Story by C. Todd Lopez, DoD News.

The Defense Department announced in January that 31 M1A2 Abrams tanks would be delivered to Ukraine, but officials had speculated it would take about a year to make that happen. Now, they say, the U.S. will instead send M1A1 Abrams tanks from refurbished hulls already in U.S. inventory, and the delivery will be in the fall — faster than what was initially expected.

“Since we’ve made this announcement, we’ve been committed to exploring options to deliver the armored capability as quickly as possible. After further study and analysis on how best to do this, DOD, in close coordination with Ukraine, has made the decision to provide the M1A1 variant of the Abrams tank, which will enable us to significantly expedite delivery timelines, and deliver this important capability to Ukraine by the fall of this year.”

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, March 21, 2023

The M1A1 Abrams will have “a very similar capability” to the M1A2, Ryder said, including advanced armor and weapons systems, such as a 120 mm cannon and 50-caliber heavy machine gun. 

“This is about getting this important combat capability into the hands of the Ukrainians sooner rather than later,” the general said.

In January, the initial plan was that the United States would use funds from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to procure new tanks from the manufacturer. Now, Ryder said, excess hulls already in U.S. inventory will instead be refurbished and refitted to create M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks that can be sent to Ukraine more quickly in order to meet their needs.

“You’ve heard us talk in the past about trying to work with Ukraine to meet not only their near-term needs, but their medium-term needs. Taking territory, retaking territory, you know, as part of any offensive will be important … as will sustaining those gains at some point in the future, as well as being able to deter future Russian aggression. This is all part of … our broader near-term and longer-term support to Ukraine and their defense requirements.”

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, March 21, 2023

Ryder also told reporters that training Ukrainians on the tanks is also in the works.

“We will ensure that the Ukrainians receive the necessary training on these tanks in time for them to be delivered,” he said. “We’ll have more details to provide on that training in the future. But, again, that would be our intent — and I’m confident that we will accomplish that.”

Yesterday, the Pentagon also announced the most recent round of security assistance to Ukraine. The latest round of security assistance, worth about $350 million, includes, among other things, ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System; high-speed, anti-radiation missiles; AT4 anti-armor weapon systems; grenade launchers, small arms and associated ammunition; and Riverine patrol boats. 

Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24. 2022, the U.S. has committed more than $32.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. The United States also continues to work with allies and partners to provide Ukraine with additional capabilities to defend itself.

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This story by C. Todd Lopez was first published on March 21, 2023 by DoD News. Department of Defense content is in the public domain.

Photo: An armored tank from 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, heads into a simulated combat zone with concealment smoke billowing behind it during a combined arms breach exercise conducted at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Jan. 29. The tanks are from the Fort Riley, Kansas-based 1st Inf. Div., and provided ground support for the 4th MEB’s 5th Eng. Bn.-led training. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mark Patton)

The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing about the U.S. Army’s 2022 budget. Secretary Wormuth and General McConville testified on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 – defending the Biden administration’s cuts to the Army’s budget for 2022. They both said the U.S. Army is “ready to fight” and said that the budget has the right priorities for the conflicts of the future.

The hearing was entitled “The Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Budget Request for the Department of the Army”. The purpose was to allow the committee to receive testimony from the Secretary of the Army and the Army Chief of Staff on the FY22 budget request, priorities, and key issues as they relate to the service.

Some of the themes throughout the testimony of all the services before the House and Senate were reflected in this hearing as well. These include the modernization effort of the Army, the recognition of the changes in warfare brought about by technology and great power competition, readiness, and training. In addition, diversity, sexual assault, sexual harassment, racism, housing standards, and extremism have been common topics.

Secretary Wormuth, in her opening remarks and during testimony, stated that the Army must continue to invest in people, ensuring that the right programs are in place to ensure that eliminate racism, sexual assault and harassment, and suicide. She said that the Army is in the lead for incorporating new technology. Wormuth stressed the importance of partnerships and allies in the Indo-Pacific region – emphasizing that having a continual relationship will help in responding to future crisis and conflicts. She believes that modernization is the key to preparing the U.S. Army for the next conflict – which will be in an all domain environment.

General McConville reiterated the comments in his opening remarks and during testimony by the Secretary saying that the Army is on the right path with its prioritization on people, readiness, and modernization. He also mentioned the importance of reducing racism, extremism, sexual assault and harassment, and suicides. He stated that changes in leadership training and mentoring should begin at the small unit level – from the squad, to the platoon, and then higher – to build an Army that recognizes the importance of each soldier. He shared his vision of ‘peace through strength’ as a way of winning wars – especially in the Indo-Pacific region.

