News>Cannon debuts latest in moving target technology
Photos
An unmanned vehicle pulls a target while an AC-130W Stinger II shoots from above at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M., Feb. 4, 2013. The unmanned vehicle is a new piece of equipment recently acquired by Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. Its remote-control capabilities allow the squadrons to practice shooting at a moving target without putting any human life in danger. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)
A target being towed by an unmanned vehicle is damaged by a 40mm shell at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M., Feb. 4, 2013. The unmanned vehicle is a new piece of equipment recently acquired by Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. Its remote-control capabilities allow the squadrons to practice shooting at a moving target without putting any human life in danger. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)
Senior Airmen Phillip Post and Senior Airman Antwan Clark control an unmanned vehicle from a booth at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M., Feb. 4, 2013. The unmanned vehicle is a new piece of equipment recently acquired by Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. Its remote-control capabilities allow the squadrons to practice shooting at a moving target without putting any human life in danger. Post and Clark are assigned to the , 27th Special Operations Air Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)
The explosive ordnance device ground crew attach a target to an unmanned vehicle at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M., Feb. 4, 2013. The unmanned vehicle is a new piece of equipment recently acquired by Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. Its remote-control capabilities allow the squadrons to practice shooting at a moving target without putting any human life in danger. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)
An unmanned vehicle pulls a target around Melrose Air Force Range, N.M., Feb. 4, 2013. The unmanned vehicle is a new piece of equipment recently acquired by Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. Its remote-control capabilities allow the squadrons to practice shooting at a moving target without putting any human life in danger. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom)
by Airman 1st Class Ericka Engblom
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
2/8/2013 - CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) -- Explosions shook the air as the white truck, almost invisible through the dust and smoke, weaved its way across a training range towing a target being shot at by 40mm rounds from aircraft patrolling the sky.
Special operations Airmen from here tested the remote-controlled truck, the latest in unmanned vehicle technology, at Melrose Air Force Range, N.M., Feb. 4.
The newly-acquired $180,000 truck is guided by a Global Positioning System. Airmen from the 27th Special Operations Wing are using the truck to train aerial and ground crews in combat operations.
"This moving target will provide a much more realistic training environment for our (Airmen)," said Col. Buck Elton, 27th SOW commander. "It is the first of its kind to be used in Air Force Special Operations Command."
The GPS controlled Ford F-250, is able to start, stop, drive in various patterns and tow a target without a human presence in the cab.
This capability not only allows aircrews to practice shooting at a moving target, but will also be used by ground crews to simulate multiple aggressive hostile situations.
"The truck can be used to aggress an area and provide a persistent threat up to a point," said Maj. Ian Frady, 27th Special Operations Air Operations Squadron deputy range manager. "However, 98 percent of what it will be used for is aerial moving target practice."
Though in its initial testing phase, members who control the range training program are optimistic about the training potential the truck will provide in the future.
"This is an unparalleled tool," Frady said. "We cannot wait to bring teams from other wings in AFSOC out to Cannon so they can train with the vehicle. It opens up a new and unique training opportunity for us. We really cannot express how excited we are about this."
Comments
2/15/2013 10:14:46 AM ET Mythbuster's rigs only have to work for the duration of filming that particular sequence and generally only do a couple turns on prepared surfaces. They don't have a need to program elaborate maneuvering provide shieldingmitigation for stray schrapnel pull a several hundred pound target across rough groundthrough vegetation independently remain within the designated impact area etc. etc. Each one of those requirementscapabilities is NOT free especially when you want 5-7 years of useful life out of the system.
Elwood, TX
2/13/2013 4:48:17 PM ET So let me make sure I understand this correctly. The guys from Myth Busters can take a fairly decent car bought at a junk yard for a few hundred dollars modify it with some homemade remote controls using off-the-shelf servos and cameras and it works perfectly fine. Even after they run it in to barriers fences and other stuff. Yet the USAF has spent 180K on a truck they will drive in to the ground or will be destroyed by gunfire that's off target. Excellent use of resources I'll bet the local high-school engineering and auto-body classes could take on this project and make a perfectly acceptable version for less than 5K.
CACTUS, US
2/13/2013 2:28:39 PM ET it is not the truck they are targeting but the target it is towing.
marc, Ohio
2/12/2013 4:21:52 PM ET At 180 grand apiece I hope AFSOC blows these things up sparingly.
