Passive defense of advanced military bases
Base defense is undoubtedly a comprehensive business that includes passive elements, such as walls, bunkers, etc., sensors to provide adequate warning and subsequent response, and various types of executive means, ranging from intercept systems for missiles, mines and shells to neutralize indirect fire, from automatic weapons, machine guns and cannons to combat direct threats and ending with mortars and even artillery for counter-battery combat. All this should be collected in a single system in order to achieve maximum synergistic effect. The article provides a brief overview of passive protection.
When it comes to passive protection, Hesco immediately comes to mind. Her MIL products have become the standard in building major or advanced operational bases, while her RAID system has greatly improved the deployment speed of such barriers. Until now, Hesco was largely considered as a supplier of individual systems, but in February 2019, the British company announced that it was ready to deliver turnkey solutions using both its systems and partner systems, namely related Betafence and Guardiar. At the end of 2018, Praesidiad Group announced the acquisition of the German company Drehtainer by Praesidiad Group and the acquisition process should be completed soon. Hesco uses its software for computer simulation of systems, which allows you to quickly design solutions for special orders and offer them to customers.
More recently, Hesco has added the Taggblosk system to its catalog, based on its basic solution - geotextile boxes of the MIL type. A welded wire mesh is attached to the Teggblosk box with a depth of 1,37 meters. After assembling the wire element, the box is placed in a vertical position, then the base is filled either with ballast bags (low option), or immediately filled with soil; each installed box is associated with the following.
Four configurations are available: XL without a hedge, XR with a three-meter hedge with anti-climb protection, XS is available with a hedge of 3 or 4 meters and XV hedges with an Energy Transfer System and other options. To complicate the climb, barbed wire can be installed at the top of the fence. The Terrablock barrier, which can be easily installed by two people, depending on the model, can stop a machine weighing 7,5 tons, accelerating to a speed of 48 km / h or 6,8 tons at a speed of 80 km / h. The Teggblosk system, designed as a dual-use product (for example, the Terrablock XL version was developed specifically for the 2012 Olympics in London), like most Hesco catalog products, was recognized by customers not so much as a perimeter protection system where RAID is the best option, but rather, as a system for protecting key objects inside the camp itself, for example, it can be a restricted area with special forces units, a intelligence analysis center, headquarters, usually located inside the perimeter with rolem access. Hesco found that virtually the internal perimeters at all military bases are generally longer than the external perimeter. Also, Hesco has added a number of access control systems to the latest developments, ranging from checkpoints to gates with a width of 5,4 meters of the M50X1 class and a barrier with a Terrablock RAB barrier (Rising Arm Barrier). The latter system provides travel width of 6 meters and withstands car collisions in accordance with the M40 class (6,8 tons at 65 km / h).
The company is currently developing a completely new system under the designation LOPS (Lightweight Overhead Protection System - lightweight protection system from above). To date, protection from above has been provided, as a rule, by MIL modules mounted on the roof, which are mounted on the ground; steel sheet solutions were also available, but they were very heavy and expensive. The new solution will be modular, two people can easily install it, either by assembling the entire roof on the ground and lifting it up by means of a crane or building it directly on the spot. The kit allows you to build a surface measuring 7,2x5 meters, which is installed on two parallel walls made up of MIL19 Hesco modules, which also provide lateral protection and are able to cover an ISO20 container or similar size modules. LOPS can also be used to protect cars and other property, the system provides protection against mortar mines and fragments of artillery grenades. LOPS was introduced at the DSEI 2019 in London.
The development of various types of threat protection systems is a matter of survival for Israel, therefore it is not surprising that one of the most prolific companies in the field of passive protection systems is located in this country. The catalog of Mifram Security, founded in 1962, in 2019, has 180 pages. Its products range from missile barriers to individual security posts, to which barriers from ramming machines can be added. Among its customers are all types of US forces, the Israeli Armed Forces, the United Nations and numerous customers from the police and civilian structures. Mifram is able to offer customers comprehensive passive protection solutions.
In addition to its Dune Barrier system, available in metal and geo-fabric options, Mifram also offers the Protective Wall, made of galvanized metal panels that, when assembled, form a parallelepiped, which is then filled with soil. The base element has a width of 1,44 meters, a length of 1,25 meters and a height of 1 meters. If necessary, these elements can be connected to each other both in length and in height, one on top of another, maximum 5 meters. According to Mifram, depending on the thickness of the wall, the Protective Wall can withstand blasting near it or a direct hit of a rocket with a diameter of up to 122 mm, explosions and fragments of various types, a direct hit by an RPG-7, a direct hit of a bullet up to an 12,7 mm caliber, a direct hit of a mine with a caliber up to 120 mm, detonation of a projectile in the air and detonation of a vehicle with 2,5 tons of explosives. To isolate sensitive areas, Concrete Walls concrete walls with a height of 3 to 6 meters and a thickness of 200 to 350 mm have been developed, as well as Steel Walls steel walls with a height of 2,5 meters. In the event of a sudden threat, for example, of snipers, a Garmoshka folding protective wall 12 meters long and 2,5 meters high can be used, which is made of articulated sections and thanks to the wheels can be quickly unfolded using, for example, a car.
