KITCO Fiber Optics is a leading provider of fiber optic products, training and field services to every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.  KITCO specializes in the design and fabrication of fiber optic tools, tool kits and cable assemblies that are customized to meet strict military standards.  KITCO offers a diversified variety of ‘hands-on’ certified training for all branches of Military Forces and Defense Contractors.  We are the U.S. Navy’s sole approved shipboard fiber optic trainer.  Our industry-certified field services team provides on-site support for all aspects of fiber network implementation including termination, splicing, troubleshooting and testing.

Mirror, signal, manoeuvre

Military experience and specialist knowledge help Specialist Mobility Training to provide driving training and maintenance support throughout the world.

Specialist Mobility Training Ltd (SMT) is based in Hereford, UK, and specialises in off-road driver training and Maintenance support.  In Late 2007, SMT was selected by the UK MoD as the preferred supplier for all Jackal driver training prior to the deployment of the brigades going to Afghanistan. SMT continues to provide highly specialised driver training to users during pre-deployment training.

Our reputation has been built on providing quality and professional service.  Instructors and vehicle mechanics work within the UK and abroad in operational and non-operational areas. The depth of knowledge within the SMT staff has been gained from many years within the military including special forces operations all over the world. Each of the driving staff and mechanics hold a National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC) City and Guilds certificate in either assessor or operator-level off-road driving and have received out-of-reach medical training. SMT works very closely with manufacturers of commercial and specialist vehicles offering consultancy and training.

Workshop

As part of our support solution and to compliment our mobile mechanics we have opened up a repair and maintenance workshop in Oct 09, offering quality mechanical services from our fully equipped premises.  Our professional and enthusiastic team, be it driver instructors or mechanics are dedicated to providing the highest level of service to help our client achieve their goal.  You can be assured of the commitment and enthusiasm that will go into training and service from our dedicated team. SMT is an ISO 9001 -2008 certified company.

SMT’s core skills are:

• Off-road driver training
• Maintainer courses
• Worldwide deployable vehicle mechanics
• Publications
• Consultancy
• Trials and development
• Logistic support

SMT recognises the need for a flexible, tailored and quality approach in order to maintain effective training

Clients range from government defence agencies to manufacturers of commercial and specialised vehicles. SMT recognises the need for a flexible, tailored and quality approach in order to maintain effective training.

The company’s ethos is to provide a professional service that lies within accredited national guidelines. The handpicked team provides training solutions to military and civilian organisations – the training packages can be executed at any location worldwide.

SMT drivers and mechanics have had a very demanding and busy year. In addition to working with the MoD the company has worked with the National African Bank Association, offering driver training in armoured land cruisers in Cameroon and Nigeria. The company has conducted ‘train the trainer’ packages for the new military logistic support vehicles (Wolfhound) as well as working with other organisations including News Network International and Millbrook.

Off-road driver training

SMT conducts off-road driver training in civilian 4×4s to enable students to gain the necessary skills required. An NPTC qualification can be awarded to the students by the instructors, who have gained their experience by working within the Arctic Circle on skidoos or taking part in trials on ATVs (including trailers), and driving armoured vehicle systems, and generic 4×4 and 6×6 vehicles.

Worldwide deployable vehicle mechanics

The company has vehicle mechanics deployed long term as field service representatives on operations for the MoD in support of the Jackal vehicle. All of SMT’s mechanics are professional former City and Guilds Military Class 1, with the majority holding a VOSA qualification. The company even has its own portable workshop that can be deployed worldwide to support mechanics.

Company Information
Unit 4 Hereford Trade Park
Holmer Road
Hereford
HR4 9SG
T: 01432 357367
F: 01432 370038
Specialist Mobility Training Ltd
www.smt4x4.co.uk

The growth in deployed operations are challenging to military planners and operators World-wide. Housing personnel and accommodating support functions and systems requires elaborate planning and ideally purpose designed logistic assets in order to optimize transport set up and operation on site. Not least will usage of purpose designed system and logistic resources reduce costs to transport, establish and operate the base overseas.

Transporting facilities and systems call for massive airlift, sea, rail and road transport on a global scale.

Using intermodal shipping containers of various designs and characteristics is a proven method to ensure fast, safe and reliable transport as well as forming the required infrastructure at the deployed location.

Military forces are increasingly converting from tent based concepts to containerised systems, or so called “hard-wall” solutions. The obvious reason is basically that sustained operations over time will require hard-wall facilities to provide reliable, comfortable and functional accommodation of personnel, logistic support functions, communications, weapon, ammunition and MWR-functions.

"Soft-wall" facilities (tents) have obvious shortfalls compared to hard-wall facilities as they offer a “hostile” environment due to lack of noise reduction, humidity and missing “plug & play” capabilities for systems and equipment to be housed. Additionally, tents do not offer any level of protection against weapons.

Taking into account above factors, the time to establish functions based in hard wall shelters is dramatically shorter and more convenient compared to tents as on-board systems are ready integrated and offers full "plug & play" functionality. Containers and hard-wall shelters do also offer some basic level of physical protection and can easily be further enhanced by adding alternative materials to offer protection. Protection against splinters, NBC and RFI/EMP shielding is easily achieved.

There are clear trends toward use of hard wall-shelters for the reasons mentioned above. Companies, as well as official agencies and authorities around the world have been heavily engaged in the desig of enhanced container and shelter concepts the last few years. Accordingly, new and enhanced systems are gradually being fielded in support of UN and NATO operations as well as humanitarian missions throughout the World.

