The D-STAMP fully stabilized payload gives sharp color video picture for day time operations. The payload features x10 optical zoom and full coverage in both azimuth and elevation.

Payload: Night Operations

>  The U-STAMP fully stabilized payload gives sharp thermal imaging video picture for night-time operations. The payload features digital zoom and full coverage in both azimuth and elevation.

The combination of “EYE IN THE SKY” and network-linked TACTICAL UAVs creates flat earth during the day and at night. It gives the artillery commanders the ability to increasing their effectiveness in the fight. And act as DIGITAL FIRE SUPPORT OFFICER (FSO).

Note: there are hundreds of TACTICAL UAVs to choose from if u don’t like mine then pick u r choice.

Also before anybody asks, CH 3 UAV is not suitable for the job because it requires a runway and has a fairly large command and control logistic footprint. If the target area is within the operational range of CH 3 operating from a nearby base, then it can be used.

FIG 5: ORBITER TACTICAL UAV IN A BACKPACK

Primary set:
The entire fielded ORBITER system disassembles and fits into one backpack

1.  1x ORBITER
2.  Personal GCS
3.  Launcher
4.  Data link

Backup set:
A second backpack, for prolonged operational readiness
1.  2 x ORBITER
2.  Spare Batteries
3.  Spare Payloads

THE HEART AND BRAIN OF ANY DECENT ARTILLERY TOWED OR MOBILE GUN SYSTEM (MGS) IS THE FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM (FCS).

FOR THE NIGERIAN OTO MELARA 105 MM MOD 56 HOWITZERS BOTH IN TOWED AND SELF PROPELLED VERSION THE MODULAR ARTILLERY FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM IS A WIN-WIN OPTION

The Modular Artillery Fire Control System (MAFCS) by Astronautics from ISRAEL is a highly adaptive solution for Self-Propelled and Towed Artillery Guns. Especially the 105mm howitzers, it easily overcomes the operational restrictions placed on modern artillery by traditional survey and deployment methods.

The MAFCS enables AUTONOMOUS GUN NAVIGATION and POINTING and provides BALLISTIC COMPUTATION capabilities to enhance weapon operation. The system’s ability to perform rapid changes of position, as well as its high responsiveness, enables the crew to SHOOT AND SCOOT and thus gains the force-multiplier advantage which is essential to the modern battlefield.

The system meets modern MAFCS requirements, consists of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components, is in full-scale production and has been extensively tested and used by several armies.

The MAFCS consists of the following elements

1.  Vehicle Reference Unit (VRU) - Kearfott's MILNAVA®, KN-4053, three-axis Monolithic Ring Laser Gyro (MRLG), embedded GPS

2.  Commander's Modular Processing and Control & Display Unit (CDU&TC)

3.  Gunner's Display Unit (GDU)

4.  Muzzle Velocity Radar (MVR)

5.  Vehicle Motion Sensor (VMS)

                            

FIG 6: SYSTEM BLOCK DIAGRAM FOR MODULAR ARTILLERY FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR BOTH TOWED AND SELF PROPELLED VERSION

Main Components Description:

1.Vehicle Reference Unit (VRU):

The VRU is a fully integrated inertial navigation unit with an optional GPS receiver which may either be embedded or external (PLGR). The VRU is installed on the elevating mass of the Gun and provides a continuous high precision output of position and attitude of the weapon. The VRU performs all navigation, attitude, pointing and north finding functions with heading accuracy to better than 1 mil RMS and attitude accuracy to better than 0.5 mil RMS.

2.Commander’s Control and Display Unit &Tactical Computer (CDU&TC):
The CDU&TC unit is provided for use by the gun’s Commander or by the gunner in case the system doesn’t include the GDU. The CDU&TC includes a powerful processor, which provides overall control, management and fire control computation within the system. The CDU&TC includes a sunlight readable display and performs all system level management and processing tasks within the MAFCS. The various functions can be defined as Commander MMI overall system mode control and management (VRU, Gunner Display, Radio, MVR and other optional units), graphic display generation and the on‐board technical fire control. Per customer request, 2D/3D map layers can be incorporated for navigation and control purposes

3.Gunner’s Display Unit (GDU):
The GDU is provided to the gunner for pointing the gun and in very short time to the required attitude. 

