Project scorpion
Encyclopedia
Project Scorpion is a multinational military modernization
program which uses military-run experimentation
for acquisition of new armaments. Project Scorpion also tests new military behaviors such as effects-based operations
, network-centric warfare
, and irregular warfare
and civilian-military concepts. Originally a U.S. Army concept, Project Scorpion was the new name for the former Intelligent Munitions System
(IMS)
, was re-baptized in its new name around 2004 under the Future Combat System (FCS) framework, this a program which was cancelled in April 2009 by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
; parts of the FCS were swept within the U.S. Army Brigade Combat Team Modernization Program
program under the U.S. Army Office for Acquisition, Research and Development.
From the outset in 2004, the U.S. Department of Defense promoted Project Scorpion as a means of providing domestic military interoperability
, i.e. inter-agency operational facilitation U.S. military bodies such as the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Yet Project Scorpion was also promoted internationally by the U.S. Department of Defense as a means of promoting multinational interoperability
for closer U.S. integration with coalition (NATO) militaries. In this light, Project Scorpion was easily adopted by Defense Ministry acquisitions agencies of France, Germany and the United Kingdom; Non-NATO partners appear to have been invited to participate.
As from 2010, it would appear that the United States (DOD) and France (DGA) are the lead-players in the multinational Project Scorpion coalition.
Project Scorpion is uses part of the system of systems
principals. Such military modernization efforts are part of a wider military concept of Revolution in military affairs
, or "RMA
". Larger defense companies serving as lead-system integrators for Project Scorpion include Northrop Grumman
/EADS
, Raytheon
/Thales
and General Dynamics
, SAIC
, SAGEM
, Lockheed Martin Marietta
and Boeing
. Budget outlays for Project Scorpion are quite large - ranges of billions of dollars (and Euros) in various countries.
". In this light French, German, U.K and U.S. military descriptions of Project Scorpion are similar, using the same defense companies serve as "lead systems integrators" for the program. Project Scorpion is a facet of the Revolution in Military Affairs modernization program known in the U.S. as Future Combat Systems
(FCS), in the U.K. as Future Rapid Effect System
(FRES), in Germany known as Infanterist der Zukunft (IdZ
), and in France as FÉLIN
, an abbreviation for Fantassin à Équipments et Liaisons Intégrés
(Integrated Infantryman Equipment and Communications). All such programs are designed using the "System of Systems
" (SOS) military concept philosophy, whereby humans, munitions and "sensors" are jointly used to achieve desired military objectives, these being part of a wider concept under a RMA
, or "Revolution in Military Affairs
umbrella. None of this nomenclature is especially descriptive or specific in terms of outputs, non-descript nomenclature perhaps being perhaps the hallmark of activities and operations under the Project Scorpion umbrella.
Project Scorpion supports the French FÉLIN
infantry combat system. France views Project Scorpion as “preparation for future land combat systems, intended to build an armaments program to support [military] transformation,” to be operationalized as a “system of contact for versatile capabilities and information networking,”.
On 22 February 2010, France launched an "investigation phase" of Project Scorpion under the aegis of a special military investment committee (Comité ministériel des investissements) composed of the French Minister of Defense
, the French Joint Chiefs of Staff and the French arms acquisition authority (Directorate General for Armaments). France has put forth Project Scorpion as a "multinational project"
Revolution in Military Affairs
The military concept of Revolution in Military Affairs is a theory about the future of warfare, often connected to technological and organizational recommendations for change in the United States military and others....
program which uses military-run experimentation
Concept Development and Experimentation
Concept Development & Experimentation is the application of the structure and methods of experimental science to the challenge of developing future military capability....
for acquisition of new armaments. Project Scorpion also tests new military behaviors such as effects-based operations
Effects-Based Operations
Effects-Based Operations is a United States military concept which emerged during the 1991 Gulf War for the planning and conduct of operations combining military and non-military methods to achieve a particular effect...
, network-centric warfare
Network-centric warfare
Network-centric warfare, also called network-centric operations, is a military doctrine or theory of war pioneered by the United States Department of Defense in the 1990's....
