The purpose of this essay is to provide an opportunity to research an innovation of your own choice. The topic might include: New developments in targeting systems used by weapons technology based upon the laws of motion. The criteria for the report are: 1. Three (3) pages. 2. Do not select a topic that is too broad to cover in 3 pages. 3. No fewer than five references are to be cited. 4. Line spacing must be double. 5. Font size must not exceed 12 pt. and must be Courier, Arial (or equivalent), Verdana, or Times Roman; Arial is preferred.
The document must be in proper format, have proper punctuation, good grammar, and be error-free. The document must be prepared using the American Psychological Association (APA) writing format. Be sure your Bibliography is formatted correctly All information derived from sources, other than the author’s own words (i. e. , facts, statistics, quotes, etc. ), must be properly referenced within the body of the document using APA rules and guidelines. The document must include a bibliography, inclusive of all references utilized within the document and they must be properly cited using APA rules.
One of the targeting systems utilized by the US Army has been Trophy that is recently being put into service by the US army and has been originally developed by Israel. This device helps to target rocket-propelled grenades and is able to destroy them before they hit their target. They also help to destroy any anti-tank guided missiles. This new technology in weapon systems has been particularly useful in Afghanistan and Iraq where the enemy uses rocket propelled grenades. The new technology for destroying weapons is also known as ‘active protection device’.
Trophy detects movement in all the direction surrounding itself. As soon as the device detects some amount of motion, it would track the object down. As soon as it identifies it to be an anti-tank weapon, the system would fire a high-speed interceptor which would the target of the anti-tank missile and destroy it. In Israel itself, the device has been tested more than 400 times against rocket propelled grenades and anti-tank missiles. Trophy would be costing about 300, 000 to 400, 000 dollars to install on every tank. This is needed in 2007, for the defense vehicles that would be going to Iraq.
In the year 2005, Trophy was scheduled for testing in Iraq. However, the US army did not want to test it due to costs, difficulties in use, lack of supportive measures and several international issues (Ciralsky et al, 2007, New Scientist Tech, 2006 & Scalar Tech, 2005). Another Active protection system released by the US army in the year 2006 has been ‘Quick Kill’. This has several advantages over Trophy. It is smaller in size, occupies less weight and has less power. However, Quick Kill can aim at a target almost in any direction, and is more flexible with use.
It could easy suit the defense needs of a tank similar to Trophy. However, Quick kill would actually be utilized in tanks only after 4 years. Military experts feel that Trophy is large in size, and the power it derives is less comparatively to Quick kill (Ciralsky et al, 2007). The Institute for Defense analysis found that Trophy was the most effective of all the active protection systems, as it could handle different types of threats. It could attack a target located at a distance also. On the other hand, Quick kill had several limitations as it was developed in haste.
Quick Kill and Trophy utilize radar to detect and recognize targets that would be threatening. Quick may require some time for the technology to improve. The army feels that Quick Kill has certain risks and is still in the development stages. The army needs to redesign this technology. The limitations of Quick Kill has given a greater amount of importance to Trophy, as the American army is concentrating on using it to destroy anti-tank missiles and rocket propelled grenades. The army has a method of actually classifying the extent to which the weapons have been tested, developed and matured.
This system known as ‘technology readiness levels’ (TRL) was actually framed by NASA, and is a 1 to 9 scale. Trophy is in stage 7 or 8 (which means that the prototype has been demonstrated in an operational environment or the actual system has been tested and demonstrated), whereas Quick Kill is in stage 3 (which means the proof of concept has been demonstrated, but the hardware has not be actually field tested). Quick Kill would take at least five years to reach stage 7 or 8. The only advantage Quick Kill has over Trophy is that it can be easily placed over an army tank.
However, the army feels that it may not be able to protect adequately from enemy threats. The army is also looking at having an alternative system, in case Quick Kill does not meet with the level anticipated. The army and the navy are currently incorporating the Trophy system in their vehicles and are developing safety, operational and technical standards. However, both Trophy and Quick Kill have renewed army interests in active protection systems (Ciralsky et al, 2007). Reactive materials are another area in which the defense has developed interests.
In this kind of technology, several inert materials are placed inside the explosive device. When these inert substances intermingle with each other, they explode. The main advantage of this technology is that smaller and stronger bombs can actually be developed. They could be utilized to protect from rocket-propelled grandees and mortar. Some of the substances utilized in the reactive materials include aluminum or titanium metal in the form of a powder. This is mixed with an oxidizing agent such as Teflon. If the explosive contacts with another object, it will not detonate.
However, if it experiences a powerful impact, the chemicals inside will mix, ignite and detonate. The Reactive material is still in the developmental stages and efforts are being made to ensure that it would survive launch and explode when it impacts the target. The army feels that it could use such a system for destroying antimissile systems. The missiles could be utilized to destroy the missile in the air itself before it hits the target. Reactive materials uses such a technology by which the target would be sprayed with the reactive materials and within a short period of time all these materials would explode.
The army is also creating an explosive device known as ‘ Battle Axe’ that would spray the reactive material over the target, before exploding. In this way a larger area could be destroyed. Reactive materials would explode shortly after activation. There are no chances that the material would remain, posing a threat to human life. The army would continue with the development of the Battle Axe explosive system until 2009. Today the weapon systems are becoming more and more developed, a trend seen throughout history. The first weapons were meant to destroy the enemy, crudely.
Today weapons are used to specifically target army installations and to reduce civilian casualties. Computers are increasingly being utilized to specifically guide the missiles on to their targets. Besides, SMART Technology is considering to make the weapons more intelligent and to concentrate on defending rather than attacking (New Scientist Tech, 2006 & Scalar Tech, 2005).
References:
Ciralsky, A. (2007), Experts contradict Pentagon on anti-RPG tests, Retrieved September 26, 2007, from MSNBC Web site: http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/18356061Hambling, D. (2006), Instant Expert: Weapons Technology, Retrieved September 26, 2007, from New Scientists Tech Web site: http://technology. newscientist. com/channel/tech/weapons/dn9980 Hambling, D. (2007), Better Bombs: Scientists Develop Metal That Explodes on Impact, Retrieved September 26, 2007, from Popular Mechanics Web site: http://www. popularmechanics. com/technology/military_law/4219350. html Scalar Tech (2005), Scalar Tech, Retrieved September 26, 2007, from Scalar Tech Web site: http://www. cheniere. org/correspondence/091705. htm