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2017 DSEI Exhibition, the most important new technologies

In the past years, DSEI exhibitions have shown to be a trustworthy indicator of where modern armies will be standing in a few years. Since 1976, they have publicly shown the latest technological inventions, some of which bearing marginal potential addition, others being real game-changers for their next owners. In this year’s edition, the main focus points are new cyber-capacities for military forces, more independent and flexible drones, and new cannon technology.

The new generations of drones confirm that we are in a new wave of the historic trend which tends to place the soldier as far away from the enemy as possible. Drones are now able to perform advanced scouting missions and carry out ground attacks, the next phase being dedicating UAVs to fighting or logistics missions. But that phase being far ahead, the main advances are making observation drones operable from all platforms, instead of confining them to artillery-based launching platforms, and make them more autonomous, both in range and in capacity to fulfill their mission unattended. Lockheed Martin showed one of the latest developments of ultra-light observation drones, with the Outrider drones. According to military specialist Janes (1): “Outrider can offer a 2.5-hour flight endurance and a maximum speed of 50 kt, and uses commercial-off-the-shelf control software […] the UAV can feature waypoint navigation and can be put in a loitering pattern.[…] three canisters can be carried by a single soldier ». The Outrider drone will also be fitted with reinforced military software to prevent the risk of override (see below, C5I), and can also be launched from armored vehicles, submarines and helicopters.

Computerized Battlefield System are also entering a new phase, with C4I systems (Command, Control, Communications and Computers, and Information), becoming C5I with the addition of Cyber. The increased levels of computerization of Western armies have made them exposed to cyber-attacks, which are a growing concern for Defense Departments and Ministries. After the creation of the 77th brigade in 2015 (2), in the UK, specialized in cyberwarfare, BAE systems presented (3) during DSEI 2017 its three agencies, created to cooperate with government services: the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), the National Networks Cyber Center (NNCC) and the Advanced Security Operation Center (ASOC). However, the specific nature of cyberwarfare prevented BAE systems from showing their specific tools, but merely illustrate their potential, show their advanced analysis and understanding of cyberspace, and quote their capacities. Lack of cyber-resilience could lead modern equipment to be rendered inoperable or, even worse, to be hijacked and used against their own forces, which would probably set armies back 20 or 30 years, due to loss of trust in computerized systems.

The most notable technological advance is the appearance of the new CTA 40 caliber for Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV). Until now, most IFVs have been using mostly 30mm cannons, which were the international standard for such vehicles. However, because most countries now have these, any owner of IFVs using such calibers can no longer count on any technical advantage, and must therefore hope tactical advantage will be gained whenever the IFVs are used. The only way to regain the technical and ballistic is to create a new caliber, as both 30mm and even Super 40mm technologies have been stretched to their maximum potential. Hence, all of the main players in the industry have turned to the new CTA 40mm caliber for their next generation IFVs, leaving the two older technologies to the past. General Dynamics will sell CTA 40mm tubes on the Ajax turret and Lockheed Martin will build the Warrior’s turret and CTA 40 cannon. Nexter BAE Systems, which co-designed the cannon with CTAI, will also be fielding the 40mm gun, either in a stand-alone version or built into the VBCI T40 turret. According (4) to Samuel Cranny-Evans, “The fully stabilized 40 mm CTA cannon is simple to operate using the controller, enabling reasonable proficiency to be gained in tracking and engaging targets within a very short space of time”. The CTA 40mm can penetrate 50% thicker armor compared to 30mm and Super 40 and, more importantly, has over three times their range. Therefore, any country possessing such cannons will be immune to previous-generation IFVs and able to destroy enemy IFVs long before they are within reach.

The hottest trends which came out of the latest DSEI exhibition all pertain to distance. Computerized systems, and the awareness they give to commanders over the battlefield, enable decision-making as the enemy is still far away, thus giving strategic advantage. However, many countries are still far from being able to field such systems, as they involve re-fitting most of the existing equipment. Drones have the same purpose, in the sense that, while the UAV/UCAV is flying over an Asian or Middle-East battlefield, the pilot can be sitting in California. Any destruction will have reduced consequences, as the pilot can instantly fly another UAV to replace it – as long as the operating country has a sufficient production capacity – reducing the time-gap necessary to train a new pilot to zero. Finally, the new CTA 40mm caliber will enable whoever buys is to destroy any of its previous-generation counterparts (such as BMPs, for instance), long before they are in harm’s way. A 30-mm IFV facing a 40mm CTA IFV would be like a short and skinny boxer, facing a hard puncher with a long reach: it will have much difficulty getting anywhere near the hard puncher without getting hit and, even if it does, will take much more damage than it will receive from its opponent.

1. http://www.janes.com/article/73813/dsei-2017-lockheed-martin-launches-outrider-uav
2. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/31074227/the-internet-is-the-new-frontline-as-uk-sets-up-army-cyber-unit
3. http://www.baesystems.com/en/event/dsei-2017/cyber-zone
4. http://www.janes.com/article/74127/dsei-2017-lockheed-martin-s-40-mm-modular-turret-reveals-hidden-depths

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gabriel Collins .