, and irregular warfare
Irregular warfare
Irregular warfare is warfare in which one or more combatants are irregular military rather than regular forces. Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare, and so is asymmetric warfare....
and civilian-military concepts. Originally a U.S. Army concept, Project Scorpion was the new name for the former Intelligent Munitions System
Intelligent Munitions System
Intelligent Munitions System was a smart system being developed by General Dynamics and the US Army TACOM-ARDEC Picatinny Centre....
(IMS)
Intelligent Munitions System
Intelligent Munitions System was a smart system being developed by General Dynamics and the US Army TACOM-ARDEC Picatinny Centre....
, was re-baptized in its new name around 2004 under the Future Combat System (FCS) framework, this a program which was cancelled in April 2009 by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
Robert Gates
Dr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
; parts of the FCS were swept within the U.S. Army Brigade Combat Team Modernization Program
BCT Modernization
The Brigade combat team Modernization is the United States Army's principal modernization program for Brigade combat teams from 2009 to the present...
program under the U.S. Army Office for Acquisition, Research and Development.
From the outset in 2004, the U.S. Department of Defense promoted Project Scorpion as a means of providing domestic military interoperability
Interoperability
Interoperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together . The term is often used in a technical systems engineering sense, or alternatively in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to...
, i.e. inter-agency operational facilitation U.S. military bodies such as the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Yet Project Scorpion was also promoted internationally by the U.S. Department of Defense as a means of promoting multinational interoperability
Interoperability
Interoperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together . The term is often used in a technical systems engineering sense, or alternatively in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to...
for closer U.S. integration with coalition (NATO) militaries. In this light, Project Scorpion was easily adopted by Defense Ministry acquisitions agencies of France, Germany and the United Kingdom; Non-NATO partners appear to have been invited to participate.
As from 2010, it would appear that the United States (DOD) and France (DGA) are the lead-players in the multinational Project Scorpion coalition.
Project Scorpion is uses part of the system of systems
System of systems
System of systems is a collection of task-oriented or dedicated systems that pool their resources and capabilities together to create a new, more complex system which offers more functionality and performance than simply the sum of the constituent systems...
principals. Such military modernization efforts are part of a wider military concept of Revolution in military affairs
Revolution in Military Affairs
The military concept of Revolution in Military Affairs is a theory about the future of warfare, often connected to technological and organizational recommendations for change in the United States military and others....
, or "RMA
Revolution in Military Affairs
The military concept of Revolution in Military Affairs is a theory about the future of warfare, often connected to technological and organizational recommendations for change in the United States military and others....
". Larger defense companies serving as lead-system integrators for Project Scorpion include Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...
/EADS
EADS
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
, Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
/Thales
Thales
Thales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from Miletus in Asia Minor, and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Many, most notably Aristotle, regard him as the first philosopher in the Greek tradition...
and General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
, SAIC
SAIC
The acronym SAIC can stand for:*Science Applications International Corporation*School of the Art Institute of Chicago*Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation*Shanghai Aviation Industrial Company*Special Agent in Charge, acronym used by some U.S...
, SAGEM
SAGEM
SAGEM was a major French company involved in defence electronics, consumer electronics and communication systems.In 2005, Sagem merged with SNECMA to form SAFRAN...
, Lockheed Martin Marietta
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
and Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
. Budget outlays for Project Scorpion are quite large - ranges of billions of dollars (and Euros) in various countries.
Project Scorpion as a joint-multinational experiment program
Press reports indicate that Project Scorpion was intended for "NATO InteroperabilityInteroperability
Interoperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together . The term is often used in a technical systems engineering sense, or alternatively in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to...
". In this light French, German, U.K and U.S. military descriptions of Project Scorpion are similar, using the same defense companies serve as "lead systems integrators" for the program. Project Scorpion is a facet of the Revolution in Military Affairs modernization program known in the U.S. as Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems was the United States Army's principal modernization program from 2003 to early 2009. Formally launched in 2003, FCS was envisioned to create new brigades equipped with new manned and unmanned vehicles linked by an unprecedented fast and flexible battlefield network...
(FCS), in the U.K. as Future Rapid Effect System
Future Rapid Effect System
The Future Rapid Effect System is the British MOD programme to deliver a fleet of more than 4,000 armoured fighting vehicles for the British Army...
(FRES), in Germany known as Infanterist der Zukunft (IdZ
IdZ
Infanterist der Zukunft is the German Bundeswehr's program as part of the Future Soldier project. It is a modular, integrated fighting system designed to provide significant lethality, survivability, mobility, battle command, and training to the German infantryman...
