ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE
The mission of USSOCOM’s Advanced Technology Directorate (SOAL-T) is to develop the technological foundation for the command’s transformation concepts and requirements. The directorate, led by Rick Chandler, selectively invests science and technology (S&T) resources to fulfill the command’s evolving technology needs. To accomplish this, SOAL-T personnel identify emerging technologies with the potential to satisfy SOF capability gaps, while promoting technological innovation. This is done by defining and disseminating future S&T requirements. This allows USSOCOM to influence the direction of technological development and to garner the results. In this manner, SOAL-T facilitates the rapid transition of focused, innovative and affordable solutions into SOF systems and equipment.
Through its evolving S&T vision, SOAL-T maintains focus one of the command’s top priorities—procurement of advanced technology solutions to win the global war on terrorism. Close cooperation with the technology development programs of the military departments (MILDEPs) and other government agencies is critical. SOAL-T frequently participates in reviews, cooperative developments, and information sharing arrangements. In addition, SOAL-T employs collocated liaison personnel and science advisors as a means of leveraging its relationships with other S&T organizations. USSOCOM has memoranda of agreement with the MILDEPs, Department of Energy and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to encourage efforts that transition technologies into acquisition programs.
SOAL-T continually evaluates and modifies itself and its approach to the larger S&T community to improve its ability to identify and assess technology opportunities, develop innovative concepts, and demonstrate solutions that enhance SOF missions and capabilities. Key to SOAL-T’s continuous improvement is a new process for the selection, management, and execution of the command’s technology projects. An integral part of this process is technology roadmapping. This approach is intended to better align the command’s technology initiatives with its future capability needs. Technology roadmaps integrate acquisition, capability, technology and future concepts to facilitate effective long-range S&T planning.
SOAL-T manages and executes USSOCOM’s core technology programs, including Special Operation Technology Development (SOTD), Special Operation Special Technology (SOST), and Special Operations Medical Technology Development (MEDTECH). SOAL-T also coordinates USSOCOM’s small business innovation research (SBIR) program and oversees USSOCOM’s advanced concept technology demonstrations/joint capability technology demonstrations (ACTDs/JCTDs) program along with a growing number of international partnerships.
The SOTD program conducts studies and develops laboratory prototypes through applied research and advanced technology development. The SOTD program leverages the technology projects of other organizations and then influences their direction and schedule to better meet the command’s needs.
While SOTD projects study and evaluate emerging technology concepts, more mature technologies are eligible for consideration by the SOST program. The SOST program provides a way to demonstrate and evaluate the value of emerging, advanced technologies in realistic operational environments by SOF users. This is accomplished by integrating tests and demonstrations with other SOF or joint-force experiments or exercises. The SOST and the SOTD programs work in tandem to develop, evaluate and prove the overall military value of emerging technologies while helping to articulate formal requirements necessary to transition these technologies into acquisition.
SOAL-T provides support for the advancement of tagging, tracking and locating (TTL) initiatives through collaboration with outside agencies, departments and USSOCOM program executive offices. USSOCOM’s TTL program provides direct assistance to the director, Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E). It complies with DDR&E mandates requiring the synchronization of TTL programs throughout DoD by specifically providing improved capabilities for SOF operators in support of GWOT.
The SOTD and SOST programs continue to promote technological advances in both electronics and electro-optics, where a great deal of attention is being given to reductions in size, weight and power consumption to improve warfighting capabilities. For example, current night vision devices are combining both hyper- and multi-spectral sensors and emergent display technologies with digital processing data-fusion techniques. This will enhance the SOF warrior’s ability to detect, acquire, and engage enemy targets in darkness, low-light, and other conditions of poor visibility.
Advanced power and energy sources remain a critical need. Batteries currently comprise about one-third of the weight of an operator’s combat load. SOF requires power sources that are small, lightweight, and inexpensive, while being long-lasting, high powered, interchangeable and rechargeable. SOAL-T is pursuing multiple technologies that might fill these needs, including lightweight portable generators, battery recharging devices, efficient solar power, solid oxide fuel cells and improved power management techniques.
Success in the GWOT will require continued superiority in information technologies. Today’s advantage is provided by systems that offer SOF teams exceptional situational awareness by rapidly disseminating battlefield intelligence through a variety of adaptive communications and networking services. SOAL-T is conducting a number of network experimentation projects. For example, prototype sensors and communications nodes (manned and unmanned) are being evaluated that insert the SOF operator directly into the network with airborne and ground-based sensors to improve SOF situational awareness. Another networking effort will advance the security of information networks. This project will investigate hardware and software technologies that improve upon current security schemes and allow SOF operators full access to all authorized information over a single network.