Politics, Of Course. The Democratic and Republication representatives stuck to their usual talking points during the question and answering session. Each representative was allocated five minutes each for their respective Q and A. Major themes for the Democrats were topics related to racism, extremism, sexual harassment and assault, and suicide. Republicans voiced concerns over the budget cuts that the Army will experience in 2022 – sometimes questioning the lack of funding priority of specific programs. Many of the representatives had several topics in common that they had questions on, to include military housing, suicide, and infrastructure. Some of the testimony touched on the topics listed below.

Modernization. Mentioned several times in the testimony by the Secretary and the Chief were the 6 focus areas for Army modernization, the 31 plus 4 systems, and the need to be ready for conflict in the Indo-Pacific region. Both Army leaders consistently stated that the priority of the Army 2022 budget was modernization. They repeatedly defended the emphasis on modernization over other pressing priorities citing the refocus from the counterterrorism (CT) and counterinsurgency (COIN) mission of the past two decades to one of preparing for great power competition or GPC. They cited the modernization of China’s military and the aggressive foreign policy of both Russia and China as the number one defense concern – and that modernization was the key to competing with both of these nations in the future.

Budget Cuts. Some representatives stated their concerns that the modernization programs may take time to come on board and that equipment currently in use need some significant upgrades. They pointed to decreases in spending for force strength, equipment upgrades, munition procurements, some research and development programs, and other examples. The answers by the Secretary and Chief were consistent – priority is being given to force modernization without sacrificing the ability of the U.S. Army to respond to current crisis or conflicts. The R&D programs were scrutinized and priority given to the more important R&D projects.

Priority of Spending. Some representatives questioned the lack of priority for some programs. The Secretary and Chief were quick to point out that many of these programs were listed in the Unfunded Requirements List and that if Congress had some additional money then the Army would gladly accept it. Throughout the testimony they stressed that the Army has to balance spending on people, readiness, and modernization – and that hard choices were made.

Enduring Programs. The Army leaders stressed that some ‘legacy’ programs and equipment did not receive prioritization due to replacements that would soon come on line and the recognition that money spent on this older equipment is best spent on ‘enduring’ programs and modernization. They pointed out that funding for some ‘enduring’ programs like the Abrams tank, UH-60 Blackhawk, and AH-64 Apache remains in place.

Multi-Domain Task Force. The Army is establishing three task forces for future conflicts. One will be regionally aligned to Europe and two aligned to the Indo-Pacific. Representative Strickland (WA) asked the Secretary to consider basing an additional Multi-Domain Task Force in Washington State – providing reasons why that would be good for the Army. The Secretary diplomatically said that will be considered and the decision will be based on what is good for the Army and national defense.

Social Issues. The topics of diversity, racism, extremism, suicide, and sexual assault and harassment were repeatedly raised. The answers by McConville were consistent – to begin at the foundational level to build a cohesive team where everyone respects one another. He stated that many of the problems are found among junior soldiers in the 18 to early 20s age range. He believes that the command culture needs some work to ensure units and unit leaders are taking care of people. The Secretary mentioned that the Army’s SHARP program is being revitalized and updated and that the command selection process will take into account past command climate performance.

Questions on Specific Programs and Issues. Some representatives spent their time asking about very specific items such as long-range precision fires, integrated air defense systems, ‘crushing’ optempo, deterrence in the Baltics, sensor to shooter systems, Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs), combat aviation, Global Defender Exercise, domestic missions and the national guard, reduction of CTC rotations from 24 to 17, and others. Probably one of the best few minutes of the testimony were the questions (gender neutral physical training testing, emphasis on Air Force and Navy in Indo-Pacific, restructuring of the National Guard based on population, and is the budget for the Army large enough) asked by Representative Mike Waltz.

SOF. Representative Murphy (FL), a member of the House Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, asked how the Army’s special operations forces (ARSOF) are adapting to and improving training for the refocus from CT/COIN to GPC. The Secretary response stressed that the shift from CT/COIN to GPC has been ongoing and continues. She said that ARSOF is still needed in a GPC environment and that training scenarios are changing to incorporate the changes outlined in the Irregular Warfare Annex to the National Defense Strategy. General McConville stated that SOF has done an incredible job the past 20 years. He stated that CT/COIN is not going away, however he said SOF is very agile and can perform both the CT/COIN missions as well as the future fight with near-peer adversaries. McConville stated that SOF is uniquely suited to working with allies and partners in the combatant regions they are aligned to – and that SOF will continue to help partners build their CT capability. The Secretary briefly discussed the ‘resistance capability‘ that US Special Forces can enhance in the Baltic nations.

