XM-7 Spider System
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The XM-7 Spider program was established to develop alternatives to persistent antipersonnel landmine in Korea along the de-militarized zone. Spider is more of a “remote explosive device” than a typical fire-and-forget land mine. It is detonated by soldier command, and that soldier can even use non-lethal canisters if those have been loaded.

Unlike conventional land mines, the XM-7 Spider always has a known location, and can be safely recovered with ease and and readied for a new deployment if it has not been fired. If that isn’t possible for some reason, the units will deactivate after a set time period so they won’t become a future threat. The XM-7 is the successor to the Matrix system deployed in Iraq, and part of the USA’s Non-Self-Destructing Anti-Personnel Landmine Alternatives (NSD-A) program.

• Anatomy of a Spider
• The XM-7 Spider Program
• Contracts and Key Events
• Additional Readings
  
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ADS mounted on Hummer
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Airmen of the 820th Security Forces Group are busy these days. Not only are they conducting the user trial and training for the GSAT ShotSpotter + ScanEagle anti-sniper system, they’re also the first unit selected to conduct the extended user evaluation portion of the Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) process for “Project Sherrif,” otherwise known as the Active Denial System. ADS won Popular Science magazine’s “Best of What’s New Award” in general technology back in 2001, and DID has been covering this system since May 2005; despite funding and requests from combat commanders, however, the system continues to move toward approval at a very slow pace.

ADS uses invisible, focused microwave beams at a frequency that that can’t penetrate human skin, but does stimulate nerves within it, producing an imaginary but painful burning sensation that instinctively forces people to move away. Past Project Sheriff reports also describe an escalating series of measures, from a “Long Range Acoustic Device” (sonic blaster), up to a Laser Dazzler, then on to the ADS pain ray before things escalate to live ammunition. Tech. Sgt. John DeLaCerda, the NCO in charge of the 820th SFG advanced technologies section, put it this way:

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HPM E-Bomb concept
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Detachment 8 Air Force Research Laboratory/PKDP at Kirtland Air Force Base, NM is researching new opportunities in all aspects of high-power electromagnetic weaponry. Their research supports missions such as survivability of U.S. Department of Defense equipment against high-power microwave emissions, the development of high-power microwave (HPM) weapons, and the refinement of high-power microwave-predictive modeling for inclusion into engagement and campaign-level models.

HPM actually encompasses a variety of devices. HERF (High Energy Radio Frequency) and EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse) “electronics killer e-bombs” effects are HPM weapons, and this field has received the bulk for research dollars. So too, however, is “Project Sheriff,” also known as the “pain ray” that does no significant damage to its human target other than causing pain. Other nations believed to be conducting research in the area of HPM weapons generally include China, Great Britain and France.

The Air Force is awarding a $24 million to be split among these eight companies. DID lists the companies involved in the current contract, and also notes previous contracts along similar lines that extend back to 1994:

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Not certified for lawyers
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There’s a lot to be said for timing. Eagle Eye Body Armor sent us a release today noting that “Hunting accidents can be prevented carrying special hunting body armor... The Eagle Eye hunter’s jacket that allows free movement with light weight is specially designed for the protection of individuals during the hunt.”

Meanwhile, DefenseTech had a feature noting Taser International’s Less Lethal Shotgun. As of yesterday, Taser announced that it had “successfully completed a live-fire demonstration of the TASER XREP (eXtended Range Electro-Muscular Projectile), completing a research and development program for the Office of Naval Research (ONR). Multiple rounds were fired from a 12-gauge shotgun, one of the most prevalent shoulder fired launchers in use today, at ranges up to 30 meters demonstrating a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6 (system prototype demonstration in relevant environment).” No word on what it does to quail, though if the answer is “instant barbecue prep” and there’s some possibility of hitting one, we’d consider it.

