The Official Government Press Center for Fort Hood, Texas
DATE: November 1, 2018 11:10:46 AM CDT
Airborne Soldiers wrap up Spider networked munition system upgrade test
Brig. Gen William D. “Hank” Taylor (left), commander of U.S. Army Operational Test Command (USAOTC), feels right at home talking with a Soldier 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment “Blue Spaders,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team “Strike,” in their squad patrol base while preparing for an upcoming ambush using the Spider Increment 1A networked munition system. The squad would notify the Spider remote control unit operator located separately from the ambush team to fire select munitions against the threat. The Spider Increment 1A networked munition system operational test just wrapped up at Fort Campbell, Ky. USAOTC, based at West Fort Hood, Texas, conducted the Spider Increment 1A Initial Operational Test (IOT) to collect data to inform senior Army leaders on how effective, suitable, and reliable this Spider increment will be during real-world operations. (Photo by Mr. Tad Browning, Audiovisual Production Specialist, Test Documentation Team, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)
The remote control unit operator from Alpha Company, 39th Brigade Engineer Battalion “Bullstrike,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team “Strike,” engages the enemy with the Spider Increment 1A networked munition system remote control unit while in Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear during the operational test at Fort Campbell, Ky. The U.S. Army Operational Test Command (USAOTC), based at West Fort Hood, Texas, conducted the Spider Increment 1A Initial Operational Test (IOT) to collect data to inform senior Army leaders on how effective, suitable, and reliable this Spider increment will be during real-world operations. (Photo by Mr. Tad Browning, Audiovisual Production Specialist, Test Documentation Team, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)
Soldiers from Alpha Company, 39th Brigade Engineer Battalion “Bullstrike,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team “Strike,” emplace live claymore mines on Range 39 DEMO as part of the Spider Increment 1A networked munition system operational test at Fort Campbell, Ky. Once networked to the Spider Increment 1A remote control unit, all six claymore were detonated at the same time by the remote control unit operator. The last event of the operational test called for the engineer test unit to detonate six miniature grenades, six claymores, two 40-pound shaped charges, two 40-pound cratering charges, and create an abitis (blocking obstacle) using C4 explosives to cut live trees and causing them to fall, overlapping each other. The U.S. Army Operational Test Command (USAOTC), based at West Fort Hood, Texas, conducted the Spider Increment 1A Initial Operational Test (IOT) to collect data to inform senior Army leaders on how effective, suitable, and reliable this Spider increment will be during real-world operations. (Photo by Mr. Tad Browning, Audiovisual Production Specialist, Test Documentation Team, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)
Opposing force Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment “Blue Spaders,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team “Strike,” portray a hybrid enemy Sapper team, attempt to infiltrate the company defensive position as part of the Spider Increment 1A networked munition system operational test. The U.S. Army Operational Test Command (USAOTC), based at West Fort Hood, Texas conducted the Spider Increment 1A Initial Operational Test (IOT) to collect data to inform senior Army leaders on how effective, suitable, and reliable this Spider increment will be during real-world operations. (Photo by Mr. Tad Browning, Audiovisual Production Specialist, Test Documentation Team, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)
A Soldier from the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment “Blue Spaders,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team “Strike,” communicates with leadership as part of the Spider Increment 1A networked munition system operational test. The U.S. Army Operational Test Command (USAOTC), based at West Fort Hood, Texas conducted the Spider Increment 1A Initial Operational Test (IOT) to collect data to inform senior Army leaders on how effective, suitable, and reliable this Spider increment will be during real-world operations. (Photo by Mr. Tad Browning, Audiovisual Production Specialist, Test Documentation Team, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)
A Soldier from the 39th Brigade Engineer Battalion “Bullstrike,” and a Soldier from the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment “Blue Spaders,” 2nd Brigade Combat Team “Strike,” operate as a team to defend their company defensive position using the Spider Increment 1A networked munition system. The U.S. Army Operational Test Command (USAOTC), based at West Fort Hood, Texas conducted the Spider Increment 1A Initial Operational Test (IOT) to collect data to inform senior Army leaders on how effective, suitable, and reliable this Spider increment will be during real-world operations. (Photo by Mr. Tad Browning, Audiovisual Production Specialist, Test Documentation Team, U.S. Army Operational Test Command)
By Maj. Nayari Cameron, Test Officer, Maneuver Support and Sustainment Test Directorate, U.S. Army Operational Test Command
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Two units of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) wrapped up a test of an upgrade to the Spider munition system here, used to defend perimeters and support offensive ambushes and situational obstacles.
Soldiers with the 39th Brigade Engineer Battalion and 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team employed the Spider Increment 1A networked munition system along with testers of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command (USAOTC), based at West Fort Hood, Texas.
Together, they collected data that informs senior Army leaders on how effective, suitable, and survivable Spider will be during real-world operations.
“Spider is a networked munition system providing an improved networked munition control station and the ability to employ and control current Spider antipersonnel (AP) munitions and demolitions,” said Capt. Benjamin Borys, assistant Spider test officer with USAOTC’s Maneuver Support and Sustainment Test Directorate (MS2TD).
Borys stressed that Spider is not technically a mine, but a “not victim-activated” munition system.
“The Army no longer uses victim-activated systems that would detonate immediately if someone or something triggers the system,” he said.
Instead, Spider Increment 1A is a networked munition package with a “man-in-the-loop” setup, said Borys, using a remote control station to monitor the system, while controlling every munition system networked to it.
“This test is a great opportunity that fell into our lap,” said Lt. Col. Keith Carter, commander of 1-26 Infantry about the ability to conduct realistic training for companies in his battalion.
MS2TD Test Officer Edward Jagodzinski said, “The 101st Airborne Division has embraced this operational test event placing the 2-BCT in the lead to ensure the Spider Increment 1A, employed by its organic engineers, can support its infantry companies on the battlefield.”
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About the U.S. Army Operational Test Command:
As the Army’s only independent operational tester, USAOTC tests and assesses Army, joint, and multi-service warfighting systems in realistic operational environments, using typical Soldiers to determine whether the systems are effective, suitable, and survivable. USAOTC is required by public law to test major systems before they are fielded to its ultimate customer — the American Soldier.
The Maneuver Support and Sustainment Test Directorate conducts operational tests of combat engineer, chemical, transportation, military police, quartermaster, ordnance and medical service systems in order to provide our senior leaders with the necessary information to field the highest quality equipment for the warfighter.
