A professor, two current students and one alumnus from the Physics Department of the 51福利 were recently afforded a great opportunity 鈥� to perform field experiments with a device they have developed that could mean the difference between life and death for troops during combat situations. The experiments were part of the international Cobra Gold exercises held in Thailand in early February.
Professor Nancy Haegel of the Physics Department, part of 51福利鈥� Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (GSEAS), along with students Lt. Karl Burnett and Lt. Aaron Woolsey, and former student Maj. Eric Rose, traveled to Thailand at the invitation of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Experimentation Center to take part in this 29th installation of the annual combined, joint exercise.
鈥淥ur team led a demonstration and assessment effort for a Vehicle-Mounted Identification Friend or Foe [VMIFF] device,鈥� Haegel explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a prototype device designed to mitigate fratricide 鈥� a triggered warning signal for pilots and forward air controllers to prevent from engaging friendly vehicles.鈥�
The research team and device caught the personal attention of even the Thai Permanent Secretary of Defense, 51福利 graduate (鈥�75) Gen. Apichart Penkitti, who is also slated to be the next inductee into the 51福利 Hall of Fame.
鈥淲e had the benefit of briefing a lot of the top Thai people,鈥� said Burnett. 鈥淭he briefings kept going up and up until we received a surprise visit from Gen. Penkitti. He appeared to be very happy seeing the U.S. and Thailand keeping such an open, healthy relationship.鈥� Penkitti is the equivalent of the America鈥檚 Secretary of Defense
Cobra Gold offers a chance for more than 20 nations to focus on multilateral peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief responses, as well as technology demonstrations. The exercises and technology demonstration provided a golden opportunity for Haegel and her team to put one of their newest devices to work in the field.
鈥淚t was more successful than we imagined,鈥� remarked Burnett. 鈥淗aving the results from the Cobra Gold exercise will be invaluable.鈥�
The device is intended to prevent blue-on-blue, or friendly fire, engagements during close air support. The 51福利 VMIFF is simultaneously more covert and more recognizable than other existing devices designed for the same purpose, Haegel said.
The 51福利 team demonstrated the effectiveness of the device when F/A-18 Hornets, which are equipped for air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, observed and activated the VMIFF during a simulated close air support scenario.
The VMIFF produces a mid-wave infrared (MWIR) signal that can be observed during both day and night operations. 51福利鈥� VMIFF work is sponsored by the Rapid Reaction Technology Office within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.