Raptor Intelligent Combat Outpost

Developed for the U.S. Army Engineer School, MANSCEN, Fort Leonard Wood, MO, the
Intelligent Combat Outpost (Raptor) it is an advanced family of systems that
makes it possible for the maneuver commander to gather intelligence from the
battlefield, autonomously process the information and use smart munitions to
engage threat forces. It consists of four components, three which are constant
and one that is variable. The constants are the air deliverable acoustic sensors,
an artificial intelligence platform (the gateway), and a ground control station.
The attack munition is the variable. Currently, the smart munition is the Wide
Area Munition (Hornet). Ultimately, the munition will be able to provide the
effects consistent with the situation and the commander's intent. The munition
can be lethal or non-lethal.

The advanced capabilities of Raptor, using Advanced Hornets or other smart

munitions, allows dynamic obstacles to be emplaced and remotely controlled up to
50 kilometers forward of the Brigade Tactical Operations Center (TOC). Raptor
will gather combat intelligence, provide situational awareness to the maneuver
commander, autonomously process this information and use Advanced Hornet
munitions to attack enemy-armored or heavy-wheeled forces.

The Raptor Intelligent Combat Outpost is a suite of munitions, sensors,

communication system and software that enable the commander to protect his
battlespace. In short, it is envisioned that it will consist of four components,
three of which are constant and one variable. The constants are the air
deliverable acoustic sensors, an artificial intelligence platform (the gateway),
and a ground control station. The attack munition is the variable. While the
current smart munition is the Product Improved Hornet PIP (Wide Area Munition),
ultimately the munition will be designed to provide the effects consistent with
the situation and the commander's intent. The munition could be either lethal, or
non-lethal.

The system will have the capability to be used in the following ways:

To occupy engagement areas without overwatching fires, guard flanks or

screen a unit's front

As an outpost or a listening post for combat intelligence gathering

As a forward Observer, queuing and directing fires (artillery and aerial)

on threat targets

Raptor fields may be hand emplaced or air delivered. Prior to emplacement, each
Raptor munition is associated with a gateway. When activated by the manned ground
control station, each munition deploys and its sensors are activated. When
targets enter the field, each munition reports its range and bearing estimates of
its two loudest targets to the gateway where a consolidated view of the entire
target array is developed. This information is relayed periodically to the ground
control station for display. When the control station operator determines the
vehicles are hostile and should be engaged, he selects and sends to the gateway
one of three engagement strategies. On receipt, the field is considered armed
since the gateway may enable or direct a launch without further human
intervention.
Raptor is in the Concept Exploration phase of the acquisition cycle. It is
envisioned that Raptor will be developed in two phases. Phase one, Core Raptor
will be capable of completing the user threshold requirements and Phase two,
Objective Raptor will fulfill the users desired requirements. Scheduled First
Unit Equipped (FUE) for Core Raptor is FY06. Although the actual basis of issue
for Raptor has not been determined, each Raptor system will consist of the
following:

Item Allocation
Ground Control Station 1

Gateway 2 min.

Air Deliverable Acoustic Sensors 3 min.

Hornet PIP Munitions 16

TF Warrior transitions Combat Outpost

Tangi to Afghan security forces
By Sgt. Cooper T. Cash, Task Force Patriot Public AffairsApril 11, 2011

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1
/ 1 Show Caption + Lt. Col. Thomas S. Rickard, commander of 2nd Battalion, 4th
infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Task
Force Warrior, shows Afghan National Police Chief Abdul Ghafoor Aziz around
Combat Outpost Tangi, April 8. Ghafoor, the chief of police for Sayed Abad
district, will take command of COP Tangi after TF Warrior has successfully
transitioned the COP to Afghan National Security Forces. (Photo Credit: Sgt.
Cooper T. Cash, 210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) VIEW ORIGINAL

WARDAK, Afghanistan, April 11, 2011 -- Task Force Warrior Soldiers made final
preparations to transition Combat Outpost Tangi to Afghan National Security
Forces, April 8.

Lt. Col. Thomas S. Rickard, commander of TF Warrior, toured the Combat Outpost,
or COP, and discussed details of the transition with Sayed Abad district Afghan
National Police Chief Abdul Ghafoor Aziz.

The eventual reduction of U.S. forces and the vast area of Afghanistan within his
unit's area of operations led Rickard to realign his Soldiers to reach the most
Afghan people.

"As we lose U.S. personnel, we have to concentrate on the greater populations,"

said Rickard.

Although U.S. troops assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th
Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, will no longer run the
outpost, there will still be a coalition presence.

"U.S. forces will still patrol the area," said Rickard. "We are going to continue
to hunt insurgents in Tangi and prevent them from having a safe haven."
Leading up to the transfer, Afghan National Security Forces, or ANSF, and U.S.
forces secured the route to COP Tangi during Operation Tangi Smash. TF Warrior
Soldiers patrolled the route, and ANSF manned checkpoints and searched homes.

"As a result of Operation Tangi Smash, the [Afghan National Police] shut down a
HME (homemade explosives) lab and seized nearly 24 kilograms of marijuana," said
Rickard. "The Afghan National Police have already demonstrated their resolve by
placing permanent check points at each end of the valley."

Because TF Warrior will still be active in the valley, the ANSF can work on
familiarizing themselves with the community.

"It will be beneficial to have coalition support while ANSF patrols and builds
relationships," said Ghafoor. As the ANSF become more independent and effective,
U.S. Soldiers will be able to transition areas to them and move to areas
coalition forces have frequented less. Once Soldiers have handed COP Tangi over
to ANSF, TF Warrior will push northwest.

"The MOD (Ministry of Defense) and the ANA (Afghan National Army) made the
decision to move forces into Chak," said Rickard.

Chak is an area of Wardak province is much more populated than Tangi, and
securing it could provide improvements to Wardak's residents, he said

"The dam in Chak is important," said Rickard. "Engineers tell me it can produce
significant amounts of electricity for the area after a couple of the turbines
are repaired."

ANSF will soon run COP Tangi, and TF Warrior will increase operations in Chak. If
this trend continues, within a few years, local residents in Chak will be able to
look solely toward other Afghans for security and guidance, said Rickard.