CLOSE COMBAT SYMPOSIUM – 19-21 July 2016

The Close Combat Symposium held over July 19-21, 2016 is a follow-on Symposia to the former Small Arms & Cannon Symposium held annually at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, which is located in the south-west of the United Kingdom. The symposium encompassed both armoured infantry combat and small arms presentations, with the emphasis being on the former.

The three-day symposia opens for registration at 0900 hours on the first day, with the traditional formal dinner in the evening. On the second day, delegates were transported to the COTEX Test Range for a manufacturers’ range day where delegates had the opportunity to fire a number of different small arms types and view associated supporting equipment. The final day presentations again at the Defence Academy location concluded in late afternoon.

The programme format consisted of short presentations on mounted and dismounted close combat. It also included a number on small arms and associated ammunition and ancillaries allowing maximum coverage of a diverse subject matter area to cater for the varied interests of those attending. The programme over the three days offered twenty presentations and the wide-ranging spectrum of the presentations which included Panel Discussions after each segment, covered the following areas.

Day One

Introductions and Senior Briefings:

A. HOC Cloe Combat Introduction – Assistant Head (AH) Close Combat – UK MOD

B. Combat Priorities: Heavy Medium and Light Updates – UK MOD

Presentations:

C. How Does a ‘Principle’ of Four’ Infantry Company fare against a robust hybrid enemy – Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL-UK)

D. Suppression by Small Arms Fire – DGA (France) and IHS Jane’s (UK)

E. Preparing for and fighting the next war: LOSA(1) What, Why, Benefits, Costs Governance and Management – Lockheed Martin UK, IBM, De Rete Ltd

F. Delivering Integrated Platforms: GVA, GSA and GBA(2): The technical architectures and standards and their implementation – BAE Systems (UK), Ultra Electronics PALS (UK)

(2) – Generic Soldier Architecture (GSA), Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA), Generic Base Architecture (GBA)

G. Delivering Interoperable Force Elements: CJIIM interoperability and the common open interface – 2ic Ltd, Leonardo (ES)

H. AJAX Programme Update – At the heart of STRIKE – GDLS-UK

I. MCC SA(3) in the Future Urban Operating Environment – QuinetiQ (UK)

J. SWORD Technology Demonstrator – Colt Canada (Can)

(3) Mounted Close Combat – Situational Awareness (MCC SA)

Day Two: Range Day

At the: Cranfield Ordnance Test & Evaluation Centre (COTEC), West Lavington, Wiltshire

The live-firing demonstration on the COTEC field-firing range was opened with the demonstration by SAAB Bofors of the latest M4 lightweight variant of the venerable Carl Gustaf 84 mm recoilless anti-tank rifle. Simulated battlefield conditions were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the HEDP 502 round in the direct-action mode against a vehicular target and against field emplacements in the delay-fuzed mode. The HE 441D round was used in the airburst mode to demonstrate neutralisation of targets behind deep cover.

The following then gave demonstrations or provided delegates with the opportunity to live-fire selected weapons:

Live-Firing:

A. The Light Weapons branch of the Defence Academy provided .50 calibre rifles and instruction for firers to engage targets from 400-1,000 metres.

B. GMK Tactical Products provided the Beretta ARX 160 5.56 mm assault rifle and APX 9 mm self-loading pistol.

C. Viking Arms provided UTM marking ammunition on the 25-75 metre range.

D. QioptiQ provided H&K and SCAR 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm weapons to demonstrate their Night Vision Devices (NVD) at distances of 300-400 metres.

E. Beechwood Equipment demonstrated their Night Vision product range mounted on the HK416 assault rifle.

Technology demonstrations:

F. Colt Canada demonstrated the ability to electronically assign target engagement between two firers, one with a 40 mm LV grenade-launcher, the other with a sniper rifle.

G. QinetiQ demonstrated their ‘Pointer’ system that provides a link between distributed ISTAR assets, commanders and those who deliver weapon effects.

Day Three:

A. Soldier System Lethality Integration – SEA (Systems Engineering and Assessments Ltd)

B. GPS Denied Navigation for the Infantry – Roke Manor Research

C. Muzzle Flash Localization for the Dismounted Soldier – QinetiQ

D. Measurement and Quantification of Blowback Resultant of Suppressor use in Small Arms – US Army ARDEC

E. Contractor Logistic Support on Expeditionary Operations – French Army

F. Next Generation Small Unit Weapon Systems – A Path to Overmatch – Independent Speaker USA

G. Integrating for Successes, A Fresh Approach to Integrating Platforms and Soldiers – Joint Thales/Defence Business Group/SEA

H. The Helmet as a Platform – SEA

I. Wearables for the Dismounted Soldier System – DSTL-UK

J. Decision Support Tools for Combined Arms Commanders – Terrain Analysis for Tactical Movement, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Planning – QinetiQ (UK)