Threats flying along a trajectory, such as missiles, shells and mines, are a huge problem for military camps. The Mifram Independent Rack and Beam Modular Sky Guard System, designed to meet customer requirements, can protect against 122 mm caliber rockets. It can be installed on top of buildings, container boxes, tents and aircraft. Shelter installation time is minimal; relocatable systems are also available along with side protective walls. To protect small objects, a full line of mobile bulletproof shelters of various sizes and for different uses is available.
For surveillance, Mifram has developed a line of towers, the latest addition to which is the Mantis tower (mantis). The tower is mounted on a frame with four manual jacks, which allows you to unload it without the help of a crane. After unloading, the tower is mounted vertically and then extended to reach a height of 10 meters (options with a height of 6 and 8 meters are available), translating into a vertical position and extending the tower to full height takes less than 4 minutes for 15 people (one person can set up a tower yourself!) . Mantis towers are installed along the Israeli border. As for the barriers to stopping vehicles with explosives, the Mifram catalog contains the product MVB3X shown at the AUSA 2018 exhibition, which can stop a truck weighing 7,5 tons moving at a speed of 50 km / h. Each element of the barrier has a length of 1,18 meters, a width of 0,53 meters and a height of 0,82 meters and a mass of only 24 kg, to install the barrier one person is needed without tools. One of the latest Mifram products is a steel missile defense fence with a height of 28 meters and a length of 4,5 km. It is installed at the Ramon airport in the city of Eilat to protect the terminal and the runway on one side. As for military bases of various types, the adoption of such a decision requires an in-depth cost / benefit analysis based on how long the infrastructure will be in operation (design and construction takes several months) and what is the level of threat. However, the cost of an airplane shot down by a rocket or a grenade launcher launched from the ground, in economic and human terms, will far exceed the cost of the hedge itself.
Having gained experience in integrating numerous subsystems into a single military base protection system deployed by the Italian army in Afghanistan, Leonardo has developed another solution in this area. At Eurosatory, it unveiled a mobile armored observation post that can be easily integrated into its end-to-end solution. The tower is built into a standard ISO20 container. The post, which in this regard received the name Contower (Containerized Tower - container tower), can be easily transported by truck, by rail or by sea, and when equipped with special mechanical devices, also by a C-130J military transport aircraft. Four retractable hydraulic legs allow for self-loading and truck loading as well as automatic leveling. Electricity is generated by a built-in 12 kW diesel generator. An entrance door is embedded in the center of one of the long sides of the container. Inside the container, three rectangular telescopic elements are hydraulically raised to form a tower 7,3 meters high. The two intermediate sections provide protection against 5,56 x 45mm bullets, while the upper section for two soldiers protects against 12,7 x 108mm armor-piercing bullets that can be fired by Russian machine guns such as the Diagterev. To protect against RPGs, after installing the tower in place, additional protection in the form of lattice screens can be installed, they must be removed before being placed in a container. On the roof of the tower, Leonardo proposes to install a Hitrole-L remotely controlled weapon module, which can be armed with a 12,7 mm machine gun, for example, Browning M2HB or M2HB QCB, or a 7,62 mm machine gun, for example MG-3. The weapon module can be controlled by one of the two sentries on the tower. The sensor set of the module provides a viewing range of up to 4 km thanks to day / night sensors, while the range of machine guns is about one kilometer. When the tower is folded for transportation, the weapons module is placed inside the container, which not only avoids damage, but also makes the entire system similar in appearance to a standard container. The total weight of the Leonardo development post is 14 tons. As part of the program to protect its forces, the Italian army issued a contract for 18 Contower posts. The system is currently undergoing a qualification phase before being shipped to serial products. Leonardo is also considering the integration of sensors and systems to combat drones to the observation post Contower.
Hesco is known for its MIL type safety barriers. Since 2019, it has been supplying not only components for the construction of military camps, but also turnkey solutions
When it comes to passive protection, Hesco immediately comes to mind. Her MIL products have become the standard in building major or advanced operational bases, while her RAID system has greatly improved the deployment speed of such barriers. Until now, Hesco was largely considered as a supplier of individual systems, but in February 2019, the British company announced that it was ready to deliver turnkey solutions using both its systems and partner systems, namely related Betafence and Guardiar. At the end of 2018, Praesidiad Group announced the acquisition of the German company Drehtainer by Praesidiad Group and the acquisition process should be completed soon. Hesco uses its software for computer simulation of systems, which allows you to quickly design solutions for special orders and offer them to customers.
