C-IED Training Device and Training Service Showcase
MT2 2010 Volume: 15 Issue: 4 (July)
Industry delivers training devices and training services to allow individual operators and their units to learn and sharpen their C-IED skills. These products and services are found on both sides of the Atlantic and complement the virtual and constructive solutions used to round out the C-IED training tool kit. The following developments are a snapshot of the services’ C-IED live training capabilities.
Training Programs and Facilities
Threat Management Group, a global military and civilian defense and support company, draws on firsthand experience in combat and specialized military operations to provide training and support to a wide range of military operations, support contractors, disaster preparedness officials, law enforcement agencies and private sector organizations.
The firm is comprised of former military professionals with diverse backgrounds, forming a robust employee pool of subject matter experts, including EOD operators, weapons technical intelligence, counterinsurgency experts and intelligence officers. The executive team includes a reserve commander who was exposed to the most current IED employment tactics, techniques and procedures being used by terrorists and insurgents in Baghdad, Iraq, as well as a master EOD technician selected as the first civilian contractor (at the operations level) to manage an EOD training program to prepare deploying teams to combat the IED threat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Threat Management Group owns one of the largest and most comprehensive tactical training facilities in South Carolina and offers several programs there, including its C-IED Program, which includes IED familiarization and mitigation. The firm provides specialized military support through its C-IED integrators, EOD manning support, live fire tactical training and products such as the firm’s Convoy Immobilization Training Module, in addition to a wide variety of IED training aids.
Threat Management Group currently holds EOD and C-IED support contracts in Germany, Guam, South Carolina, Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, North Carolina, California, Utah, Hawaii, Florida, New Mexico, Montana, Louisiana, Kansas and Texas.
Brandon Erhardt: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Inert Products Features IED Training Aids in a Modular Training Kit
The Jihadi Bomb Builders Workshop Kit is an extremely versatile collection of inert IED defeat training aids assembled into a modular training kit. While no single kit will ever meet the needs of every scenario, this kit can be customized to specific requirements and contains enough items to literally fill an entire training lane. The standard version of the kit contains inert replica ordnance, det cord, blasting caps, inert explosives, timers, shock tube, wiring harnesses and other items too numerous to mention.
Robert Rozzi, president and CEO, Inert Products, told MT2, “We specifically designed this to offer trainers and range personnel the flexibility to develop limitless training scenarios. The kit can be utilized as a bomb maker’s workshop, a weapons cache, and contains completed devices that can be used for numerous TLPs and reaction drills. It also comes with all of the tools and components necessary to enable trainers to create their own devices. Items included in this kit were handpicked to replicate the devices that are currently being used by our adversaries in the Afghan and Iraqi theaters.” The Jihadi Bomb Builders Workshop Kit is currently in use on training ranges and MOUT sites worldwide. It is always difficult to decide which training aids are best suited to meet all of your training objectives. This kit ensures that regardless of the scenario, you will have all of the items you could possibly need to meet your objectives, and adapt to the ever-changing tactics of our adversaries.
Robert Rozzi: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
IED Advanced is Compatible with Any Saab Instrumented Training System
Saab Training Systems’ IED Advanced simulator supports an array of instrumented scenarios including urban assaults or convoy training. The IED Advanced simulator and IED jammer plug/play are compatible with any Saab instrumented system, ranging from the portable Gamer Manpack to full Combat Training Centers.
The essence of the Saab IED simulator family is its ability to seamlessly integrate IED training into a tactical exercise.
The core of the IED simulation is the integrated short range radio transmitter. Once detonated, the IED simulator sends a message to surrounding players over short range radio. Unlike optical based solutions, this truly provides 360 degree coverage. All functionality is already implemented in the training equipment and the effect of the explosion evaluated individually by all players based on their relative location, soldier/vehicle type and applicable protective measurements.
The IED Advanced is designed to work as an upgrade to the customer’s current IED training kit. Whether you are using CO2 devices or pyros, these can in most cases be controlled by the IED Advanced. Instead of letting the IED be controlled by the observer-controller, the Saab concept enables the OPFOR to use IEDs as just another weapon in their arsenal—and of course, a “killed OPFOR” cannot detonate the IED.
The IED can be set in the field to simulate three different sizes (small, medium and large) of explosives, all with different lethality and range. The settings are adjusted from either exercise control or via a C-GUN. The ability to jam potential IEDs is a vital part of operational procedures, and IED Advanced is able to simulate jamming. The GPS and radio in both the IED and jammer enables real-time monitoring from exercise control and makes it the perfect choice to replicate vehicle-borne IEDs.
Anders Jonzon: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
C-IED Solutions for Tactics, Techniques and Procedures Challenges
Rapidly evolving threats in the form of improvised explosive devices require innovative and adaptable training to disseminate information, establish metrics or reinforce operational requirements. American Systems’ expertise is built from six years of working with the top federal and defense agencies and with coalition partners to provide triage, reverse engineering, radio frequency (RF) characterization and the analysis of IED devices and their environments. With the domain knowledge and technical skill set, American Systems’ expert engineering and management team successfully supports the most effective C-IED tactics, techniques and procedures.