), and in France as FÉLIN
Félin
FÉLIN is the name for the French infantry combat system of the 2000s....
, an abbreviation for Fantassin à Équipments et Liaisons Intégrés
Félin
FÉLIN is the name for the French infantry combat system of the 2000s....
(Integrated Infantryman Equipment and Communications). All such programs are designed using the "System of Systems
System of systems
System of systems is a collection of task-oriented or dedicated systems that pool their resources and capabilities together to create a new, more complex system which offers more functionality and performance than simply the sum of the constituent systems...
" (SOS) military concept philosophy, whereby humans, munitions and "sensors" are jointly used to achieve desired military objectives, these being part of a wider concept under a RMA
Revolution in Military Affairs
The military concept of Revolution in Military Affairs is a theory about the future of warfare, often connected to technological and organizational recommendations for change in the United States military and others....
, or "Revolution in Military Affairs
Revolution in Military Affairs
The military concept of Revolution in Military Affairs is a theory about the future of warfare, often connected to technological and organizational recommendations for change in the United States military and others....
umbrella. None of this nomenclature is especially descriptive or specific in terms of outputs, non-descript nomenclature perhaps being perhaps the hallmark of activities and operations under the Project Scorpion umbrella.
Project Scorpion in France
Project Scorpion is viewed as a new means of practicing procurement by the French military, in the same manner as the controversial Boeing-SAIC Future Combat Systems program, and British Future Rapid Effects program.Project Scorpion supports the French FÉLIN
Félin
FÉLIN is the name for the French infantry combat system of the 2000s....
infantry combat system. France views Project Scorpion as “preparation for future land combat systems, intended to build an armaments program to support [military] transformation,” to be operationalized as a “system of contact for versatile capabilities and information networking,”.
On 22 February 2010, France launched an "investigation phase" of Project Scorpion under the aegis of a special military investment committee (Comité ministériel des investissements) composed of the French Minister of Defense
Hervé Morin
Hervé Morin is a French politician, leader of the New Center party and a former French Minister of Defence.-Member of National Assembly:...
, the French Joint Chiefs of Staff and the French arms acquisition authority (Directorate General for Armaments). France has put forth Project Scorpion as a "multinational project"
Project Scorpion and U.S. Coast Guard Intelligence
In his May 2006 confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen described Project Scorpion as a "an archetypal national-level collaborative partnership with DHS, DOJ, and DOD counterparts under Coast Guard leadership to identify, track and intercept special interest aliens with possible terrorist or affiliate ties before they arrive in the U.S. via maritime means.". As well as being a tool for 'intercepting persons deemed as threats' outside the United States, Admiral Allen noted the importance of Project Scorpion as part of the wider U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), pursuing the acquisition of data on the global environment which may have bearing on threats and vulnerabilities to U.S. ports.Project Scorpion probable name for U.S. Coast Guard Deployable Operations Group (DOG)
In 2007, U.S. Coast Guard Deployable Operations Group (DOG) commenced with management of a single command authority to rapidly provide the Coast Guard, DHS, DoD, DoJ and other interagency operational commanders adaptive force packages drawn from the U.S. Coast Guard's deployable specialized force units. An MOU was signed between the Department of the Navy (DON) and U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) bringing the U.S. Coast Guard into the world of special operations and tactical command. It appears likely that the USCG DOG is the implementation of Project Scorpion.Project Scorpion and U.S. Army Acqusitions, Research and Development
That Project Scorpion is used as an operational tool for moral combat against human beings was confirmed in January 2010 by the U.S. Army which U.S. Army Research Laboratory/Survivability Lethality Analysis Directorate lauded Project Scorpion as achieved "mobility kill" in "engagements against an approved threat target" claiming that Project Scorpion was useful in urban (civilian) as well as active war domains.See also
- Future Combat SystemsFuture Combat SystemsFuture Combat Systems was the United States Army's principal modernization program from 2003 to early 2009. Formally launched in 2003, FCS was envisioned to create new brigades equipped with new manned and unmanned vehicles linked by an unprecedented fast and flexible battlefield network...