The Secretary and Chief of Staff answered almost all of the questions posed to them – sometimes with the same answer: force modernization has taken priority over many of the other important programs of the Army due to the need to meet the competition posed by Russia and China. There were a few occasions when the Secretary or Chief did not have a satisfactory answer and they promised to get back to the committee member posing the question. Overall the hearing was cordial and lacked some of the drama associated with some other Senate and House hearings on defense issues that took place earlier in the week.

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Video: The entire testimony can be viewed at the link below:
U.S. Army 2022 Budget Hearing

References:

The Army’s Modernization Strategy: Congressional Oversight Considerations, CRS-R46216, February 7, 2020.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46216

Photo: General James McConville. Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on June 25, 2021.

Army 2018 – Russia has just held its largest arms fair and conference at Park Patriot, located to the west of Moscow and whilst members of their SOF were not very conspicuous, they could be seen if you knew where to look. The event, titled International Military-Technical Forum < Army 2018 > took place 21-26 August, 2018.

Park Patriot exhibition and conference centre covers some 200,000 square metres, and contained some 1,209 international and national organisations and companies, who were exhibiting some 18,523 items. On display were combat helicopters, drones and both Radar and weapon systems (including strategic missiles). Equipment could also be inspected at close quarters, along with weapons, some of which were available to fire on an adjacent firing range.

Over 300 military vehicles, landing-craft and some 506 armoured vehicles were also on static display, of which many took part in live fire tactical demonstrations held on the adjacent Alabino Military Training Grounds or nearby Komsomolskoe lakes. Military aircraft and helicopters were also either on static display or demonstrated at the nearby Kubinka Russian Air Force Base.

The week-long event – Army 2018 – was attended by some 550,000 international and national visitors and media, who were hosted in seven national pavilions hosted by Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Slovakia, South Africa and China. China also provided the “21st August” aerobatic team, who demonstrated their Chinese Air Force J-10 multirole fighter.

Amongst this vast array of Russian military personnel were also members of the Russian Special Forces. However, tracking them down was harder as many wore civilian clothing. But their equipment was easier to locate and inspect.

I guess that if many were asked to name a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) or Counterterrorism Unit, they would probably name their elite “Alpha” unit. They came to light in the 1993 Nord-Ost theatre siege. However, they do not deal with the majority of terrorism incidents in Russia. That responsibility falls to the “Spetsial’nyy Otryad Bystrogo Reagirovaniya” (SOBR) or “Special Squad Rapid Reaction Teams”, who handle most armed incidents in Russia, ranging from suspected terrorists held up in houses to domestic-violence standoffs.

In 1980 the Special Purpose Police Unit (OMON) was formed under the authority of the “Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation” (MVD). This was considered the true predecessor of Russia’s current SOBR teams. However, the role of this team is considered distant to that of the OMON teams.

After being renamed the “Special Rapid Response Unit” (OMSN) in 2002, then OSN in 2011, the name finally reverted to SOBR in 2012. Control of the SOBR units was then transferred to the new Russian Rosguard, known sometimes as the Russian National Guard, from the MVD in 2016, along with the OMON. This effectively deprived the MVD of any real counter-terror or paramilitary operational capabilities. Nevertheless, as of 2016, SOBR was believed to contain some of eighty-seven detachments containing approximately 5,200 staff.

In 2013 the Russian Military established its own special unit called “Special Operations Command” and known by the Russian acronym “KSSO”. This 2000-man strong unit is reported to be still a work in progress, but continues to build up its capabilities. This unit is part of a much larger community of special designation forces in Russia, known as Spetsnaz. These units are embedded in Russia’s land, naval, infantry and airborne brigades, and are believed to contain some 9,000 to 10,500 staff. They and other special operations units are attached to intelligence agencies such as the “Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation”, or FSB.

In March 2013 a Special Operations Centre was created for the Russian Ministry of Defence and located in Kubinka. It is staffed by some 500 professional soldiers and adjacent to Kubinka Air Base.