4.       Muzzle Velocity Radar (MVR):
The MAFCS is designed to accept inputs from a MVR to allow real time monitoring of the effect of gun wear and, in a predictive manner, to improve the ballistic computation. The MVR processing unit and antenna are housed in a single module located externally at the front of the cradle. The MVR measurements are integrated within the ballistic computation process, via a predictive algorithm, to improve the first-round effectiveness of the weapon and avoid the need for traditional calibration rounds.

5.Vehicle Motion Sensor (VMS):
The VMS provides a continuous independent measurement of wheel or track speed to the VRU during vehicle/gun movement for optimal system performance. The VMS is mounted within the engine compartment on the vehicle front chassis wall.

                                     FIG 7: THE CDU&TC (FOR THE COMMANDER) INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE TRUCK MOUNTED ARTILLERY SYSTEM (GMS)

MAFCS FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM ON A TOWED HOWITZER

The 105mm towed gun below has been upgraded with the above fire control system. Since it is a standalone artillery gun therefore CDU&TC unit is used which will be used by the gunner. The gunner display unit GDU is not necessary in this case.

The other rectangular box mounted near the recoil dampers contains the Muzzle Velocity Radar MVR and the VRU.

The CDU&TC is feed the necessary target coordinates and other relevant mission data by the gunner, which simultaneously also takes in inputs from the MVR to generate optimal fire solutions for first round hits.

FIG 8: THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF THE MAFCS FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM INSTALLED ON A 105MM TOWED HOWITZER

 MAFCS FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM ON A SELF PROPELLED HOWITZER

Here I have used the EVO 105 model as an example to highlight the MAFCS fire control system installation to be done on the OTO MELARA 105 mm mod 56 howitzers mounted on a truck for mobility.

The outriggers/stabilizers/brackets to hold the platform during firing including the mounting structure together with the gun drive system will be explained in another section.

In the picture below the Commander’s Control and Display Unit &Tactical Computer CDU&TC is installed inside the driver cabin. The cabin also houses the RADIOS for the commander to receive coordinates and fire correction from TACTICAL UAVs or FORWARD OBSERVERS.

The gunners display unit GDU is installed outside next to the gun for easy access by the gunner. The commanders CDU&TC does all the ballistic calculation etc and feeds all the generated fire solution to the GDU. The gunner in turn reads from the GDU and is thus able to align the gun faster and accurately for firing.

The VRU helps in gun Navigation and pointing as well as north finding to calculate accurately its own position which helps in laying down accurate fire on the target.

Additional benefits are that it can undertake shoot and scoot missions.

Addition of GPS also helps in navigation and pointing

Also all kinds of tactical information coming from tactical UAVs to FORWARD OBSERVERS can be displayed in the commanders CDU&TC display unit interleaved with 2 and/or 3 Dimensional (2-D/3-D) maps for better navigation and control.

 

 

Miscellaneous but necessary add-ons:

1.Cable for remote firing 

2.Ammo storage with individual shutters

3.Storage for propellant charges (if applicable)

4.Direct firing iron sights these are always included with the howitzer itself. In case of 

    emergency these can be used for indirect or direct firing.

5.A  weapons station for use by the crew for self defence(medium or heavy machine gun)

6.Intercom system for communication between the crew members.

7.The crew would consist of the commander, gunner and loader cum driver.

8. Also for better performance the driver’s cabin should have a passage for going into the rear

    the truck from the cabin itself, so that the driver can quickly switch the roles between 

    loader and driver. Also the passage can easily seat the gunner during travel. It can also

    accommodate the forward observer with his portable tactical UAV if necessary.

   

              

 

 PART 3..............