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Project Sheriff ADS

Back in May 2005, DID covered the Active Denial System “riot breaker,” a microwave transmitter whose focused beams create burning sensations that force targets to flee in order to escape. Despite the pain, however, the beams reportedly cause no real injuries. A follow-up DID article in August 2005 noted that testing on human volunteers was underway, and a September 2005 article noted the role of the Pentagon’s Office of Force Transformation in creating the ADS (aka. “Project Sheriff”) as an alternative to sometimes-lethal plastic bullets or even live ammunition in order to control hostile crowds.

In December 2005, DefenseTech noted that Iraq may soon have a new Sheriff in town…. but as of January 30, 2006, an article in US Air Force AIM Point expresses general puzzlement at the failure to release the system, despite the US Army’s requests.

Well, that may be about to change. DefenseTech covers the latest developments, noting reports that Army just got the OK to spend $31.3 million on three deployable Project Sheriff vehicles. Furthermore, Army Brig. Gen. James Huggings, the chief of staff for the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, proposes 14 vehicles: 4 for the 18th Military Police Brigade, 4 for the 42nd Military Police Brigade, and 6 for the Marine Corps. CENTCOM Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. John Castellaw fully supported the request. The vehicles, either Cougar mine-resistant vehicles or Stryker APCs, will be equipped with “Spiral 1” Sheriff equipment that can escalate its responses from a “Long Range Acoustic Device” (sonic blaster), up to a Laser Dazzler, then on to the ADS pain ray before things escalate to live ammunition. Read DefenseTech’s article: Pain Ray, Sonic Blaster, Laser Dazzler – All In One; and see also “Bring the Pain.”

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Project Sheriff

Back in May 2005, DID covered the Active Denial System “riot breaker,” a microwave transmitter installed on a Humvee whose focused beams create burning sensations that force targets to flee in order to escape. Despite the pain, however, the beams reportedly cause no real injuries. A follow-up DID article in August 2005 noted that testing on human volunteers was underway, and a September 2005 article noted the role of the Pentagon’s Office of Force Transformation in creating the ADS (aka. “Project Sheriff”) as an alternative to sometimes-lethal plastic bullets or even live ammunition in order to control hostile crowds.

Now DefenseTech notes that Iraq may soon have a new Sheriff in town….

UPDATE: As of January 30, 2006, ADS still has not been deployed. An article in US Air Force AIM Point expresses general puzzlement at the failure to release the system, despite the US Army’s requests.

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Yesterday, DID described how a sims-style video game was training attack sub sailors to be prepared for security threats while in port. Apparently, the US Navy isn’t stopping there. Northrop Grumman Corp. Electronic Systems in Annapolis, MD received a $6 million firm-fixed-price/cost type contract for the Shipboard Protection System (SPS). The purpose of the SPS system is to enhance the ability of surface naval vessels to defeat terrorist attempts or counter other threats while moored to a pier, at anchor, or during restricted maneuvering like canals, narrow littoral channels, etc.

Capabilities for Increment I include: Integrated Surface Surveillance System, and Non-lethal weapons/devices. The surface surveillance system integrates EO/IR sensors, radar, and stabilized guns into a common tactical surveillance system. Non-lethal weaponry will also be included.

US Marines in Riot Gear
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Aaardvark Tactical, Inc. in Azusa, CA won a not-to-exceed $50 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for force protection capability sets. These sets provide non-lethal and anti-terrorism items to bases, installations, and expeditionary forces around the world.

There are three sets:

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System 2 ADS Concept

Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ is being awarded a $7.5 million cost-plus award-fee contract to design, fabricate, test rapidly field and support a fixed Active Denial System (ADS) referred to as System 2 and ADS2.

Active Denial Technology exploits the body’s natural defense mechanism that induces pain as a warning to help protect it from injury. It uses a transmitter producing energy at a frequency of 95Ghz and an antenna to direct a focused, invisible beam to a subject at the speed of light and penetrate the skin to a depth of less than 1/64 of an inch. This produces an escalating heating sensation that becomes intolerable in seconds, and forces the subject to flee. The sensation immediately ceases when the individual moves out of the beam or when the system operator turns it off. Despite this sensation, the beam does not cause injury because of the shallow penetration depth of energy at this wavelength and the low energy levels used.

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