SOAL-T is also active in the area of materials sciences to develop new materials that improve SOF warfighting capability. The enhanced signature suppression for lightweight machine gun project is an example. This project will research, develop and evaluate novel materials and methods for suppressing the detectable signatures emitted when machine guns are fired. Another project, improved materials for fireproof clothing, is evaluating revolutionary advanced textile materials for SOF applications.
The MEDTECH program focuses on two aspects of medical science: technologies that facilitate life-saving first aid for critical care on the battlefield and technologies that can influence the physiological, psychological, and ergonomic factors affecting a SOF operator’s performance. MEDTECH efforts develop and evaluate a variety of biomedical enhancements in support of the unique requirements engendered by SOF’s array of diverse missions. The strength of the MEDTECH program is its relationship with the USSOCOM Biomedical Initiatives Steering Committee (BISC). The BISC serves as the standing joint SOF medical research and development advisory body.
The MEDTECH program focuses on the development of advanced equipment, techniques, and protocols for improving tactical combat casualty care. Among the recently developed MEDTECH products, one of the most significant is the HemCon bandage. With advance development funding from SOAL-T, the Hem- Con was developed as an innovative new bandage to stem blood flow from severe, penetrating combat wounds.
Maintaining peak performance, vigilance, and stamina is necessary for the missions that SOF operators are called upon to perform. Recently, a MEDTECH study was conducted to determine the efficacy of various stimulants for sustaining the performance of two-man crews afforded little or no opportunity for sleep during prolonged operations. The results of this study will provide a foundation for gaining approval for a safe regimen of rest and stimulation that will permit SOF operators to execute sustained operations effectively.
USSOCOM’s SBIR program harnesses the entrepreneurial spirit of America’s smaller, high-technology companies by funding them to execute short contracts to provide innovative R&D services. Specific SBIR topics are selected to align with key USSOCOM needs, requirements and capabilities, and complement technology development work occurring in other projects within SOAL.
Ongoing SBIR projects include an effort for improved door-breaching ammunition. This ammunition will provide a significant improvement over currently available breaching ammunition. It will allow the SOF operator to apply the level of force required to breach doors as quickly as possible and retain the element of surprise.
Another current SBIR project is an effort to develop an improved suspension system for SOF High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs). The improved suspension system will allow the HMMWVs to achieve increased reliability and maintainability without sacrificing off-road mobility.
In a continued effort to stay on top of emerging technology, SOAL-T also coordinates the command’s ACTD/JCTD program. ACTD/JCTDs allow USSOCOM to integrate, demonstrate and assess transformational SOF-related concepts and technologies while simultaneously developing complementary concepts of operation and capability requirements. This results in extremely rapid transition of new technology into fieldable capabilities. Mature advanced technologies are placed in the hands of SOF operators who conduct realistic, combat- relevant exercises and joint experiments to evaluate the overall military utility of the proposed conceptual and technical approach.
In the recent Manpack ACTD, 19 separate SBIR projects were integrated to develop a prototype, body-worn threat warning system weighing less than half as much as current systems with similar capabilities. The Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Global Reach (PGR) ACTD required less than two years to place a prototype PSYOP Planning and Analysis System (POPAS) in the hands of PSYOP planners for operational use. Additional components of the PGR PSYOP system are also expected to transition into acquisition to include an FM scatterable, air-droppable miniature loudspeakers, electronic leaflets and handheld electronic games.
SOAL-T periodically utilizes funding opportunities provided under the OSD Technology Transition Initiative (TTI). TTI was established by Congress in 2002 to expedite the transfer of new technologies from developers to users. TTI supplies funding to assist DoD entities in bridging the gap that might otherwise develop between the demonstration and production phases. Although TTI will not completely fund a transition, it does provide USSOCOM with a vehicle by which the costs are shared for maturing SOF critical technologies.
Overall coordination and technical oversight for USSOCOM’s international special forces equipment capabilities (SFEC) programs and project arrangements is provided by SOAL-T. These focus on coalition SOF interoperability and finding common solutions to fill the capability gaps of both U.S. and allied SOF. The SFEC program cultivates international cooperation that includes information exchanges covering capabilities, requirements and technologies.
In summary, USSOCOM is responsible for planning, directing and executing global operations in support of the GWOT. Because many enabling technologies are required to achieve this objective, SOAL-T’s activities and programs have one common purpose: to ensure that SOF warriors are equipped with the finest technology and equipment available to defeat any adversary now and in the future. ♦