Many times IED training is quickly initiated due to an immediate need. American Systems has the capability to deliver traditional classroom instruction, full simulation interactive instruction and distance learning applications. Training is conducted both in theater and at stateside laboratories, and on diverse topics, such as the financial impact of bomb making, device operation, circuit analysis and process improvement. Diversity and flexibility are necessary in training support for the mission-critical needs in effective C-IED.
American Systems currently provides the Terrorist Explosive Device Analysis Center threat assessment analysis, provides joint task force technical liaison support, RF engineering and field service representative support in combat zones.
Hyuk Byun: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Wide Range of C-IED Training Devices
Combat Training Solutions (CTS) is a proven leader in the C-IED fight to save lives, providing all of the non-pyrotechnic components of the Training IED 2 (TIED II) kit. For the past five years, the company has designed and manufactured military-grade C-IED devices that simulate pipe bombs, landmines, trip-wire booby traps, M67 hand grenades, suicide bomber vests, weaponry and more. Our trademark non-pyrotechnic battlefield effects offer impressive visual and audible signatures without the inherent dangers of pyrotechnic devices. Reusable, adaptable and reliable, CTS products have become the standard for safe and effective C-IED training.
As IED technologies continue to evolve, CTS is countering by expanding its product line to make training even more realistic. Our most recent innovation is the TC6 Landmine. This device exemplifies a successful combination of realism, safety and simplicity. Without sacrificing the impressive visual and audible report that our products are known for, the TC6 with new Shaped Charge Technology comes in a smaller package size, is easier to use, and completely eliminates the need for CO2 refilling equipment. A smaller configuration makes the TC6 easier to transport and implement in a live training environment. Refillable air reservoirs are replaced with a compact expendable cartridge that users can quickly remove and replace. The smaller form factor allows for an exact replica that is still reusable and completely safe. With a focus on improved non-pyrotechnic technology, the TC6 Landmine addresses a critical need for realism without losing the “fight or flight” response stimulation that optimizes live military training.
Tony Trivelli: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
IEDES Enhances Explosive Hazard Defeat Training
Lockheed Martin’s Improvised Explosive Device Simulation System (IEDES) is an extensive kit of equipment designed to be used together in a flexible and scalable fashion for explosive hazard defeat (EHD) training. IEDES provides the tools to allow trainers and range operators to safely create simulated battlefield explosions to promote effective learning for EHD. The system allows military and homeland security, and contract security personnel to train against counter-personnel and counter-material IED threats. The system offers scalable pyrotechnic and non-pyrotechnic signatures that can be easily sequenced and controlled by wire or radio.
Joe Ayala, Lockheed Martin program representative, noted, “The major challenge in replicating an IED device is to provide a realistic signature while keeping it safe. This is done by offering positively controlled scalable pyrotechnic signatures when immediate proximity to the simulated explosion is not required, and using nonpyrotechnic signatures when the soldier/trainee needs to be close to the simulated IED.”
The U.S. Army through PEO STRI has taken delivery of IEDES. Ayala pointed out there are currently 26 possible updates being considered for the IEDES system. “These include replacements for obsolete components, upgrades to existing components, adding hand grenade simulators, infrared controlled devices, devices designed for use in military urban training facilities and a family of hand grenades.”
U.S. Army Homestation Training to Defeat IEDs
Cubic Applications Inc. supplies training specialists, pyrotechnics and other support to the U.S. Army Home Station Training Improvised Explosive Device- Defeat Lane Red Teams program. This effort is now under way at designated Army posts, and soldiers who have undergone the training say it helps build greater confidence before deploying into the combat zone, where mistakes sometimes do not offer a second chance.
An example of the outstanding support being provided is Range 60 at Fort Campbell, Ky. Cubic built, runs and maintains this 25-acre range as a subcontractor to Parsons Corporation, a Pasadena, Ca.-based engineering, construction, technical and management services firm. The range replicates an Iraq or Afghan village complete with a mosque, school, gas station, shops, police station, hospital, homemade explosive labs, vehicles, choke points, extensive road networks and more.
Cubic works with Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Special Operations and returning units to gather the latest information about changes in enemy tactics, techniques and procedures. Soldiers undergoing the training encounter IEDs, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs), insurgents and village elders. To complete their mission, they are required to clear buildings, perform detainee operations, conduct mounted and dismounted patrols, identify and defeat IED/VBIED, and work with the local populace.
Commanders and soldiers train in all required individual and collective tasks, make on-the-spot corrections, retrain and learn new tactics, and build strong team and communication skills for greater proficiency and unit confidence. Soldiers who have trained in the facility all say they wish they could have had something like this for their earlier deployments.
Jan Stevens: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it