- USCG Deployable Operations Group (DOG)Deployable Operations GroupThe Deployable Operations Group is a United States Coast Guard command that provides properly equipped, trained and organized Deployable Specialized Forces to Coast Guard, DHS, DoD and inter-agency operational and tactical commanders...
- Network-centric warfareNetwork-centric warfareNetwork-centric warfare, also called network-centric operations, is a military doctrine or theory of war pioneered by the United States Department of Defense in the 1990's....
- Asymmetric warfareAsymmetric warfareAsymmetric warfare is war between belligerents whose relative military power differs significantly, or whose strategy or tactics differ significantly....
- Urban warfareUrban warfareUrban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. Urban combat is very different from combat in the open at both the operational and tactical level...
- Joint Unconventional WarfareJoint Unconventional WarfareJoint unconventional warfare is the inter-agency, or international implementation of a unconventional warfare strategy, comprising elements of asymmetric warfare, irregular warfare, urban warfare and various forms of psychological operations deployed by non-traditional means.Joint unconventional...
- Deniable warfarePlausible deniabilityPlausible deniability is, at root, credible ability to deny a fact or allegation, or to deny previous knowledge of a fact. The term most often refers to the denial of blame in chains of command, where upper rungs quarantine the blame to the lower rungs, and the lower rungs are often inaccessible,...
- Maritime Domain AwarenessMaritime domain awarenessMaritime domain awareness is defined as the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment. It is part of a US government interagency and international maritime security effort...
- Global Maritime Situational AwarenessGlobal maritime situational awarenessGlobal Maritime Situational Awareness is defined in the , as "the comprehensive fusion of data from every agency and by every nation to improve knowledge of the maritime domain." It is an integral element of Maritime Domain Awareness ....
- Intelligent Munitions SystemIntelligent Munitions SystemIntelligent Munitions System was a smart system being developed by General Dynamics and the US Army TACOM-ARDEC Picatinny Centre....
Project Scorpion in France
- Thales, Nexter, Sagem receive Scorpion armored vehicles technical architecture contract, Defenseworld.net, 26 Nov 2010
- "France sees a Scorpion in its future". original: http://apps.militaryperiscope.com/SpecialReports/ShowReport.aspx?report=413
- France Breaks Acquisition Mold With Scorpion, Feb 2010, Defense News
- "Scorpion Program Expected To Transform French Army - Defense News", 5 Oct 2009
- "Scorpion: French Army's modernization program - Sagem", 2009
- "Digital Future Force Emerges", Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association,, September 2008.
- First Phase of France's Scorpion Programme Launched, Army Technology, February 2010
- Safran: Sagem created a company dedicated to the Project Scorpion Stock market watch today, November 2011
- Scorpion Program Expected To Transform French Army - Defense News, 5 Oct 2009
- French Air/Land Operational Bubble Net-Enabled Close-Combat System, 2004, Defense Update - International online defense magazine.
Project Scorpion in United States
- "XM1100 Scorpion Completes Successful End-to-End Live Fire Testing", Jan 2010, Project Manager Close Combat Systems (PM CCS)
- Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract For SCORPION Unattended Ground Sensor, 31 Mar 2008
- Product Manager for Intelligent Munitions System receives charter, Jan 29, 2007
- "Intelligent Munitions Systems (IMS)" (2006) U.S. Defense Update - Urban warfare special edition (online U.S. Defense magazine)
- "Development of Urban/MOUT Advanced Sensors (UMASS)" (2006) U.S. Defense Update - Urban warfare special edition (online U.S. Defense magazine)
- "Future Combat Systems FCS/UGS" (2006) U.S. Defense Update - Urban warfare special edition (online U.S. Defense magazine)
- "Unattended Ground Sensors" (2006) U.S. Defense Update - Urban warfare special edition (online U.S. Defense magazine)
- "Ground Surveillance Sensors - Augmenting the UGS" (2006) U.S. Defense Update - Urban warfare special edition (online U.S. Defense magazine)
- France Deploys Network-Centric Ground Platform", (U.S.) Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, June 2004
Project Scorpion in Germany
- "Bundeswehr Marches Into the Future", (U.S.) Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Henry S. Kenyon, November 2004
Project Scorpion in Israel
- Iron Fist Active Protection Ssystem (APS), Defense update (US DOD) 2009.