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To: Zoro99 who wrote (493)	2/28/2011 1:53:00 PM
From: Zoro99	Respond to of 512

Very positive news for AERG and our soldiers fighting terrorists abroad... Big money invested to stop big-time threat $7B coming to counter IEDs; 268 killed last year in Afghanistan Link: armytimes.com By Lance M. Bacon - Staff writer Posted : Monday Jan 17, 2011 5:34:12 EST Last year was by far the deadliest for U.S. troops contending with improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan, and Congress has responded with nearly $7 billion to defeat IEDs. Of the 499 U.S. troops killed in the ’Stan last year, 268 — or 54 percent — were by IEDs. By comparison, IEDs killed 349 troops in the previous nine years combined. There were 3,366 troops wounded by IEDs in 2010 — a 141 percent increase over the 2,386 total wounded from 2001 through 2009. So far this year, five troops have been killed and at least 12 wounded by IEDs as of Jan. 13. The most recent were members of the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. Sgt. Omar Aceves, 30, of El Paso, Texas; Spc. Jarrid L. King, 20, of Erie, Pa.; and Pfc. Benjamin Moore, 23, of Robbinsville, N.J., were killed Jan. 12 in Ghazni province. IED attacks are less likely to succeed, according to data provided by the Joint IED Defeat Organization, despite the uptick in attacks. In July, 25 percent of 1,382 attacks were successful. By December, the success rate had dropped to 16 percent. But when the attacks do succeed, the results are increasingly devastating. In the push to defeat the threat, Congress in its 2011 National Defense Authorization Act authorized $3.4 billion for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle Fund and another $3.4 billion for the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund. The money authorized for the Joint IED Defeat Fund represents a 50 percent boost from last year. It will be invested in one of four lines of operation: • $1.4 billion is designated for the “Attack the Network” operation. This is designed to reduce IED attacks by identifying and exploiting the enemy’s vulnerabilities and hitting them before they can carry out the attack. Funds will be invested in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance that will lead to offensive missions to eliminate the threat. • $1.5 billion is designated for the “Defeat the Device” operation. This is an effort to detect and neutralize IEDs before they can be detonated, or mitigate the effects of detonation at the point of attack. As part of this effort, troops will see more technologies such as the Ground Penetrating Radar, a vehicle-mounted device that can identify buried mines and explosive devices — even those that are nonmetallic and non-magnetic. There also is the new Self-Protection Adaptive Roller Kit System II that attaches to the front of vehicles to detonate bombs while the driver remains safely inside the cab. Upgraded systems that prevent the detonation of radio-controlled improvised explosive devices also are on the way. • $286 million will go to train the force. • $217 million will cover staff and infrastructure. Better MRAPs The $3.4 billion authorized for the MRAP Fund will be spread across many platforms. Soldiers will see an improved mine-resistant, ambush-protected all-terrain vehicle, or M-ATV, which continues to prove its worth in Afghanistan’s treacherous terrain. The base variant is anchored by an independent suspension system that offers 20 inches of wheel travel and a payload capacity of 4,000 pounds. It now is larger and offers additional internal power. Manufacturer Oshkosh has added a rear cargo access door and provided better access to exterior storage boxes. A hybrid diesel-electric system improves fuel economy up to 20 percent and reduces overall life-cycle costs. It can deliver up to 120 kilowatts of export power and the Command Zone electronics system operates and diagnoses all major vehicle systems. In addition to the beefier base variant, soldiers also will see: • A recon variant that has a larger windshield, hood steps, hand holds and a push bumper. A fifth seat converts into a gunner stand that is compatible with remote weaponry. The first 46 have been purchased for $28 million and will hit the streets by May 31, 2012. • A Tactical Ambulance that comes with state-of-the-art medical equipment and is capable of carrying two litters or four ambulatory patients. The Pentagon already dropped $255 million to buy the first 250 ambulances, which will roll out by May 31, 2012. • A 2.5-ton Cargo/Utility that has a bigger cargo bed to provide shelter and covered cargo transportation with various weapon mounts.