Whilst attending the arms fare and Kubinka Air Base, I regret not having time to take a closer look at one of the centres resident units – Kubinka-2. They specialize in Counter-Terrorism and their “Operators” (Onepatop) have adopted the nickname “The Sunflowers”. Their main mission is Counter-Terrorism and therefore incorporates hostage rescue, elimination of terrorist cells and intelligence gathering of terrorist threats. They also take part in close protection of VIPs and are specialists in unconventional warfare.

However, like Arnold Schwarzenegger promised – “I’ll be back.

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Photo: Russian All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) by Pat Carty. All other images from the official website of “Army 2018”.

Author: Pat Carty is a NATO accredited journalist who covers military news, events, operations, and exercises; including special operations forces. He is a contributor to SOF News as well as several other military defense publications.

]]> 8094 https://sof.news/events/sofic-2018/ Tue, 15 May 2018 15:11:34 +0000 http://www.sof.news/?p=6284 SOFIC 2018 – The Special Operations Forces Industry Conference is being held in Tampa, Florida May 21-24, 2018. The location is the Tampa Convention Center. SOFIC 2018 provides a forum for the special operations forces community to network, learn, and [...]]]>

SOFIC 2018 – The Special Operations Forces Industry Conference is being held in Tampa, Florida May 21-24, 2018. The location is the Tampa Convention Center. SOFIC 2018 provides a forum for the special operations forces community to network, learn, and discuss how SOF conducts operations and responds to security challenges in the future.

Discussion groups, panel presentations, and workshops are held throughout the conference and exhibition. Senior leaders of the U.S. SOF community will be on hand – with some addressing the various forums and meetings. Representatives from USSOCOM, the Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs), and Program Executive Officers will be in attendance.

The attendees number in the thousands with over 350 exhibits. A great opportunity to learn and network. Some of the programmed events include an international special operations capabilities demonstration, innovation showcase, USSOCOM ‘marketplace’, and more.

The conference is brought to you by the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). Learn more at www.sofic.org.

SOFIC 2018 Video. Watch a two-minute long video about the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkdJ8g_6E4U

Sniper Systems Update for SOF – The last several years have seen new developments in training, tactics, and employment of sniper teams and their associated equipment and weapons. Sniper teams have taken a leading role in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition, SOF has been employed in the small wars now taking place in Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and elsewhere.

Andrew White, an writer at Defense Media Network, has published (July 3, 2017) an extensive review of SOF sniper equipment, weapons, training, and employment over the past few years.

USASOC Sniper Competition. In March 2017 the annual U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) International Sniper Competition was held. The event high-lighted “. . . the wide-ranging skill sets required to effectively operate as a force multiplying sniper team.” Two-man teams from the U.S. Army’s SOF units as well as sniper teams from European countries participated in a series of sniper events during the competition. The events included many aspects of sniping to include marksmanship, stalking, battle preparation, sniper operations, and target acquisition.

Employment of Sniper Teams. White’s article goes on to explain how U.S. SOF sniper teams are engaged around the world in real-world missions. These operations range from disrupting terrorist networks, direct action (DA), counterterrorism (CT), and other missions. A key development taking place recently is the urban warfare being conducted over the past several months in the siege of Mosul. U.S. and other nation’s SOF snipe teams have been actively employed in fighting the Islamic State fighters in the Mosul fight. Recently a Canadian SOF sniper was recognized for conducting the longest-ever sniper shoot in combat. Snipers are also the ‘eyes and ears’ for commanders for a variety of operations.

USSOCOM and Sniper Systems. The United States Special Operations Command based in Tampa, Florida is actively pursuing advanced sniper systems for its special operations forces across all services (SEALs, Green Berets, Rangers, MARSOC, etc.). White’s article goes into great depth on the full range of these sniper systems currently being purchased or under development.

White concludes his long article on Sniper Systems Update with:

“The role of the sniper across the COE remains as relevant as ever, highlighted by the effort and investment paid to the training teams tasked with identifying personnel with the correct aptitude for such missions. This trend is unlikely to change as the future character of conflict continues to evolve toward a battlespace that will still require the force-multiplying effects of a sniper team.”

The full article can be read at:

“SOF Sniper Systems Developments”, by Andrew White, Defense Media Networks, July 3, 2017.
http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/sof-sniper-systems-developments/

A prototype TALOS Iron Man Suit may soon be available for testing by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Base, Florida. The Tactical Light Operator Suit or TALOS is aimed at providing special operators (Green Berets, SEALs, etc.) with enhanced mobility and protection technologies. The TALOS Iron Man Suit will increase strength and effectiveness of the SOF personnel. It is hoped that the prototype will be available in 2018 for testing by special operators.

