Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division - Special Missions

Special Missions

"Rapid Response - Proven Solutions"

Special Missions supports military forces engaged in Special Operations, Irregular Warfare and Riverine Operations

Mobility and Maneuverability: Crane designed, built and fielded the first Counter-Sniper Enclosure for USAF Force Protection HMMWVs in 6 weeks

Special Munitions and Weapons: Crane is USSOCOM’s PM for the development, acquisition, fielding and sustainment of the SOF Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR)

Sensors and Communications: SOPMOD has surged more than $60M in ground combat end items to Special Operations in the field during OIF/OEF

Training: Crane provided Small Arms operations & maintenance training to over 500 personnel in FY06

Modeling and Simulation:

Special Missions Human Systems Integration activity uses Concept Modeling tools to analyze gunner tasks to provide improved training and testing methods.

The Small Arms Weapons Systems Division utilizes a weapon shock simulator to augment live-fire on weapon accessories and other weapon mounted electronics to ensure proper survivability. Measured shock profiles from actual weapons are used with the simulator to test the survivability of batteries, electrical connections, and optical components. This division also uses a six-axis platform that simulates sea states for testing auto-tracker software. The Electro-Optic Technology Division uses modeling tools in a number of applications. Examples include using a variety of commercially available tools to do the following:

• evaluate the performance of Infrared systems, to accurately predict atmospheric effects on specific optical/electro-magnetic wavelengths
• predict turbulence effects on optical transmission and imaging at different altitudes
• simulate a realistic system level minimum resolvable temperature difference (MRTD) test result
• model laser beam propagation through the atmosphere over distance to a target
• calculate spatial frequencies based upon range, scene, and sensor
• predict electro-optical sensors and I2 tubes Minimum Resolvable Contrast (MRC)
• predict the Contrast Threshold Function (CTF) of a human interacting with an imaging system in order to predict task range performance
• predict an imaging system modulation transfer function (MTF)
• predict electro-optical weapon and navigation systems performance
• model laser-based active imager performance
• predict mission effectiveness versus sensor system versus environmental conditions
• use Concept Modeling tools to analyze Warfighter tasks to provide improved sensors, interfaces, communications, and testing methods

Additional modeling capabilities within the Special Missions Focus Area use common modeling tools (i.e. Finite Element Analysis, MATLAB, COMSOL, etc.) as well as tools developed within the government to better understand electro-optic phenomena, warfighter technology applications, benefits and trade spaces of new technologies, etc.