Nordic Shelter AS of Norway is one of the companies that has been in the forefront of , designing new concepts to meet the growing demand for purpose made containers and shelters. Their Multi Shelter is a readily constructed flat pack shelter that requires no tools nor assembly on site.

The Multi Shelter offers exceptionally low transport volume; 12 pieces in a C-130 Hercules. Set up on site is done in less than 10 minutes by means of a small crane or forklift truck. If required the shelter may be set up manually by 8 men.

The Multi Shelter was developed as Nordic Shelter realised the requirement for a low weight shelter that could be airlifted in quantities, with good thermal characteristics and more important that could be used over and over again. The Multi Shelter is in operational use with all of the Scandinavian Armed Forces as well as The Red Cross, UK Police Forces and oil exploration companies.

Designs like the Multi Shelter will certainly replace tents on a large scale in the future! Cost of a Multi Shelter is approximately the same as for a tent, but in service life time is much longer and operational cost are substantially lower.

Expanding shelter designs are also getting increasingly popular, utilised for numerous applications. The Nordic Shelter expanding shelters are based upon standard 10 and 20 foot ISO containers, fully CSC-certified. Expanding shelters are made from steel and sandwich panels made from aluminium/foam injections or honeycomb.

Nordic Shelter expanding shelters offers some attractive characteristics:

lightweight, large usable floor space, large interior ceiling height and extremely good thermal values. As the centre section as well as most of the expanding sidewalls can receive permanent integration of system components (communications racks, work desk etc), these shelters offers true "plug and play" capabilities. More so, the size of these shelters allows integration of power generating sets, BC filtration and powerful heating systems. When fitted like that each shelter is not relying on any external support and represents a true "stand alone" capability for the hosted functions.

As most armies convert and prepare for deployed operations domestically or overseas in support of UN and/or NATO-mission, it is evident that development and enhancement of shelter and container concepts will continue to intensify in the future. The industry as well as the military are committed and deeply involved in numerous activities in this field. Initiatives are launched to improve transportability, cost efficiency, protection and functionality in a huge range of functional areas.

This article attempts to prove the that military forces and the industry are truly innovative and play together to improve all types of systems that are required to sustain deployed operations.

As a result, significant development and enhancements have been achieved in the areas of transport volume and transportability, ease of operation (set up), maintainability, functionality and not least cost efficiency.

Tel: +47 41 74 70 70 – FAX: +47 69 32 24 01
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
WWW.NORDICSHELTER.COM

Objective The objective of Intermat is to: slash detection ranges by concealing against thermal observation deceiving heat seeking IR sensors attenuating radar signals and reducing RCS
Intermat & Stealth Intermat is widely known for its profound involvement in the field of Thermal Signature Management and Multi-Spectral Stealth Materials. The term “stealth” is primarily associated with changes in the reflective properties of the target. It is usually understood to result from a combination of materials and methods that significantly lower the emissions of a target, thereby effectively decreasing the enemy’s detection range. Intermat’s prime concern is to reduce signatures, emissions, and eventually detection ranges. However, just reducing an emission is not enough, the real science is to customize and adjust the level of performance in order to meet the operational requirements (blend in with surrounding /background environment).
Thermal Signature Management Intermat’s core business is the Research and Development of anti-thermal coatings. Intermat has the technical capability and know-how to produce military colour shades of adjustable emissivity. All it takes is painting with just a thin film layer of about 50 microns by using ordinary equipment and tools. The coatings limit the absorption and emission of heat and the user is free to decide on the amount of “insulation” or performance, whether operations take place in desert, forest, or in another terrain. Light blue and light grey colours of exceptional performance are available for the Navy and Helicopters; these assets operate against a very cold thermal background i.e. sea, sky, and thermal protection is vital for their survivability. Application can be made on any surface i.e. metallic or building. It is a permanent countermeasure.
Anti-thermal / Anti-radar Camouflage nets Intermat can provide a wide range of: camouflage nets covers & blankets tents and personal camouflage Camouflage nets can attenuate radar signals from 5 to 100 GHz and especially from 8 to 40GHz. The level of attenuation in each band is confidential but it can be said that the level of attenuation varies from 10Db minimum up to 35Db! On top of that all fabrics are treated /painted with the anti-thermal coatings and literally any camouflage pattern can be designed. Fabrics do not need to be kept away from any hot surface; they do not get hot when placed directly on top of a warm surface. They weigh as low as 200 gr/sq.m. and can be engineered to meet end-user specifications i.e. weight, design, pattern, performance.
Sniper and Ghillie suits Special Forces deserve their own thermal countermeasure; consequently Intermat suits are treated with the anti-thermal coatings. The soldiers are protected throughout the wide IR, and the detection of a soldier is very much reduced (depending on the environmental conditions). The fabric is breathable with reduced stiffness while various types and camouflage patterns can be produced. Fabric weight can be as light as 60 grand can be as effective as other much heavier systems since the amount of “insulation” is not achieved through thick and heavy materials but only by a 30-50 microns top coat.

RCS Reduction Coatings

Intermat has achieved to develop RCS reduction coatings where RCS can be reduced by 97% (attenuation in X-band); this means than the radar detection range can be more than halved by using a coating thickness of only 1mm. They are compatible with the Anti-thermal coatings and both formulas can be combined into one which will perform both as an anti-thermal and RCS reduction coating!

...all warfare is based upon deception...
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

You are welcome to send us your enquiries at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or visit our website at www.intermatstealth.com