There are a few variations but most share some common features. The battery-powered exoskeleton will reduce strain on the body, conserve energy, provide better ballistic protection, and improve communication with other SOF Soldiers. Much of the technology already exists in various forms – they just need to be melded together into one complete package.

The Iron Man Suit is ideally suited for special operations soldiers engaged in high-risk operations such as entering and clearing buildings where terrorists may be harbored. The suit will provide additional protection needed – especially for the first man in the stack going through the door.

Tradeoffs. The capabilities of the suit will be limited by how much it weighs and the battery life of the suit. The heavier the suit the more energy required for it to function – which will decrease the battery life. Another limitation will be the flexibility of the suit – it must allow the operator to run, jump, bend, squat, and perform other physical feats required in combat operations.

Read more articles on this topic:

“U.S. Special Operations Command is Engineering a Next-Generation Exoskeleton to Keep Operators Alive”, by Kris Osborn, Scout.com, October 30, 2016.

“U.S. military is on its way to getting its Iron Man”, CNN Politics, April 11, 2016.

“TALOS (Uniform)“, Wikipedia. A detailed description is offered on the Iron Man Suit.

“Special Ops ‘Iron Man’ Suit on Track for 2018”, National Defense Magazine, May 2016.

SOF News Update for 20161016 – The ‘woobie’ gets an upgrade, small drones used by special operations forces, new Jungle Boots, India’s maritime SOF and CT unit, fattest service in U.S. military, book review of Rogue Heroes, spinal injury center run by Green Beret in Tampa, FL celebrates first year in business, and more.

Small Drones used by SOF. The Switchblade has been in use by U.S. special operations forces for a few years. It provides its users with a real-time view of the battlefield from above like other drones. However, it is also used to fly directly into a target and detonate a small charge. Read more in “Forget the Predator – Military Drones are Getting Smaller”, Air & Space Magazine, October 4, 2016.

Woobie Upgrade. The best friend of the infantryman in inclement weather is the ‘woobie’ – or more officially known as the ‘poncho liner’. The Marines and Army are coming out with an upgrade – to include a zipper and better insulation. Read more in “The beloved ‘woobie’ gets a much-needed update’, We Are The Mighty, September 30, 2016.

TF 44. New reports say that the Italian Special Forces are doing a “Train, Advise, and Assist” mission in Iraq.

Story on the Air Force “Horsemen” of 9/11. In the fall of 2001 U.S. Army Green Berets entered northern Afghanistan – infiltrating by helicopter. Many of the SF teams linked up with units of the Afghan Northern Alliance. Some 30+ members of these teams were quickly put on horseback to move from one location to another or to participate in offensive maneuvers against the Taliban. Attached to the SF teams were Air Force combat controllers. Read more in a news story by the U.S. Air Force, October 14, 2016.

“Golden Division” Prepares for Mosul Assault. News reports are stating that all three brigades of the ISOF division are staged close to the second largest city in Iraq in an attempt to dislodge the Islamic State. As always, the Iraqi SOF will lead the offensive.

Book Review – Rogue Heroes. Ben Macintrye has wrote a great book about the founding of the British Special Air Service (SAS). In the book is a sprinkling of the unorthodox characters that were the original members of the SAS during World War II. The book also covers some of the secretive years just after World War II where covert missions were conducted around the world by the British special operatives. Read the review – “Review: ‘Rogue Heroes,’ the Birth of Britain’s Elite Special Forces”, by Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times, October 3, 2016.

Green Beret & Wife Run Spinal Injury Center. A paralyzed veteran and his wife are providing medical care for those with spinal cord injuries in the Tampa, Florida area. (Tampa Bay Times, Oct 3, 2016).

New Jungle Boots. The Army has a quick need for Jungle Boots to field to two Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) over the next two years. A Request for Information (RFI) has been issued to determine the industry’s capability to deliver lots of boots. Read more in “PdM-SCIE Issues RFI for US Army Jungle Combat Boot”, Soldier Systems, October 5, 2016.

Fattest Service? That would be the U.S. Army. Read more in “And the fattest U.S. military service is . . . “, Military Times, October 9, 2016.

MARCOS – The Indian Navy’s special forces unit excels at counter-terrorism operations. MARCOS does amphibious warfare, close quarter combat, counter-terrorism, direct action, special reconnaissance, and unconventional warfare. Read more in a news report by News Nation (India), October 4, 2016.