Hesco's Terrablock security system was developed in 2017 and the company plans to create new modules in the coming years. The system allows you to quickly erect protective barriers up to 4 meters high, capable of stopping heavy trucks traveling at medium speed
Curious to look at the capabilities of the Terrablock system
More recently, Hesco has added the Taggblosk system to its catalog, based on its basic solution - geotextile boxes of the MIL type. A welded wire mesh is attached to the Teggblosk box with a depth of 1,37 meters. After assembling the wire element, the box is placed in a vertical position, then the base is filled either with ballast bags (low option), or immediately filled with soil; each installed box is associated with the following.
Variant XV of the Terrablock system is equipped with the Energy Transfer System and can stop the 7,5-ton truck at a speed of 80 km / h with a penetration depth of less than 7 meters
Four configurations are available: XL without a hedge, XR with a three-meter hedge with anti-climb protection, XS is available with a hedge of 3 or 4 meters and XV hedges with an Energy Transfer System and other options. To complicate the climb, barbed wire can be installed at the top of the fence. The Terrablock barrier, which can be easily installed by two people, depending on the model, can stop a machine weighing 7,5 tons, accelerating to a speed of 48 km / h or 6,8 tons at a speed of 80 km / h. The Teggblosk system, designed as a dual-use product (for example, the Terrablock XL version was developed specifically for the 2012 Olympics in London), like most Hesco catalog products, was recognized by customers not so much as a perimeter protection system where RAID is the best option, but rather, as a system for protecting key objects inside the camp itself, for example, it can be a restricted area with special forces units, a intelligence analysis center, headquarters, usually located inside the perimeter with rolem access. Hesco found that virtually the internal perimeters at all military bases are generally longer than the external perimeter. Also, Hesco has added a number of access control systems to the latest developments, ranging from checkpoints to gates with a width of 5,4 meters of the M50X1 class and a barrier with a Terrablock RAB barrier (Rising Arm Barrier). The latter system provides travel width of 6 meters and withstands car collisions in accordance with the M40 class (6,8 tons at 65 km / h).
At DSEI 2019, the company showed lightweight LOPS (Lightweight Overhead Protection System) for indirect fire protection of shelters
The company is currently developing a completely new system under the designation LOPS (Lightweight Overhead Protection System - lightweight protection system from above). To date, protection from above has been provided, as a rule, by MIL modules mounted on the roof, which are mounted on the ground; steel sheet solutions were also available, but they were very heavy and expensive. The new solution will be modular, two people can easily install it, either by assembling the entire roof on the ground and lifting it up by means of a crane or building it directly on the spot. The kit allows you to build a surface measuring 7,2x5 meters, which is installed on two parallel walls made up of MIL19 Hesco modules, which also provide lateral protection and are able to cover an ISO20 container or similar size modules. LOPS can also be used to protect cars and other property, the system provides protection against mortar mines and fragments of artillery grenades. LOPS was introduced at the DSEI 2019 in London.
To speed up the construction of barriers from MIL type boxes, Hesco has developed a RAID system that allows you to deploy a barrier up to 300 meters in about one minute.
Hesco RAID System Video View
The development of various types of threat protection systems is a matter of survival for Israel, therefore it is not surprising that one of the most prolific companies in the field of passive protection systems is located in this country. The catalog of Mifram Security, founded in 1962, in 2019, has 180 pages. Its products range from missile barriers to individual security posts, to which barriers from ramming machines can be added. Among its customers are all types of US forces, the Israeli Armed Forces, the United Nations and numerous customers from the police and civilian structures. Mifram is able to offer customers comprehensive passive protection solutions.
The Mifram metal protective wall is capable of providing reliable ballistic protection, as well as protection against undermining and fragments of shells and mines
For quick response to a sudden threat, Mifram offers an 12 meter Garmoshka quick-mount metal wall
In addition to its Dune Barrier system, available in metal and geo-fabric options, Mifram also offers the Protective Wall, made of galvanized metal panels that, when assembled, form a parallelepiped, which is then filled with soil. The base element has a width of 1,44 meters, a length of 1,25 meters and a height of 1 meters. If necessary, these elements can be connected to each other both in length and in height, one on top of another, maximum 5 meters. According to Mifram, depending on the thickness of the wall, the Protective Wall can withstand blasting near it or a direct hit of a rocket with a diameter of up to 122 mm, explosions and fragments of various types, a direct hit by an RPG-7, a direct hit of a bullet up to an 12,7 mm caliber, a direct hit of a mine with a caliber up to 120 mm, detonation of a projectile in the air and detonation of a vehicle with 2,5 tons of explosives. To isolate sensitive areas, Concrete Walls concrete walls with a height of 3 to 6 meters and a thickness of 200 to 350 mm have been developed, as well as Steel Walls steel walls with a height of 2,5 meters. In the event of a sudden threat, for example, of snipers, a Garmoshka folding protective wall 12 meters long and 2,5 meters high can be used, which is made of articulated sections and thanks to the wheels can be quickly unfolded using, for example, a car.
