STATIC DISPLAY

U.S. Army Proving Ground brings military hardware to air show

Once again, members of the YPG workforce are rallying together to provide support for another Yuma Proving Ground static exhibit at the 2010 MCAS Air Show, showcasing some of the latest military equipment and the outstanding men and women who support the mission.

Besides military hardware, two colorful graphic exhibits will highlight the proving ground's three test centers and the YPG garrison. Other posters will include picturesque designs of the men and women who make up the workforce to support the war fighter and provide quality of life services and programs to Soldier's and their Families.

Paladin:
The M109A6 'Paladin' 155mm self-propelled howitzer's various incarnations have been part of the United States arsenal since the early 1960's. With a cruising range of nearly 200 miles, this weapon's six-man crew can quickly deliver punishing firepower wherever needed on the battlefield. The Paladin is capable of pinpoint accuracy in both direct and indirect firing.

M777:
The M777 lightweight towed 155mm howitzer is the newest towed artillery system in the military's arsenal. Extensively tested at Yuma Proving Ground, the M777 is slated to replace every existing direct support cannon system currently possessed by the United States Marine Corps. It will also play a prominent role in the Army's ground arsenal. It weighs less than half of the artillery system it replaces.

Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle:
The rapid development of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle helped achieve a dramatic decrease in injuries and fatalities from improvised explosive devices (IDEs) used by insurgents in Iraq. Like virtually every other component of the Army's ground arsenal, the MRAP has undergone extensive testing at Yuma Proving Ground. The newest versions are undergoing testing at the proving ground now.

Bradley:
The M2 and M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles have provided protection to infantry and cavalry troops since entering service in 1981. In addition to their primary duty of transporting Soldiers to the battlefield, the vehicles also conduct scouting missions. The Bradley is a versatile, highly capable battlefield vehicle.

Aeorosonde:
Yuma Proving Ground conducts numerous tests year round on various unmanned aerial systems to include the Aeorosonde. The Aeorosonde is an unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed to allow long endurance and economical flights anywhere in the world. The Aeorosonde UAS weighs 27 to 36 pounds and has a wingspan of 10 feet. The engine is a 24 cubic-centimeter, 1.2-kilowatts, fuel-injected engine using premium unleaded gasoline. Launch and recovery operations require a controller, a technician, and a pilot. Launch is accomplished by car roof rack with a catapult option, autonomous, or with a pilot. One person is required for flight operations for up to three Aeorosonde UASs.

60mm, 90mm, 120mm mortars:
Field experience in Southwest Asia shows that a well-positioned mortar barrage against an insurgent stronghold at close range can be far more effective than shooting from miles away with traditional artillery. For decades, mortar testing has been a significant component of the YPG workload. Last fiscal year, YPG conducted over 250 different mortar tests.

Tiger Shark:
The Tiger Shark is a 17-foot fixed-wing unmanned aircraft. Outfitted with state-of-the-art sensors, it has been an invaluable aid for American forces overseas in detecting improvised explosive devices from high in the air. The unmanned aircraft testing workload at YPG grows each year because of the 2000 square miles of restricted airspace the proving ground offers.

Fire Scout:
10 feet high and 32 feet long, the Fire Scout is an unmanned helicopter used by the U.S. Navy as a communications relay and to seek targets. Capable of ascending up to 20,000 feet in the air, it can fly for over eight consecutive hours and can be outfitted with a variety of sophisticated payloads and sensors. YPG incorporates six airfields for developers of unmanned aircraft.

More to come...