Defense from attacking threats is a key issue in Israel. In this regard, Mifram has developed a Sky Guard system that can be used to protect civilian and military installations.
Threats flying along a trajectory, such as missiles, shells and mines, are a huge problem for military camps. The Mifram Independent Rack and Beam Modular Sky Guard System, designed to meet customer requirements, can protect against 122 mm caliber rockets. It can be installed on top of buildings, container boxes, tents and aircraft. Shelter installation time is minimal; relocatable systems are also available along with side protective walls. To protect small objects, a full line of mobile bulletproof shelters of various sizes and for different uses is available.
Mifram's Mantis armored observation tower is rapidly deploying and can reach 10 meters
For surveillance, Mifram has developed a line of towers, the latest addition to which is the Mantis tower (mantis). The tower is mounted on a frame with four manual jacks, which allows you to unload it without the help of a crane. After unloading, the tower is mounted vertically and then extended to reach a height of 10 meters (options with a height of 6 and 8 meters are available), translating into a vertical position and extending the tower to full height takes less than 4 minutes for 15 people (one person can set up a tower yourself!) . Mantis towers are installed along the Israeli border. As for the barriers to stopping vehicles with explosives, the Mifram catalog contains the product MVB3X shown at the AUSA 2018 exhibition, which can stop a truck weighing 7,5 tons moving at a speed of 50 km / h. Each element of the barrier has a length of 1,18 meters, a width of 0,53 meters and a height of 0,82 meters and a mass of only 24 kg, to install the barrier one person is needed without tools. One of the latest Mifram products is a steel missile defense fence with a height of 28 meters and a length of 4,5 km. It is installed at the Ramon airport in the city of Eilat to protect the terminal and the runway on one side. As for military bases of various types, the adoption of such a decision requires an in-depth cost / benefit analysis based on how long the infrastructure will be in operation (design and construction takes several months) and what is the level of threat. However, the cost of an airplane shot down by a rocket or a grenade launcher launched from the ground, in economic and human terms, will far exceed the cost of the hedge itself.
Leonardo presented a tower at the Eurosatory 2018 exhibition, built into the standard ISO 20 container. On the roof of the tower, the height of which can reach a height of 7,8 meters, a Hitrole Light weapons module is installed
Having gained experience in integrating numerous subsystems into a single military base protection system deployed by the Italian army in Afghanistan, Leonardo has developed another solution in this area. At Eurosatory, it unveiled a mobile armored observation post that can be easily integrated into its end-to-end solution. The tower is built into a standard ISO20 container. The post, which in this regard received the name Contower (Containerized Tower - container tower), can be easily transported by truck, by rail or by sea, and when equipped with special mechanical devices, also by a C-130J military transport aircraft. Four retractable hydraulic legs allow for self-loading and truck loading as well as automatic leveling. Electricity is generated by a built-in 12 kW diesel generator. An entrance door is embedded in the center of one of the long sides of the container. Inside the container, three rectangular telescopic elements are hydraulically raised to form a tower 7,3 meters high. The two intermediate sections provide protection against 5,56 x 45mm bullets, while the upper section for two soldiers protects against 12,7 x 108mm armor-piercing bullets that can be fired by Russian machine guns such as the Diagterev. To protect against RPGs, after installing the tower in place, additional protection in the form of lattice screens can be installed, they must be removed before being placed in a container. On the roof of the tower, Leonardo proposes to install a Hitrole-L remotely controlled weapon module, which can be armed with a 12,7 mm machine gun, for example, Browning M2HB or M2HB QCB, or a 7,62 mm machine gun, for example MG-3. The weapon module can be controlled by one of the two sentries on the tower. The sensor set of the module provides a viewing range of up to 4 km thanks to day / night sensors, while the range of machine guns is about one kilometer. When the tower is folded for transportation, the weapons module is placed inside the container, which not only avoids damage, but also makes the entire system similar in appearance to a standard container. The total weight of the Leonardo development post is 14 tons. As part of the program to protect its forces, the Italian army issued a contract for 18 Contower posts. The system is currently undergoing a qualification phase before being shipped to serial products. Leonardo is also considering the integration of sensors and systems to combat drones to the observation post Contower.
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